Category Health/Medical

COVID-19 Rebound after taking Paxlovid likely due to Insufficient Drug Exposure, study finds

Human lung epithelial cells (blue) infected by SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 virus (red) isolated from a patient with COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment.

Paxlovid rebound patient did not show drug resistance or impaired immunity. Paxlovid is the leading oral medication for preventing severe cases of COVID-19 in high-risk individuals. However, symptoms returned in some patients after treatment was completed, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a health advisory on this so-called “COVID-19 rebound.”

In a study published June 20, 2022 in Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine evaluated one such patient and found their symptom relapse was not caused by the development of resistance to the drug or im...

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Single Brain Scan can Diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

A single MRI scan of the brain could be enough to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research by Imperial College London.

The research uses Machine Learning technology to look at Structural features within the brain, including in regions not previously associated with Alzheimer’s. The advantage of the technique is its simplicity and the fact that it can identify the disease at an early stage when it can be very difficult to diagnose.

Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, getting a diagnosis quickly at an early stage helps patients. It allows them to access help and support, get treatment to manage their symptoms and plan for the future...

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COVID-19 on the brain: Neurological Symptoms Persist in Majority of Long-Haulers

Study: Evolution of neurologic symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 “long haulers.” Image Credit: fizkes / Shutterstock.com

Longitudinal study describes short- and long-term neurological symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection; identifies new subgroup with advanced symptoms. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine are conducting a longitudinal study to track neurological symptoms in COVID-19 “long-haulers.”

The first round of results, published June 15, 2022 in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, revealed the prevalence of various short- and long-term symptoms and found that, while many patients showed improvement, the majority still had some neurological symptoms after six months...

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Vitamin D Deficiency directly linked to Dementia

Vitamin D supplement

Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, affecting thinking and behaviors as you age. But what if you could stop this degenerative disease in its tracks?

A world-first study from the University of South Australia could make this a reality as new genetic research shows a direct link between dementia and a lack of vitamin D.

Investigating the association between vitamin D, neuroimaging features, and the risk of dementia and stroke, the study found:

  • low levels of vitamin D were associated with lower brain volumes and an increased risk of dementia and stroke
  • genetic analyses supported a causal effect of vitamin D deficiency and dementia.
  • in some populations as much as 17% of dementia cases might be prevented by increasing everyo...
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