Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Understanding Depression, Falsified Drugs, and Secrets to Living to 100

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Understanding Depression, Falsified Drugs, and Secrets to Living to 100 · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Good morning listeners, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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I am your host, Doctor Cheming Chow.
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In today's episode, we will dive into some of the latest and most compelling medical news
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from around the world.
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We will be discussing a groundbreaking study from Stanford University that has identified 6
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types of depression, warnings from the World Health Organization on falsified diabetes and
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weight loss drugs, healthy habits that can help you live to 100, and the issue of food
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boarding.
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So let's get started.
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Our first story today comes from a fascinating new study published in the journal Nature
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Medicine.
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Which has identified 6 subtypes or biotypes of major depression through the use of brain
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imaging combined with machine learning.
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This research led by Doctor Leanne Williams.
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The Vincent VC, Wu professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University
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School of Medicine could mark a significant step forward in the way depression is diagnosed
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and treated.
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For many people with depression, finding the right medication can be a process of trial and
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error that lasts for months or even years, often exacerbating symptoms.
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But what if doctors could assess exactly how depression is affecting a patient's brain and
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prescribe a treatment that gets it right the first time.
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This study suggests that such a reality may be closer than we think.
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The research team used functional magnetic resonance imaging or FMRI to measure the brain
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activity of 801 adult participants previously diagnosed with depression or anxiety, along
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with 137 healthy control participants.
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The FMRI scans focused on brain regions known to play a role in depression and the
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connections between those regions.
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Participants also engaged in various cognitive, and emotional tests.
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The study identified 6 distinct bio types of depression.
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One Bioetype is characterized by hyperactivity in cognitive regions, which is associated with
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more anxiety, negative bias, threat dysregulation, and anhedonia than other
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biotypes.
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Participants with this biotype also performed worse on executive function tasks.
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And had the best response to the antidepressant venlafaxine.
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Another biotype is marked by higher levels of brain connectivity in regions associated with
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depression and problem solving.
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Those with this biotype made errors in executive function tests but did well on
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cognitive tasks, and their symptoms were better alleviated by behavioral talk therapy.
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The higher connectivity might help participants more readily adopt new skills, according to
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study co author, Doctor Xin Jun Ma.
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There was also a bio type distinguished by lower levels of activity in the brain circuit
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that manages attention.
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This Bioetype was linked with more mistakes on tasks requiring sustained attention and less
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chance of improvement with therapy.
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People with this bio type may need medication first to gain more from therapy, said doctor
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who is also the Beth and George V2 professor of medicine at the University of Illinois,
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Chicago.
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Another biotype was characterized by high emotional reactivity, meaning the brains of
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participants in this group were more affected by emotional inputs such as their own emotions
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or other people's facial expressions.
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One other biotype was associated with lower activity in cognitive brain regions and less
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connectivity in emotional regions, making it difficult for participants to respond to
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cognitive information and regulate negative emotions.
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These last two bio types did not respond well to medications or therapy suggesting that other
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treatment options may be needed.
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Interestingly, the 6th biotype identified did not differ from brain scans of people without
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depression.
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This finding suggests that the full range of brain biology underlying depression has not yet
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been entirely discovered.
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Doctor C, Richard Keith, professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke
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University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, noted that this research takes a
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positive step in the direction of understanding depression's complexities.
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Despite the promise shown by this study, it does have some limitations.
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Doctor McJohnathan Alpert chair of the Department of Psychiatry And Behavioral
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Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, pointed out that the study had a low
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number of participants enrolled in treatment.
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And that more diverse samples are needed.
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Most participants were white and only 2% were black.
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Albert emphasized the need future studies to test the hypothesis that patients with
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particular biotypes will do better on specific treatments and to track these participants over
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time.
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The study's findings are still years away from being applied to direct patient care, but there
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is funding for ongoing research.
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Doctor Leanne Williams has received an $18,800,000 grant from the National Institutes
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of Health to develop better diagnostic and treatment tools for depression biotypes.
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The approach is already being experimentally implemented at a Stanford clinic.
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Where it has shown promise in effectively doubling the chance of patient improvement.
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In conclusion, while this study represents a significant advancement in our understanding of
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depression.
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It is not intended to replace traditional assessments.
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Instead, it adds another layer to the diagnostic process, incorporating symptom
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information, clinical interviews, and more.
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For now, people struggling with depression should know that there is continued progress
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being made toward more efficient and effective treatments.
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If you or someone you know is dealing with depression, talking to a mental health
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professional about your options is crucial.
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Our next story today involves a critical warning from the World Health Organization
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regarding falsified diabetes and weight loss drugs.
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On Thursday, the World Health Organization issued alerts about counterfeit medications
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that falsely claimed to contain the active ingredient found in Novo Nordisk diabetes drug,
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Ozempic, and weight loss treatment, WAGovi.
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This warning comes as demand for these drugs has surged outpacing their supply and creating
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a burgeoning market for counterfeit versions.
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The World Health Organization's alert specifically addresses 3 falsified batches of
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semaglutide that were detected in Brazil and the United Kingdom in October 2023.
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And in the United States in December 2023.
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Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wagavi, but it is not currently
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recommended by the World Health Organization for diabetes management due to its high cost.
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However, the organization is working on a rapid advice guideline for the use of GLP-one drugs
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like semaglutide in the treatment of obesity as part of a more comprehensive model of care.
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The dangers of these counterfeit drugs cannot be overstated.
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Fake medications can be harmful and if they lack the necessary raw components can lead to
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severe health complications resulting from unmanaged blood glucose levels or wait.
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The World Health Organization emphasized the importance of obtaining medications through
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prescriptions from licensed physicians and avoiding purchases from unverified sources such
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as unfamiliar online vendors.
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Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Another pharmaceutical giant whose GLP 1 drug manjaro
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has also seen high demand have taken legal actions to combat the sale of counterfeit
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versions of their products.
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Eli Lilly announced on Thursday that it is suing 6 additional entities including medical
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spas and wellness centers for selling products that falsely claim to contain tirzepatide the
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active ingredient in Mountjaro.
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The proliferation of counterfeit diabetes and weight loss drugs is a growing concern and
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vigilance by both health care providers and patients.
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If you are using these medications, it is crucial to ensure that you are obtaining them
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from reputable and licensed sources to avoid potentially dangerous health risks.
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A recent study has found that maintaining healthy lifestyle habits after the age of
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eighty may be a key factor in living to 100 and beyond.
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The research published in JAMA Network open was conducted by a group of Chinese researchers who
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examined data from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey.
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One of the largest studies focusing on this age group.
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The study included just over 500 participants with an average age of 94.3 years, and about
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62% of them were female.
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Researchers calculated a healthy lifestyle for 100 HLS 100 score, which ranged from 0 to 6 and
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included factors such as smoking, exercise, and dietary diversity.
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They tracked the participants over the ensuing years to see who reached their 100th birthday
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using those who passed away before reaching veterinarian status as a control group.
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The findings revealed that healthy lifestyles in individuals aged eighty and older were
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associated with a higher likelihood of reaching age 100.
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Key factors included not smoking, eating a diverse diet, and engaging in regular exercise.
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The researchers also considered other variables such as education level, marital status, body
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mass index, alcohol consumption, and chronic medical conditions.
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However, doctor Suh Lang Hanin a board certified internal medicine physician with
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medical offices of Manhattan cautioned that the study's results should be taken with a grain of
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salt.
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She noted that association does not equal causation and highlighted certain limitations,
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such as the self reported nature of lifestyle behaviors, which can be prone to bias and
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error.
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Additionally, socioeconomic status, a significant factor in longevity, was not
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accounted for in the study.
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Doctor Inan explained that a healthy lifestyle for those over 80 as defined in the study
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encompassed 3 main aspects not smoking, exercising, and maintaining dietary diversity.
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Dan Gallagher, a registered dietitian with Eagle Nutrition, elaborated on these points,
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emphasizing that remaining active and having a sense of community are crucial for long term
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health.
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While a sense of community was not specifically examined in this study.
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It is a common factor in other research on longevity.
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Gallagher pointed out that people living in blue zones, geographic areas known for the
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greater longevity of their residents, often have a deep sense of community that helps them
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remain active and engaged daily.
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He also mentioned that a diet rich and healthy lean proteins and fats could contribute
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significantly to longevity as people age, their nutritional needs change, and they often
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require more protein than they did in their younger years.
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Not smoking is another well established key to longevity.
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Smoking significantly increases the risk of premature death.
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While quitting smoking can substantially reduce this risk.
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The studies authors concluded that maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the age of eighty can
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greatly enhance the chances of living healthy habits later in life, such as not smoking,
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eating a diverse diet, and exercising, are more likely to become sentinarians.
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Although the study had its limitations and should be interpreted with caution, it adds to
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the growing body of research indicating that lifestyle choices play crucial role in
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longevity.
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Our final story today addresses a growing but often overlooked issue.
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Food hoarding.
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According to a recent article from CNN, food hoarding can manifest in various ways, such as
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overstocking food or having difficulty discarding it even after it has spoiled.
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Experts indicate that this behavior can stem from a variety of psychological triggers and
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can affect people of all ages.
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Food hoarding can have roots and past experiences with food insecurity.
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For example, Kimmy Karadon, owner of a grazing board company in Boston, shared her personal
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story of how her childhood experiences with food scarcity continued to affect her behavior
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today.
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She recalls sneaking food to her room and feeling anxious about food portions.
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During the COVID 19 pandemic, she and her sister had to consciously avoid the urge to
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hoard food despite no longer facing food insecurity.
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According to the International Obsessive Consultive Disorder Foundation, approximately
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2% to 6% of people suffer from a hoarding disorder.
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And food hoarding is often part of this condition.
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Furthermore, about 75% of those with a hoarding disorder also have another mental health such
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as major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder.
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Licensed professional counselor and certified eating disorder specialist, Kate Daygal,
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explained that it is natural to have an emotional relationship with food.
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However, for individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder, a history of food scarcity
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or other trauma, The need to stockpile food can become debilitating.
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Degel noted that young children may hide food in their rooms as a form of emotional security,
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while adults with access to money might purchase large quantities and stash it in
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various hiding places.
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The fixation on hoarding food can have significant consequences financially, it can
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drain resources that are needed for other basic necessity There are also sanitary and health
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risks associated with storing food that eventually goes bad.
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From a mental health perspective, food hoarding can lead to social isolation and increased
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anxiety.
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Some people may feel more comfortable being around their stockpile of food rather than
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engaging in social activities.
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Doctor Saul, Aaron Reinhardt, a professor of neuroscience at Susquehanna University, pointed
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out that the behavior of storing food is in some ways, an evolved survival mechanism.
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Many animals exhibit similar behaviors to ensure they have enough resources during times
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of scarcity.
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This insurance policy against famine can become exaggerated in humans who have experienced food
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insecurity or other traumas.
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It is essential to understand that food hoarding is not merely about the food itself,
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but about the underlying behaviors and emotions.
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Some individuals may have experienced significant trauma in their childhood, such as
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a true lack of available resources or unmet emotional needs.
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These experiences can lead to hoarding behaviors as a means of coping with past
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deprivation or ensuring future security.
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If you suspect that a loved one is struggling with food hoarding, it is crucial to approach
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the situation with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment.
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Licensed professionals with expertise and trauma, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive
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disorder, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors can provide the necessary support to address these
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deep seated issues.
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Seeking professional help can guide individuals toward healthier coping mechanisms and improve
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their overall quality of life.
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In summary, food hoarding is a complex issue rooted in past traumas and psychological
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triggers.
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It can have far reaching effects on an individual's financial, physical, and emotional
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well-being.
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If you or someone you know is dealing with food hoarding, reaching out to a mental health
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professional can be a vital step toward recovery.
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That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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Thank you for joining me as we explored some of the most pressing medical and health news from
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around the world.
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Remember, staying informed is key to making better health decisions.
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For more updates.
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Have a great day and stay healthy.