Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Sleep and Dementia Link, Affordable Obesity Drugs, and Hair Loss Treatment Advances

Transcript

Sleep and Dementia Link, Affordable Obesity Drugs, and Hair Loss Treatment Advances · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning and welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:02
  Chow, your daily dose of the latest medical and health news from around the globe.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow.
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  Today, we'll dive into some fascinating research on sleep patterns and dementia risk
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  among older women, explore the impact of political and economic turmoil on mental
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  health, discuss the disappearance of affordable obesity drug alternatives, consider the
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  implications of avian flu on bird feeders, and discover a novel treatment for hair loss using
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  a repurposed drug from the 1990s.
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  Let's get started!
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  In today's episode, we'll be discussing a recent study that sheds light on the connection
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  between sleep patterns and dementia risk in older women.
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  Conducted by Yue Leng and colleagues from the University of California San Francisco, this
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  research highlights how changes in sleep patterns can significantly impact the
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  likelihood of developing dementia among cognitively unimpaired women in their 80s.
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  The study, published in the journal Neurology, followed 733 women with an average age of 82.5
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  years over a five-year period.
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  Researchers used wrist actigraphy to monitor sleep-wake patterns at the beginning and end of
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  the study.
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  They found that women who experienced increasing 24-hour sleepiness over the five
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  years had twice the odds of developing dementia compared to those with stable sleep patterns.
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  Interestingly, the study identified specific sleep profile parameters linked to dementia,
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  such as sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and nap duration and frequency.
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  However, declining nighttime sleep was not associated with an increased risk of dementia,
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  which is a noteworthy finding.
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  The researchers suggest that changes in daily sleep patterns could serve as early markers or
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  risk factors for dementia in the oldest old.
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  This study is among the first to examine longitudinal changes in various aspects of
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  sleep patterns and their relationship with cognitive health.
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  It emphasizes the importance of viewing sleep health holistically and over time.
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  The findings also align with previous research, suggesting that shifts in sleep behavior could
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  help conceptualize strategies for diagnosing, preventing, and treating dementia.
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  Editorialists Marino Muxfeldt Bianchin and Eduardo Rigon Zimmer from the Universidade
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  Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil noted that recognizing the impact of sleep
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  disturbances on dementia is crucial.
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  They argue that sleep is not just a rest period but a foundation for cognitive well-being, and
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  initiatives to improve sleep efficiency and encourage lifestyle changes could be essential
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  in reducing dementia risk in aging populations.
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  While the study provides valuable insights, it's important to note its limitations.
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  The sample consisted mainly of white women in their 80s, so the findings may not apply to
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  other populations.
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  Additionally, the cognitive assessments were conducted concurrently with the second sleep
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  evaluation, meaning changes in cognition and sleep may have occurred in parallel.
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  Future research should explore all aspects of daily sleep patterns to better understand their
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  link to dementia risk.
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  Today, we're turning our attention to a pressing issue affecting the workforce: the
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  mental health struggles stemming from political turmoil and economic uncertainty.
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  A recent survey conducted by Modern Health has revealed that nearly seventy-five percent of
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  employees reported experiencing mood declines, with current events, crime, and financial
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  concerns cited as leading contributors to their distress.
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  The survey highlights a significant shift in what employees perceive as the primary drivers
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  of their mental health challenges.
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  While crime and finances have traditionally been major concerns, current events have now
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  overtaken them as the top cause of stress.
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  This reflects the intense political climate and the rapid pace of change affecting both
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  domestic and international landscapes.
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  In this survey of one thousand full-time employees, a striking seventy-five percent
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  expressed a desire for their companies to provide enhanced mental health support,
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  specifically to address the anxiety induced by political turmoil.
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  It seems that the efforts made by businesses during and after the pandemic to support mental
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  health are now deemed insufficient by many workers, with eighty-one percent indicating a
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  need for reinforcement.
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  Alyson Watson, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Modern Health, emphasized the clear
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  message from their findings: American employees are struggling with their mental health, and
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  the toll taken by global political turmoil is particularly severe.
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  This isn't just a personal issue for employees; it affects how they perform in the workplace.
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  The survey also found that the residual effects of the pandemic continue to impact the
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  workforce's mental health.
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  Gen Z respondents, in particular, reported that their mental health hasn't fully recovered from
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  the pandemic's challenges.
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  Moreover, there's a perception among fifty-eight percent of employees that current
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  discussions about mental health support are merely performative, with only thirty-six
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  percent finding them adequate.
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  The survey underscores the urgency for employers to genuinely address these mental
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  health concerns.
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  With ninety-six percent of participants reporting that they've been affected by news of
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  global political or economic turmoil, the need for effective mental health strategies in the
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  workplace is apparent.
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  Dr.
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  Neha Chaudhary, the Chief Medical Officer of Modern Health, points out that despite hopes
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  that the worst of the pandemic's impact on mental health is behind us, the reality is that
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  its effects are ongoing.
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  Employers are now faced with a critical choice: to either enhance their mental health support
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  systems or risk losing employees to burnout and dissatisfaction.
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  As employers consider their options, it's worth noting the financial implications of ignoring
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  these mental health challenges.
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  A study from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that U.S.
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  businesses lose between four thousand and twenty-one thousand dollars in productivity per
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  worker each year due to stress and burnout.
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  This highlights the economic incentive for companies to invest in their employees' mental
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  well-being.
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  Ultimately, this survey serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fostering a
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  supportive and resilient workplace culture.
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  As Dr.
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  Chaudhary suggests, prioritizing authentic mental health support can boost productivity,
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  enhance workforce resilience, and help retain talent.
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  It's a call to action for business leaders to create environments where employees can thrive
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  despite external challenges.
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  Today, we're diving into a pressing issue that's impacting many patients who rely on
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  affordable obesity drug alternatives.
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  Compounded versions of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, which have provided a more cost-effective
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  option for many, are being discontinued as of this Wednesday.
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  This decision is causing significant concern among patients who have come to depend on these
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  medications.
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  Christina and Jackson Agar, who live in Minnesota, provide a poignant example of the
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  transformative impact these drugs have had.
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  Since starting on a compounded alternative to Zepbound, they've each lost about 20 pounds
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  over six weeks.
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  Christina has more energy for their four kids, and Jackson no longer needs his sleep apnea
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  machine.
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  These changes have been life-altering for them.
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  The compounded alternatives contain tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound,
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  and have been produced by compounding pharmacies due to a shortage of the brand-name
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  drug.
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  However, with the Food and Drug Administration declaring the shortage over, these pharmacies
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  must cease production by the deadline this week, leaving patients like the Agars in a
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  difficult position.
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  Many patients are now scrambling to find solutions.
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  Margot Carmichael from Arizona shared her disbelief and anxiety over the discontinuation.
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  She, like many others, had assumed the compounded versions would remain available due
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  to their widespread use and the significant benefit they provide.
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  The confusion among patients is exacerbated by mixed messages from telehealth companies.
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  Some assure patients they won't be affected, while others are conducting last-minute sales
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  before the deadline.
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  Compounding pharmacies, like Olympia Pharmaceuticals, are racing to produce as much
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  tirzepatide as possible before production halts, hoping to meet patient demand in the
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  interim.
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  The financial burden of switching to the brand-name Zepbound is daunting for many.
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  Eli Lilly offers discounts for those not using insurance, but even with these reductions, the
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  cost remains high.
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  Patients like Carmichael have been able to buy three months' worth of the compounded drug for
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  the same price as one month's supply of Zepbound from Eli Lilly.
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  Some patients are resorting to creative measures, such as purchasing large vials and
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  stretching their use over time to save money.
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  However, the lack of preservatives in Eli Lilly's vials complicates this strategy, as
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  they are intended for single-use only.
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  This complexity adds another layer of challenge for those trying to manage their treatment
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  costs.
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  In extreme cases, some individuals are considering buying the active ingredient from
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  overseas and attempting to mix the drugs themselves, a risky endeavor that raises safety
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  concerns due to the need for sterility in injectable medications.
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  Jackson Agar and his family, however, are not willing to take such risks, despite the
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  financial pressures they face.
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  The situation highlights a broader issue of accessibility and affordability in healthcare,
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  particularly for treatments that significantly impact quality of life.
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  As patients like the Agars and Carmichael navigate these challenges, there's a clear need
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  for more sustainable solutions that ensure continued access to necessary medications
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  without imposing prohibitive costs.
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  In recent news, there's growing concern about the spread of avian influenza, commonly known
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  as bird flu, and its implications for our feathered friends and even our backyard
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  activities.
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  With the outbreak affecting a wide variety of wild bird species across North America, many
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  people are wondering if it's time to take down their bird feeders to prevent further spread of
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  the virus.
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  The bird flu has indeed had a significant impact, particularly on poultry farms, leading
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  to economic repercussions like rising egg prices.
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  However, when it comes to wild birds, over one hundred seventy species have been affected,
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  including ducks, geese, gulls, and even majestic eagles.
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  Despite this, experts are urging the public not to panic but to take sensible precautions
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  around sick or dead wild birds.
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  According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than twelve thousand
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  individual birds have tested positive for the virus, although this number is likely
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  underestimated since many deceased birds aren't tested.
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  The virus is known to co-evolve with waterfowl like dabbling ducks, which can carry it with
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  minimal symptoms but still spread it through their feces or saliva, potentially infecting
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  other birds or mammals.
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  Interestingly, songbirds such as Northern cardinals and blue jays, which commonly visit
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  backyard feeders, appear to be less affected.
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  Michael J.
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  Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy, notes that these birds don't
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  typically gather in large groups, reducing the likelihood of virus transmission at feeders.
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  This means you can generally keep your bird feeders up, though experts recommend regular
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  cleaning.
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  For those who also keep backyard chickens, it's advised to take down bird feeders to prevent
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  any potential transmission to your poultry.
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  The risk of the virus spreading to humans from bird feeders is considered very low, but
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  maintaining clean feeding stations is always a good practice.
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  The symptoms of bird flu in wild birds can vary, but they often include a lack of
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  coordination, difficulty flying, and respiratory distress.
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  If you come across a wild bird exhibiting these symptoms, it's best not to handle it directly.
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  Instead, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.
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  If handling is necessary, wearing gloves and a mask is recommended as a precaution.
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  The ongoing outbreak has particularly affected endangered species like the California condor,
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  prompting some scientists to organize vaccination programs.
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  However, such measures aren't feasible for the majority of wild bird species.
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  Instead, experts suggest protecting habitats and minimizing additional risks like exposure
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  to pesticides to give these birds the best chance of survival.
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  Despite the challenges posed by the virus, there are some positive signs.
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  For instance, while bald eagles were significantly affected in the early stages of
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  the outbreak, with many not surviving their first year, recent observations suggest a
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  rebound.
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  In northern Minnesota, a record number of bald eagles were spotted migrating this past season,
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  indicating potential acquired immunity and recovery within the population.
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  Today, we're exploring an intriguing development in the treatment of hair loss—a
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  repurposed drug from the 1990s that's making a comeback.
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  This might sound familiar to some of you who remember the original buzz around Rogaine,
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  which was a topical solution to help with thinning hair.
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  The drug in question is minoxidil, which was initially developed as a pill for high blood
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  pressure in the 1970s.
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  Interestingly, patients who took it for hypertension noticed increased hair growth as a
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  side effect.
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  This led to the topical form, Rogaine, being approved by the Food and Drug Administration in
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  1988 for male pattern baldness.
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  A lower dose for women followed in 1991, and it quickly became a staple in many households.
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  Fast forward to today, and dermatologists are prescribing low-dose minoxidil pills to help
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  both men and women maintain or regrow hair.
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  This shift is supported by recent studies suggesting that taking the drug in pill form
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  might be just as effective—if not more so—than applying it directly to the scalp.
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  One of the reasons for this shift is convenience.
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  Taking a pill once a day is far easier than the labor-intensive process of applying a liquid to
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  the scalp once or twice daily.
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  Dr.
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  Susan Taylor from the University of Pennsylvania notes that while people often
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  start topical treatments enthusiastically, many discontinue them due to the inconvenience.
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  The low doses used for hair treatment also reduce the risk of side effects, which can
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  include dizziness or rapid heartbeat.
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  However, it's important to note that minoxidil pills aren't recommended for everyone,
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  particularly those with a history of heart issues or pregnant and breastfeeding women.
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  Despite its effectiveness, minoxidil pills aren't approved by the Food and Drug
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  Administration for hair loss.
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  This is mainly because the patent has expired, and there's little financial incentive for
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  pharmaceutical companies to conduct the extensive studies needed for approval.
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  Nevertheless, many dermatologists prescribe it off-label for this purpose.
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  Telehealth companies are playing a role in increasing access to this treatment.
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  Companies like Hims and Ro offer easy access to prescriptions with a simple online process,
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  though it's advisable to consult with a dermatologist for a comprehensive evaluation
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  and personalized advice.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, it's clear that the landscape of hair loss treatment is
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  evolving, with old remedies finding new life in modern medicine.
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  This repurposing of minoxidil is a testament to the ongoing innovation in medical treatments,
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  offering hope to those struggling with hair loss.
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  That's all for today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Thank you for joining me, and I hope you found today's discussions insightful.
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  Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more updates on the latest in medical and health news.
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  Until then, stay healthy and take care!