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☆ Damar Hamlin showing signs of 'remarkable improvement,' the Bills say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Erika Edwards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the Bills tweeted. Hamlin, 24, has been in intensive care after collapsing on the field from cardiac arrest during "Monday Night Football" on Jan. 2. There has been no official statement about what caused Hamlin's cardiac arrest. It is in this exact moment, experts say, that a blow to the chest in the exact right place can launch an otherwise healthy person into cardiac arrest. Thursday morning, Hamlin's teammate Kaiir Elam said in a tweet, "Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement."

☆ This biotech founder has a new plan to treat Tourette Syndrome, which affects 200,000 Americans each year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Emalex Bioscience is developing a new treatment for Tourette Syndrome. Tourette Syndrome currently has no cure and few treatment options. That's how in 2018 he came to found Emalex Biosciences, a pharmaceutical startup, to test a new drug for Tourette Syndrome. Emalex's drug works in a different way than other Tourette treatmentsIn spite of a tough market for biotech startups, Emalex has managed to raise $250 million from investors in November to develop its Tourette Syndrome drug candidate, called ecopipam. Many of the current approved therapies for Tourette Syndrome target D1 dopamine receptors in the brain.

The study participants all had blood-sodium concentrations considered to be within the normal range: 135 to 146 millimoles per liter. Even people with blood-sodium levels above 142 millimoles per liter had elevated risks of developing certain chronic diseases, including heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disease, diabetes and dementia, the study found. Dmitrieva's previous research similarly found that higher blood sodium may be a risk factor for heart failure. But the study authors cautioned that more research is needed to determine whether good hydration can help slow aging, prevent disease or lead to a longer life. The NIH study "doesn’t prove that drinking more water will prevent chronic disease," he said.

Dec 28 (Reuters) - TG Therapeutics Inc (TGTX.O) said on Wednesday that the U.S. health regulator had approved its monoclonal antibody for treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, sending its shares up nearly 9% in afternoon trade. TG Therapeutics said it was expecting to launch the drug, branded as Briumvi, in the first quarter of 2023, but did not give details on its pricing. Jefferies analyst Chris Howerton said ahead of the approval that he was expecting the drug to be priced in the range of $30,000 per patient per year. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease in which the immune system attacks the brain cells causing motor disabilities. Unlike other MS drugs that target T cells, Briumvi belongs to a class of drugs that tackles B cells' role in driving the inflammation that is central to neurological disease.

☆ Why Human-Animal Hybrid Brains Hold Promise for Neurological Disease
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E35What Science Tells Us About the Surge in Strep and Flu This Season Getting the flu can increase the risk of getting a second infection, including strep throat. WSJ’S Daniela Hernandez explains the science behind that, plus what it means for the rest of the winter and how we can protect ourselves from the tripledemic. Illustration: David Fang

☆ How to help loved ones with disabilities during the holidays, from a TV host whose family struggled with aunt's MS diagnosis
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jeannie Mai Jenkins, a TV host on syndicated talk show "The Real," kept her Aunt Linh's multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis a secret from her other family members, until her aunt was ready to tell them herself. Once her family became aware of her aunt's condition, they decided to change how they approached the holidays. Those taxing gatherings also influenced Mai Jenkins to get involved with Express4MS, a new campaign that aims to provide visibility into the journeys of people living with the disease. Ultimately, her family made adjustments that could help people with conditions beyond MS, too. "If you have someone in your family who has a condition of any kind, keep this in mind," she adds.

☆ Aromatherapy spray that killed two people in a multistate outbreak also killed pet raccoon
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Mirna Alsharif | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A lavender and chamomile-scented aromatherapy spray contaminated with deadly bacteria that killed two people has also killed one of the victim's pet raccoon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The spray was linked to a multistate outbreak that killed a 5-year-old boy in Georgia and a 53-year-old woman in Kansas. The aromatherapy spray was also the source of the illness of a 53-year-old man in Minnesota and a 4-year-old girl in Texas. According to the CDC, the Texas patient's previously healthy pet raccoon broke a bottle of the spray and walked through the liquid. The bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei are rarely found in the United States and are generally found in contaminated soil or water in parts of South and Southeast Asia.

☆ Buy this little-known and underappreciated biopharma stock with nearly 60% upside, Goldman Sachs says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Investors should consider putting money in Xenon Pharmaceuticals , a biopharma stock poised to rally as Wall Street gains more clarity on its drug to treat epilepsy, Goldman Sachs says. The stock, he said, could jump 58% from Tuesday's close, given the bank's price target, and offers investors "innovation and blockbuster potential in an overlooked neuro category." Those gains would come even after a solid 24% gain this year and near 8% gain this month." And Xenon has solid balance sheet, Choi said. "Although pricing power will likely be limited, we think [the drug's] differentiated profile ... combined with good launch execution portends blockbuster FOS sales in the mostly generic epilepsy category," Choi wrote.

☆ Celine Dion has stiff-person syndrome, a one-in-a-million diagnosis. These are its symptoms.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Aria-Bendix-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Aria Bendix | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Celine Dion's diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome has brought public attention to the rare neurological disorder, which affects roughly one or two out of every million people. People with stiff-person syndrome often experience rigidity in their torso and limbs, as well as severe muscle spasms that can cause them to fall down. Stiff-person syndrome overall disrupts the normal pathways of communication between the brain and the muscles. A small minority of cancer patients may also produce antibodies that attack the nervous system and trigger stiff-person syndrome, Helfgott added. Because many symptoms of stiff-person syndrome overlap with those of Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia or anxiety, it often takes time to diagnose.

☆ Celine Dion reveals she has stiff-person syndrome in an emotional video, postpones tour dates
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Drew Weisholtz | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Celine Dion revealed on Thursday that she has a rare medical condition that has forced her to postpone dates on her European tour next year. “As you know, I’ve always been an open book and I wasn’t ready to say anything before, but I’m ready now. “Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff-person syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people. I love you guys so much and I really hope I can see you again real soon.”Dion had canceled North American tour dates in January and European dates in April due to health issues. Stiff-person syndrome, or SPS, is a rare neurological disorder with some features of an autoimmune disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.

☆ Celine Dion Reveals Stiff-Person Syndrome Diagnosis, Cancels and Reschedules 2023 Tour Dates
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Alyssa Lukpat | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Celine Dion said Thursday she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome that makes it hard to sing the way she wants to, prompting her to reschedule and cancel dozens of shows. The Canadian singer, 54 years old, said in a video on Instagram that she was recently diagnosed with the disorder. It affects her vocal cords, among other things, leaving an uncertain future for one of the bestselling artists of all time. Over her decadeslong career she has produced hits like “My Heart Will Go On” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

☆ Here's how to treat Stiff Person Syndrome, the neurological condition that Céline Dion was diagnosed with that affects her voice
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Céline Dion said she's been diagnosed with a rare condition called Stiff Person Syndrome. The neurological condition can cause muscle spasms and affect vocal cords. SPS has no cure, but there are a some treatments that can be used to manage the condition. While there's no cure for SPS, which can cause muscle spasms and difficulties walking, there are ways for patients to manage their condition. Patients with SPS can have frequent and serious falls as a result of their condition, according to the The National institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

☆ Celine Dion reveals she has rare neurological disorder, postpones shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Singer Celine Dion arrives to attend the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019/20 collection show by designer Alexandre Vauthier in Paris, France, July 2, 2019. REUTERS/Regis DuvignauDec 8 (Reuters) - Canadian singer Celine Dion said she has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff-Person Syndrome that causes muscle spasms and has led her to postpone some European shows. Dion's muscle spasms led her to postpone her Las Vegas residency in October 2021. The "My Heart Will Go On" singer said that while she misses her fans, her health is her focus right now. While Dion's spring 2023 shows will be rescheduled for the following year, eight summer 2023 shows have been canceled.

☆ French farmer awarded 11,000 euros over Bayer pesticide inhalation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A French court has ordered Germany's Bayer (BAYGn.DE) to pay compensation of some 11,000 euros ($11,560) to a crop farmer for the accidental inhalation of a weedkiller, ending a 15-year legal battle, his lawyer and the company said on Thursday. "11,000 euros for so much sacrifice," the farmer, Paul Francois, told franceinfo radio. Francois had argued that the fumes he inhaled from the weedkiller Lasso, a product that was subsequently withdrawn from the French market, caused neurological problems, including memory loss, fainting and headaches. Bayer France said in a statement that the sum awarded to the farmer was less than 1% of what he had requested. The exact amount of the damages was 11,135 euros, the farmer's lawyer told Reuters.

☆ Celine Dion reveals she has a rare neurological syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Celine Dion is postponing several Europe tour dates after the recent diagnosis of a rare neurological disorder that doesn’t allow her “to sing the way I’m used to,” she announced. The superstar singer has stiff-person syndrome, which affects “something like one in a million people,” Dion, 54, said in an emotional video post Thursday to her verified Instagram account. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having,” she said. “Symptoms may include extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility,” the institute says. Dion has struggled with her health for a while, she said, adding she has a great team of medical professionals and her children’s support.

☆ What is stiff person syndrome?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Raenu Charles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Stiff person syndrome is a rare neurological condition that can take years to diagnose and tailor treatment. What is stiff person syndrome? The first case of stiff person syndrome was reported in the 1950s, according to Newsome, and the disease was historically referred to as “stiff man syndrome.”Since then, it has been found to affect twice as many women than men, and the name was changed to stiff person syndrome to avoid confusion. On average, it takes about seven years for someone to receive a diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, Newsome says. “Sometimes, [patients] get labeled crazy,” he said, “because on exam early on, there aren’t the hallmark features of stiff person syndrome.”How is stiff person syndrome treated?

☆ Factbox: Neuralink: what you need to know about Elon Musk's brain chip company
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that Reuters reported on Monday is the target of a federal investigation over its animal trial program, has been trying to develop a brain chip that would enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind to see. In a presentation webcast last week, the company showcased improvements in the speed and capabilities of the chip. Neuralink has yet to secure U.S. regulatory approval to move to human trials - unlike competitor Synchron, which has less ambitious goals for its medical advances. Neuralink has missed Musk's publicly stated deadlines to start human trials and this year submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin them. Musk said last week he believes Neuralink can start human clinical trials in six months.

☆ Measles outbreak in central Ohio grows to more than 50 children, driven by ‘lack of vaccination’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A measles outbreak in central Ohio is growing, sickening more than 50 children, with many of them needing hospitalization, according to data updated Tuesday by Columbus Public Health. “Measles can be very serious, especially for children under age 5,” Columbus Public Health spokesperson Kelli Newman wrote in an email Monday. In the Ohio outbreak, the hospitalized children have been seen at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “For measles, it is the most infectious disease we have,” she said. Pediatric hospitals already strainedWhile the measles outbreak spreads across central Ohio, the United States has been battling a surge of respiratory illnesses, such as flu and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

☆ Exclusive: Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Rachael Levy | Thomson Reuters | Award-Winning Journalist Covering Corporate Governance. Her Reporting Has Prompted Federal Investigations | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

Reuters could not determine the full scope of the federal investigation or whether it involved the same alleged problems with animal testing identified by employees in Reuters interviews. Musk has pushed hard to accelerate Neuralink’s progress, which depends heavily on animal testing, current and former employees said. Delcianna Winders, director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, said it is “very unusual” for the USDA inspector general to investigate animal research facilities. In September, the company responded to employee concerns about its animal testing by holding a town hall to explain its processes. “We’re extremely careful,” he said, to make sure that testing is “confirmatory, not exploratory,” using animal testing as a last resort after trying other methods.

☆ Herschel Walker had ties to two charities that appear to have engaged in little, if any charity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

He was also featured in marketing material for the Livio Cares Foundation and was listed as a Livio Cares Partner. However, there is no evidence Livio Cares engaged in philanthropic activities. According to ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, Walker was listed as the director of VMP Nutrition Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website, the right to transact business in Texas for VMP Nutrition as well as VMP Nutrition Foundation is listed as "forfeited." In 2017, VMP Nutrition and its founder Rodriguez settled a lawsuit filed by Southside Bank for an alleged failure to repay a $2,795,534 lien.

☆ Factbox: What does Elon Musk's brain chip company Neuralink do?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Neuralink has produced several examples of testing aspects of its technology successfully on animals, including a video in 2021 that showed a macaque playing a simple videogame after being implanted with a brain chip. In a presentation webcast last week, the company showcased improvements in the speed and capabilities of the chip. Neuralink has yet to secure U.S. regulatory approval to move to human trials - unlike competitor Synchron, which has less ambitious goals for its medical advances. Neuralink has missed Musk's publicly stated deadlines to start human trials and this year submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to begin them. Musk said last week he believes Neuralink can start human clinical trials in six months.

☆ The story of Neuralink: Elon Musk's AI brain chip company where he had twins with a top executive
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Isobel Asher Hamilton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Neuralink is one of Elon Musk's strange and futuristic companies. Neuralink is Musk's neural interface technology company. It's developing a device that would be embedded in a person's brain, where it would record brain activity and potentially stimulate it. Musk also had twins with top Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, Insider was first to report. While Musk likes to talk up his futuristic vision for the technology, the tech has some potential near-term medical applications.

The authors noted that “social forces” may have played a part in the accelerated brain aging seen among their Black subjects. A lot of things contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s, like high blood pressure and diabetes. Pete Comparoni“Elevated blood pressure is a very strong risk factor for worsening cerebrovascular disease,” King said. One option is through activities like restorative yoga, which Grant said can help address stress and regulate blood pressure and brain function. You have to go to your primary care doctor and check your blood pressure and blood sugar level.

☆ Millions suffer from long Covid — and it costs them $9,000 a year in health-care expenses, on average
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

There is no cure or approved treatment for ME/CFS; as with long Covid, patient symptoms are merely treated or managed. 'People are trying all sorts of treatments'Getting an official long Covid diagnosis can be challenging, which can compound early expenses. Like many who suffer from long Covid, Pohl seeks relief from crippling symptoms wherever it's available. "There are so many of us now that it's taking months to see professionals," she said of long Covid patients. watch nowTime alone generally doesn't cure long Covid symptoms; it often requires some form of rehabilitation.

☆ Experimental drug appears to slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease in clinical trial but raises safety concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

It involved 1,795 adults, ages 50 to 90, with mild cognitive impairment due to early Alzheimer’s disease or mild Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. Such a score is consistent with early Alzheimer’s disease, with a higher number associated with more cognitive impairment. By 18 months, the CDR-SB score went up 1.21 points in the lecanemab group, compared with 1.66 in the placebo group. Overall, there were serious adverse events in 14% of the lecanemab group and 11.3% of the placebo group. The researchers also wrote that about 0.7% of participants in the lecanemab group and 0.8% of those in the placebo group died, corresponding to six deaths documented in the lecanemab group and seven in the placebo group.

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