The “gold-standard” treatments for Parkinson’s Disease may be working against each other.
Research published in Nature Microbiology has found that a class of drugs typically prescribed to help more levodopa reach the brain actually reduce the effectiveness of levodopa. By killing off certain beneficial bacteria, these drugs allow others to thrive and destroy the levodopa before it can ever cross the blood-brain barrier. this discovery highlights the need to consider the microbiome when prescribing complex drug combinations.
Ultrasound isn’t just for imaging.
There’s a new way to clean medical devices and it involves sound waves. New research shows that sound waves can be used to clean medical stents and catheters. These tools often clog over time, increasing the risk of infection. thankfully, this new method could keep them clear without invasive procedures to the patient. the research is published in the journal, IEEE Transactions On Ultrasonics, Faro-Electrics, And Frequency Control.
Should food companies pay the FDA?
The agency collects ‘user fees’ from pharmaceutical companies to help fund its safety research. Now, experts are proposing that the food industry gets on-board. An analysis in the journal Health Affairs expects this move to generate more resources for the FDA. For an agency that’s currently understaffed and underfunded, this could drastically aid its regulation efforts.
Sleep apnea may silently rewire the brain.
Imaging research published in Neurology shows that untreated sleep apnea doesn’t just disrupt sleep—it can impair memory and mood. Scientists found altered connections in areas that control emotion, attention, and short-term memory. These changes can occur even in people who don’t notice symptoms. Doctors say early screening and treatment could protect the brain over time.
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