New evidence: ALS is autoimmune disease

Medical Watch Digest for Oct 1

New evidence: ALS is autoimmune disease

After years of research, finally a potential answer as to what causes ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a deadly neuromuscular disease with no known cure.

The muscles degrade leaving patients unable to walk, speak or breathe.

About half of patients die within two years of being diagnosed.

Now researchers at La Jolla Institute for immunology say they have evidence ALS is an auto-immune disease.

Inflammatory immune cells called t-cells target healthy nervous system proteins leading to rapid muscular decline.

The knowledge gives investigators a potential target for disease treatment.

Study: Nearly 1 million Americans have BMI of 60 or greater

A troubling sign of healthcare discrimination.

Northwestern Medicine researchers found more than half of America’s specialty health clinics lack the critical tools to treat obese patients. They don’t have exam tables, chairs or even gowns for people with a BMI greater than 60.

And in many cases the front desk refused to even schedule an appointment for people greater than 450 pounds even when their symptoms indicated they may have cancer.

Their study also found patients with obesity often don’t get cancer screenings or preventive care.

Study authors say for people with severe obesity who are already struggling with difficulty navigating the world, this is both humiliating and potentially life altering as they are denied basic healthcare.

New patch can reduce cravings for those with substance use disorders

Treating addiction could be easier with a patch.

It doesn’t contain drugs.

Instead the wearable measures stress and heart rate for people with substance use disorders.

Typically stress triggers cravings and relapse. It also lowers heart rate variability.

The wearable biofeedback smart patch not only alerts people to elevated body stress, it offers cues to mediate emotions, improve cognitive control and breathing to return normal heart rate. 

Study participants who used the device had less negative emotions, reported fewer cravings for alcohol or drugs and were 64% less likely to use substances on any given day.