BEYOND

Infectious Disease & Neurodegeneration

A nationwide case control study done in Sweden links how hospital related infections (nosocomial infections) in early life can be related to a higher risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD) & Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Neurodegeneration data analysis

• Out of almost 12 million individuals, 300k people developed AD, 100k had Parkinson’s and 10k had ALS.
• Doctors also found out that a hospital-treated infection prior (5 or more years) to the diagnosis increased the risk of developing AD & PD by 16% and 4% respectively.
• People under 40 had the biggest risk of developing AD while the risk for developing PD was 40% higher.
• Even though multiple shreds of evidence involve AD & PD, there isn’t any solid evidence illustrating the link between ALS and hospital-related infections.

Some possible Limitations

• All the possible risk or protective factors for neurodegenerative conditions remain unknown.
• From the time when the study was conducted (1970-2016) until now, medicine and clinical practices have undergone changes and advancements. Therefore, if the results from this study will apply to today’s patients or not remains a question.
• The individuals that were involved in the study were all Swedish, including their ancestors, so the result may not apply to other ethnic groups.

• Getting prescription drugs has become easier with Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT). They cover the cost of prescription drugs for qualifying patients.
  

• Joe’s House is a non-profit organization that provides people with cancer and their families a place to stay while traveling for a healthcare emergency.
• Complex insurance paperwork’s stressing you? This website makes it easier to file an out-of-network claim

• Gum disease to Dementia: A meta-analysis has elucidated the fact that gum diseases and tooth loss could be associated with cognitive decline and dementia.
  

• New vaccine for Malaria: A clinical trial for malaria vaccine has shown promising results with around 75% efficacy during its trial.
• Cancer in young adults: Poor lifestyle like unhealthy diet, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle has made cancer a global problem among young adults (under 50yr age).
• Air pollution adversities: Teens are prone to arrhythmia after being exposed to polluted air for more than two hours was recently found in a study.  
• WHO’s exciting announcement: The end of the COVID-19 pandemic seems near as WHO declares that the reported death worldwide has been at its lowest since March 2020.

The Tree Man

Unusual growth that resembles the bark of a tree covers the hands, body, and face of an Indonesian, Dede Kosawa. This made him internationally famous and gave him the nickname of the Tree Man.

Doctors speculate that the bark-like warts are caused by a type of human papillomavirus(HPV) coupled with a genetic immune defect that exaggerated the whole situation.

The temporary fix to his condition seems to be wart removal surgery every few months. Kosawa, in 2007 had 12 pounds of warts removed surgically. After his 9^th round of surgery, he was able to use his hands and feet to a certain degree.

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