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May 3, 2024 Vejon MED update:

• COVID: AstraZeneca withdraws its COVID-19 vaccine

• Vejon: Highlights of the week from Vejon Health

• Dementia: Banking behavior could help detect Alzheimer's

• Obesity: Overweight pregnancy may cause overweight children

• Infographic: What’s Your Body Made of?

• News: Medical News in Brief

• Book Nook: Publications that may interest you

• Chat Vejon: Ask our AI Expert relevant medical questions

  Read time: 5 minutes

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

COVID

AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine

• AstraZeneca initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to declining demand and newer variant-targeting vaccines.

• The vaccine saved over 6.5 million lives in its first year and supplied over 3 billion doses worldwide.

• Rare blood clots (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia) were reported, affecting approximately 1 in 50,000 patients, sometimes with fatal outcomes.

• AstraZeneca no longer manufactures or supplies the vaccine, and it is not authorized for use in the EU.

Why is this Important: The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine's global withdrawal signifies a shift in the pandemic response, as newer variant-targeting vaccines become more prevalent and demand for the original vaccine declines[1][2][4]. Despite saving millions of lives, rare side effects and the need for updated formulations led to this important transition.

VEJON HEALTH

Vejon Video Highlights of the Week

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Banking behavior could help detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease

• AI modeling of banking behavior can detect Alzheimer's disease up to 4 years before clinical diagnosis.

• 71% of individuals with Alzheimer's and related dementias can be identified early based on money management difficulties.

• For individuals living alone, the detection rate rises to 92% when considering financial management issues.

• Banks could use this data to protect customers with dementia and inform trusted nominees about suspected signs.

Why is this Important: Research suggests that AI analysis of banking behavior can detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease up to 4 years before clinical diagnosis. This could lead to earlier interventions, better financial protection for vulnerable individuals, and the ability for banks to inform trusted nominees about suspected cognitive decline.

INFOGRAPHIC

OBESITY

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases odds of having overweight children

• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of having overweight children.

• Children of mothers with excessive gestational weight gain were more likely to be overweight at ages 1-5.

• The association between maternal weight gain and childhood obesity was stronger in mothers with overweight or obesity.

• Interventions to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain may help reduce risk of childhood obesity.

Why is this Important: This paper highlights the importance of preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy, as it can increase the risk of childhood obesity. This finding suggests that interventions targeting healthy weight management in pregnant women could be an effective strategy for reducing the prevalence of obesity in future generations.

DIABETES

The consumption of certain food additive emulsifiers could be associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

• Researchers in France studied the link between dietary intake of emulsifiers and type 2 diabetes risk.

• The study was conducted over a 14-year follow-up period in a large general population.

• 30-60% of dietary energy intake in adults in Europe and North America comes from ultra-processed foods.

• Emulsifiers are commonly used in processed foods to improve appearance, taste, texture, and shelf life.

Why is this Important: Consuming certain food additive emulsifiers, commonly found in ultra-processed foods, may be linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This highlights the need for further research and potential dietary recommendations to prevent diabetes.

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COVID SURVEY

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 Youth-onset diabetes linked to higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life: There is evidence to suggest that youth-onset diabetes may significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life. With rising obesity and diabetes rates among young people, this highlights the need for early intervention and monitoring to prevent neurodegenerative diseases in adulthood

🚥 Clinical trials demonstrate the health benefits of dietary interventions: The article highlights the significant health benefits of dietary interventions demonstrated in clinical trials. Despite challenges, these trials are crucial to combat misinformation and establish evidence-based dietary recommendations that can prevent chronic diseases and promote well-being in an age of rampant digital misinformation.

🚥 Childhood sedentariness linked to premature heart damage: Highlights the detrimental impact of childhood sedentariness on heart health, leading to premature heart enlargement and increased cardiovascular risk. Promoting light physical activity from an early age could potentially reverse this risk, underscoring the importance of active lifestyles for long-term heart health.

🚥 Higher Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Increased Mortality Risk: There are significant health risks associated with consuming ultra-processed foods, based on a large long-term study, which suggests that reducing intake of these foods could lower mortality rates.

🚥 Air pollutants exacerbate allergic diseases like asthma and rhinitis: A recent study found that air pollutants exacerbate allergic diseases like asthma and rhinitis by disrupting pollen, increasing allergenic pollen exposure due to climate change, and boosting plants' production of allergenic proteins.

🚥 Scientists identify brain circuit controlling inflammatory reactions in mice: Identifying the brain circuit that controls inflammatory responses in mice opens up new avenues for treating immune diseases and disorders by modulating this circuit's activity. It provides insights into how the brain monitors and regulates body physiology.

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