Marijuana users may face hidden driving danger that standard tests can miss

A new study warns that driving after eating cannabis edibles can significantly impair road performance and reaction times, even if blood tests show THC levels far below the legal limit.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, highlight a potential challenge for impaired-driving enforcement in Canada and some U.S. jurisdictions.

Most previous cannabis-driving studies have involved smoked or inhaled marijuana, which more rapidly spikes levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) in the bloodstream.

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Edibles are absorbed more slowly and can produce driving impairment even when blood THC concentrations remain relatively low.

Researchers found that drivers who consumed higher doses of edible THC struggled with lane control, had slower reaction times and experienced greater speed fluctuations. Yet, their blood tests stayed below the standard legal cutoff used to prove impairment at roadside traffic stops.

To assess how oral cannabis impacts driving, researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto conducted a trial with 40 healthy adult volunteers who regularly use cannabis.

Each participant attended four separate sessions in which they consumed soft-chew gummies containing either 0, 2, 10 or 20 milligrams of THC.

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The researchers then tested the drivers using a driving simulator at two, five and 24 hours after consumption, tracking how well drivers stayed in their lane, how quickly they reacted to road events and how consistently they maintained their speed.

Blood samples and self-reported ratings of intoxication were also collected.

The results showed driving impairment at two and five hours after consuming 10- and 20-milligram gummies. Compared with placebo, participants who consumed those doses had greater variability in lane position, while the 20-milligram dose was also linked to slower reaction times and less consistent speed control.

Participants also recognized their own limitations, reporting a lower willingness to drive and reduced confidence in their driving skills after taking the gummies.

The highest blood THC concentrations averaged 1.6 nanograms per milliliter after the 10-milligram dose and 3.4 nanograms per milliliter after the 20-milligram dose. Those levels were below the commonly used 5-ng/mL threshold, although THC limits vary by jurisdiction and some individual samples exceeded 5 ng/mL.

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By comparison, participants in the team’s previous smoked-cannabis study showed similar levels of impairment while reaching an average peak blood THC concentration of 30.3 nanograms per milliliter, nearly 10 times higher than the 20-milligram edible group.

The study did have some limitations. Tests were conducted on virtual simulators rather than actual roads, meaning drivers faced no real physical risk during the experiments. It also focused on regular cannabis users, so it is unclear how occasional users might react to similar doses.

Additionally, minimal residual effects were detected after 24 hours. While maximum speed remained slightly higher among participants on the 10-milligram and 20-milligram doses, subjective feelings of intoxication had completely faded.

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In an accompanying commentary, Dr. José Ignacio Nazif-Munoz of the Université de Sherbrooke noted that these biological differences pose a challenge for law enforcement.

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Because edibles are absorbed slowly through the digestive system, standard blood tests may fail to identify unsafe drivers, leaving policymakers searching for more reliable roadside tools.

"The delayed absorption and prolonged duration of effects of edible cannabis distinguish it from smoked or inhaled cannabis, complicating the interpretation of biological measures," he wrote.

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Deadly mosquito-borne virus claims first life in major US city as cases spread

A Chicago resident has died from West Nile virus, marking the city’s first death linked to the mosquito-borne illness this year, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Several other cases have been reported throughout Illinois.

The virus is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, although the disease cycle also includes infected birds. When mosquitoes feed on infected birds, they can pick up the virus and transmit it to humans.

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"2026 has seen the rainiest summer in Chicago in years, giving mosquitoes ample opportunities to breed," CDPH Commissioner Garth Walker said in a statement.

"The best way to protect yourself from West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites and take measures to stop them from breeding around your home."

In an attempt to prevent infections, the CDPH has sprayed insecticide in the following community areas: Beverly, Burnside, Chatham, East Garfield Park, the Lower West Side, Morgan Park, the Near West Side, North Lawndale, O'Hare, Pullman, Roseland, South Deering, Washington Heights, West Lawn and West Pullman.

For most people, West Nile produces mild symptoms — such as fever, aches and rashes — or none at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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In rare serious cases, the virus invades the nervous system, causing meningitis, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), paralysis or death.

People over 50 or those with compromised immune systems are at highest risk, experts caution.

"Of those who do have symptoms, about 20%, maybe 25%, will have the flu-like symptoms — fever, headache, body aches — and it’s very hard to distinguish between that and flu," Dr. Tyler Evans, an infectious diseases and addiction medicine doctor and associate professor at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.

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There are also rare, severe neuroinvasive cases, when the virus infects the brain.

"When there's inflammation that leads to meningitis or encephalitis, that's very bad," warned Evans, who is also the CEO and chief medical officer for Wellness Equity Alliance.

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"So if there's ever any severe headaches, stiff neck, disorientation, vision loss, feeling like you're just really confused, and if you're over the age of 65, or have immunocompromising conditions like severe diabetes or cancers, that's when you're going to want to seek emergency management as quickly as possible."

While there are no vaccines or specific treatments for West Nile virus, there are supportive treatments.

"For the flu-like symptoms, generally speaking, if you're not over the age of 65 and you're not immunocompromised, you don't have to go to the emergency room," Evans advised.

"But if you are over the age of 65 and/or have those immunocompromising conditions, and you're starting to experience confusion, headache, stiff neck … ER immediately, [call] 911."

Avoiding mosquito bites is the first line of defense, according to Evans.

"In areas where there are a lot of mosquitoes, DEET is going to be key," he said, recommending repellents that are at least 30% DEET for adults.

In high-burden mosquito areas, he also recommends avoiding the outdoors during sundown.

Health officials also recommend wearing loose, long-sleeved clothing; applying insect repellent (especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active); and ensuring that window screens are secure.

Around homes, eliminating standing water (like that found in buckets, tires and gutters) can help keep mosquitoes from breeding.

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There have been 407 reported human cases of West Nile virus in the U.S. this year, including 285 severe neuroinvasive cases and 23 deaths, according to the latest preliminary CDC data, current as of Sept. 1.

Most West Nile cases are reported in August and September.

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Popular diet slashes liver fat by 67% while reversing prediabetes in some people

The keto diet may have surprising benefits for liver health, a new study suggested.

The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, studied 42 adults who had obesity, prediabetes and excess liver fat.

In a randomized clinical trial, the participants were assigned to three weight-loss diets – a low-carb ketogenic diet, a Mediterranean diet and a low-fat, mostly plant-based diet.

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The keto diet’s calories consisted of about 4% carbohydrates and 73% fat, according to the study. The Mediterranean diet provided about 50% of calories from carbohydrates and 35% from fat, while the low-fat diet provided about 70% of calories from carbohydrates and 15% from fat.

In all three groups, muscle insulin sensitivity improved by about 50%, helping the muscles take up blood sugar more efficiently.

Liver insulin sensitivity improved two to three times as much in the keto group as in the other diet groups.

Liver fat decreased by roughly 67% among people following the keto diet, compared with about 45% among those on the other diets. The reduction was linked to a decrease in the liver’s production of new fat.

Glucose and insulin measures also generally improved more in the keto group. About 50% of participants in that group no longer met the criteria for prediabetes by the end of the trial, compared with 29% of those following the Mediterranean diet and 7% of those on the low-fat diet.

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The study’s short duration and small sample size — about 14 people in each diet group — limit how broadly the findings can be applied to the general population, the researchers said.

The researchers concluded that, among people with obesity, prediabetes and excess liver fat, the composition of a weight-loss diet may influence certain metabolic outcomes beyond the effects of weight loss alone. The keto diet produced the greatest improvements in liver fat and liver insulin sensitivity in this small trial.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein reflected on the study findings.

"I love more and more validation and recognition that calories are not equal," the California-based expert told Fox News Digital.

Muhlstein said people often reduce weight loss to "just a calorie deficit," but this study showed that differences in macronutrients were associated with different changes in health markers despite similar weight loss.

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Although weight loss occurred across all three groups, Muhlstein said the participants experienced different internal metabolic changes. The keto group showed a greater reduction in the liver’s production of new fat, along with metabolic changes consistent with greater fat burning.

Muhlstein explained that excess calories and metabolic dysfunction can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, even in people who do not drink alcohol.

She recommends that anyone with a fatty liver should consider transitioning to a lower carbohydrate diet.

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Muhlstein said reducing carbohydrate intake may encourage the body to use more stored fat for energy.

The findings were notable because the keto group did not experience higher cholesterol or blood-fat measurements during the short study, the expert noted.

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"This is a really interesting study for someone who has prediabetes, someone who had blood sugar irregularity, but maybe still something to be cautious of if someone has heart disease in the family or is at high risk of heart disease," she added.

Overall, Muhlstein said the findings suggest keto may be worth discussing as a short-term option for some people with obesity or prediabetes, particularly because the study found greater reductions in liver fat and higher rates of prediabetes remission — even though weight loss was similar across the three groups.

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"Keto is not something I recommend for anyone long-term because of the high saturated fat, and usually it translates into a lower-fiber diet, which is not good for heart health," Muhlstein said.

"So potentially, it should be something used short-term early on for someone with prediabetes, and then they can transition into Mediterranean, which would be overall helpful for your heart, your brain and so much more."

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Kai Trump reveals emotional college transition, claims she 'hasn't eaten in like three days'

Kai Trump, the 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump, detailed her emotional transition to college life in a video posted to her YouTube channel, capturing everything from early-morning team meetings to an unexpected bout of strep throat during her first week at the University of Miami.

The video documents her final days in Jupiter, Florida, before moving into her apartment to join the University of Miami women’s golf team as a freshman.

During the drive home after playing a round of golf before her move, Kai spoke about the stress of leaving her home routine behind.

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"I’ve been like literally sobbing," she said.

"It’s just like really sad that I have to say goodbye to like everyone today. I’m not like a very emotional person at all, so this is like really weird for me to cry."

She added, "I’m just struggling right now just like thinking about it, but like I’m excited."

Once Kai arrived in Miami, her best friend, Emma, helped her move in and brought along groceries to make sure she was eating during the busy move.

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"Emma got me some frozen foods because I haven't eaten in like three days," Kai said in the video.

As classes began, the president’s granddaughter chronicled the early start to her athletic and academic responsibilities, noting a 7 a.m. team meeting on her first Monday.

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"I’m very tired if you guys cannot tell by my face," she said while getting ready.

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The vlog also highlighted her official team gear haul, including Miami-branded apparel and golf equipment, as well as her first team practice. However, her initial week on campus was interrupted when she fell ill shortly after classes began.

"I got sick with strep on Wednesday, my first week of school," Kai told viewers later in the vlog.

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"I came all the way back to Jupiter because I was so sick. I needed like my mom to nurse me back to health."

Trump is the eldest daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife Vanessa Trump.

In other recent news involving her family, golfer Tiger Woods arrived alongside Vanessa Trump for Woods' plea conference hearing in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida that occurred in March.

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Women who start common hormone therapy in their 50s may have 23% lower dementia risk

Women who start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at a certain age may have a lower dementia risk, a new study suggests.

The study, which was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, analyzed UK Biobank data of 183,450 postmenopausal women averaging 60 years of age.

The U.K. researchers determined that HRT use was associated with about a 10% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over a 13-year follow-up period.

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The association was strongest among women who started the therapy between the ages of 46 and 56. It was also high among those who had undergone surgical menopause.

Starting HRT after age 56 was not associated with reduced dementia risk.

Dr. Alexa Fiffick, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Concierge Medicine of Westlake in Cleveland, Ohio, noted that this was an observational study that can’t show cause and effect.

"So, it kind of stays where the data has been for a while — that in certain patients, we have no evidence that it really makes a difference," she told Fox News Digital.

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"And for some patients, such as [those] who go through menopause a little bit younger, whether that's surgically or naturally, or if they have that APOE ε4 genotype that predisposes them to dementia, there may be some benefit."

The researchers also stated that as this was an observational study, it could not establish that HRT prevents dementia, but only showed an association.

The study also did not assess any safety outcomes or adverse events related to HRT.

Women who use HRT may differ from non-users in other ways that affect dementia risk, such as their overall health, lifestyle or access to healthcare, the researchers noted.

Although researchers adjusted for many of these factors, some unmeasured differences could still factor into the lower dementia risk seen among HRT users.

The study also did not have detailed information on the types of hormone therapy, the way they were administered or the specific dosages women took.

Most of the people in the study were of European ancestry and tended to be better off financially, so the findings may not apply equally to people from other populations.

This study alone likely doesn't warrant seeking out HRT just for dementia prevention, Fiffick said.

"However, if you're having symptoms, if you feel not yourself, come in, talk to your doctor, have that conversation," she advised.

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There is some data linking menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, with vascular changes in the brain, the doctor noted.

"So we are very hopeful to see that treating those symptoms may prevent the vascular changes that lead to vascular dementia, but we just don't have that data right now," she said. "So, it's worth the conversation, it's worth bringing up, but I wouldn't go out of your way for just this purpose."

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HRT does carry some known risks and side effects, Fiffick noted.

For oral versions of estrogen, there may be an increased risk of blood clots. That risk does not appear to exist for transdermal options, such as patches, gels and creams.

Other types of HRT may impact breast activity, overall inflammation, cardiovascular markers and cardiometabolic markers, according to the doctor.

"So it's not one size fits all, and it's really worth an extensive conversation."

The U.K. researchers plan to conduct randomized controlled trials to confirm that HRT reduces dementia risk. Future studies will include factors such as estrogen-only versus combined therapy, dosage amounts, administration route, treatment duration, age at the start of therapy, menopause type and potentially APOE genotype.

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"I think the more we have studies like this, the more we're going to propel forward the randomized controlled trials to really give women the data they deserve," Fiffick concluded.

"Women deserve to have information to use to make decisions about their bodies. So I'm excited to see the trends heading in that direction."

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New weight-loss compound melts fat without curbing appetite — and preserves muscle

A team of researchers led by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, has identified a decades-old oral compound that produced substantial weight loss in obese mice.

Rather than suppressing appetite, the compound appears to boost energy expenditure, according to a study published in Science Advances.

The molecule, known as TOFA, reduced the mice’s body weight by an average of 18% without changing how much they ate or causing a statistically significant loss of lean mass.

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While popular injectable weight-loss medications such as semaglutide can produce substantial weight loss partly by reducing food intake, some patients experience gastrointestinal side effects and loss of lean mass.

Studies have also found that people often regain a significant amount of weight after stopping treatment.

Preserving muscle during weight loss remains one of the greatest clinical hurdles in obesity medicine, according to experts.

"Muscle mass is really important for our function during the day. It helps fight the effects of aging," Dr. Leslie Pristas, a bariatric surgeon and owner of Best Life Bariatrics and Medical Weight Loss in Northeast Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

"Building muscle is really hard. It takes a really long time. So if we can avoid having muscle loss while we're having weight loss, that's going to be so much better."

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Instead of primarily targeting appetite, TOFA acts inside cells, according to the researchers. It blocks enzymes involved in the production of lipids, including fats such as triglycerides, while also activating cellular receptors that turn on genes involved in fat burning and energy production.

Treated mice burned up to 18% more energy under room-temperature and mildly warm conditions, without becoming less active or developing a dangerous increase in body temperature.

When the researchers combined TOFA with existing obesity drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, the combination treatments produced greater reductions in body weight and improvements in blood sugar, insulin and triglyceride levels than either drug alone.

Mice treated with TOFA maintained body weights close to control levels after treatment ended, while mice previously given semaglutide began rapidly regaining weight.

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Pristas urged caution against assuming that any single medication could permanently prevent post-treatment weight gain.

"Obesity is super complex," she said. "There's not just one mechanism by which everyone gains weight or even a single person gains weight. There are a lot of overlapping factors."

"Once we have extra weight on our body, that kind of becomes where our body thinks we're supposed to be. That becomes our body's weight set point," she noted, adding that if someone stops a medication abruptly, the body may then work to return to its previous weight.

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The compound also showed promise in mouse models for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, a form of fatty liver disease. Mice given TOFA had less liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis (scarring).

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TOFA achieved these liver benefits without increasing triglyceride levels in the blood, the researchers noted. Some similar metabolic drugs have caused triglycerides to rise, creating potential cardiovascular and other health concerns that have complicated their development.

The authors emphasized that all the animal experiments involved male mice. Future studies will need to determine whether TOFA produces similar results in female animals.

The drug has not yet been tested in people, so researchers still don't know what dose would be appropriate, whether it is safe to use over long periods, or whether it could cause subtle toxicities or other safety problems.

Pristas emphasized that early mouse data must be weighed carefully against potential hidden side effects in humans.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably too good to be true," she said.

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"When you're talking about manipulating our bodies' manufacturing or processing of lipids, it's complex. And so there can be downstream effects that we don't want. That's where we can't get too excited."

However, the expert said the treatment could eventually benefit people, either on its own or in combination with another therapy.

The study authors disclosed that several researchers are co-founders, officers or equity holders in ReRx Therapeutics, a company with an agreement giving it the option to develop UC Berkeley’s TOFA-related discovery.

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Teen dies from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ just days after young girl succumbs to same rare infection

A North Carolina teenager has died from a rare and often fatal infection caused by an amoeba found in warm freshwater, state health officials said.

In a GoFundMe set up by the teen’s mother, she shared that his first symptom was "severe headaches."

"I never imagined that something like this could be so serious," she said.

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The illness is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba (one-celled living organism) that inhabits ponds, lakes and rivers.

"We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss," the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement obtained by news outlets.

The teen’s death was reported just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana succumbed to the infection.

"While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S.," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., said in a prior statement. "There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months."

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Naegleria fowleri — commonly referred to as a "brain-eating amoeba" — causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The amoeba is most active in the months that the water temperature stays elevated.

"It's typically this time of year when it's very hot outside, when there hasn't been a lot of rain … and the lakes and ponds get pretty stagnant and get very warm, and that's a great breeding ground for these type of natural inhabitants of those waters," Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern and Children's Health in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital.

The infection can occur when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain. This can occur when someone jumps or dives into the water or participates in water sports.

"Once that happens, it's nearly a lethal disease," Kahn warned. "The mortality rate is close to 100%."

Naegleria fowleri does not cause illness via swallowing.

The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, but they can be noticed sooner.

Early signs usually include headache, nausea, fever and/or vomiting, the CDC’s website states.

As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, slurred speech, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.

"The initial symptoms are actually quite nonspecific — they don't point to one disease or another — but they can progress very rapidly," Kahn noted.

Diagnosis involves testing cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap; specialized laboratory testing may be needed.

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Symptoms usually begin about five days after exposure, although they can appear anywhere from one to 12 days later. Once symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly.

Most people die within one to 18 days after symptoms begin, typically around five days, per the CDC.

To prevent potentially fatal infections, Kahn recommends either avoiding the types of waters where the amoeba is likelier to be found, or taking added precautions.

"If you are swimming in those waters, wear a nose clip, don't put your head underwater, those types of things," he said.

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Drinking contaminated water does not present a risk, and the infection does not spread from one person to another.

Because the amoeba is found in soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding stirring up the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers.

When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial and anti-amoebic medications, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, rifampin and miltefosine.

"There has been a cocktail of antibiotics and antimicrobials that have been tried over the years — but with a very, very small number of cases every year, it's tough to draw any conclusions from that," Kahn said.

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"In the cases we've seen, we typically throw a lot of these antibiotics as a therapeutic modality, but by the time the [amoeba] enters the brain and starts to basically erode the brain tissue, it's too late."

Those who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting — especially if they have recently been swimming in warm freshwater — should seek immediate medical attention, the CDC recommends.

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