Katie Couric couldn't remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode

Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.

In a post on Substack titled "The Day I’ll Never Remember," she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.

"I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president," she wrote.

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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.

"I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended," she said.

John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.

After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. "I could tell something was off," he wrote. "It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there."

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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.

An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but "Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent," Molner wrote.

"She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’"

Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.

It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.

"[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience," Molner said.

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Couric said she finally began feeling "like herself" again around 9 p.m., and went to sleep at 2 a.m.

As TGA leaves a "permanent gap in memory" for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a "big, black hole."

Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.

The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a "temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories," Couric shared.

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"Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels."

Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.

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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.

"Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself," Couric wrote.

"All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’"

"While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me."

Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.

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One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say

Older adults identified as "super movers" are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.

That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.

Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.

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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.

The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.

"The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected," lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. "This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience."

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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.

In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.

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"This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes," he said. "Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging."

As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.

"Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes," Verghese said.

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This study adds to growing evidence that what's good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that "staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging."

"The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age," Verghese said. "Walking is an easy step-up point because you don't need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend."

Any activity is beneficial if it's done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.

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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.

"Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment," Verghese noted.

Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.

This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.

"You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions," Verghese advised. "So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise." The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.

"And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important."

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Dr Oz warns Medicare scammers are stealing billions — and your personal information could be next

Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar problem that government officials say threatens both taxpayer dollars and Americans’ personal identities.

In a July 6 interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that every dollar stolen through Medicare fraud is a dollar taxpayers lose – a problem that has worsened since the COVID pandemic.

"If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I'd go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it," said Oz, who is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "And just to put this in perspective, we think it's about $100 billion a year."

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Medicare fraud can include billing for services that were never provided, overcharging for medical equipment, using stolen patient or doctor information, or performing unnecessary procedures, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

As the Trump administration ramped up efforts to combat fraud, CMS reported $41.9 billion in Medicare program integrity savings in 2025, up 59% from $26.3 billion in 2024.

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Medicare fraud not only harms the federal budget and steals from taxpayers, but exposes seniors to identity theft, unnecessary care, higher premiums and reduced access, Oz cautioned.

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Removing corruption from the healthcare system will have the greatest impact among seniors, since "so much of the fraud is perpetrated against them," the administrator said.

"I'm talking about people tricking seniors to give up their Medicare beneficiary numbers, which is like a credit card basically," he said. "These scammers can take those numbers and use them for all kinds of illegitimate purposes."

"People are stealing from you by pretending to send you drugs you don't want, wheelchairs you don't need, [and] services you never asked for or don't benefit from," Oz added.

To prevent this, he shared his top advice for seniors: Do not give your Medicare beneficiary number to anybody, do not answer questions on a phone call from an unknown person and do not give away personal information.

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"These scammers are calling seniors, tricking them, and once they have key information, they can steal it," he said. "And I won't know it and you won't know it."

"We want to protect people who need these programs the most," Oz went on. "You do that by making sure scoundrels don't corrupt the systems and steal money out of the till that is designed to help folks in dire straits when they're vulnerable and in need of services."

Removing fraud could "double the life expectancy of the trust fund that makes all this possible," Oz predicted.

"If you're worried about Medicare being there when you're ready to retire in a couple decades, depending on how old you are, and you're concerned that it might not last because of all the fraud that's hitting it ... you've got a good [reason to] worry," he said.

"If we take the fraud out, we could double the life expectancy, which means you, your kids, your kids' kids ... they could all benefit from this beautiful safety net program."

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Deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak sparks concern in major US city: Know the symptoms

Amid warnings of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side, health experts say that early recognition of symptoms can mean the difference between a quick recovery and life-threatening complications, especially for high-risk groups.

New York City health officials are urging anyone who has visited the east side of Central Park or Manhattan's Upper East Side since late June to watch for symptoms.

As of July 6, the New York City Health Department had confirmed 23 cases and 17 hospitalizations associated with the respiratory infection. No deaths have been reported.

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Officials are investigating contaminated cooling towers as the likely source. They have emphasized that the illness is not spread person-to-person and is not linked to the city's drinking water.

"Legionnaires’ disease is deadly but can be effectively treated if diagnosed early," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin in a press release. "New Yorkers at higher risk, including anyone who is 50 and older, those who smoke or people with chronic lung conditions should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin."

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.

The bacteria is usually found in lakes, streams and other freshwater environments, but can grow in any area where water sits for a long time, according to the CDC.

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That can include shower heads, sink faucets, hot tubs, water features/fountains, plumbing systems and other water systems.

When people swallow or breathe in droplets of water that contain Legionella, they can potentially become ill.

Although human transmission is possible in rare cases, the disease is not typically transmitted among people, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infections can lead to severe pneumonia in older people and those with compromised immune systems, according to Dr. Andrew Handel, a pediatric infectious diseases expert at Stony Brook Children's Hospital on Long Island, New York.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually show up between two and 14 days after exposure.

"Legionella infections cause symptoms that are similar to other forms of pneumonia — fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and chest pain," Handel previously told Fox News Digital.

The signs are similar to other types of pneumonia, and include the following:

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Some patients may also experience nausea, diarrhea and confusion, the CDC noted.

A medical professional can diagnose the infection with laboratory tests and chest X-rays.

The condition is typically treated with antibiotics. In cases of severe infection, hospitalization may be required for breathing support and IV hydration.

Around 10% of people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die from those complications — and the mortality risk rises to 25% for those who get Legionnaires’ while staying in a healthcare facility, according to the CDC.

"Treatment needs to be early and aggressive," Dr. Nathan Goodyear, an Arizona-based integrative medicine expert, previously told Fox News Digital. "Legionella infection is an intracellular infection that requires antibiotic treatment."

Antibiotics that are appropriate for Legionella infection include Levofloxacin and Azithromycin. 

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"Therapy can be prescribed orally in healthy individuals… but intravenous antibiotics often prove to be the initial option for treatment secondary to the pathogenicity of the disease," Goodyear said.

Currently, there are no vaccines for Legionnaires’ disease. 

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The best strategy to prevent infection is to reduce the growth and spread of the Legionella bacteria. The CDC recommends that building owners and managers use a water management program to reduce the risk.

To prevent serious illness from Legionnaires’, Goodyear recommends that all smokers kick the habit, and also emphasizes the need to "aggressively support" chronic pulmonary disease.

"Increasing immune support (vitamin D3, vitamin C, Zinc) is required to counter the immune dysfunction associated with advancing age."

Obesity is another foundational risk factor for all chronic inflammatory diseases, the doctor added.

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Common gym supplement could help fight depression, new research suggests

Creatine, the common muscle-building supplement, may help improve depression symptoms, new research suggests.

A systematic review, published in Genomic Press’ Brain Medicine, found that creatine monohydrate may be beneficial as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder, although the evidence remains preliminary.

The Canada-based researchers analyzed data from five randomized controlled trials, evaluating the impact of creatine monohydrate intake on mental health.

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Four of the trials studied major depressive disorder, and another looked at bipolar disorder with a current depressive episode.

In one trial of women with depression who took 5 grams of creatine per day, plus the antidepressant escitalopram, there was greater improvement after eight weeks. Another study revealed benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy.

Other studies involving teen girls found no benefit from a variety of creatine dosages after eight weeks. The bipolar depression study also found no significant improvements when 6 grams of creatine was added to medication after six weeks.

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In a press release, the researchers said previous studies have found that people with mood disorders process creatine differently in the brain. Because creatine helps produce energy, some scientists believe disruptions in this process may contribute to depression.

Although creatine has also been associated with boosting dopamine and serotonin, which most antidepressants target, the authors stressed that the link between brain creatine and mood "remains correlational," as depression has "many moving parts."

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Lead study author Bassam Jeryous Fares, a student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, commented in a statement that the signal is "interesting, but not a verdict."

"Two trials pointed one way and three pointed another," he said. "That is not the kind of evidence on which you change clinical practice. It is the kind that tells you the question is worth further exploration."

Nicholas Fabiano, corresponding author and a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, added in the same press release that creatine "appears to be a safe intervention," noting that side effects were limited to mild stomach pain.

"We cannot yet reliably say that creatine helps with depressive symptoms or if the findings are generalizable to everyone," he added as a caveat.

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Dr. Thea Gallagher, psychologist and director of wellness programs at NYU Langone, said that although creatine is best known for supporting muscle performance, it also helps the brain produce and use energy.

"Researchers believe that some people with depression may have alterations in brain energy metabolism, and creatine could help support these energy-producing pathways," Gallagher, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "There is also emerging evidence that it may influence neurotransmitters and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, although these mechanisms are still being investigated."

The research suggests that creatine may be most helpful when combined with established depression treatments rather than as a replacement, Gallagher emphasized.

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"This research is encouraging because it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that supporting brain energy metabolism may be another pathway for improving depression symptoms," she said.

"It's exciting whenever we identify another potential tool that could complement existing treatments, particularly one that is relatively inexpensive and widely available."

The new study is a review of prior research rather than a new clinical trial, which can pose a limitation, the researchers acknowledged, adding that "larger, well-controlled trials are still needed."

Gallagher noted that creatine should be considered as a potentially promising addition to treatment, rather than a substitute for psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, regular exercise or healthy sleep habits.

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"While creatine has a strong safety profile for most healthy adults, it's still important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement — particularly if you have kidney disease, are pregnant or have other medical conditions," she advised.

For those experiencing signs of depression, Gallagher recommends seeking evidence-based mental healthcare.

The doctor noted that depression is a "highly heterogeneous condition, so we still don't know which patients are most likely to benefit or what the optimal treatment approach looks like."

Gallagher also cautioned that supplements have been known to generate "early enthusiasm" before larger studies have revealed "more modest effects."

"Right now, I'd describe creatine as promising but not definitive," she concluded. "It's an area that deserves continued research, but it's not something people should view as a standalone treatment for depression."

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Experimental vaccine shows promise against dangerous intestinal illness

A decades-long effort to develop a vaccine against one of the world's leading causes of severe digestive illness has reached a milestone, according to new research.

Scientists recently developed a technology targeting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a bacterium responsible for millions of diarrheal illnesses each year.

The technology has now been licensed to French vaccine manufacturer Valneva for further development.

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The findings come after decades of research led by scientists at the University of Bergen and the Norwegian Research Center (NORCE).

One of the most common bacterial causes of severe diarrhea worldwide, ETEC is known to disproportionately affect children in low- and middle-income countries. Despite years of research, there is currently no broadly effective vaccine to prevent the infection, according to the study.

The researchers focused on a toxin produced by ETEC that has long been considered one of the biggest obstacles to vaccine development.

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James Fleckenstein, MD, a professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said the findings represent a promising step.

"We still have a lot of work to do to translate these findings to an actual vaccine," Fleckenstein, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. "But the approach does look promising in the sense that the proteins elicit strong antibody responses that appear to offer protection against diarrheal illness after the first infection in children in developing countries."

If the vaccine eventually reaches patients, researchers hope it could help protect children against some of the most severe forms of diarrheal disease caused by ETEC.

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In the meantime, Fleckenstein said travelers can take steps to reduce their risk of diarrheal illnesses. He recommends avoiding high-risk foods — including meals from street vendors in areas where sanitation may be poor — drinking bottled water in higher-risk regions, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Fleckenstein also noted that vaccines are available to protect against typhoid fever, and said travelers should consult their physician before traveling internationally.

The research did have some limitations, the researchers noted.

The technology is still in development and has not yet been tested as an approved vaccine among the public.

While the licensing agreement allows Valneva to continue advancing the research, additional laboratory studies, clinical trials and regulatory review will be required before the vaccine becomes available.

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Biohacker hoping to live to 160 reveals alarming diagnosis: 'My stomach is eating itself'

Bryan Johnson, a biohacker and longevity guru who has claimed "we may be the first generation who won’t die," revealed he has an autoimmune condition causing his stomach to "eat itself."

The Los Angeles-based tech entrepreneur, 48, has previously shared publicly that he is hoping to live until the year 2140, when he would in theory be 160 years old.

Now, Johnson says he has been diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG), a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the stomach's acid-producing parietal cells, reducing stomach acid and impairing vitamin B12 absorption, according to Nature Reviews Disease Primers.

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"My stomach is eating itself," he wrote in an Instagram post. Johnson also shared that anywhere from 2% to 5% of people likely have this disease.

"I’m going to try to solve it," Johnson went on. "Will share all."

The biohacker shared that as a child, he ate sugary cereal, drank sugary soda and "gobbled down fast food."

"I became a young father of three and began building a business," Johnson went on. "Juggling that stress and grind, I let my health slip and gained 40 lbs. Within a few years I’d fallen into a deep, chronic depression."

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"Somewhere in that timeline, my body began developing an autoimmune process affecting my thyroid and then my stomach lining," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment.

AIG can remain hidden and can be challenging to diagnose, Johnson noted, often surfacing years after damage has already occurred to the stomach. It can cause iron deficiency, B12 deficiency and anemia, and can also increase the risk of stomach cancer, the expert warned.

"Low iron stores get normalized and rarely investigated at all when anemia hasn’t shown up yet," Johnson wrote. "That blind spot is what hid mine for a decade."

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He also shared that for 11 years, he has had low levels of ferritin, a protein that stores iron inside the body's cells. Ferritin releases iron when the body needs it, supports muscle function and carries out other essential processes.

"We continually tried to raise my iron levels with food and supplementation, but nothing would work," he said.

Johnson acknowledged that some common biohacking techniques — including hard training, sauna and hyperbaric oxygen — all raise the body’s demand for iron.

"But none of them explained the core failure: Despite me taking iron orally, trailing every formulation and using every timing trick, none of the iron would stick."

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Johnson underwent a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, which examined his entire intestinal tract. Five biopsies were also taken from his stomach, which found "clear signs of early autoimmune gastritis: early atrophy confined to the acid-producing lining."

In January 2026, the biohacker stated in a post on his website that "by 2039, my goal is immortality."

He detailed his strategy for defying aging, which includes embracing a strict regimen to slow or stop biological aging, using AI to accelerate longevity research, testing new treatments in lab-grown cells and organs, and reaching "longevity escape velocity" — in which medical advances would eventually extend lifespan faster than he ages.

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"I may fail at this task, but my team and I will try our best," he wrote at the time.

There is currently no cure for AIG, which Johnson said he wants to change.

"In the age of AI, multiomics, and custom-built DNA, proteins and cells, no condition should be presumed incurable simply because no one has yet tried to cure it with today’s stack."

Johnson ended his post by urging others to prioritize their health.

"Care for yourself, care for others, care for the planet and care for our animal friends. Care for life, as it’s the most precious gift there is."

The longevity guru also shared an image showing the detailed findings of his five stomach biopsies.

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