Measles cases continue to spread in multiple states following child’s death

New measles cases have been reported since the first death in West Texas amid the ongoing outbreak.

The pediatric patient, who lived in Gaines County, died in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, per a statement from health officials.

The child was reported to be "school-aged" and unvaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Identity and gender were not disclosed.

FIRST MEASLES DEATH REPORTED IN WEST TEXAS AMID GROWING OUTBREAK

A total of 124 cases of measles have been confirmed in the West Texas outbreak since late January (as of Feb. 25).

Most of the cases are in children and a total of 18 people have been hospitalized, the DSHS reported in a press release.

Cases of measles have also been reported in other states.

MEASLES OUTBREAK CONTINUES TO WORSEN AMONG KIDS IN THIS US STATE

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has reported an outbreak of the highly contagious virus in Lea County, near Gaines County, Texas. 

A total of nine cases have been confirmed in the county as of Feb. 25, according to the NMDOH’s website.

Four of those are between 5 and 17 years of age and five are adults.

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has also reported three total cases of measles.

The first was reported on Feb. 14 in an unvaccinated person, according to a press release.

IS MMR VACCINE SAFE FOR KIDS? DR. NICOLE SAPHIER ADDRESSES CONCERNS AS MEASLES CASES RISE

The infected person was said to have recently traveled internationally and visited the emergency department at Englewood Hospital in Bergen County on Feb. 9.

The additional two cases affected people who had close contact with the first person, local reports stated.

Fox News' senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel weighed in on the first measles death on Wednesday, citing vaccination non-compliance as the likely reason that the disease is spreading through Texas and now into New Mexico.

Siegel suggested that high exemption rates for childhood vaccines, which are now under 85% compliance, are to blame. The majority of cases have occurred in unvaccinated individuals, mostly school-aged children. 

"Keep in mind that for herd immunity (where those who cannot be vaccinated because they are pregnant or immunocompromised and can't take a live vaccine are protected), we need a vaccination rate of around 95%," he told Fox News Digital. 

"In Texas, it is currently at 91%, and more bills for further exemptions are before the state legislature."

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The doctor stressed that measles is "wildly contagious among unvaccinated individuals" and that the hospitalization rate is one in five, according to CDC data.

As pneumonia can occur in one out of every 20 measles cases, Siegel said this could explain the recent measles death.

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"Of the 124 patients so far, there are 18 hospitalizations, probably most from pneumonia," he shared. "There are likely hundreds more cases that are not being reported."

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Heart disease could be prevented with this one simple test

Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of mortality, comprising 32% of all deaths.

But that doesn’t mean people are powerless against the condition — there are some steps they can take to help reduce the risk.

In addition to adopting healthier lifestyle habits, getting a specific screening — the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score — can help detect early signs of heart disease, experts say.

DISEASE STARTS ON YOUR PLATE, CARDIOLOGIST SAYS — HERE'S WHAT TO CHANGE

The CAC score is a specialized CT scan that measures calcium buildup in the walls of the heart’s arteries, according to board-certified cardiologist Dr. Robert Segal, founder of Manhattan Cardiology and co-founder of https://ift.tt/usWbB6K.

"This calcium points to the accumulation of plaque that can cause heart disease," he told Fox News Digital. 

The higher the score, the more calcium in the arteries, thus a greater likelihood of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiac issue. 

SOME WINTER VIRUSES COULD TRIGGER HEART COMPLICATIONS, EXPERTS WARN

A calcium score of zero indicates no coronary calcium and places the individual at a very low risk for heart disease. A calcium score greater than 400 indicates a high risk of heart disease, according to Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals.

"The CAC score is obtained with a rapid, low-dose CT scan," Maryland-based Serwer told Fox News Digital. 

The scan images are processed using specialized computer software, producing what is called an "Agatston score." 

"This computer algorithm evaluates how much calcium is present and calculates a number or score," Serwer said.

The CAC score is a "non-traditional risk factor" that isn’t as widely known as more routine screenings like cholesterol checks or blood pressure measurements, according to Segal.

"Still, awareness is rising as more research shows how valuable it is in forecasting cardiac disease," he said.

The result of the scan can help people take charge of their cardiac conditions, experts say.

"It’s helpful because it helps identify heart disease early, even if you have no symptoms," Segal said. "This allows for preventive steps, like lifestyle changes or medications, to lower your risk."

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If the CAC score is zero, Segal recommends keeping up good practices and continuing to track risk variables. 

"A low score indicates mild plaque; therefore, lifestyle changes such as improving diet, exercising and lowering cholesterol will help," he said. "A high score indicates that you should work with your doctor to reduce your risk, maybe with statins."

Generally, if a CAC score is zero, there is little need to repeat the study for five years, according to Serwer.

For those with an elevated calcium score, there is limited data on the benefit of repeat testing.

"These patients should discuss their individual case with a trained cardiologist to determine the need for any further testing," Serwer advised.

THIS DISEASE KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN ALL CANCERS AND ACCIDENTS COMBINED

The test is used in combination with other risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes, to determine who needs aggressive medical therapy for primary prevention of heart disease.

"The earlier we can identify those at higher risk of a heart attack, the earlier we can start them on proven therapies to avoid bad outcomes," Serwer said.

"While we have no data that shows merely performing this test makes you live longer, knowing who we need to treat aggressively and knowing when we can delay or avoid medical therapy is very important."

In terms of potential risk, Segal compared the CAC scan to a mammography, noting that it’s fast, noninvasive, uses only a small amount of radiation, and does not involve dye injection. 

"It only gauges current calcium, and it cannot identify soft plaque that’s not solidified," he noted.

Segal also cautioned that a zero CAC score does not imply zero risk — particularly in cases of diabetes or smoking, which are additional risk factors. 

"It's a useful instrument to be coupled with other health evaluations," he added.

People interested in getting the CAC score should start by seeing a cardiologist. 

"Those between the ages of 40 and 70 who have risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease are usually advised to get the scan," Segal said.

Serwer recommends that patients discuss individual risk with their primary care provider to determine whether the test will be helpful.

"We don’t currently have standardized guidelines for testing or frequency of repeat testing," he said. 

The test can be performed in most radiology departments. For those who are only getting a coronary artery calcium score, there is no preparation required, Serwer noted. 

"There is no need for IV contrast, so there is no need to fast or obtain blood work prior to getting this study."

Coverage for the CAC test varies based on individual insurance plans. 

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"Some plans consider this test elective or investigational and therefore won’t pay for it," Serwer noted. 

"Medicare currently does not cover the cost for asymptomatic people for risk stratification purposes."

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Brewing tea removes harmful toxins from water, study finds

Tea is known to be one of the healthiest beverages — and the benefits aren’t just what’s in the cup, but what’s not in it.

The process of brewing tea was shown to remove toxic heavy metals from drinking water in a new study from Northwestern University in Illinois.

For a typical cup of tea — one mug of water and one bag of tea, brewed for three to five minutes — the preparation could remove about 15% of lead from drinking water, the researchers stated in a press release.

STUDY LINKS MENTAL HEALTH RISKS TO THIS TOXIN FOR THOSE BORN IN '60S OR '70S

During brewing, heavy metals like lead and cadmium are absorbed by the tea leaves, keeping them from entering the water, according to researchers.

The findings were published in the journal ACS Food Science & Technology this week.

"It appears quite likely that the way most people brew their tea can have a measurable impact on lead consumption," ​​Benjamin Shindel, the study’s first author at Northwestern, told Fox News Digital.

The longer tea is brewed, the more reduction in metal content, he noted.

WHY PAIRING CHOCOLATE WITH TEA IS BENEFICIAL TO YOUR HEALTH

"Any tea that steeps for longer or has higher surface area will effectively remediate more heavy metals," Shindel said. 

"Some people brew their tea for a matter of seconds, and they are not going to get a lot of remediation. But brewing tea for longer periods or even overnight – like iced tea – will recover most of the metal or maybe even close to all the metal in the water."

During the study, the researchers tested different types of tea, tea bags and methods of brewing to gauge how well they absorbed lead, chromium, copper, zinc and cadmium.

The absorbent effect was seen across a range of tea types, Shindel noted, even from wood-derived tea bags.  

Cellulose tea bags were found to absorb much more than cotton and nylon bags, the researchers found.

Tea leaves have a "high active surface area" that makes them ideal for absorbing material, according to the researchers.

"Tea leaves with greater surface area, through processing or grinding, may see slightly more metal remediation as well," he added. "Just put the leaves in your water and steep them, and they naturally remove metals."

The team was surprised by the effects seen after just a short time.

"We weren't sure whether to expect any meaningful reduction in metal content during the short times that most people brew their tea," Benjamin Shindel, the study’s first author at Northwestern, told Fox News Digital.

"We were surprised that even after just a couple of minutes, we were able to see a small but significant amount of metal remediation during the preparation of tea."

Despite these findings, the researchers cautioned that people should not rely on tea to clean their water.  

"We're also not public health researchers, so it remains to be seen if the levels of lead reduction we've observed in our study will translate to population-wide health benefits," said Shindel.

"However, I think it's useful for people to know that brewing tea will, on the margins, reduce one's consumption of lead content — and perhaps other toxins — from drinking water."

The findings could help explain why populations that drink more tea may have lower incidence rates of heart disease and stroke than populations that have lower tea consumption, Shindel noted.

"Across a population, if people drink an extra cup of tea per day, maybe over time we’d see declines in illnesses that are closely correlated with exposure to heavy metals," he said.

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John Rumpler, lead author of the study and clean water program director for Environment America, noted that lead is highly toxic for kids.  

"Yet lead contamination of drinking water is widespread, even in schools and child care centers," he told Fox News Digital.

"While I can't quite read the tea leaves on this new study, we know there are filters certified to remove lead from drinking water," Rumpler went on.

"Schools and child care centers should be replacing old fountains with lead-filtering water stations and replacing lead pipes wherever they can."

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The Northwestern study was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy.

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Ditching alcohol and going ‘California sober’ — here’s what you need to know

Demi Lovato, Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Billy Strings and Willie Nelson have all sung about being "California sober."

What does that mean — and is it any healthier than drinking alcohol?

You don’t have to be from California to be "California sober," but experts say you should know the risks associated with the lifestyle.

ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER TRANSPLANTS ON THE RISE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS, DOCTOR SAYS

It originates with the idea that people transition away from alcohol to a "safer" alternative using cannabis-based products, according to Dr. Cara A. Poland, addiction medicine doctor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Some who initially identified with the term now have a different take on what sobriety really means.

After a near-fatal drug overdose, singer and actress Demi Lovato openly shared her struggle with addiction and her own version of "California sober" in 2021, but later said she had realized "sober sober is the only way to be," according to reports.

"Users who aim for ‘Cali sober’ need to understand the medical and psychiatric risks of cannabis, as well as the problem of medicating away emotions and the increased risk of relapse to one’s drug of choice," Dr. Lori Karan, director of the addiction medicine fellowship at Loma Linda University in California, told Fox News Digital.

Journalist Michelle Lhooq is thought to have coined the phrase when she wrote a 2019 essay about moving from New York to California to "save herself" in an article for Vice.com, resolving to limit her drug use to only marijuana and psychedelics.

As marijuana was already legal in California at the time, she wrote, "I call this ‘Cali sober,’ a term some people also use when they quit everything but weed."

"‘California sober’ is generally a term used by people who are replacing a ‘more harmful’ substance with a ‘less harmful’ substance," said Poland.

"People should be cautious with this idea of replacing one substance for another, when both are known to cause substance use disorders and are not validated treatment options."

ALCOHOL POSES THESE 8 RISKS TO OLDER ADULTS, EXPERTS WARN

People may perceive a substance as less harmful, but the risk of adverse consequences on the body depends on how that substance affects the individual, Poland added.

The concept may also perpetuate the unhealthy relationship people develop with their substance(s) of choice.

"People use addictive substances to modulate how they feel without relying upon interactions with other people or events," Karan noted. 

"Short-circuiting this feedback loop can cover up unresolved trauma, interfere with family and career, and cause emotional arrest."

Switching one drug for another ignores rather than resolves the underlying issues — so it is usually not a good long-term solution, according to Karan.

Previous research has linked alcoholic beverages to at least seven types of cancer, including the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon and breast.

In 2019 and 2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported consuming one or more drinks per week, but less than half were aware of the link between alcohol and cancer risk, according to past studies.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently issued a health advisory calling for warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages about the potential cancer risk, Fox News Digital previously reported.

"There is growing scientific evidence that no amount of alcohol is good for you," Poland cautioned.

Some say, however, that the current concept of sobriety cannot be a one-size-fits-all model.

While some people need full abstinence, others may find that cutting out alcohol but still partaking in some marijuana use helps them "stay balanced," according to Kim Gamez, founder of SOBER(ISH), an online marketplace that sells a hemp-derived, micro-dosed blend that can be added to any drink for a "relaxing buzz without alcohol."

Michigan-based Gamez shared that her mother battled alcoholism for years, where alcohol was the "real demon," but was able to achieve more balance in her life when she found hemp-derived products.

"Before we discovered hemp-derived beverages together, she often felt left out at social gatherings where drinking was the norm," she told Fox News Digital. "Now, with a hemp-infused cocktail in hand, she’s part of the party — without the risk, the regret or the relapse."

Gamez noted that this kind of choice isn’t about replacing one vice with another — it’s about finding a healthier alternative that works for the individual.

Karan warned that there is a lot of public misinformation about cannabis, with many unanswered safety questions — especially given the increased potency of today’s cannabis products compared with those of the 1970s.

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Humans naturally produce chemicals that are similar to the molecules in a cannabis plant, which move around the body and brain to help balance vital functions like learning, memory, sleep, pain and temperature control, according to Harvard Health.

More research is needed to fully understand the extent of this activity, Karan noted.

"Cannabis can cause memory difficulties, paranoia, psychosis, nausea and vomiting, and a myriad of other problems," she cautioned.

Experts encourage people struggling with addiction, including alcohol use disorder, to first consult with their doctor for treatment options.

This often includes a combination of behavioral therapy and medications to reduce the risk of overdose, relapse and cravings.

There are currently three FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder: naltrexone, which dampens alcohol’s pleasurable effects; disulfiram, which makes people sick when they drink; and acamprosate, which restores the imbalance in the brain associated with alcohol withdrawal, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

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Of the millions struggling with alcohol addiction, research shows that less than 10% who need the treatment actually get it.

Fox News Digital reached out to Demi Lovato’s team for comment.

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First measles death in Texas outbreak, plus surprising dementia drivers

LIFELONG LOVE – A couple broke the record for the longest living marriage. Continue reading…

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Just one night of poor sleep could have these surprising health effects

New evidence is highlighting just how important sleep is for overall health.

Emerging research published in The Journal of Immunology found a link between sleep deprivation and the immune system, and the potential to develop obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease through inflammation.

Researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Dasman, Kuwait, aimed to investigate how sleep quality impacts systemic inflammation and immune response in 237 participants.

DO WOMEN NEED MORE SLEEP THAN MEN? HERE'S WHAT EXPERTS THINK

After tracking the participants’ dietary intake, physical activity and sleep patterns, the researchers found that obese individuals had "significantly lower sleep quality and higher chronic low-grade inflammation," according to a press release.

Sleep disruption also contributed to inflammation, regardless of obesity status.

In a subsection of the study, five healthy participants went without sleep for 24 hours and were monitored and tested throughout.

The experiment uncovered that just one night of sleep deprivation resulted in a disruption in immune cells, or monocytes, in these participants, similar to what was observed in obese participants.

SLEEPY DURING THE DAY? IT COULD BE AN EARLY WARNING SIGN OF DEMENTIA, STUDY SUGGESTS

The researchers concluded that this study "highlights the importance of sleep quality in regulating immune responses and inflammation in obesity, suggesting that improving sleep quality could reduce inflammation and improve health outcomes."

Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and a licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, also commented on the findings in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

Troxel, who was not involved in the study, said the "intricate connection" between sleep, obesity and inflammation is "consistent with previous research that links these factors to obesity-related diseases."

Regarding the negative health impact of just one poor night’s sleep, Troxel said these effects can be reversed after two nights of recovering sleep.

"[This] highlights that promoting healthy sleep can benefit immune function," she said.

These findings should be "interpreted with some caution," Troxel added, given the small size of the study sample.

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"Nevertheless, combined with prior work, the results underscore the critical role of sleep in supporting and enhancing immune function," she said.

Dr. Clayton Skaggs, founder and CEO of the Central Institute for Human Performance (CIHP) in Missouri, agreed that these findings support the "vital importance of timely rest."

During sleep, the body releases proteins called cytokines that help fight infection and mediate inflammation, the expert told Fox News Digital.

"A loss of sleep disrupts this process, leaving the immune system in a relatively activated, pro-inflammatory state," he said.

Skaggs added that sleep deprivation can also lead to a stress hormone imbalance, like elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels, which can further impact inflammation and immune regulation.

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"While a single night of poor sleep might not cause overt illness in a healthy individual, these studies highlight that the immune system is highly sensitive to even short-term sleep loss," he said. 

"If such episodes become frequent, the cumulative effects may predispose individuals to chronic inflammatory conditions, increased susceptibility to infections and impaired vaccine responses."

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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First measles death reported in West Texas amid growing outbreak

The first measles death has been reported in West Texas amid the outbreak that has infected more than 100 people, Associated Press reported on Wednesday morning.

Melissa Whitfield, a spokesperson for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center confirmed the death to AP.

MEASLES OUTBREAK CONTINUES TO WORSEN AMONG KIDS IN THIS US STATE

 The patient's identity and age were not shared.

Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AP.

As of Tuesday, the Texas outbreak had affected 124 people across nine counties, according to a statement from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

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Cases have also been spreading to New Mexico, with a total of nine confirmed in that state so far.

The DSHS first confirmed the outbreak on Feb. 5.

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The agency added that the best way to prevent sickness is to receive two doses of the vaccine against measles, "primarily administered" as the combination measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization.

This is a developing story.

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Dementia risk could increase with low levels of essential vitamin

"Normal" levels of vitamin B12 may not be enough to ward off dementia, new research finds.

Researchers at University of California San Francisco studied 231 healthy older adults (averaging 71 years of age) who did not have dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Blood tests showed that their B12 levels averaged 414.8 pmol/L, while the recommended minimum level in the U.S. is just 148 pmol/L.

DRUGS THAT REDUCE DEMENTIA RISK — AND OTHERS THAT INCREASE IT

Participants who had lower B12 levels were found to have "slower cognitive and visual processing speeds" when taking tests, which is linked to "subtle cognitive decline," according to a UCSF press release.

The effect was more pronounced with age.

The people with lower levels also had more lesions in the white matter in their brains, which can be a warning sign of cognitive decline, dementia or stroke, the researchers found.

The findings were published in Annals of Neurology on Feb. 10.

Based on these results, the researchers recommend updating the current B12 requirements.

DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE LOWERED BY DOING THIS FOR 5 MINUTES A DAY: STUDY

"Previous studies that defined healthy amounts of B12 may have missed subtle functional manifestations of high or low levels that can affect people without causing overt symptoms," said senior author Ari J. Green, MD, of the UCSF Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences. 

"Revisiting the definition of B12 deficiency to incorporate functional biomarkers could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of cognitive decline."

The researchers did acknowledge that the study only included older adults, who may have a "specific vulnerability" to lower levels of B12.

Those lower levels, however, "could impact cognition to a greater extent than what we previously thought, and may affect a much larger proportion of the population than we realize," according to co-first author Alexandra Beaudry-Richard, who is currently completing her doctorate in research and medicine at the UCSF Department of Neurology and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa.

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"In addition to redefining B12 deficiency, clinicians should consider supplementation in older patients with neurological symptoms even if their levels are within normal limits," she suggested in the release. 

"Ultimately, we need to invest in more research about the underlying biology of B12 insufficiency, since it may be a preventable cause of cognitive decline."

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, said the study supports the idea that "normal" vitamin B12 levels are "grossly inadequate" for protecting the brain from age-related decline.

"Even participants with B12 levels deemed ‘normal’ by today’s medical standards showed clear signs of neurological impairment — slower processing speeds, increased white matter hyperintensities on MRI (a marker of small vessel disease), and elevated tau protein (a biomarker of neurodegeneration). This is concerning to say the least," Osborn told Fox News Digital.

The current minimum recommendations weren’t designed for optimal cognitive function or longevity, according to Osborn.

"Instead, they were based on population averages — an inherently flawed approach when the ‘average’ person today is metabolically unhealthy. This is yet another example of mainstream medicine lagging behind the science."

In Osborn’s clinic, he recommends supplements of B-complex vitamins, including B12, to ensure healthy levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is produced during protein metabolism.

DOES EVERYONE NEED TO TAKE VITAMINS — AND WHICH ARE MOST IMPORTANT? HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

"When homocysteine is elevated — a potential proxy for low B12 — brain function declines," Osborn said.

The doctor did note that the study is observational, and that "correlation doesn’t prove causation."

"But do you really need a randomized controlled trial to tell you that optimizing B12 intake benefits brain health? That’s like waiting for a study to confirm that eating vegetables is good for you," Osborn said. 

"The data are there. The science is crystal-clear."

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Like the researchers, Osborn called for an update to the "normal" lab levels.

"It’s time to start defining health by optimal levels — not by whatever happens to be ‘average’ in an increasingly sick population. Because who wants to be normal when you can be optimal?"

Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, agreed that this study raises the question of redefining what levels constitute a B12 deficiency.

"Previous studies have recommended supplementation in patients with a known vitamin B12 deficiency to mitigate cognitive issues; however, no clear evidence has been found to suggest benefit in B12 supplementation in patients without a deficiency," Murray, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. 

The neurologist cautioned against people taking "mega-doses" of vitamins.

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"Often, high levels of vitamins, especially B12, won’t cause issues; however, it can happen," Murray said. 

"I would recommend that patients who are older or at risk of developing cognitive decline discuss with their physician about being tested — not just for vitamin B12 levels, but also for other markers that could suggest improper absorption of vitamin B12."

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Pope Francis' health status and prognosis: Doctor gives update

Is Pope Francis going to live? Is he going to die? Will he remain as pope? 

How much can be learned from the daily or twice-daily Vatican announcements and from media reports?

Below are my current answers, based on my interpretation of the available information (which is, of course, subject to change).

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

The pope has a long history of medical problems, including respiratory infections. Back in 1957, he had a piece of one lung removed. 

(Despite this, Pope Francis is not a smoker, and in fact ordered a ban on the sale of cigarettes in the Vatican’s duty-free shop beginning in 2018.)

The Catholic leader was last hospitalized for pneumonia in 2023. He previously underwent abdominal surgery, when part of his colon was removed.

Most recently, the pope was hospitalized for a respiratory infection on Feb. 14, 2025, at Gemelli Hospital, one of the best hospitals in Italy. 

The pope's condition has been described as bilateral pneumonia, which generally appears as consolidation on a chest x-ray or CT scan.

Pneumonia is an infection in the air sacs of the lung. Bilateral pneumonia is more problematic and difficult to recover from than unilateral pneumonia or pneumonia in one lobe, especially in an elderly patient with scarring from previous surgeries and bouts of pneumonia. 

The pope is presumably being treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and is reportedly non-septic. 

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Though pneumonia is the most common cause of bacterial sepsis in the elderly, the statistic that one out of three cases leads to sepsis is misleading, because it refers to the period before the antibiotic era. 

Given that the pope has likely been given antibiotics for several days and appears to be stable, the chances of him developing sepsis are greatly reduced.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition of hemodynamic compromise (where the body is not getting enough blood flow to function properly), which causes a drop in blood pressure. 

The condition generally causes a high fever, and heart and kidney output may decrease. 

Often, a septic patient needs special drugs (pressors) to maintain blood pressure, and toxins and acid (lactate) can build up in the blood. 

Blood cultures can turn positive with a pathogen, which in this case would presumably be a bacteria. 

The pope is receiving what is known as high-flow oxygen by nasal cannula (a device that provides extra oxygen through a tube and into the nose), which can vary in oxygen percentage.

This is a treatment for respiratory decompensation (breathing difficulties), but is not as aggressive as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or mechanical ventilation.

The fact that the pope is not currently on a ventilator is a good sign that he is not decompensating or septic and that his chances of recovery are possible or even probable.  

It is not yet clear why he needed blood transfusions (although they do improve oxygen-carrying ability) or why his platelet count was reportedly low.

Over the weekend, on Saturday, the pope reportedly experienced an asthmatic episode, which was presumably treated with oxygen and with bronchodilators to open his airways (which constrict during an airway attack).

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An existing asthmatic condition can be exacerbated by pneumonia. In the pope’s case, it appears to have responded well to treatment.

The media has also been ablaze with references to "kidney failure," leading people to put that together with double pneumonia and instantly believe the pope is through. 

While Pope Francis is certainly far from out of the woods, per Vatican reports, it is important to clarify that mild renal insufficiency simply means blood flow to the kidney is mildly reduced, perhaps from low volume or dehydration, and it might well be improving from the blood transfusions he is receiving. 

As long as his urine output keeps up and his kidney function doesn’t worsen, this should not be a major obstacle.

Although the pope's prognosis is currently unknown, it doesn’t sound like he is truly in critical condition, a term doctors tend to reserve for much more unstable patients. 

It is hopeful to read in the local Italian press (translated to me) that the pope is once again up and reading newspapers and had a successful night.

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He is reportedly considering possible successors, but hopefully he will be alive to choose them. 

Don’t underestimate the impact of great medical care combined with the power of prayer.

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Drugs that reduce dementia risk — and others that increase it

Some medications could have the unintended benefit of reducing dementia risk.

That’s according to a recent study by the universities of Cambridge and Exeter, where researchers evaluated several existing drugs to see if they could do double-duty as dementia treatments.

The team reviewed data from 14 prior studies, which included more than 130 million patients and one million dementia cases, according to a press release.

They determined that several classes of prescription drugs were shown to affect dementia risk.

DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE LOWERED BY DOING THIS FOR 5 MINUTES A DAY: STUDY

The findings were published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions.

"We urgently need new treatments to slow the progress of dementia, if not to prevent it," said co-first author Dr. Ben Underwood, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, in the release. 

"If we can find drugs that are already licensed for other conditions, then we can get them into trials and — crucially — may be able to make them available to patients much, much faster than we could do for an entirely new drug."

Antibiotics, antivirals, anticoagulants (blood thinners) and anticonvulsants (medications used to prevent or treat seizures) were all linked to a reduced risk of dementia, according to the study. 

Four vaccines — for hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis A and typhoid combined, and diphtheria — were also associated with a reduced risk.

"This finding supports the hypothesis that common dementias may be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, and supports recent interest in vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis, and decreased risk of dementia," the researchers wrote in the release.

Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, were also found to reduce dementia risk.

"Inflammation is increasingly being seen to be a significant contributor to a wide range of diseases, and its role in dementia is supported by the fact that some genes that increase the risk of dementia are part of inflammatory pathways," the release stated.

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Some drugs were associated with an increased risk of dementia, including antipsychotic medications.

There was "conflicting evidence" for other classes of drugs, including those indicated for blood pressure, depression and diabetes.

Two medications are currently approved for Alzheimer’s treatment in the U.S. — lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla). 

Both are monoclonal antibodies that are administered via IV infusions. They work by reducing the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain, but they are only effective for those with early-stage Alzheimer's and have the potential for some serious side effects, according to experts.

Dr. Chris Vercammen, a board-certified internal medicine physician at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), was not involved in the study but shared his reaction to the findings.

"This review identifies classes of medications that have an association with an increased risk of dementia," Vercammen, who specializes in geriatrics and palliative care, told Fox News Digital.

"Systematic reviews offer the advantage of aggregating data across multiple studies, which can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge on a subject."

The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, due to differences in how each individual study was conducted and how the data was gathered.

Vercammen agreed that these types of reviews are limited by the overall quality of the available studies. 

"Furthermore, unlike meta-analyses, they do not provide a summary effect size for each medication, which makes it difficult to discuss risk precisely." 

Despite the limitations, Vercammen said the findings are "plausible" and highlight the importance of comprehensive medication reviews for older adults at risk of dementia.

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Lourida emphasized that all drugs have benefits and risks. 

"You should never change your medicine without first discussing it with your doctor, and you should speak to them if you have any concerns."

Vercammen agrees that patients who are considering new medications or treatments should consult with their doctors. 

"Though dementia lacks a cure and available drugs present challenges, my experience highlights the value of personalized care," he told Fox News Digital. 

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"This involves addressing the practical needs of the person living with dementia and their caregivers — the 'second patients' — who provide essential daily support. This is the essence of continuous, compassionate care in the absence of a cure."

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Scientists find clues on why COVID vaccine causes chronic health problems in some

For a majority of people, the COVID vaccine doesn’t cause adverse health effects — but a small percentage experience chronic symptoms that can last for months or even years. 

Yale researchers recently made some discoveries about why certain people experience this condition, which they have dubbed "post-vaccination syndrome" (PVS).

In early findings, the team recognized "potential immunological patterns" that are unique to people with PVS. The hope is that this discovery will help to enable future treatments and therapies for those who are affected.

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"This work is still in its early stages, and we need to validate these findings," said co-senior study author Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine, in a press release.

"But this is giving us some hope that there may be something that we can use for diagnosis and treatment of PVS down the road."

People with this condition may suffer from excessive fatigue, exercise intolerance, brain fog, insomnia and dizziness, according to the Yale researchers. 

These typically develop within a day or two of vaccination and can worsen over time.

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"It’s clear that some individuals are experiencing significant challenges after vaccination. Our responsibility as scientists and clinicians is to listen to their experiences, rigorously investigate the underlying causes, and seek ways to help," said co-senior author Harlan Krumholz, professor of cardiology at YSM, in the release.

"Post-vaccination syndrome is real, and has been found [to occur] from many vaccines, including COVID," Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.

The researchers analyzed blood samples from 42 study participants who experienced symptoms of PVS and 22 who did not.

Those with symptoms were shown to have lower levels of two types of white blood cells. People with PVS who had never had COVID also had lower levels of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, likely because they tended to have fewer vaccine doses, according to the release.

"Fewer vaccine doses and no viral infection means the body’s immune system has had little opportunity to develop a defense to the virus," said the researchers.

Some of the people with PVS also had higher levels of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which enables the virus to penetrate and infect host cells. This has also been linked to a higher risk of developing long COVID.

"We don’t know if the level of spike protein is causing the chronic symptoms, because there were other participants with PVS who didn’t have any measurable spike protein — but it could be one mechanism underlying this syndrome," said Iwasaki.

In addition to the elevated spike proteins, other factors could increase the risk of post-vaccination syndrome. Those include autoimmunity, tissue damage and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the researchers wrote.

"Akiko Iwasaka is a world-renowned immunologist at Yale who has studied COVID (and COVID vaccines) extensively," Siegel pointed out. 

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"In this new study, she reports that in a very small percentage of those who received COVID vaccines (and experienced prolonged side effects), there may be the presence of persistent spike protein," Siegel confirmed.

"They may also experience immune disruption, which takes the form of elevations in inflammatory immune cells (CD8 and TN alpha) and a decrease in cells that help resolve inflammation and infection (CD4 helper cells)."

The researchers agreed that more studies are essential to guide diagnosis and treatment.

"We’re only just starting to make headway in understanding PVS," said Krumholz. "Every medical intervention carries some risk, and it’s important to acknowledge that adverse events can occur with vaccines."

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"Our focus must remain on understanding what these people are experiencing through rigorous science and addressing the needs of those affected with compassion and an open mind."

Siegel agreed, adding, "This needs to be further studied in terms of understanding how common prolonged COVID vaccine side effects are and how to predict them and treat them."

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5 years after COVID, Americans are split on whether it's still a threat

This winter marks five years since the onset of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that led to a global pandemic and more than 1.2 million deaths in the U.S.

To mark the milestone, Pew Research Center conducted a survey to gauge Americans’ views on the current COVID risk and how the pandemic was handled.

Around 21% of respondents said they still consider COVID-19 to be a "major threat" to the health of the U.S. population, down from 67% in July 2020.

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More than half (56%) of Americans say COVID-19 isn’t something to worry about, with 39% believing people do not take it seriously enough, the survey found.

Around 40% of Americans believe COVID-19 is "no worse" than a cold or flu, while 56% say it is worse than those illnesses, the survey found.

In terms of testing, 63% of people say they should take a COVID test when they feel sick, while one-third say there is "no point" in doing this.

In the event of another pandemic, just over 60% of survey respondents said the public health system would do a "very or somewhat good job" of dealing with a future health emergency.

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When it comes to masking, 80% of Americans say they "rarely or never" wear a mask in stores and businesses, although about 40% would wear them in crowded settings if they were feeling sick.

Forty percent of Americans believe the U.S. would handle a future health emergency better than it handled COVID. In comparison, 16% believe the country would do worse and 43% said the response would be about the same, the survey found.

Dr. Michael Aziz, a board-certified attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, noted the dramatic impact COVID had on mental health.

"Studies observed a higher prevalence of psychopathological symptoms during the pandemic for persons with pre-pandemic mental illness, suggesting that this group experienced a greater burden from the pandemic," he told Fox News Digital. 

Today, five years after the pandemic, Aziz said there are higher rates of depression, isolation and anxiety, something he sees "every day" with his own patients.

"There were also delayed learning abilities in children who were in lockdowns," the doctor said. "Studies show there were developmental abnormalities from both face masks and lockdowns."

Before the COVID pandemic, the prevalence of obesity was at 11% and 15% among men and women, respectively, according to Aziz. 

During the pandemic, it increased to 25.3% and 42.4% in men and women.

"People neglected their health more when it was supposed to be the opposite," Aziz told Fox News Digital. "People tended to go for their physicals less often, with remote work being the norm."

Some people have reported COVID symptoms that lasted for months or even years.

"This lingering illness has often been called ‘long COVID’ or ‘post-COVID-19 syndrome,’" Aziz said. 

This condition is also sometimes called "long-haul COVID" or "post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2."

"It is known that COVID-19 affects older people with higher mortality, but many young people in the U.S. were affected and even died," Aziz said. "The mortality rates in the U.S. were 10 times higher than Japan and South Korea."

This means aging is happening at a much younger age in the U.S., according to Aziz. 

"This is not a good thing for future health spans, effect on healthcare or future costs to care for age-related diseases," he added.

Since the pandemic, Americans have largely learned that they are responsible for their own health and for "making individual decisions about bolstering their immunity to infectious diseases," according to Donna Petersen, professor at the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida.

"Individual responsibility for health is important, but collective responsibility for health benefits all of us, whether we choose to take individual responsibility or not," she told Fox News Digital. 

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Dr. Benjamin Barlow, chief medical officer of American Family Care in Birmingham, Alabama, said the pandemic highlighted how quickly a novel virus can spread and impact a community.

"The pandemic alerted us to the fact that we need to really pay attention to the global health scene and think about how outbreaks in other countries might affect us and start preparing," he told Fox News Digital.

COVID-19 also highlighted the need for medical providers to have access to a greater supply of personal protective equipment and better communication with testing suppliers, Barlow noted.

Dr. David Lenihan, CEO and co-founder of Tiber Health, a global medical education startup in New York City, shared his insights on how the country handled the pandemic.

"The government response to COVID taught us that clear, consistent and continuous community engagement is essential," Lenihan, who is also the CEO of Ponce Health Sciences University, a medical school with campuses in Puerto Rico, Missouri and the British Virgin Islands, told Fox News Digital. 

"Such connectivity facilitates that when there is a healthcare emergency, enough people know they can trust the guidance of their leaders as well as government departments, organizations and facilities."

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Another big lesson from the pandemic, according to Lenihan, is that it’s essential for all medical experts and professionals to be "completely transparent" about which specific actions need to be taken for the benefit of society.

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Dementia risk could be lowered by doing this for 5 minutes a day: study

Think five minutes isn't enough time to make a difference in terms of health and well-being?

It could actually be enough time to stave off a disease that afflicts many people in their later years.

Just five minutes of light exercise a day could help prevent dementia, even for frail older adults, new research has found.

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The latest study on the topic was led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. 

They found that engaging in as little as 35 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week — as compared to none at all — was associated with a 41% lower risk of developing dementia over an average four-year follow-up period. 

The findings were published recently in The Journal of the American Medical Directors Association and shared on several medical sites.

Even for people at an elevated risk of "adverse health outcomes," greater activity was associated with lower dementia risk, the researchers noted.

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The higher amounts of physical activity, the lower the risk of dementia.

Consider this data from the study: Dementia risks were 60% lower in participants who got 35-to-69.9 minutes of physical activity/week; 63% lower in the 70-to-139.9 minutes/week category; and 69% lower in the 140-and-over minutes/week category.

For their analysis, the researchers analyzed a dataset covering nearly 90,000 adults living in the United Kingdom who wore smartwatch-type activity trackers, news agency SWNS reported.

Lead study author Dr. Amal Wanigatunga said, "Our findings suggest that increasing physical activity, even as little as five minutes per day, can reduce dementia risk in older adults."

Dementia, usually in the form of Alzheimer's, affects millions of people all over the globe.

While public health guidelines usually recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, the study aligns with a growing body of evidence supporting a "some-is-better-than-none" approach to physical activity, according to Study Finds.

And while the risk of Alzheimer's increases with age, recent research has suggested it may be somewhat preventable by certain lifestyle changes, including better control of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar — plus being more active, SWNS noted.

Participants in the new study had a median age of 63. Women made up 56% of the sample. 

Over an average follow-up period of 4.4 years, 735 people among the group developed dementia.

Researchers found that for every additional 30 minutes of weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), there was a 4% reduction in dementia risk. 

But the most "striking" finding came when comparing people who engaged in no physical activity at all to those who managed to get even minimal amounts.

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"This suggests that even frail or nearly frail older adults might be able to reduce their dementia risk through low-dose exercise," said Wanigatunga.

He noted that the study was not a clinical trial that established causation indicating that exercise reduces dementia risk, but that its findings are consistent with that hypothesis.

"To check the possibility that their findings reflected undiagnosed dementia leading to lower physical activity," News Medical reported, "the researchers repeated their analysis but excluded dementia diagnoses in the first two years of follow-up."

"The association between more activity and lower dementia risk remained robust."

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Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News' senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but shared his reaction to the "important" findings.

"This is not proof, just an association, but is very useful for the group that gets discouraged, thinking, ‘I can’t do a lot of exercise because of illness or disability, so why do any?’ This study suggests that even small amounts are helpful."

There are many mechanisms that could explain this effect, Siegel said – "primarily increased blood flow to the brain, as well as improved disposal of metabolic waste and decreased inflammation."

He added, "It is also likely associated with healthier lifestyle decisions that also decrease the advent of neuroinflammation, dysregulation and plaque formation that characterize dementia, especially Alzheimer’s."

Some of these include sleep, diet and engagement, he said.

The National Institute on Aging provided funding for the new study. 

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New bat coronavirus discovered in China sparks pandemic concerns

The discovery of a new bat coronavirus in China has sparked concerns about another pandemic.

The virus, named HKU5-CoV-2, is similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in that it targets the same human receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

HKU5-CoV-2 could potentially lead to human-to-human or even cross-species transmission, the researchers found.

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The research team was led by Zheng-Li Shi at Guangzhou Laboratory in Guangdong, China. 

Shi, who is known as the "batwoman," worked at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, which came under fire as the potential source of COVID-19.

"This study reveals a distinct lineage of HKU5-CoVs in bats that efficiently use human ACE2 and underscores their potential zoonotic risk," the researchers wrote in the study, which was published in the scientific journal Cell on Feb. 18.

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Researchers from the Guangzhou Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology also contributed.

In the study, HKU5-CoV-2 was found to infect human cells as well as artificially grown lung and intestine tissues, according to reports.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that bats are known to harbor several different species of coronaviruses.

"In this case, Shi-Zhengli discovered that a pipistrellus species of bats is carrying a HKU5-COV2 coronavirus that is a cousin of the MERS virus, which caused a limited outbreak in humans in 2012," Siegel told Fox News Digital.

"This particular strain has an ability to bind to the same receptor in the lungs, nose and respiratory passages that allowed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) to infect humans — so there is a chance of what is known as zoonotic spillover, where this virus could also infect humans and go human to human," he confirmed.

The doctor stated, however, that the risk of this happening remains "very low," as the binding is weaker and the virus is "much less powerful" than SARS-CoV-2.

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"Even as we continue to investigate potential human pathogens, and even as we prepare for possible pandemics, it is very important that we not give in to fear," Siegel said. 

"The COVID pandemic is the worst in a century, but it doesn’t mean another is about to happen from bird flu or this or anything else."

In an ideal scenario, Siegel said, an international consortium of scientists could be established to help provide global protection. 

"That certainly did not happen with the COVID pandemic, and the cloak of secrecy remains," he said. "But studies like this, published in a prominent journal, are a step in the right direction."

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"What we know far less about is exactly what research on bat coronaviruses is being conducted in that lab."

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Knowing your sleep chronotype can lead to better rest and health

If you feel more sluggish during certain times of the day, it could be due to your sleep chronotype.

The chronotype affects the body’s natural tendency to be asleep or awake, according to the Sleep Foundation.  

Knowing and adapting to the ideal schedule for your sleep chronotype could improve your rest and help you accomplish daily tasks more efficiently, sleep experts say.

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"Your chronotype, or natural sleep-wake preference, refers to your natural tendencies to feel awake or sleepy at different times of the day," Dr. Anne Marie Morse, a pediatric sleep medicine physician in Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.

There are four main types of sleep chronotypes: Bear, Wolf, Lion and Dolphin.

Genetics, age, geography and the body’s circadian rhythm (its internal 24-hour clock) can determine one’s chronotype, the Sleep Foundation said in its report.

In addition to sleep quality, chronotypes can also influence appetite, exercise and body temperature.

Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D., a board-certified sleep specialist in Los Angeles, first introduced the four chronotypes based on sleep-wake patterns seen in certain animals.

"We’ve discussed early birds and night owls, but I’ve broken it down further into four categories based on other animals," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Each of these four chronotypes is defined by specific windows of productivity during which they function and perform at their best … at different times of day."

Individuals who are considered the Lion chronotype typically wake up early (around 6 a.m.), are more productive in the morning hours and prefer to nap around 1:30 p.m., according to a report by Breus on his website. 

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Their energy begins to wind down in the early evening and they may struggle with socializing at night, according to Breus’ report. Bedtime is usually around 10 p.m.

An estimated 15% of individuals fall into this chronotype.

The Bear chronotype wakes up with the sun at around 7 a.m., functions well during traditional office hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and does not struggle with attending evening social activities.

This chronotype prefers to go to bed at around 11 p.m., according to the Sleep Foundation report.

Bears account for around 55% of individuals.

Wolf chronotypes are similar to "night owls." As the day winds down, these individuals’ energy levels rev up with a preferred bedtime at around midnight, Breus stated in his report.  

People in this category typically wake up around 7:30 a.m., are groggy in the morning and are most productive between the hours of 1 and 5 p.m., according to the Sleep Foundation.

About 15% percent of people are considered to be this chronotype.

Those in the Dolphin chronotype are usually light sleepers, have a hard time unwinding at bedtime, and rarely follow a consistent bedtime schedule, several sleep experts told Fox News Digital. 

Dolphins wake up at around 6 a.m., are most productive between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and go to bed at around 11 p.m.

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"Those with the Dolphin chronotype have difficulty following any sleep schedule due to disturbances like noise and light," Morse told Fox News Digital. "Productivity is best in the late mornings to early afternoons."

People struggling with insomnia are often Dolphin chronotypes, according to Morse.

Nearly 10% of individuals fall into this category.

To determine your chronotype, the Sleep Foundation recommends considering your sleep preferences, your energy levels throughout the day and when you eat your meals. 

Questionnaires such as the Morning-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ) can help determine one’s chronotype.

Breus also developed an online chronotype quiz at SleepDoctor.com to help individuals determine whether they are a Bear, Wolf, Lion or Dolphin.

Understanding how your chronotype works can help you sleep better at night and feel more refreshed during the day, according to Breus.

After pinpointing your chronotype, Breus recommends tailoring daily activities based on periods of peak energy and productivity levels.

"If you frequently experience poor sleep quality despite getting a full night’s sleep, you may be working against your chronotype," he said.

Morse recommends that people schedule important tasks at times when they naturally feel most alert and to adjust bedtimes to fit their natural sleep patterns, rather than "powering through" schedules that don’t match their chronotypes.

For example, an individual who is categorized as a Lion should try to tackle large projects, important meetings or social activities earlier in the morning, when their tendency is to be most energetic and productive, the expert said. 

Since they are typically early risers, Morse said Lions should establish an early bedtime to ensure that they get enough sleep. She also advised Lions to avoid large meals or rigorous exercise in the late evening, which could delay sleep.

"If you are a naturally late riser, or a Wolf chronotype, forcing yourself to wake up too early may lead to sleep deprivation and could negatively impact health," Morse told Fox News Digital.

"Wolves are the most productive in the afternoon, so steer away from big morning plans for optimal performance."

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Morse also suggested that Wolf chronotypes sleep in cool, dark and quiet bedrooms, using blackout curtains or a sleep mask to block out early-morning light.

Since Dolphin chronotypes do not usually follow a set sleep schedule, Morse recommends that they prioritize going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

"If you’re having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night, try to avoid naps during the day and avoid screen time at least 30 minutes to an hour before bed," he suggested. 

For those who fall into the Bear chronotype, Morse suggests getting sunlight exposure immediately upon waking in the morning. In the event of an afternoon slump, he recommends opting for a short nap at around 2 p.m. instead of reaching for caffeine. 

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If daily obligations get in the way of adhering to ideal bedtime schedules, Morse said the best step is to try to gain better alignment.

Regardless of chronotype, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep per night to support overall health and well-being.

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Couple breaks record for longest living marriage

Two centenarians broke the Guinness World Record for longest marriage of a living couple, as reported by Jam Press and confirmed by LongeviQuest, a database on the life and times of the world’s oldest people.

Manoel Angelim Dino, 105, first met Maria de Sousa Dino, 101, while collecting sweets in Brazil in 1936. They remained acquaintances until they met again in 1940.

When the couple reunited, Manoel said he fell in love at first sight. He declared his sentiments to Maria, who felt the same. The couple has now been happily married for 84 years and 85 days. 

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Maria’s mother was unsure of the couple's union at first, according to Jam Press. 

Manoel quickly won her favor after building a house for himself, Maria and their future family.

By this time, World War II was breaking out in Europe. 

Back in Brazil, the couple grew tobacco to support their 13 children. 

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Today, the family has expanded to include 55 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

The long-married couple now spend their time at home enjoying the life they’ve built. 

Due to his age, Manoel spends most of his time resting. 

However, he gets up every evening to sit with his wife in their living room, where they listen to a rosary prayer on the radio followed by Mass on television, according to LongeviQuest.

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When asked about the secret to their long marriage, Maria said simply, "Love. And that’s something even the most advanced computer could never calculate." 

The previous record was held by an American couple, Herbert Fisher, born in 1905, and Zelmyra Fisher, born in 1907. 

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They were together for 86 years and 290 days until Herbert passed away on Feb. 27, 2011, according to Guinness. 

The longest-ever recorded marriage belongs to David Jacob Hiller, born in 1789, and Sarah Davy Hiller, born in 1792. 

After they tied the knot in Canada in 1809, their union lasted an incredible 88 years and 349 days until Sarah passed away in 1898, Guinness stated.

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Children with autism may see speech improvements with off-label prescription drug

An off-label prescription drug has been shown to help some non-verbal children with autism discover the ability to speak.

The drug, leucovorin, is a prescription vitamin that functions similarly to folic acid, helping to restore folate levels in patients who may have difficulty absorbing or using it, according to Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and the CEO and co-founder of Vitalize, a private supplement company.

"Leucovorin is FDA-approved to reduce the toxic effects of high-dose methotrexate in cancer treatment and to prevent or treat certain types of anemia caused by folate deficiency," Dubinsky told Fox News Digital.

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While leucovorin isn’t prescribed for the treatment of autism, some families have found that its off-label use has led to significant improvements in autistic children’s communication skills, experts say.

Richard E. Frye, M.D., PhD, a behavioral child neurologist in Arizona, has studied the drug in his research of experimental treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder.

"Leucovorin is a special form of vitamin B9 that is water-soluble and does not build up in your body," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Folates have been found to be safe long-term for many years and that is why we supplement our food with folate."

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The main benefit of leucovorin for children with autism is improvement in language, Frye said, but other advantages may include enhanced social function, reduced repetitive behaviors and stronger attention skills.

"We do find that leucovorin helps a substantial number of children with autism," he said. "Language is one of the most obvious things, so that is what we measured in our clinical trial."

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News' senior medical analyst, also spoke to Fox News Digital about why the drug may have this positive impact.

"Central folate deficiency is a lack of folate in the brain, which can interfere with neurological function," he said. "A high percentage of children with autism spectrum disorder have been found to have antibodies against folic receptor alpha in the brain."

Leucovorin is converted to folate in the brain by a different pathway, Siegel said.

"Small studies are showing that it improves neurological function and communication skills in kids with ASD, but larger studies need to be done."

The fact that leucovorin has already been used long-term helps to reduce the associated risk, according to doctors.

"One of the advantages of using leucovorin is that it has been used for decades to protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy, so we know what dose to use and any side effects it may produce," Frye told Fox News Digital.

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However, some children do become "extremely hyperactive," do not respond to leucovorin and end up needing alternative treatments, the doctor noted.

It’s important for families to work with a medical professional when exploring the use of leucovorin for autism, he advised.

"Leucovorin is given at much higher doses than regular vitamins, so it’s very important to work with a doctor knowledgeable in how to prescribe it," Frye said. 

"It is important to test the patient for abnormalities in the folate pathway, such as the folate receptor autoantibody, so we know that they are a candidate for this medication."

While leucovorin is available in the pharmacy, Frye noted that some children need a compounded form because they are sensitive to some of the additives in commercial products.

"Our goal is to get leucovorin approved by the FDA for autism so it can be widely prescribed to children as one of the first treatments once they are diagnosed," he said.

Dubinsky agreed that physicians may prescribe the "widely-used and well-tolerated drug" for autism treatment based on their "clinical judgment and emerging evidence," but she also stressed the importance of clinical trials.

"While doctors can prescribe leucovorin now, FDA approval would provide stronger medical backing, making it a recognized treatment rather than just an off-label option," she told Fox News Digital. 

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"This could lead to insurance coverage, standardized dosing guidelines and broader acceptance in the medical community."

Siegel added that leucovorin is a "safe drug" and should be considered for large-scale use based on the findings of recent research.

Frye pointed out that there is "no magic bullet" for autism, with many children benefiting from a combination of multiple treatments. 

"It is unlikely that leucovorin will be used alone — it must be used with behavioral and speech therapy," he said. "We believe that leucovorin can improve outcomes for these therapies."

Andy Shih, PhD, chief science officer of Autism Speaks in New York, noted that every child’s experience with autism is unique.

"There is little evidence to suggest that the benefits observed in this individual case can be generalized to the broader autistic community," he told Fox News Digital. 

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"While some small studies have explored leucovorin as a potential treatment for people with autism, larger controlled clinical trials are needed to determine its efficacy and safety. We urge families to consult with their doctors before considering off-label treatments."

Dubinsky added that if larger studies confirm leucovorin’s effectiveness, it could become a more accessible treatment for children with autism who may benefit from it.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/Q9M68lK

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