All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

THURSDAY, Dec. 26, (2024 HealthDay News)  — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Monday the approval of the first generic version of a daily injectable GLP-1 medicine for people living with Type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide, the generic for Victoza, is similar to semaglutide, the active ingredient in the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic. The FDA supports the development of generic drugs, such as GLP-1s, by funding research and informing industry through guidance, Dr. Iilun Murphy, director of the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs, said. “Generic drugs provide additional treatment options which are generally more affordable for patients,” she said in a statement released Dec. 23, 2024. “Today’s approval underscores the FDA’s continued commitment to advancing patient access to safe, effective and high-quality generic drug products.” Last month, the agency approved the first generic version in this class of medications with the green lighting of a generic version of Byetta (exenatide). Experts hope the new approvals will help prevent shortages triggered by demand for injectable weight loss and type 2 diabetes drugs, including semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Liraglutide is expected to expand access for people managing type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 38 million Americans, according to federal health data. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not use insulin well and cannot keep blood…  read on >  read on >

Virtual reality headsets like the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro will be a Christmas gift in more than one home this year. Now mice are getting in on the action. Researchers have developed a set of VR goggles for lab mice for use in brain studies, according to a report published recently in the journal Nature Methods. These VR goggles will allow scientists to provide immersive experiences for the mice, while capturing fluorescent images of the rodents’ brain activity. The goggles — which dwarf the tiny mice in size — were built using low-cost, off-the-shelf components like smartwatch displays and tiny lenses, researchers said. “It definitely benefited from the hacker ethos of taking parts that are built for something else and then applying it to some new context,” co-lead investigator Matthew Isaacson, a post-doctoral researcher at Cornell University, said in a news release from the college. “The perfect size display, as it turns out, for a mouse VR headset is pretty much already made for smart watches,” Isaacson continued. “We were lucky that we didn’t need to build or design anything from scratch. We could easily source all the inexpensive parts we needed.” Mice are frequently used in studies of brain activity. About a decade ago, researchers began rigging up clunky projector screens for mice as a means of creating virtual reality environments, but…  read on >  read on >

Runners put a lot of thought into how much they must eat and drink to endure a 26.2-mile marathon, properly fueling their bodies to sustain a record-setting pace. But the quality of the air they huff and puff during endurance events could also play a key role in their performance, a new study says. Higher levels of air pollution are associated with slower average marathon finish times, according to findings published recently in the journal Sports Medicine. “Runners at that level are thinking about their gear, their nutrition, their training, the course, even the weather,” lead researcher Elvira Fleury, a doctoral student at Harvard University, said in a news release. “Our results show that those interested in optimizing athletic performance should consider the effect of air pollution, as well.” Runners’ average finish times on a marathon steadily decreased for every increase in particle pollution of one microgram per cubic meter of air, results show. Men finished 32 seconds slower on average for every increased unit of air pollution, and women finished 25 seconds slower, researchers found. These effects also appeared to be more pronounced in faster-than-average runners, researchers said. “This means that air pollution can be a health risk not just for those who are elderly or susceptible — it can negatively affect even the most healthy and well-trained among us,” senior researcher Joseph Braun,…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first prescription medication specifically for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): the weight-loss drug Zepbound. In a news release published Dec. 20, the FDA stated that Zepbound, part of the GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines that include Ozempic, was cleared to treat moderate to severe OSA in individuals with obesity. According to drugmaker Eli Lilly, the treatment is intended for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. “Today’s approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea,” Dr. Sally Seymour, director of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. “This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.” OSA, a condition affecting as many as 30 million Americans, is characterized by breathing disruptions during sleep caused by blocked airflow. Weight loss has long been recognized as an effective strategy to reduce OSA severity. “Many cases of OSA go undiagnosed and untreated, leaving millions at risk for serious health consequences,” Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said in a news release from the company. In clinical trials, he noted, nearly half of Zepbound users saw such significant improvements that their OSA symptoms resolved. FDA approval for Zepbound in treating sleep apnea was…  read on >  read on >

What type of “me-time” is more restorative to a person — hiking by yourself deep in a forest, or reading a book while sipping a latte in a coffee shop? Surprisingly, you’ll do best with a cup of joe and a good book, alone with yourself while surrounded by people, a new study published recently in the journal PLOS One found. Intense episodes of complete isolation aren’t as likely to benefit a person’s well-being as me-time that maintains some social connectedness. “We learned that less complete solitude is more likely to restore energy and maintain a feeling of connection with others,” lead researcher Morgan Quinn Ross, an assistant professor of communications with Oregon State University, said in a university news release. “In a world where social interaction is almost always just a click away, we need to understand how to balance social interaction with different types of solitude,” Ross added. For the study, researchers surveyed nearly 900 people regarding their mental health, preferred type of solitude and social interactions. The research team specifically assessed the conditions under which a person’s me-time might be intruded upon by people or technology, causing time alone to become more social in nature. Results show that less complete forms of solitude, like playing a game on your phone or going to a movie by yourself, offer some advantages over a…  read on >  read on >

Coffee provides a quick morning boost, but it might also protect the brain health of people with a common heart rhythm disorder. A study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows patients with atrial fibrillation who drank more than five cups of coffee a day performed better on an array of cognitive tests than those who drank little to no coffee. In fact, the brains of heavy coffee drinkers were nearly seven years younger in cognitive age compared to coffee teetotalers. “Many myths are around, but our study found no reason to discourage or forbid a patient with A-Fib from drinking coffee. Instead, say, ‘Enjoy, it may even be good for you!’” senior researcher Dr. Jürg Beer, a professor of medicine and hematology at the University of Zürich in Switzerland, said in an American Heart Association (AHA) news release. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults, affecting more than 5 million people in the United States, according to the AHA. A-Fib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart — the atria — begin beating in a quivering and uncoordinated way. This allows blood to pool in the atria and potentially clot.  A-Fib increases a person’s risk of stroke fivefold, as a blood clot can travel from the atria and block blood flow to the brain, according…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Holy chip! Frito-Lay has issued a limited recall of select 13-oz bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips due to the potential presence of undeclared milk, which could pose a serious health risk to individuals with a milk allergy. According to a report released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the affected bags have a “guaranteed fresh” date of Feb. 11, 2025, and the manufacturing codes 6462307xx or 6463307xx. These chips were distributed in Oregon and Washington through retail stores and online distributors, a media report shows. Consumers may have purchased them starting in early November. The report also shows that Frito-Lay clarified that no other Lay’s products or sizes are impacted by the recall. While no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported so far, individuals with allergies or severe sensitivities to milk are advised to avoid consuming the chips and discard them immediately. Questions? Call Frito-Lay: 800-352-4477. More information More details about food recalls are available on the FDA’s official website. SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Dec. 18, 2024; CNN  read on >

Just over 300 people have been sickened in norovirus outbreaks on three different cruise ships in December, new government data shows. This is the only month this year in which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported three confirmed norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. In all, 301 passengers and crew members fell ill during the December outbreaks, health officials said. “Norovirus can be especially challenging to control on cruise ships because of the close living quarters, shared dining areas and rapid turnover of passengers,” according to the CDC. “When the ship docks, norovirus can be brought on board in contaminated food or water; or by passengers who were infected while ashore.” Those sickened on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess, on a trip around Hawaii’s island, and Holland America’s Rotterdam and Zuiderdam voyages, both in the Caribbean, mostly experienced diarrhea and vomiting. The latest outbreak was reported on Holland America’s Rotterdam ship, which is set to end its Caribbean trip Friday in Fort Lauderdale. CDC officials said 83 of the 2,192 passengers on board and 12 of the 953 crew members were sickened.  “At Holland America Line, the safety and well-being of our guests and crew is our top priority. During the current voyage, a number of guests on Rotterdam reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” a Holland America spokesperson told CBS News. “The cases have…  read on >  read on >

Sexism is incredibly toxic to women’s lives, resulting in lower pay, fewer career opportunities, worse health care and a greater risk of violence. It also can be toxic to their brain health, a new study says. U.S. women born in the most sexist states experience a faster memory decline in later years than women born in states with more equal rights, researchers reported in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. In fact, women born in the state with the highest structural sexism — Mississippi circa 1910 — experienced memory decline similar to women 9 years older in age, researchers found. “Our findings suggest that addressing social inequities may be a powerful way to lower the burden of Alzheimer’s among women,” lead researcher Justina Avila-Rieger, an associate research scientist at Columbia University, said in a university news release.  “Alzheimer’s is a huge societal problem, particularly among women, who account for two-thirds of Americans with the disease,” Avila-Rieger continued. “It’s imperative that we gain a better understanding of what is causing this discrepancy and what can be done about it.” For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 21,000 women who took part in long-term health studies. The health studies included regular measurements of women’s brain function. The team also compiled indicators of structural racism for each state in the United States, based on male versus female labor…  read on >  read on >

Seniors with an infection can take antibiotics without fear of harming their brain health. Antibiotics don’t appear to increase the risk of cognitive decline or dementia in older adults, researchers report in the journal Neurology. “Given that older adults are more frequently prescribed antibiotics and are also at higher risk for cognitive decline, these findings offer reassurance about using these medications,” senior researcher Dr. Andrew Chan, a professor with Harvard Medical School, said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. Previous studies have linked gut health to brain health, researchers said in background notes. The human gut contains trillions of microorganisms, and some have been shown to enhance and others to drain brain power. “Antibiotics have been found in previous research to disrupt the gut microbiome, which is the community of tiny organisms that live in our intestines and support digestion,” Chan said. “Because the gut microbiome has been found to be important for maintaining overall health, and possibly cognitive function, there was concern that antibiotics may have a harmful long-term effect on the brain,” he continued. For this study, researchers tracked data on more than 13,500 healthy Australian seniors older than 70 who took part in a clinical trial testing the health benefits of daily low-dose aspirin. Participants’ use of antibiotics was determined by reviewing prescription records, researchers said. About 63%…  read on >  read on >