1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind recent intriguing stories:
FDA approved a drug to treat the root cause of narcolepsy this month, and researchers are exploring if this type of medication can be repurposed for other disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (More, free w/email)
> Narcolepsy can cause hallucinations.
> Sleep deprivation leads to the buildup of dangerous molecules in the gut.
At least 1 in 4 NFL players end up with CTE, according to brain examinations of 878 players who died between 2016 and 2021; at least 215 of their brains showed hallmarks of the neurodegenerative condition. (More, free/email)
> National Hockey League commissioner denies CTE risk for the sport.
> Learn more about CTE, which is linked to dementia and behavioral issues.
People on GLP-1s are sometimes injecting “zombie filler”—fat from corpses. (More)
> After stopping GLP-1s, people gain two-thirds of the weight back.
> Medicare began covering GLP-1s in some instances last month.
Traditional scalpel-based cataract surgery is often being replaced by laser surgery, even though the former is cheaper and outcomes are just as good. (More)
> Globally, 1 in 2 people who need cataract surgery don’t have access to it.
> Cataract surgery with lasers or scalpels often employs sound waves to break up the cloudy lens.
“Danny Go!,” an upbeat children’s program often used in schools to promote movement and dance, dropped a second season on Netflix Aug. 24. (More)
> “Danny Go’s” star and his wife are mourning the recent death of their teenage son and supporting other parents experiencing grief.
A robot that uses ultrasound and infrared light is now authorized to perform patients’ blood draws. (More)
> Why don’t bears form blood clots when they hibernate?
