Nature Portfolio’s Post

Removing Race from Lung Function Tests: A Critical Move for Health Equity A groundbreaking study has revealed that removing race adjustments from lung function tests could significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease in Black Americans. Historically, spirometry, a key test for assessing lung health, has adjusted results based on race, often underestimating the severity of conditions in Black patients. This new research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that adopting race-neutral calculations could lead to nearly half a million more Black Americans being accurately diagnosed with lung disease, thereby qualifying for necessary treatments and disability benefits. The study highlights the historical context and ongoing impact of race-based medical algorithms. For decades, spirometry has assumed that Black individuals naturally have lower lung capacity, a notion rooted in outdated and flawed racial science. This adjustment often led to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in Black patients. By removing this racial correction, the medical field acknowledges that race is not a biological determinant but a social construct that should not influence clinical assessments. Dr. James Diao, lead author of the study, emphasizes that race-neutral equations are as accurate as race-adjusted ones in predicting respiratory diseases. This shift could ensure that more Black patients receive the care and support they need, including increased disability payments, which the study estimates could rise by over $1 billion for Black veterans alone. However, the transition to race-neutral spirometry is not without challenges. The medical community must carefully navigate these changes to avoid unintended consequences. For instance, past studies indicate that doctors might be less inclined to recommend aggressive treatments, like lung surgery, for Black patients if their lung function scores are lower without racial adjustment. This suggests a need for re-education and adjustments in clinical practice to ensure equitable treatment outcomes. Ultimately, this research underscores a broader medical movement to eliminate racial biases in clinical tools and practices. By doing so, the healthcare system can better address health disparities and provide fairer, more accurate care to all patients, regardless of race. The push to remove race from medical algorithms is part of a larger effort to create a more just and effective healthcare system that truly serves the needs of diverse populations. #HealthEquity #MedicalResearch #LungHealth #RaceAndMedicine #HealthcareReform https://lnkd.in/gwcx9fKt https://lnkd.in/gyU5NxWa

Travel time to academic settings can contribute to inequalities due to age, geography, and ethnicity in Alzheimer's disease clinical trial enrollment. We are excited to share that Noor Sachdev M.D. and Perminder Bhatia, M.D., two community physicians in the Adaptive Research network, are investigators in AriBio’s Phase 3, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of AR1001 in Participants With Early Alzheimer's Disease (POLARIS-AD). #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch

While African Females according to NIH.gov are highest risk for dementia and Alzheimer, what percentage of clinical trials are they in? We need Dementia and Alzheimer legislation prioritize for the 2024 election cycle. Here is clinical trial I reached out from Clinical trial.gov Clinical trial ID# NCT05997030 Title “Early Feasibility Study of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) Neuromodulation in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Due to Alzheimer's Disease” Eligibility Criteria Description Inclusion Criteria: Males and non-pregnant females, aged 45-85 years Able and willing to give informed consent Must meet the clinical criteria for MCI due to Alzheimer's disease Principal Investigator:Ali Rezai,WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Want to assist, pray you can call 718-237-2211 or email congressmanjeffries08@gmail.com for my congressman Hon. Hakeem Jeffries to co-sponsor legislation on dementia and Alzheimer. So you don’t live in NY 8th Congressional District, please call your own congress person to prioritize legislation on dementia and Alzheimer. Alzheimer's Association® Alzheimer's Impact Movement #mentalhealth #dementia #alzheimer #alzheimerscare #clinicaltrial #elections2024 #dementiaawareness #alzheimersawareness #jamaica #RasTafari #Love #Life #Lord #Live

I know first hand, Alzheimer's affects not only those who suffer from the disease but the families and caregivers too. If you have time please this join free educational webinar.

In the latest blog Yvonne Couch, we are invited to examine the significance of aging within pre-clinical research using mice models. Yvonne articulates the necessity for this paradigm shift, underscoring the translational benefits it could bring in understanding age-related human diseases. She raises critical points about the current research landscape and how it could evolve to better serve an aging global population (and how funders need to keep up). It’s an essential read for professionals in the biomedical field to engage in this emerging dialogue. https://lnkd.in/e6vEHAWs

The leader of the Stanford Center for Digital Health, Eleni Linos, joins me on this episode of The Future of Everything to explain how emerging digital computational and communication approaches are set to reshape medicine. She believes the future of digital health is the future of health, but much work remains to ensure those benefits extend to every sector of society. https://lnkd.in/gK7XrZMP   

Implementation science goes beyond merely discovering what could work in healthcare to understanding how to make it work effectively in real-world settings. Read our new blog to learn more and see how PAS and University Hospitals are working together to harness the power of Implementation Science. 

If you want to learn a little more about the Regional Coalition to Eliminate Race-Based Medicine, this Philly Voice article has some great details from our partners at Penn Medicine and Jefferson Health. https://lnkd.in/e-DC6SxE

📢 New Paper! PhD candidate Kyra Webb recently published her 4th and final PhD study which aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a caregiver-specific measure of fear of cancer recurrence and progression (CARE-FCR). 🔵 Four-hundred and thirty-eight caregivers completed the online survey including demographic questions, information about care provided, the person they care for, as well as the CARE-FCR. 🔵 Convergent validity was assessed using pre-existing measures of fear of recurrence and progression, depression, anxiety, death anxiety and meta-cognitions. 🔵 Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a 3-factor structure: progression, recurrence and communication. A 23-item, theoretically informed and psychometrically robust measure of caregiver fear of recurrence/ progression is presented. This will facilitate quantification of caregiver FCR, capturing the unique aspects specific to this population. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g8cYX9K2 Louise Sharpe, Hayley Russell, Joanne Shaw #SuppOnc #Research #Caregivers #FCR

Unraveling the Mysteries of Medicine: 60 Essential Insights into Groundbreaking Medical Research is a thoughtful exploration into the vibrant field of medical research. The article highlights the importance of clinical trials, epidemiological studies, genetic research, imaging technology, telehealth, integrative medicine, and health psychology in shaping our understanding of health and disease. It underscores the significance of medical research in improving the quality of life and emphasizes the advent of personalized medicine, the rise of telehealth, and the impact of mental health on overall well-being.