Weill Cornell Medicine’s Post

Covid, cardiac research, and the impact of diet on heart health are just some of the topics we learned about this past year through our dozens of interviews with Harvard researchers and community members. We thank them for contributing to our science communications and for sharing their passion for clinical and translational research across a diversity of domains. Catch up on our interviews from 2024: hvrdct.me/8wy

1. The Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting took place in Chicago from Dec. 1 to 5, featuring a global participation of radiologists and health care professionals. 2. A study found an association between levothyroxine use and increased bone loss in older adults, necessitating further research to clarify long-term risks. 3. Research indicated that concussions are linked to reduced cortical excitability in the frontal cortex, which negatively impacts cognitive function. 4. A study highlighted the role of visceral adipose tissue in Alzheimer's disease pathologies, emphasizing the need to address visceral fat rather than just BMI. 5. Electronic cigarette use was shown to have immediate negative effects on vascular function, regardless of nicotine presence. 6. Research established a connection between lung function and cognitive symptoms in long COVID patients, suggesting physiological causes for cognitive deficits. 7. A fully automated algorithm for assessing aortic artery calcification may predict the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. 8. Studies presented at the meeting indicated a link between obesity, visceral fat, and amyloid burden in midlife individuals, as well as issues like silicosis among engineered stone countertop workers.

Excited to join this discussion around translational research and technology implementation!

Over 90 organizations representing patients, providers, researchers, and industry have come together to oppose a House proposal that could fundamentally alter the future of vision research. The proposal aims to consolidate the National Eye Institute (NEI) into a broader neuroscience institute, potentially diluting the specialized focus and funding necessary for groundbreaking advancements in eye health. The vision community is urging Congress to reject this proposal and preserve the NEI as an independent entity within the The National Institutes of Health. The impact of this restructuring could be far-reaching, affecting millions of Americans living with vision impairment and threatening future innovations in eye disease treatment. https://bit.ly/3AtPcVK

Hazel Vázquez and Emiliano Vallejo, members of Mission Brain UNAM, were interviewed by the Official Gazette of the UNAM Faculty of Medicine to share their work leading impactful initiatives that provide life-changing neurosurgical care to underserved communities in Mexico. With dedication and expertise, they strive to close the gap in healthcare access for low-income populations facing neurological diseases 🧠🤓 📚Learn more about their inspiring work and how they are transforming lives: https://lnkd.in/gytDZ5tS

Much deeply thoughtful and studied science around the chemistry, physiology and the psychology of pain. There are some wonderful and promising research at the 2nd Annual NIH HEAL symposium here at the Maryland Gaylord Convention Center. After many years of research, it is still a challenging area of human experience to try to put a finger on safer solutions for pain. Yet, sometimes complex problems can be answered with simple solutions. That is the goal of H3Pelvic Therapy Systems, providing better, safer, and much more dignified patient improving outcomes. H3Pelvic, bringing dignity back to healthcare and giving chronic pelvic pain victims renewed hope.

“Memory is something that really defines a human. So, something that I seek to understand is why this disease is impacting memory so aggressively, and, honestly, taking away someone’s identity before they pass away.” Lasya Sreepada, PhD student in #PennBioengineering, was interviewed by Penn Today about what sparked her interest in memory and neurodegeneration, her research with Alzheimer's disease, and her work with the Graduate Association of Bioengineers (GABE). Read more: https://bit.ly/3VU0UQA

Christopher G. Low, MD, and team: Maqdooda Merchant, MSc, MA, Yun-Yi Hung, PhD, Yu Hsin Liu, MD, Joseph Vu, MD, and Seema Pursnani, MD, MPH, collaborated with the Santa Clara Internal Medicine Residency Program, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Residency and Fellowship Programs, and Kaiser Permanente Division of Research to answer this important public health question.  Article: https://lnkd.in/gYBRKRAw Citation: Low CG, Merchant M, Hung YY, Liu YH, Vu J, Pursnani S. Assessing Glycosylated Hemoglobin Thresholds for Development of Cardiovascular Disease by Racial and Ethnic Groups. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 May 21;13(10):e033559. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.033559. Epub 2024 May 18. PMID: 38761085; PMCID: PMC11179793.

🌟 On this World Amyloidosis Day, we are proud to highlight Jacquie Baker, recipient of the CCS-Pfizer ATTR-CM 2023 Research Fellowship Award. 🔍 Jacquie is a postdoctoral associate at the Cumming School of Medicine in Calgary where she is studying the impact of autonomic health on #amyloidosis patients. When the autonomic nervous system is impaired, it can cause symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, difficulty regulating body temperature, and problems with blood pressure control. These challenges can impact daily activities, independence, and overall quality of life for patients. 💡 We are proud to support researchers like Jacquie and partner with organizations such as the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Through our collective efforts, we aim to enhance understanding, improve patient outcomes, and make a positive impact on the lives of amyloidosis patients and their loved ones! To learn more about Jacquie’s project visit: https://lnkd.in/evwNuHDt 🙌 💙 #WorldAmyloidosisDay #ResearchMatters #ImprovingPatientCare

The Oral-Systemic Connection: Could Saliva Testing Unlock the Mysteries of Alzheimer’s Disease? What if the answers to one of the most challenging health mysteries of our time—Alzheimer’s Disease—lay not in the brain but in the mouth? Groundbreaking research is shedding light on a fascinating hypothesis: the potential role of oral pathogens in triggering neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s. Viruses like HSV-1 and Bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis)have been directly linked to brain infections. Intriguingly, their remnants or byproducts—such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and gingipains—have been found in the brains of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Consider P. gingivalis, a keystone periodontal pathogen. Evidence suggests this bacterium can migrate from the oral cavity to the brain via the trigeminal nerve or olfactory pathways, potentially setting off a cascade of immune responses and neuronal damage. This reinforces an infection hypothesis proposed decades ago, with Alois Alzheimer’s work, when Oskar Fischer suggested microbial involvement in dementia. Saliva testing could play a pivotal role in this paradigm shift. By analyzing biomarkers for these pathogens in real-time, saliva testing may provide a non-invasive, early detection tool for assessing Alzheimer’s risk while also guiding personalized interventions for oral-systemic health. As integrative healthcare practitioners, are we doing enough to leverage these insights in clinical settings? How might advancements in salivary diagnostics reshape our approach to not only managing periodontal disease but also preventing systemic conditions like Alzheimer’s? Let’s start the conversation—because understanding the connections between oral and systemic health has never been more critical. What are your thoughts on integrating saliva testing into broader health screening protocols? #OralSystemicHealth #SalivaTesting #IntegrativeDentalMedicine #PeriodontalDisease #AlzheimersResearch #SimplyPerio