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New York Post
6 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Bill Gates shares ‘next phase of Alzheimer's fight' as he speaks about his father's personal battle
Bill Gates is speaking out about his personal experience with Alzheimer's — and his hope for progress in fighting the disease. In an essay published this week on his blog at the Microsoft co-founder and tech billionaire, 69, reflected on the difficulty of spending another Father's Day without his dad, Bill Gates Sr. Advertisement The elder Gates passed away in 2020 at the age of 94 after battling Alzheimer's. 'It was a brutal experience, watching my brilliant, loving father go downhill and disappear,' Gates wrote in the blog post. Today, motivated by his own experience with the common dementia, Gates — who serves as chair of the Gates Foundation — is committed to working toward a cure for the common dementia, which currently affects more than seven million Americans, or one in nine people over 65. In his blog, Gates expressed optimism about the 'massive progress' being made in the fight against Alzheimer's and other dementias. Advertisement Last year, Gates said he visited Indiana University's School of Medicine in Indianapolis to tour the labs where teams have been researching Alzheimer's biomarkers. 5 Bill Gates (left) is speaking out about his personal experience with Alzheimer's — and his hope for progress in fighting the disease. Brian Ach 'I also got the opportunity to look under the hood of new automated machines that will soon be running diagnostics around the world,' he wrote. 'It's an exciting time in a challenging space.' One of the biggest breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research, according to Gates, is blood-based diagnostic tests, which detect the ratio of amyloid plaques in the brain. (Amyloid plaques, clumps of protein that accumulate in the brain, are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's.) Advertisement 'I'm optimistic that these tests will be a game-changer,' Gates wrote. 5 The elder Gates passed away in 2020 at the age of 94 after battling Alzheimer's. Bloomberg via Getty Images Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first blood-based test for patients 55 years and older, as Fox News Digital reported at the time. Traditionally, Gates noted, the primary path to Alzheimer's diagnosis was either a PET scan (medical imaging) or spinal tap (lumbar puncture), which were usually only performed when symptoms emerged. Advertisement The hope is that blood-based tests could do a better job of catching the disease early, decline begins. 5 Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first blood-based test for patients 55 years and older, as Fox News Digital reported at the time. – 'We now know that the disease begins 15 to 20 years before you start to see any signs,' Gates wrote. 'A simple, accurate and easy-to-run blood test might one day make routine screening possible, identifying patients long before they experience cognitive decline,' he stated. Gates said he is often asked, 'What is the point of getting diagnosed if I can't do anything about it?' Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters To that end, he expressed his optimism for the future of Alzheimer's treatments, noting that two drugs — Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla) — have gained FDA approval. 'Both have proven to modestly slow down the progression of the disease, but what I'm really excited about is their potential when paired with an early diagnostic,' Gates noted. Advertisement He said he is also hopeful that the blood tests will help speed up the process of enrolling patients in clinical trials for new Alzheimer's drugs. 5 The hope is that blood-based tests could do a better job of catching the disease early, decline begins. Monkey Business – To accomplish this, Gates is calling for increased funding for research, which often comes from federal grants. 'This is the moment to spend more money on research, not less,' he wrote, also stating that 'the quest to stop Alzheimer's has never had more momentum.' Advertisement 'There is still a huge amount of work to be done — like deepening our understanding of the disease's pathology and developing even better diagnostics,' Gates went on. 5 Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, his wife Melinda, far left, his father Bill Gates Sr., and his step-mother Mimi Gates pose for a photo in 2007. AP Gates pointed out that when his father had Alzheimer's, it was considered a 'death sentence,' but that is starting to change. Advertisement 'I am blown away by how much we have learned about Alzheimer's over the last couple of years,' he wrote. 'I cannot help but be filled with a sense of hope when I think of all the progress being made on Alzheimer's, even with so many challenges happening around the world. We are closer than ever before to a world where no one has to watch someone they love suffer from this awful disease.'
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Children's cough syrup recalled nationwide over bacterial risk that ‘can cause death'
Medtech Products issued a nationwide recall of its Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup after discovering a bacterium that can cause serious foodborne illness, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory. The voluntary recall affects five lots of the syrup, sold in 4-fluid-ounce amber bottles and distributed in stores — including Walgreens, Target, CVS, and Safeway — and online between December 14, 2022, and June 4, 2025. The affected product bears the UPC 7-56184-10737-9 and includes lot numbers 0039 (exp. 11/2025), 0545 (01/2026), 0640 (02/2026), 0450 (05/2026), and 1198 (12/2026). The recall extends to all lots still within their expiration dates. The bacteria found in the cough syrup, Bacillus cereus, can cause two distinct types of gastrointestinal illness. One type leads to nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps within hours of ingestion. The other manifests later, often with diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. 'Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term illness, exposure to high levels of foodborne B. cereus can cause death,' the FDA warned.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Granules unit in Hyderabad, one of the largest globally for paracetamol API, under U.S. FDA scanner
Generic drugmaker Granules India's active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing facility in Bonthapally, Hyderabad, has been issued an observation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). The Bonthapally facility is one of the world's largest single-site paracetamol API manufacturing plants by volume. Along with paracetamol APIs, the company has established Metformin and Guaifenesin API manufacturing plants in the same facility, Granules India said in an intimation to the stock exchanges on Friday. The U.S. FDA had inspected the facility, located in Sangareddy district, from June 16-20 and issued Form 483 with one observation. The company said it will respond to the observation within the stipulated time.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
U.S. FDA issues 7 observations to Natco Pharma's formulations unit in Hyderabad
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has issued seven observations to Natco Pharma's formulations facility in Kothur, Hyderabad. The facility was inspected by the U.S. FDA from June 9-19. On conclusion, the company received seven observations in Form-483, Natco Pharma said on Thursday. The company said it is confident of addressing the observations within the stipulated timeline. 'The company remains committed to being cGMP compliant and in supplying high-quality products to its customers and patients globally,' Natco Pharma said. The U.S. FDA had in April 2024 issued a warning letter to the facility while raising quality concerns. The action followed an inspection and issue of eight observations in October 2023 by the regulator. The company then said the move may result in delay or withholding of pending product approvals from the site. The facility is for oral solid dosages, including cytotoxic orals; cytotoxic injectables; and pre filled syringes. The focus product categories are oncology, gastroenterology, central nervous system and cardiology. EOM
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
HMC successfully performs bariatric surgery using magnetic anastomosis technology
DOHA: In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has successfully performed a bariatric surgery using magnetic anastomosis technology which uses medical magnets to safely and accurately connect parts of the small intestine without the need for surgical stapling or sutures. This advanced surgery has shown promising initial results in terms of response and improved health for two patients who underwent the surgery, according to HMC's announcement. Both procedures were performed at HMC's Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital by a specialized surgical team at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) National Bariatric Center, rendering it one of the first of its kind in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Both patients, both in their thirties, were given modified magnetic duodenal switches using the Modified Duodenal Switch (MDS) technique. The procedure underscores HMC's commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies and innovations in bariatric surgery. Director of HMC's National Bariatric Center, Dr Mohamed Al Kuwari said: "The new technique, known as the Magnet Anastomosis System and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reflects HMC's commitment to delivering advanced treatments that meet the highest international standards," adding that the procedure "eliminates the need for permanent metal implants in the body, which contributes to further enhancing patient safety." Dr Al Kuwari pointed out that "Modified duodenal switch surgery is considered one of the most effective procedures for weight loss in patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 50, or in those who did not achieve satisfactory results with other procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy, as well as patients with type 2 diabetes." For his part, Senior Consultant Bariatric and Robotic Surgery at HMC Dr Moataz Basha said: "This innovative technique significantly simplified the surgical procedure, especially during the delicate stage of creating intestinal connections, which is traditionally one of the most complex steps. The new technique uses two small medical magnets, each with a diameter of no more than 4cm. The first magnet is swallowed orally by the patient and monitored via radiographic imaging to confirm its arrival in the small intestine." He added that at a later stage, under anesthesia, the second magnet is introduced with a minor surgical procedure. The two magnets are aligned and connected via imaging, which results in a natural digestive connection being formed without the traditional but more invasive surgical intervention. The magnets naturally exit the body after approximately three weeks, requiring no additional procedures. Dr Basha emphasized that this surgical achievement highlights the expertise of HMC's medical teams and reinforces the Corporation's position as a leading regional center in the field of bariatric surgery.
