Hidden Hunger Crisis: Alarming Study Reveals Half of Diabetics Are Missing Essential Nutrients

Hidden hunger affects nearly half of those with type 2 diabetes, with deficiencies in vital nutrients like vitamin D, magnesium, and B12 prevalent globally.

Micronutrient deficiencies, such as low vitamin D and magnesium, are alarmingly common in people with type 2 diabetes, affecting nearly half globally

Women and those in the Americas are at higher risk, and the study underscores the importance of addressing not just energy metabolism but also overall nutrition. Researchers call for targeted interventions and further studies to explore the causes and solutions to these deficiencies.

Micronutrient Deficiency in Type 2 Diabetes

Micronutrient deficiencies, where levels of essential vitamins and minerals are too low for proper bodily function, are commonly found in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a pooled data analysis published today (January 29) in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

The analysis highlights vitamin D as the most commonly deficient micronutrient, with women at greater risk than men. These deficiencies, often referred to as “hidden hunger,” pose a significant health challenge.

Researchers explain that type 2 diabetes is influenced by factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental conditions, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and obesity. Previous studies suggest that micronutrients play a critical role in the disease’s development, potentially impacting glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathways.

Exploring Global Data on Micronutrient Deficiencies

To estimate the global prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in people with type 2 diabetes, researchers reviewed databases to identify relevant studies and pooled the available data for analysis.

The final analysis included 132 studies involving 52,501 participants, published in multiple languages between 1998 and 2023. Nearly all the studies (except for three) were conducted in hospital settings.

The analysis revealed that 45% of people with type 2 diabetes globally have micronutrient deficiencies (vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes), with the prevalence slightly lower (40%) among those with diabetes-related complications. Regional differences were attributed to varying dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and cultural practices.

Vitamin D deficiency was the most common, affecting 60.5% of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Magnesium deficiency was also widespread, affecting 42%, while iron deficiency impacted 28%. Vitamin B12 deficiency was reported in 29% of participants and was even more frequent among those taking metformin.

Regional and Gender Differences in Deficiency Rates

Further stratification of the pooled data showed that prevalence was higher in women with the condition than in men at nearly 49%, and highest among patients in the Americas (54%).

Most of the included studies were cross-sectional, making it difficult to establish causality, nor was it clear whether the micronutrient deficiency preceded poor glycaemic control or was a consequence of it, caution the researchers.

And as there are no valid population-based studies looking at micronutrient deficiency, it’s impossible to draw comparisons between patients with type 2 diabetes and the general population, they add.

Implications for Research and Policy

“This systematic review exemplifies the double burden of malnutrition in action, whereby nutritional deficiencies and diet-related non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, co-exist,” comments Shane McAuliffe, Visiting Senior Academic Associate, NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, which co-owns the journal.

“The treatment of type 2 diabetes often tends to focus on energy metabolism and macronutrients, but the identification of a higher prevalence of specific micronutrient deficiencies in those affected is a reminder that optimizing overall nutrition should always be a priority.

“The findings should help to focus research and policy initiatives aimed at furthering our understanding of the causes and effects of these deficiencies and the potential for targeted and tailored interventions.”

https://scitechdaily.com/hidden-hunger-crisis-alarming-study-reveals-half-of-diabetics-are-missing-essential-nutrients/

 

Treating hypertension may help lower cognitive decline risk

New research confirms that keeping blood pressure in check could help lower cognitive decline risk as we age.

• Intensive blood pressure control for adults with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in the long term, according to a new study.
• Current estimates suggest that more than 9 million Americans could have dementia by 2030, and nearly 12 million by 2040. Mild cognitive impairment, a transitional state between normal cognitive aging and dementia, is also expected to increase.
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in a greater risk for cognitive decline or dementia as well as cardiovascular disease.
• More than half of all Americans experience hypertension by the time they are 50.

Intensive blood pressure control for adults with hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cardiovascular risk can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in the long term, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

This is in the context in which more than 9 million Americans could develop dementia by 2030, and nearly 12 million by 2040. DataTrusted Source also suggest that more than half of all Americans experience hypertension by the time they are 50.

The recent study, published in Neurology, aimed to examine the effects on cognitive decline from standard and intensive blood pressure treatment.

Blood pressure and brain health risks

Researchers used data from the landmark Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention TrialTrusted Source, or SPRINT, which compared intensive treatment to standard treatment of systolic blood pressureTrusted Source among people with hypertension, and had results published in 2015.

The findings suggested that lowering systolic blood pressure would reduce the risk of dementia, but the SPRINT study’s success in lowering cardiovascular disease meant that it was stopped early, so ultimate results regarding dementia were inconclusive.

The new study’s authors aimed to sustain the process of intensive blood pressure treatment for more conclusive results.

SPRINT’s researchers incorporated 9,361 patients over the age of 50 in the United States and Puerto Rico, who were randomly assigned to a systolic blood pressure goal of either less than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which amounted to an intensive treatment, or less than 140 mm Hg (standard treatment) between 2010 and 2013.

The patients received 3.3 years of treatment and were followed up with until 2018.

The new study’s researchers determined the cognitive status of 4,232 (59%) participants (mean age 67 years, 36% female).

During the years of follow-up, 248 of those who had undergone intensive blood pressure treatment were determined to have probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment, compared with 293 participants who had received standard treatment.

The findings confirmed that an intensive treatment of hypertension was associated with a significantly lower risk of mild cognitive decline.

“Over a median of almost 7 years of follow-up, we observed that the previously reported statistically significant reduction in the rate of cognitive impairment (composite of [mild cognitive decline] or probable dementia) was maintained,” the researchers write in their study paper.

“The estimated effect on probable dementia, although not statistically significant, was also similar to the primary trial analysis in showing a lower incidence of probable dementia associated with intensive treatment,” they further note.

How does blood pressure affect cognition and dementia?

American Heart Association data indicate that almost halfTrusted Source of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and most of them are not adequately managing this condition.

Research published in 2022 showed that the longer a person’s blood pressure remains under control, the lower their risk for cognitive decline or dementia.

José Morales, MD, a vascular neurologist and neurointerventional surgeon at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today that, left unchecked, high blood pressure can leave damage beyond cardiovascular impairments:

“Elevated blood pressure leads to end-organ damage in the brain. While it is more commonly associated with stroke, its insidious effects are cognitive impairment. There are likely subclinical changes that are undetectable or unnoticeable due to cognitive reserve, but the degree or extent of brain damage that results in cognitive impairment is most likely many years in the making and insidiously progressing.”

What are the best treatments for high blood pressure?

The study focused on treatment involving medication rather than any lifestyle changes. Doctors will often recommend a low dose of medication at first, but people with hypertension may need to combine two or moreTrusted Source drugs to manage their blood pressure, depending on the person and any underlying medical conditions they may have.

Medications for hypertension include:

• diuretics, including thiazides, chlorthalidone, and indapamide
• beta-blockers and alpha-blockers
• calcium-channel blockers
• central agonists
• peripheral adrenergic inhibitors
• vasodilators
• angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• angiotensin receptor blockers.

“Lifestyle and dietary changes are definitely first line approaches, but when these fail to adequately control hypertension medication becomes necessary,” said Morales.

“It really depends patient to patient. Some patients are young and have poorly controlled blood pressure, which is likely causing subclinical damage that increases their later life risk of dementia. In general, the average person with hypertension is middle-aged and studies now implicate this age bracket with significant changes in our body that are a harbinger for future health,” he explained.

Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, who also was not involved in the study, told MNT that high blood pressure, if left unchecked, does damage to cognition over years, regardless of age.

However, adults in middle age generally are the most at risk if their blood pressure is beyond normal range.

“There is a not a single age at which high blood pressure permanently leads to cognitive decline. Rather, the negative effects of high blood pressure likely occur over a period of decades,” Chen said.

“Some studies point to ‘midlife‘ (age 40’s to early 60’s) as the period of life during which much of the damage occurs,” he noted, which emphasizes the importance of managing blood pressure as we age.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/treating-hypertension-may-help-lower-cognitive-decline-risk#What-are-the-best-treatments-for-high-blood-pressure

A key protein may help Ozempic users retain muscle mass while losing fat

Scientists have found a protein that may aid GLP-1 users in maintaining their muscle mass.

• One big area of concern for users of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy is preventing muscle loss during weight loss.
• Salk Institute researchers have identified that the protein BCL6 is key in maintaining muscle mass.
• Their research in mice revealed that boosting BCL6 levels restores muscle mass and strength, offering hope for GLP-1 users and others prone to muscle deterioration.
• This discovery could lead to innovative treatments for conditions like aging, cancer cachexia, and obesity-related muscle loss while opening new doors for weight management strategies.

In the United States, roughly one in eight adultsTrusted Source has used or is currently using GLP-1 medications, with 38% specifically for weight loss.

However, these drugs do not distinguish between fat and muscle loss, with muscle accounting for 40% to 60%Trusted Source of total weight loss.

This raises the question: how can we shed pounds without losing essential muscle?

In their study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists revealed that mice with reduced BCL6 levels experienced significant declines in muscle mass and strength while increasing BCL6 effectively restored these losses.

The findings suggest that combining GLP-1 medications with a BCL6-enhancing drug could help prevent muscle loss.

First author Hunter (Hui) Wang, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at The Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, told Medical News Today that their research revealed that “the transcriptional repressor BCL6 is required to maintain muscle mass and strength by regulating muscle gene expression, especially during changes in nutritional status.”

“In simple terms, we found BCL6 helps muscles stay strong by coordinating growth and nutrient signals. When BCL6 level drops, such as during prolonged fasting, muscle starts to lose mass and strength. Conversely, boosting BCL6 levels with gene therapies restores muscle mass and strength in preclinical studies.”

— Hunter (Hui) Wang, PhD

How hunger hormones control growth

When you go too long without eating, your body enters a fasted state.

During this time, your stomach releases a hormone called ghrelin, which signals your brain that you’re hungry. In response, your brain produces growth hormone.

This hormone plays an important role in maintaining your body’s growth and metabolism by acting on various cells, tissues and organs.

When growth hormone reaches cells, it stimulates the production of a protein called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), which is essential for muscle growth.

However, the amount of IGF1 produced is tightly regulated by a network of proteins. One of these proteins, SOCS2, slows down the production of IGF1.

If there isn’t enough SOCS2, IGF1 levels can become uncontrollable, leading to conditions like gigantism (excessive growth).

On the other hand, too much SOCS2 reduces IGF1 levels, resulting in smaller body size and weaker muscles.

While SOCS2 is an important part of the process, it is not the whole story.

Scientists at the Salk Institute wanted to learn more about how growth hormone and IGF1 affect muscle maintenance, especially to prevent rapid muscle loss.

By analyzing a large database of human tissue samples, they found that muscle cells contain high levels of a protein called BCL6, suggesting it may also play a significant role in regulating muscle health and strength.

This research provides new insights into how various factors control muscle growth and maintenance, which could help develop better ways to prevent muscle loss in the future.

Understanding BCL6 as a regulator in muscle maintenance

To investigate BCL6’s role in muscle maintenance, researchers compared mice with and without functional BCL6 proteins.

Mice lacking BCL6 showed a 40% reduction in muscle mass compared to healthy mice, and their remaining muscle was structurally and functionally impaired.

However, increasing BCL6 expression in the muscles of these mice successfully restored both muscle mass and strength.

In addition, when normal mice were compared to those who fasted overnight, the fasting mice had lower BCL6 levels in their muscles.

This demonstrated that BCL6 plays a key role in muscle maintenance.

But how? Further experiments revealed the mechanism at work.

Fasting triggers the release of growth hormone, which reduces BCL6 levels in muscle cells. BCL6 regulates SOCS2, so a decrease in BCL6 leads to a drop in SOCS2.

Under normal conditions, BCL6 ensures proper SOCS2 expression, which, in turn, controls the production of IGF1.

Without BCL6, this regulation breaks down, causing SOCS2 levels to drop so significantly that IGF1 production slows dramatically, resulting in smaller, weaker muscles.

Is a new treatment on the horizon?

For GLP-1 users aiming to lose weight without sacrificing muscle mass, a BCL6-boosting injectable might become available in the future.

Meanwhile, the researchers intend to explore how prolonged fasting impacts BCL6 levels and muscle maintenance.

Speaking to Medical News Today, senior author and Salk Professor Ronald Evans, PhD said that “maintaining muscle mass is critical to physical strength, metabolic flexibility, and quality of life.”

“This study highlights BCL6 as a potential therapeutic target for muscle loss due to aging, cancer cachexia, obesity and complications from its treatment (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists), which opened doors for many patients experiencing muscle wasting.”— Ronald Evans, PhD

Mark A. Anton, MD, FACS, medical director at Slimz Weightloss, not involved in this research, told MNT that “this study highlights the intricate relationship between muscle mass regulation and nutritional states, potentially offering new insights into muscle preservation strategies during weight loss.”

Mir Ali, MD, board certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, also not involved in the research, said that “this is an interesting study that shows how complex the body’s mechanisms of muscle regulation, and how the expression of certain chemicals can affect this.”

“Preserving muscle mass when trying to lose fat is very important. Not only is muscle necessary for normal function, having more muscle mass increases energy expenditure and helps keep weight off. If further research can show a way to increase the expression of muscle building chemicals, it may be another adjunct to help people lose weight and preserve muscle.”

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/bcl6-key-protein-may-help-ozempic-glp-1-users-retain-muscle-mass-losing-fat#Understanding-BCL6-as-a-regulator-in-muscle-maintenance

Calorie restriction plus common diabetes drug leads to higher remission rates

An SGLT-2 inhibitor drug plus a moderately calorie-restrictive diet may be the best approach for achieving diabetes remission.

• About 828 million adults around the world have diabetes, and 90% have type 2 diabetes.
• Only about 5% of people with type 2 diabetes will achieve remission.
• A new study has found a combination of an SGLT-2 inhibitor drug and a moderately calorie-restrictive diet provides higher rates of type 2 diabetes remission compared to just calorie restriction alone.

Researchers estimate that about 828 million adultsTrusted Source around the world live with diabetes, with 90% of them having type 2 diabetes.

Recent studies predict the number of people globally living with diabetes will grow to at least 1.3 billion by 2050Trusted Source.

While type 2 diabetes can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes, only about 5% of people with this form of diabetes will ever achieve disease remission.

“Diabetes has been considered as an incurable illness and is dependent on medication for [a] lifetime,” Xiaoying Li, MD, PhD, professor and director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University in China explained to Medical News Today.

“Diabetes complications gradually occur as diabetes progresses. Thus, it is important to find a strategy to stop the progression of diabetes for prevention of the complications,” he added.

Li is the lead author of a new study recently published in The BMJTrusted Source, which found that the combination of a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor drug — commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes — with a moderately calorie-restrictive diet provides higher rates of remission compared to just calorie restriction alone.

This study received funding from biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Diabetes treatment: Why focus on dapagliflozin plus calorie restriction?

For this study, researchers focused on the SGLT-2 drug dapagliflozin, and how it worked in combination with a calorie-restricted diet.

“SGLT-2 inhibits are a class of medications that inhibit glucose reabsorption from nephronTrusted Source and increase glucose loss from the urine,” Li explained. “It has been reported that body weight reduction in type 2 [diabetes] patients with overweight or obesity is associated with diabetes remission by bariatric surgery and very low calorie restriction.”

“We hypothesized that SGLT-2 inhibitor plus moderate calorie restriction could achieve more body weight reduction,” he continued. “On the other hand, SGLT-2 could produce more metabolic benefits and remodel metabolic state, which could help [improve] insulin resistance and beta cell function.”

To conduct the study, researchers recruited 328 people between the ages of 20-70 from China who had type 2 diabetes for more than 6 years and visited medical centers from June 2020 to January 2023.

All study participants had a starting body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, and were not taking any diabetes medications other than metformin.

Scientists randomly assigned participants into two groups — one taking dapagliflozin with a moderate calorie-restricted diet, and one taking a placebo and following the diet.

The calorie-restrictive diet lowered participants’ normal daily calories between 500-750 kilocalories (kcal).

Study participants were asked to keep a detailed food journal and encouraged to take part in 150 minutes of brisk walking each week or more than 10,000 steps each day.

They also received dietary counseling from dieticians on a monthly basis, as well as messages or phone calls every 2 weeks for the first 6 months, to help support them.

SGLT-2 plus calorie restriction: 44% achieve diabetes remission

Upon analysis, Li and his team found that after 12 months, 44% of study participants in the combination dapagliflozin and calorie restriction group achieved type 2 diabetes remission, compared to 28% in the placebo group.

“The remission rate in patients receiving dapagliflozin plus calorie restriction (44%) is significantly greater than those receiving calorie restriction alone (28%),” Li detailed.

“The chance to achieve diabetes remission in patients receiving dapagliflozin plus calorie restriction is increased by 56%, as compared with those receiving calorie restriction alone,” he noted.

Researchers also discovered that participants in the combination dapagliflozin group also experienced a greater reduction in body weight and insulin resistance, as well as benefits to body fat mass, systolic blood pressureTrusted Source, and cholesterol levels.

“It is thought that those metabolic changes including body weight, insulin resistance, body fat mass, and systolic blood pressure are associated with improvement of cardiovascular outcomes and kidney outcomes, which are possibly associated with diabetes remission,” Li said.

Diabetes treatment: Recognizing the potential of dapagliflozin

MNT spoke with Jennifer Cheng, DO, chief of endocrinology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study.

“It makes sense that a diabetes medication, dapagliflozin, with calorie restriction would achieve better remission for type 2 diabetes than calorie restriction alone,” Cheng, who was not involved in the study, explained.

“Dapagliflozin is a SGLT-2 class of medication, which helps your kidneys remove more sugar from your blood through urination. At times, it also enables mild weight loss,” she noted.

“It is understandable that this may cause better glucose control for people who are taking the medication,” she continued. “More and more people are starting dapagliflozin for heart failure, and other indications, so it is good to know that sugar control may occur as a side effect for patients who are taking it for other indications.”

“Diabetes is an under-recognized disease that many people do not even realize they have,” Cheng added. “It can cause a significant health burden as well as financial burden if left untreated. It is important to obtain new treatments because of the significant financial burden that diabetes may present for patients. Early treatment and better control of diabetes prevents complications of diabetes later in life.”

SGLT-2 and GLP-1 combo: The next step in diabetes research? 

MNT also spoke with Pouya Shafipour, MD, a board-certified family and obesity medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this study.

Shafipour, who was also not involved in the research, commented that he was not surprised by its results:

“Diabetes, as we know, is on the rise, so it is a major health issue. It not only just impacts blood sugar, but also kidney functionTrusted Source, heart diseaseTrusted Source, Alzheimer’s [disease risk], [the] eyes, nervous system, [and] neuropathyTrusted Source, so it almost encompasses, from head to toe, the entire body.”

“The more we can find efficient drugs before people go on insulin because once someone goes on insulin, then it’s almost the end of the line — if someone has been diabetic for too long [they] become insulin dependent,” he continued. “The more we can find drugs that are very effective earlier on, we keep the pancreatic function when [improving] insulin sensitivity.”

When it comes to the next steps in this type of research, Shafipour said there are some medications in the research pipeline that are a combination of SGLT-2 drugs and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Ozempic and Zepbound are both examples of GLP-1 medications.

“Both of these classes have shown a lot of benefits in terms of diabetic control, as well as weight loss,” he explained. “Obviously, the GLP-1s have more weight loss effect, but if we can see some data that uses both these classes together, that would be great.”

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/calorie-restriction-plus-common-diabetes-drug-leads-to-higher-remission-rates#SGLT-2-and-GLP-1-combo-The-next-step-in-diabetes-research

Fight against NTDs must center on affected communities, climate change: WHO

The World Health Organization is calling for a comprehensive approach to fighting Neglected Tropical Diseases that centers on community empowerment and climate change adaptation. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide are impacted by these diseases, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. WHO's Regional Director Saima Wazed emphasizes the importance of uniting, acting, and eliminating these health challenges through targeted interventions. In 2023, more than 860 million people benefited from mass drug administration and focused healthcare strategies.

"Unite. Act. Eliminate. These three words embody our shared commitment to combating NTDs" - Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director

New Delhi, Jan 29: The fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) must be centered on affected communities and climate change impacts, said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for World Health Organization (IANS) South-East Asia on Wednesday, ahead of the World NTD day.

Key Points

1. Addressing 16 endemic NTDs in South-East Asia Region

2. Empowering affected communities through targeted health interventions

3. Climate change's significant impact on tropical disease spread

4. Integrating One Health approach for comprehensive disease management

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed every year on January 30. The theme this year is “Unite. Act. Eliminate”.

“Unite. Act. Eliminate. These three words embody our shared commitment to combating NTDs, a cause that impacts over 1.5 billion people worldwide, predominantly among the most vulnerable populations,” said Wazed.

“World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2025 is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a healthier, more equitable future. Let us unite to advocate for change, act to deliver impactful interventions, and eliminate the burden of NTDs in our Region and beyond,” she added.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions caused by a variety of pathogens (including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins) and associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences.

The diseases are called ‘neglected’ because they are almost absent from the global health agenda; in addition, are associated with stigma and social exclusion.

“In the South-East Asia Region, 16 NTDs remain endemic, with at least one disease present in each of the 11 Member States,” said Wazed noting that significant progress has been made in eliminating NTDs in the last decade.

Noting the progress made, she said seven Member States have successfully eliminating at least one neglected tropical disease. In 2023 alone, more than 860 million people benefited from mass drug administration (MDA) and targeted interventions. MDA is a campaign strategy in which all people in an area are given treatment regardless of their disease status.

The Regional Director also cited challenges such as inadequate health system capacity, funding gaps, disparities in access to healthcare, social determinants of health, lack of tools and innovation, geopolitical instability and climate change. These challenges “continue to hinder progress, leaving 833 million people in the Region still in need of NTDs interventions,” Wazed said.

She urged to empower people affected by NTDs to ensure that systemic inequalities are addressed, and no one is left behind.

“Our fight against NTDs must center on empowering affected communities and adapting to the realities of climate change,” Wazed said, while calling for person-centered approaches and community leadership.

She also suggested integrating with One Health approach to ensures resilience against the growing impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/fight-against-ntds-center-affected-communities-climate-change-688

New voice-based approach to enable early detection of Alzheimer's

A groundbreaking research team has developed an innovative voice-based approach to detect Alzheimer's disease early. Their DEMENTIA framework uses advanced language technologies to analyze speech patterns and predict cognitive decline with remarkable accuracy. By integrating speech, text, and expert knowledge, the method offers a non-invasive and potentially transformative screening tool. The research highlights the critical importance of early detection in managing this progressive neurodegenerative condition.

"Language decline is often one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline" - Research Team, IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics

New Delhi, Jan 28: In a bid to overcome language limitations posed by Alzheimer's disease, a team of Chinese researchers developed a new voice-based approach to enable early detection of the neurodegenerative disease.

Key Points

1. Innovative DEMENTIA framework integrates speech and text analysis

2. Advanced language model enables early cognitive function prediction

3. Non-invasive approach overcomes traditional speech analysis limitations 

The team led by Prof. Li Hai and his team at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that with ageing global population, Alzheimer's is becoming increasingly prevalent. This makes early detection critical for improving patient outcomes.

"Language decline is often one of the earliest indicators of cognitive decline," the experts noted in the paper published in the IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics.

Currently, available automated speech analysis offers a non-invasive and cost-effective approach to detecting Alzheimer's. However, these methods face significant challenges, including complexity, poor interpretability, and limited integration of diverse data types, which hinder accuracy and clinical applicability.

To overcome these limitations, Hai's team developed the DEMENTIA framework.

"This innovative approach integrates speech, text, and expert knowledge using a hybrid attention mechanism, significantly enhancing both the accuracy and clinical interpretability of Alzheimer's disease detection," the researchers said.

The framework leverages advanced large language model technologies. It also captures intricate intra- and inter-modal interactions, improving detection accuracy and enabling the prediction of cognitive function scores.

Further, the model also scores in comprehensive interpretability analyses, demonstrating its robust clinical decision-support capabilities and adaptability across diverse datasets.

"The findings underscore the potential of speech-based tools for early Alzheimer's disease screening and monitoring cognitive decline," the team said.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia and constitutes around 75 per cent of all dementia cases.

Of the about 55 million people worldwide with dementia, 60 to 70 per cent are estimated to have Alzheimer's.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/new-voice-based-approach-enable-early-detection-alzheimers-840

Global study estimates Vitamin D most common deficiency in diabetics, magnesium second most

Women with diabetes were found to be at higher risk of micronutrient deficits

Vitamin D is the most common deficiency among diabetics, affecting over 60 per cent of people with diabetes, according to a global analysis published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Nutrition Prevention and Health.

The analysis, based on 132 studies conducted between 1998 and 2023 involving more than 52,000 participants, also found that magnesium deficiency affects 42 per cent of people with diabetes, while 28 per cent suffer from iron deficiency.

Researchers, including those from the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), Rajasthan, said that the study helps assess the global prevalence of micronutrient deficiency—whereby levels of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy bodily function are far too low—in people with type 2 diabetes.

Women with diabetes were found to be at a higher risk of micronutrient deficits, also termed “hidden hunger,” compared to men, the team found.

The authors explained that risk factors for developing diabetes include genetic tendencies, along with environmental factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and obesity.

Studies have shown that micronutrients have a key role in the development of diabetes, by affecting how glucose is metabolised and insulin pathways.

However, this study was aimed to resolve conflicting evidence from previous studies that mainly focused on one specific micronutrient, the authors said.

“The pooled prevalence of multiple micronutrient deficiency (vitamins, minerals and electrolytes) was 45.30 per cent among T2D patients,” they wrote.

Further, the prevalence was found to be higher in women with the condition—at nearly 49 per cent—compared to men.

The analysis also found that vitamin B12 deficiency affects 29 per cent of diabetes patients globally and is even higher among those taking metformin, a common anti-diabetes drug.

The studies included in the analyses were hospital-based and therefore, the authors said the findings need to be interpreted with caution due to sample selection bias.

They added that no cause-and-effect links could be established and thus, it was not clear if the micronutrient deficiency preceded poor glycaemic control or was a consequence of it.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/global-study-estimates-vitamin-d-most-common-deficiency-in-diabetics-magnesium-second-most/

Pregnant woman in Maharashtra detected with rare ‘fetus in fetu’ condition

Woman has been referred to medical facility in neighbouring Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 

A 32-year-old pregnant woman in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district has been detected with ‘fetus in fetu’,  an extremely rare condition in which a malformed fetus is located within the body of another fetus, an official said.

The rare congenital anomaly was detected a few days back when the woman, who is 35 weeks pregnant, went to Buldhana District Women’s Hospital for a regular check-up, he said.

Doctors came to know about the condition during the woman’s sonography at the hospital, the official said.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital, Dr Prasad Agarwal, told reporters on Tuesday that ‘fetus in fetu’ is one of the rarest cases—one in five lakh.

Only about 200 such cases have been reported (across the world) till now, that too after delivery, including 10-15 cases in India, he said.

 “But I was lucky and vigilant enough to notice something very unusual with this baby, which is almost of 35 weeks, grossly normal growing fetus with a few bones and fetus-like structure in its abdomen,” he said.

“It struck me immediately that this is not normal. It was ‘fetus in fetu’, one of the rarest cases in the world. We had asked for a second opinion and the case was confirmed by radiologist Dr Shruti Thorat,” he said.

The woman has been referred to a medical facility in neighbouring Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for a safe delivery and further procedure, the hospital authorities said.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/pregnant-woman-in-maharashtra-detected-with-rare-fetus-in-fetu-condition/

ICMR testing BCG vaccine for tuberculosis

India is looking at several potential vaccine candidates for deployment in the tuberculosis elimination programme with the Indian Council for Medical Research testing the BCG vaccine for TB control.

Speaking to The Tribune on Tuesday, ICMR chief and secretary health research Rajiv Bahl said the BCG vaccine, currently administered to children, was being tested in adults vulnerable to TB. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to children at risk of tuberculosis (TB). It's a common vaccine in countries where TB is prevalent. India houses nearly one fourth of the global TB-affected people and has a target of elimination of the disease by 2025.

"The BCG vaccine study for potential TB control has two arms. One is the non-vaccinated arm and the other the vaccinated arm. We have administered the BCG vaccine to adults across all major tuberculosis vulnerability groups including those with diabetes, the elderly, the contacts of patients and others who are vulnerable. About one crore people have been given the vaccine and then we have the non-vaccinated people who are vulnerable to TB. In about a year, results will tell us whether the vaccinated people are showing any reduction in TB as compared to those who have not received the vaccine. The results will take a year to come," Bahl said.

He said results of a study that tested the recombinant BCG vaccine in contacts of TB patients did not yield good results.

"We are constantly testing for new TB vaccines. One candidate is a Spanish-developed vaccine which we are testing in the Indians in collaboration with Bharat Biotech which has received technology transfer from the Spanish firm. Unless we do a full evaluation of safety and efficacy we cannot use a vaccine in our programme. Our condition is to make the TB vaccine in India," said Bahl.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/icmr-testing-bcg-vaccine-for-tuberculosis/

Wearable devices like Fitbit can predict IBD flares 7 weeks in advance

Wrist-worn devices could give advance notice of when the wearer might experience an IBD flare. 

• For people with the unpredictable conditions falling under the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) umbrella, an early warning system for flares may one day be available in the wearable device on the wrist.
• A new study from researchers at Mount Sinai reports that such devices can predict imminent inflammatory and symptomatic IBD flares as far in advance as 7 weeks.
• With such advance notice, it will be possible for people with IBD and their physicians to adjust medications to blunt the upcoming flares before it arrives.
• The wearables already track physiological indicators such as heart rate, heart rate variability, steps, and pulse oximetry that exhibit significant changes far in advance of IBD flare-ups.

Wearable devices could provide an unprecedented 7 weeks’ advance warning of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare, according to a new study published by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The study finds that significant changes in physiological metrics tracked by three popular wearable devices, Apple Watch, Fitbit, and the Oura Ring, occurred in the weeks preceding an IBD flare.

The findings appear in the journal Gastroenterology.

What are the signs of an IBD flare?

As many as 3.1 million Americans have IBDTrusted Source, an umbrella-term form conditions — primarily Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — in which inflammation of the bowel produces various unwelcome and often painful digestive symptoms.

IBD tends not to be continually active, and people who have it may go for extended periods without experiencing a flare-up of the symptoms that typically arrives without warning.

In the early stages of a flare, a physician may seek confirmation with a blood test and stool analysis, but at that point, the event is already underway. There is a need to better predict flares before they happen.

The Mount Sinai researchers identified signals in the body that turned out to be associated with an imminent flare-up of IBD symptoms:

• longitudinal heart rate — heart rate changes over time
• resting heart rate — a person’s heart rate when resting
• heart rate variability — the amount of variation in time between heartbeats, or their regularity
• steps — an indicator or physical activity
• oxygenation — or pulse ox, the amount of oxygen blood hemoglobin is carrying.

Significantly, all of these indicators exhibited changes from baseline values up to 7 weeks before any indication of inflammation or IBD symptoms.

For the study, the authors recruited 309 adults from across the United States. All participants had a diagnosis of either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and were taking medication for IBD.

Participants were expected to wear their devices 8 hours a day and respond to questionnaires a minimum of four times a week. The study began in December 2021 and ran until June 2023, with individuals remaining involved for as long as they wished.

IBD flares are often unpredictable

Rudolph Bedford, MD, a board0certified gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study, described the uncertainty of living with IBD to Medical News Today.

There is currently no way to predict when symptoms might flare up, he said, “unless you happen to get a blood test or a stool sample just before that flare occurs, but not really.”

“Patients really don’t sense it until the flare is upon them. They may have some abdominal disturbances before they actually have a flare, but that’s usually immediately just before it is about to occur,” Bedford told us.

Having advance warning could empower people with IBD to get ahead of symptoms.

“They may be able to take some changes in what they’re doing before that occurs, whether that’s an adjustment of medication or an adjustment of diet,” said Bedford. “Maybe even getting a preemptory lab test, which again will affirm that a flare is about to occur.”

How to prevent IBD flares

Bedford said that “things that may cause IBD to flare up would be stress, smoking, and also taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, things like ibuprofen, Motrin, and aspirin.”

“There are not too many foods,” he continued, “that will flare up IBD, but for certain individuals that might be the case.”

He suggested people avoid “any foods that might exacerbate somebody’s disease that they know of, or have an inkling they should just stay away from. It can be very individualized from personal to person in terms of what exacerbates the disease.”

Bedford also cited eating plans along the lines of the Mediterranean diet as being good choices for people with IBD.

Wearable devices could help predict IBD flares

The current study’s first author is Robert Hirten, MD, Clinical Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health and Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Speaking to MNT, he described the study as an encouraging first step:

“We find that metrics that relate to physiological activity collected from wearables are able to differentiate whether inflammation is present in the body. These types of changes, however, are likely not specific to one disease. Rather, they reflect and are altered by inflammation in the body. Therefore, our findings will likely be useful in the setting of chronic inflammatory diseases, and may help with the identification of inflammation developing from these conditions.”

“Our group is exploring similar approaches in other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis,” Hirten reported.

He also noted that he is not aware of any similar research being undertaken by wearable manufacturers.

“Our goal is to develop deep learning algorithms (AI algorithms) that pick up these changes in wearable measured signatures that we have described, and determine the probability or chance that a person will flare,” added Hirten.

“This will enable the creation of an individualized warning system that a person’s inflammatory bowel disease may be worsening or flaring,” he suggested.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/wearable-devices-like-fitbit-can-predict-ibd-flares-7-weeks-in-advance#How-to-prevent-IBD-flares