Category: harvardhealth_news_UNDEFINED

Aducanumab is a newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s disease with the potential to reduce amyloid-beta plaque buildup in the brain. There are other medications being studied to see if they can reduce amyloid-beta, such as a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid-beta before it forms plaques, and a monoclonal antibody that takes aim at plaque that has already formed. Other experimental approaches try to prevent tau tangles in brain cells, reduce brain inflammation, or reduce the amount of amyloid-beta that is produced.

Evidence suggests that people who’ve had COVID-19 may have some natural protection against the virus, but will have a much stronger immune response if they also get the vaccine.

With influenza virus, a new vaccine must be developed each year to adapt to the virus’s changing structure.

The link between exercise and atrial fibrillation (afib) and stroke prevention is now a little clearer, thanks to a Harvard study. It offers strong evidence that 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for atrial fibrillation and stroke. Researchers aren’t surprised, since exercise helps the chambers of the heart contract and relax, while being sedentary increases afib and stroke risk. Other ways to ward off afib and stroke include treating sleep apnea, quitting smoking, and drinking only in moderation.

Women who go through menopause before they turn 40 may be more likely to have a stroke than women who undergo the transition between 50 and 54, according to a study published in the August 2021 issue of the journal Stroke.

A study published online May 5, 2021, in the journal Menopause found that women with a vitamin D deficiency experienced a more painful recovery from knee surgery than women with normal levels of the vitamin.

Gender-affirming surgery brings psychological benefits for people who undergo these procedures.