Bad for the heart, good for the brain?

There’s apparently a link between higher levels of triglycerides and lower risk of dementia. That’s what Aussie researchers found when they parsed the data on more than 18,000 people over six years (average age 75). The higher someone’s triglyceride level, the lower their risk of dementia. (Which makes sense, as triglycerides are one of the brain’s main energy sources.)

Of course, this doesn’t mean one causes the other, just that there’s a link. And it doesn’t mean it’s time to load up on green eggs and ham, either. Even if there was a cause and effect, the high triglycerides come with their own set of problems, obviously.

Don’t stop thinking ’bout metformin

The article’s lede sums up the issue nicely: “Diabetes patients who stop using metformin are more likely to develop dementia.”

[R]esearchers found that patients who were prescribed metformin but stopped using it were 21% more likely to get a dementia diagnosis compared with patients who continued using metformin throughout their treatment.

The big issue, though, is that people don’t like taking metformin. The pill is big and the stomach issues can be an issue especially for people living in small apartments.

Quid pro quo

When oncologists get money from the pharma industry, they’re more likely to prescribe “non-recommended and low-value treatments.” That’s according to a group of cancer researchers and statisticians publishing in the British Medical Journal.

Docs prescribing meds from the companies that ‘take them to lunch’ isn’t new, but this is one of the first studies that looked at whether the meds were actually good for the patients. Um … nope.

One example:

The difference between the prescribing patterns of doctors was biggest for denosumab, a drug sold by Amgen as Xgeva, in castration-sensitive prostate cancer. U.S. guidelines recommend against the use of denosumab in the setting. Yet, 49.5% of patients whose doctors took pharma payments received the drug, compared to 31.4% of their counterparts whose oncologist hadn’t received payment.

And now a twist: When there was a choice between a brand-name drug and a generic, the docs who got more money were slightly more likely to prescribe the generic. So at least they’re trying to save the patients some money.

Short takes

“I ate what?”

“More than 7 million Americans unaware they have mild cognitive impairment.”

You can have my M&Ms when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers

“Foods like ice cream, chips and candy are just as addictive as cigarettes or heroin.”

Vaguely useful bipolar test

British researchers have developed a simple blood test that they say can … well, “diagnose” is a strong word. It can reveal biomarkers associated with bipolar disorder. Well, sort of. When they say it can help diagnose it, they mean the blood test alone has about a 30% chance of hitting the mark. When combined with a mental health assessment, though, it’s more useful.

Bottom line is that it’s more of a confirmation thing.

“Psychiatric assessments are highly effective, but the ability to diagnose bipolar disorder with a simple blood test could ensure that patients get the right treatment the first time and alleviate some of the pressures on medical professionals.”

The Long Read: The Future of Pharmacy edition

With another walkout planned at chain pharmacies, stress levels high while staffing is low, robotics and AI are coming to a pharmacy near you. Maybe.

The idea is to automate the repetitive tasks (and even help with issues like medication interactions) freeing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians for the more important work.