09/18/25 - #481

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
September 18, 2025

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Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • Following a Green-mediterranean Diet—which Includes Green Tea and the Aquatic Plant Mankai—is Associated With Slower Brain Aging, According to a Study

  • Scientists From Tufts Create Weight-loss Drug Dubbed 'Next Ozempic' That's Twice as Effective and Has Fewer Side Effects (Affects Not Only GLP-1 and GIP, but Also Glucagon and Peptide YY)

  • Chemicals in Marijuana May Affect Women’s Fertility | THC May Push Eggs to Become Ready for Fertilization, but a New Study Found That When Artificially Matured Eggs Were Exposed to the Chemical, They Often Had the Wrong Number of Chromosomes

  • Nearly Half of People With Diabetes Don’t Know They Have It, New Study Finds

…and lots more. Have a great day!

How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

FOOD & NUTRITION

Following a Green-mediterranean Diet—which Includes Green Tea and the Aquatic Plant Mankai—is Associated With Slower Brain Aging, According to a Study

A new study shows that a special version of the Mediterranean diet may slow brain aging. It’s called the Green-Mediterranean diet. This diet includes all the healthy parts of a regular Mediterranean diet—like vegetables, fish, and olive oil—but adds green tea and a plant called Mankai (also known as duckweed).

Researchers followed about 300 adults for 18 months. They were split into three groups. One group ate a standard healthy diet. Another group ate a regular Mediterranean diet. The third group followed the Green-Mediterranean diet.

The researchers took blood samples from the participants to check for certain proteins linked to brain aging. People with more of these proteins had brains that were aging faster than normal. But those who followed the Green-Mediterranean diet had lower levels of these proteins.

This means their brains were aging more slowly. Experts believe that green tea and Mankai may help reduce inflammation in the body, which could protect the brain.

Brain aging can lead to memory problems and raise the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s. So, slowing this process may help keep your brain sharp as you get older.

“This gives us a new way to look at brain health,” said Dr. Anat Meir, one of the researchers. “It shows how diet may help long before symptoms start.”

Adding more greens, green tea, and plant-based foods might be a simple way to care for your brain.

Talk to your doctor before making big changes to your diet.

WEIGHT LOSS

Scientists From Tufts Create Weight-loss Drug Dubbed 'Next Ozempic' That's Twice as Effective and Has Fewer Side Effects (Affects Not Only GLP-1 and GIP, but Also Glucagon and Peptide YY)

Scientists at Tufts University have created a new weight-loss drug that may work better than Ozempic and cause fewer side effects. While Ozempic mainly targets one hormone, this new drug targets four: GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, and peptide YY (PYY).

Ozempic helps people lose weight by making them feel full and helping control blood sugar. But it can also cause nausea, muscle loss, and weight regain. The new drug is still being tested, but early lab results show it could help people lose up to 30% of their body weight—about twice as much as Ozempic.

What makes this new drug different is how it works. Instead of pushing one hormone hard, it gently activates four hormones that work together. This may help with hunger, energy use, and blood sugar without causing as many side effects.

GIP, one of the hormones, may even help stop nausea. PYY helps you feel full and may support fat burning. By balancing the effects of all four hormones, the drug may lower the chance of stomach upset and high blood sugar.

Right now, the drug hasn’t been tested in people yet, so it may be years before it’s approved. Still, experts are hopeful it could offer a better option for weight loss in the future.

Disclaimer: This new drug is still experimental and not approved for use. Talk to your doctor before starting any weight-loss treatment.

HEALTH

Chemicals in Marijuana May Affect Women’s Fertility | THC May Push Eggs to Become Ready for Fertilization, but a New Study Found That When Artificially Matured Eggs Were Exposed to the Chemical, They Often Had the Wrong Number of Chromosomes

A new study shows that THC—the main chemical in marijuana—might affect how a woman’s eggs mature. While it may help eggs get ready for fertilization, it could also raise the risk of problems that make it harder to get pregnant.

The study was led by Cyntia Duval, a fertility researcher in Toronto. She looked at fluid from women going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) between 2016 and 2023. Out of over 1,000 women, 62 had traces of THC near their eggs. These women had more eggs that appeared mature, which at first seemed like a good thing.

But when Duval exposed immature eggs to THC in the lab, many of them ended up with the wrong number of chromosomes. This can cause the embryo not to form properly, fail to implant in the womb, or lead to a pregnancy that doesn’t last.

THC works by binding to special receptors in the body. These receptors are found not just in the brain but also in the reproductive system. Normally, they respond to natural chemicals made by the body, but THC can interfere with that process.

While it’s known that marijuana can affect male fertility—reducing sperm count and quality—this is one of the first studies to show a possible effect on female fertility. Larger studies are still needed, but this research raises important questions.

If you’re trying to conceive, you may want to talk to your doctor about avoiding cannabis—just to be safe.

Nearly Half of People With Diabetes Don’t Know They Have It, New Study Finds

A new study found that nearly half of people with diabetes don’t know they have it. The research looked at data from 204 countries and showed that 44% of people aged 15 and older with diabetes are undiagnosed.

Most people in the study had type 2 diabetes, which can take years to show symptoms. This means many people live with high blood sugar without knowing it. Common signs include being very thirsty, tired, losing weight without trying, blurry vision, or peeing more than usual.

Younger adults are less likely to be diagnosed. Only 1 in 5 people under age 35 with diabetes knew they had it. Older adults are more likely to find out they have diabetes, often after they already have health problems like heart or kidney disease.

Experts say it’s important to catch diabetes early. Treating it can prevent serious health problems later on. If you’re over 45, or have a family history of diabetes, getting a blood sugar test can help.

Even after diagnosis, many people still struggle. Only 4 in 10 people with diabetes are able to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range. That’s why both early testing and good treatment are key.

To lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, eat fewer processed and red meats, avoid sugary foods, and stay active. Even walking 15 minutes a day helps.

If you notice symptoms or have risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

✢ A Note From Hem Hero

The information in this health newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. The publishers are not responsible for any actions taken by the reader based on the information provided.