11/13/25 - #521

Good morning. In today’s edition:

• Bird Flu Virus Found Surviving in Certain Cheeses: 4.4% of Americans Drink Raw Milk at Least Once a Year, 1.6% Drank It Often, and 1.6% Ate Raw-milk Cheeses. The Study Found That the Bird Flu Virus (H5N1) Can Still Survive in Raw-milk Cheese, Even After 120 Days of Aging at 39 °f (3.8 °C)

• The Trump Administration is Nearing a Deal to Lower Prices for Weight Loss Drugs

• Even Modest Amounts of Physical Activity (3,000 - 5,000 steps per day) May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease Among At-Risk Older Adults

• The Tiny Blood Vessels in the Eyes, Examined Through a Retina Scan, Might Hold the Key to Predicting a Person’s Risk of Developing Heart Disease and How Fast They’re Biologically Aging

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

Bird Flu Virus Found Surviving in Certain Cheeses: 4.4% of Americans Drink Raw Milk at Least Once a Year, 1.6% Drank It Often, and 1.6% Ate Raw-milk Cheeses. The Study Found That the Bird Flu Virus (H5N1) Can Still Survive in Raw-milk Cheese, Even After 120 Days of Aging at 39 °f (3.8 °C)

A new study shows that the bird flu virus (H5N1) can survive in some raw-milk cheeses—even after being aged in the fridge for 120 days. This is a concern because many people believe aging makes raw-milk cheese safe. But that may not be true.

Bird flu is spreading in U.S. dairy cows. Infected cows can pass the virus into their milk. Pasteurizing (heating) milk kills the virus. But raw milk and raw-milk cheeses are not heated, so the virus can survive.

A U.S. survey found that 4.4% of adults drink raw milk at least once a year. About 1.6% drink it often, and 1.6% eat raw-milk cheeses. In some states with bird flu outbreaks, raw milk products are still sold.

Researchers at Cornell University made small cheeses with raw milk that contained the virus. They wanted to see how long the virus would live. They found that the virus survived in cheese with pH levels between 5.8 and 6.6. But in cheeses with a pH of 5 or lower, the virus didn’t survive. Feta is a good example of a more acidic cheese.

Ferrets fed contaminated raw milk got sick. Ferrets fed raw-milk cheese did not. Experts say the cheese-making process may reduce risk, but more study is needed.

To lower the chance of infection, experts suggest testing raw milk before making cheese or heating it slightly before use.

Disclaimer: Talk to your doctor before eating raw-milk products, especially during disease outbreaks.

Source: newatlas.com

WEIGHT LOSS

The Trump Administration is Nearing a Deal to Lower Prices for Weight Loss Drugs

The Trump administration is close to making a deal that could lower the cost of popular weight loss drugs. These drugs—Zepbound and Wegovy—normally cost over $1,000 a month. The new deal could bring the cost down to $149 a month for the lowest doses.

In return, Medicare would help cover the cost for some patients. It is not yet clear who would qualify or if this lower price would apply to everyone. It might only be for people who pay cash and not those using insurance.

The companies that make these drugs, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, say they are talking with the government, but no final deal has been announced.

This would be one of the biggest efforts yet to lower drug prices under President Trump. His team is using executive orders and private deals with drugmakers instead of relying on older government programs.

Wegovy and Zepbound are part of a group of drugs called GLP-1s. These are used for weight loss, diabetes, and heart disease. Medicare currently covers these drugs for diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea, but not just for weight loss.

Retailers like Costco and Walmart have already offered lower prices for these drugs to people without insurance.

A final decision on this deal may come by the end of November.

Note: The deal is not official yet, and details could still change.

Source: nbcnews.com

HEALTH

Even Modest Amounts of Physical Activity (3,000 - 5,000 steps per day) May Slow Alzheimer’s Disease Among At-Risk Older Adults

Walking just a little each day may help slow the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults at risk. A new study from Mass General Brigham found that people who walked 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day had slower memory loss. Those who walked 5,000 to 7,500 steps saw even better results.

The study followed 296 adults ages 50 to 90 who had no memory problems at the start. Some of them had high levels of amyloid-beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s. Researchers tracked their steps with pedometers and followed their memory and thinking skills for up to 14 years.

People who walked more had less buildup of tau, another protein tied to Alzheimer’s, and slower memory loss. Inactive people had faster memory decline and more brain changes. Walking seemed to help most in people with early signs of Alzheimer’s. Those without these signs did not show big changes from walking.

Dr. Jasmeer Chhatwal, a lead author, said, “Lifestyle changes like walking may help slow memory problems if we act early.” Another researcher, Dr. Wai-Ying Wendy Yau, added, “Every step counts. Even small changes in daily movement can help.”

The team plans to study how exercise intensity and habits over time affect the brain. These results may help design future studies to test exercise as a way to protect brain health.

Bottom line: You don’t need to walk 10,000 steps. Just getting up and moving a little more each day could make a real difference.

Source: massgeneralbrigham.org

The Tiny Blood Vessels in the Eyes, Examined Through a Retina Scan, Might Hold the Key to Predicting a Person’s Risk of Developing Heart Disease and How Fast They’re Biologically Aging

A new study shows that the small blood vessels in your eyes may give clues about your heart health and how fast your body is aging.

Researchers from McMaster University looked at retina scans from over 74,000 people. They also studied blood samples and genetic data. They found that people with fewer and simpler blood vessels in their eyes had a higher risk of heart disease and signs of faster aging, like more inflammation and a shorter lifespan.

The retina is the back part of the eye. It has many tiny blood vessels that are easy to see during an eye exam. These vessels often show changes that are happening in other small blood vessels in the body.

Scientists say that one day, a simple eye scan could help doctors check for heart problems or signs of aging without needing many tests. Right now, doctors use many tools to look for diseases like heart disease, stroke, and dementia.

The study also found two proteins in the blood—called MMP12 and IgG-Fc receptor IIb—that may be linked to aging and damage in blood vessels. These proteins might be used in the future to make new medicines that help slow aging and prevent disease.

This research could lead to easier and faster ways to check heart and blood vessel health. But more studies are still needed.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Please talk to your doctor for guidance.

Source: news.mcmaster.ca

✢ 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.