12/15/25 - #543

Author

Health Horizon. Herald Staff
December 15, 2025

Good morning. In today’s edition:

  • A 6-year Study of 5,944 Adults Over 50 Found Replacing 5% of Total Energy Intake From Animal Fat With Vegetable Fat Corresponded to a 15% Lower Risk of Dementia. Also, the Highest Intake of Monounsaturated Fat Had a 37% Lower Risk, While the Highest Intake of Saturated Fat Had a 56% Higher Risk

  • WHO Recommends GLP-1 Drugs for Obesity

  • Scientists Create First-ever Drug to Destroy Cancer’s “Immortality” RNA

  • Giving Your Kid a Smartphone Before the Age of 12 Can Lead to Massive Health Problems, Study Finds

…and lots more. Have a great day!

FOOD & NUTRITION

A 6-year Study of 5,944 Adults Over 50 Found Replacing 5% of Total Energy Intake From Animal Fat With Vegetable Fat Corresponded to a 15% Lower Risk of Dementia. Also, the Highest Intake of Monounsaturated Fat Had a 37% Lower Risk, While the Highest Intake of Saturated Fat Had a 56% Higher Risk

A new study followed nearly 6,000 adults over age 50 for six years. It found that the kind of fat you eat may affect your risk of dementia.

People who replaced just 5% of their calories from animal fat (like butter or red meat) with vegetable fat (like olive oil, nuts, or seeds) had a 15% lower risk of dementia.

The biggest benefit came from eating more monounsaturated fats, found in foods like olive oil, avocados, and almonds. People who ate the most of these fats had a 37% lower risk of dementia than those who ate the least.

On the other hand, people who ate the most saturated fats (from things like cheese, butter, and fatty meats) had a 56% higher risk of dementia.

The study also showed that swapping saturated fat with either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat may help protect the brain as we age.

The research was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. While it doesn’t prove that changing fat alone prevents dementia, it adds to growing evidence that diet matters.

If you’re over 45 and looking to stay sharp, try using more plant-based fats in your meals. Simple swaps—like using olive oil instead of butter—could help your brain in the long run.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making changes to your diet or lifestyle.

WEIGHT LOSS

WHO Recommends GLP-1 Drugs for Obesity

The World Health Organization (WHO) now says GLP-1 drugs can be used to help treat obesity in adults. These medicines help people feel full by copying a hormone the body makes naturally. This can lead to eating less and losing weight.

In the past, WHO only focused on diet and exercise to treat obesity. Now, they say GLP-1 drugs can be part of a long-term plan that also includes healthy eating, staying active, and counseling. Long-term use means taking the medicine for six months or more.

WHO says obesity is not just caused by poor habits. It can also be affected by things like stress, genes, and eating too many processed foods. That’s why they believe treating it may take more than just willpower.

These drugs have become more popular in recent years. Studies show they may help with weight loss and lower the risk of problems like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. About 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. are now using a GLP-1 drug for weight loss or diabetes.

However, the medicine can be expensive—often over $1,000 per month. WHO says prices need to come down so more people can get them. Their recommendation is still “conditional,” which means more research is needed on safety and long-term effects.

Even so, this update marks a big change in how we treat obesity—as a serious health condition that can be managed, not just a lifestyle issue.

HEALTH

Scientists Create First-ever Drug to Destroy Cancer’s “Immortality” RNA

For the first time, scientists have developed a drug that targets a key weakness in some cancer cells—an RNA molecule called TERRA. This new drug could lead to a fresh way to fight cancer by attacking the disease at its genetic roots.

The research team, based at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, created a small molecule that finds and destroys TERRA. Cancer cells use TERRA to avoid aging and death. By removing it, the cells lose their ability to grow endlessly.

Dr. Raphael Benhamou, one of the lead scientists, says the drug works like a “guided missile” that seeks out and removes TERRA without damaging healthy cells.

This new method uses a tool called RIBOTAC. It works by finding the unique shape that TERRA takes in the cell and calling in a natural enzyme to break it apart. This is the first time any drug has been able to do this so precisely.

In lab tests, the drug slowed cancer growth in tough-to-treat cancer types. It’s still early, but researchers hope this could lead to a new type of treatment that goes after RNA—the part of the cell that helps make proteins—instead of just proteins themselves.

“This changes how we think about treating disease,” says Dr. Benhamou. “We’re not just going after the symptoms. We’re going after what’s causing the cancer in the first place.”

Though more testing is needed, this breakthrough brings hope for future cancer treatments.

Giving Your Kid a Smartphone Before the Age of 12 Can Lead to Massive Health Problems, Study Finds

A new study says that giving kids a smartphone before age 12 may harm their health. Researchers looked at over 10,000 children in the U.S. They found that early phone use is linked to more depression, weight gain, and poor sleep.

Kids who got phones at age 11 or younger had higher risks than those who waited. Even kids who got a phone at age 12 or 13 had more mental health problems and slept less than those without phones.

These issues can lead to bigger health problems later, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Experts say that phones can still be helpful. They let kids talk to friends and contact parents in an emergency. But they also warn that smartphones change how kids sleep, move, and feel.

Doctors say parents should think carefully before giving a child a phone. They suggest setting rules, like:

  • No phones in the bedroom at night

  • No phones during dinner or homework

  • Set time limits and safety settings

Many 12-year-olds now have smartphones, but not every child is ready. Waiting a bit longer may help your child stay healthier.

Researchers say the goal isn’t to scare parents—but to help them make smart choices. Phones aren’t bad, but kids need balance. Time off screens, more sleep, and physical activity all help protect mental and physical health.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

✢ 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.