The Weekly Health Drip - This Week in Health News — Cat’s Claw Supplement Death — Oct 22 – 29, 2026

One Extra Year of School Tied to Lower Dementia Risk Later in Life

https://dripcast.ai/story/304716-one-extra-year-of-school-tied-to-lower-dementia-risk-later-in-life

A study using a 1972 school-leaving-age reform in England, Scotland and Wales found that an extra year of schooling was linked to lower dementia risk later in life, including among people with high genetic risk. Researchers compared adults born just before and after a cutoff that required some students to stay in school until 16, and analyzed UK Biobank health and DNA data. They said the findings support a protective effect of education, but the study could not determine its precise size because dementia was rare in the relatively young group.

Connecticut Reports Six Flu Deaths, Earlier Than Last Season

https://dripcast.ai/story/304642-connecticut-reports-six-flu-deaths-earlier-than-last-season

Connecticut health officials reported six influenza-related deaths among state residents aged 55 and older since late September. The first flu death this season occurred about a month earlier than the first reported death in the previous season. Since September, Connecticut has also recorded nine COVID-19-related deaths and no RSV deaths.

US Reports 178 New Measles Cases as Danville Sites Warn Patients

https://dripcast.ai/story/300823-us-reports-178-new-measles-cases-as-danville-sites-warn-patients

The CDC reports 4,588 measles cases across the United States, more than double the 2025 tally, with at least 43 outbreaks. Pennsylvania has 1,338 cases and the nation’s largest outbreak; South Carolina and Utah each have more than 500. Pennsylvania authorities report five measles-associated deaths and are investigating a sixth, while the CDC lists three deaths nationally. In Danville, Geisinger warned of possible exposure after a patient who visited its Medical Center and Healthplex Woodbine tested positive. Exposure windows covered common areas from 10:50 a.m. to 1:05 p.m., and the Medical Center’s Women’s Health Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Unvaccinated and immunocompromised people face higher risk. Geisinger advises anyone with symptoms to call ahead before visiting. Measles can cause fever, cough, runny nose and rash; vaccination is 97% effective.

California Man’s Fatal Overdose Linked to Gas Station Supplement

https://dripcast.ai/story/299995-california-mans-fatal-overdose-linked-to-gas-station-supplement

San Francisco health officials are warning consumers about supplements labeled “cat’s claw” after a 37-year-old man died from an overdose involving MGM-15. Forensic testing detected the synthetic compound in the man and in a package of four tablets labeled “uncaria tomentosa extract.” The medical examiner ruled the death accidental, caused by the toxic effects of kratom alkaloids. Officials said the packaging did not disclose kratom or 7-OH, and that neither was associated with the overdose. The product, sold as “Script botanicals x Maui labs,” was available through gas stations and smoke shops. MGM-15 is a chemically modified form of 7-OH, an opioid-like chemical found in trace amounts in kratom. The Justice Department has classified MGM-15 and two related compounds as Schedule I drugs, citing their abuse potential and risks of dependence and respiratory depression. Authorities have also linked related compounds to deaths in Utah and Washington.

Rising U.S. Measles Cases Raise Global Concerns Over CDC Transparency

https://dripcast.ai/story/299492-rising-us-measles-cases-raise-global-concerns-over-cdc-transparency

The United States is facing its largest measles outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with 4,410 confirmed cases and three deaths on the CDC dashboard. Pennsylvania has reported more than 1,200 cases and six deaths, five confirmed, but the CDC has not identified the state associated with its third recorded death. That gap reflects a reporting change: the CDC now uses a system that generally withholds locations when death counts are small. Experts say falling vaccination rates, vaccine scepticism and healthcare access gaps are helping measles spread. Kindergarten vaccination coverage dropped from 95.2 percent in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4 percent in 2025–2026. In Lancaster County, officials and community leaders have arranged a school vaccination clinic. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency. Canada has lost its measles elimination status, and experts warn Mexico and Bolivia could also be at risk.

Calley Means Steps Down as Senior Adviser to RFK Jr.

https://dripcast.ai/story/299372-calley-means-steps-down-as-senior-adviser-to-rfk-jr

Calley Means, a leading voice in the Make America Healthy Again movement, has resigned as a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Means’s departure comes days before the midterm elections, marking a change within Kennedy’s advisory team. Means did not describe the resignation as a break with the administration’s leadership. He said he leaves with respect for President Trump and Kennedy. Means has been a prominent advocate for the MAHA movement and served as a key adviser to the health secretary. His resignation was described as a voluntary departure from the role. The facts provided do not give a further explanation for his decision, beyond his expression of respect for Trump and Kennedy.

Ozempic’s Spending Impact Grows as Employers Drop Coverage for Weight-loss Drugs

https://dripcast.ai/story/303590-ozempics-spending-impact-grows-as-employers-drop-coverage-for-weight-loss-drugs

GLP-1 use for weight loss has grown sharply, with 11% of U.S. adults taking the medications in 2026, up from 3% in 2024, reshaping spending and business from grocery shopping to clothing and fitness. Employers are weighing health benefits against rising costs: 53% of larger employers cover the drugs for weight loss, down from 57% in 2025, while some are dropping coverage or steering workers toward direct-purchase options. The drugs are also affecting businesses in unexpected ways, from Brooklyn’s Alan David Custom facing more lifetime suit alterations to airlines potentially saving money as passengers weigh less.

Everyday Choices May Drive Blood Sugar Surges, Expert Says

https://dripcast.ai/story/303345-everyday-choices-may-drive-blood-sugar-surges-expert-says

Frequent or prolonged blood sugar spikes and drops can contribute to health complications, and Texas-based clinical pharmacist Jim LaValle says everyday habits involving food, exercise, stress and sleep can affect glucose levels. He recommends tracking blood sugar after meals to see how different foods affect you, choosing a higher-protein breakfast and limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates. LaValle also suggests taking a 10-minute walk after eating, managing stress and getting adequate sleep, which he says is important for glucose regulation.

New Heart Disease Guidance Targets Rising Deaths Among Women

https://dripcast.ai/story/303181-new-heart-disease-guidance-targets-rising-deaths-among-women

Four major medical organizations have introduced a life-stage framework for preventing, detecting and treating heart disease in women, beginning in adolescence and continuing through menopause. The guidance emphasizes personalized prevention and closer attention to factors such as early menstruation, pregnancy-related high blood pressure or diabetes, and menopause before age 45, which can signal higher cardiovascular risk. Heart disease and stroke cause more than 400,000 deaths among women in the United States each year, and the organizations say coordinated care can help identify risks earlier and improve prevention.

Neurologist’s One-minute Technique May Boost Memory and Clear Brain Fog

https://dripcast.ai/story/301679-neurologists-one-minute-technique-may-boost-memory-and-clear-brain-fog

A neurologist’s 60-second exercise is being presented as a way to sharpen memory and help with brain fog. Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl says timed word games target verbal memory loss, a concern that crosswords and sudoku may not address. The approach focuses on quick language-based challenges rather than conventional puzzles. Suggested activities include timed word games, rapid-recall drills and speed reading. These exercises are described as more effective than puzzles for the goal of improving memory and reducing brain fog. The technique is brief, taking about a minute, and is intended to give the brain focused practice retrieving and processing words. Voskuhl’s explanation centers on verbal memory, rather than claiming that all forms of memory or every cause of brain fog will respond in the same way.

Amgen Combo Slashes Death Risk in Aggressive Lung Cancer by 58%

https://dripcast.ai/story/301118-amgen-combo-slashes-death-risk-in-aggressive-lung-cancer-by-58

A phase three trial found that adding Amgen’s Imdelltra to AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi as maintenance therapy reduced the risk of death by 58% for people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Patients had first received Imfinzi and chemotherapy without their cancer progressing. Median overall survival reached 21.1 months with the combination, compared with 12.7 months on Imfinzi alone, and the treatment also delayed disease progression. Trial investigator Dr. Jacob Sands said benefits appeared across patient groups, including those whose cancer had spread to the brain or liver. He cautioned that longer follow-up could change the survival estimate. Serious treatment-related side effects were more common with the combination. Small cell lung cancer often returns or progresses within months, leaving a strong need for better treatments. Amgen chief medical officer Dr. Paul Burton said the results could transform the standard of care.

Moderna’s Mrna Shot Cuts Melanoma Recurrence Risk by 40%+

https://dripcast.ai/story/300714-modernas-mrna-shot-cuts-melanoma-recurrence-risk-by-40

A personalized mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna and Merck cut the risk of melanoma returning or patients dying by 42 percent when used with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, according to a Phase 3 trial. The study enrolled 1,137 people with moderate to advanced melanoma across 157 centres, comparing the combination with pembrolizumab and an inactive placebo. Intismeran is designed to prevent cancer returning after surgery, not to stop melanoma from developing in the first place. Researchers tailor each dose by sequencing a patient’s tumour DNA and targeting mutations that produce proteins distinguishing cancer cells from healthy ones. Trial leader Georgina Long said there were no major harmful side effects. Patients have been followed for about 25 months, but longer monitoring is needed to assess survival and determine how well the vaccine works beyond two years. Some patients did not respond. The results are being presented at a meeting in Madrid.

Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Nearly 100 at Kansas School

https://dripcast.ai/story/300681-norovirus-outbreak-sickens-nearly-100-at-kansas-school

A norovirus outbreak at Bentwood Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas, has been linked to 95 illnesses among students and staff, plus two cases among family members outside the school. No hospitalizations have been reported. Two school cases were confirmed through laboratory testing; the others were linked based on similar symptoms, timing and setting. Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and Olathe Public Schools monitored illnesses, issued public-health guidance and worked to prevent further spread. Health officials warned that the count may be higher because norovirus is highly contagious. The CDC says it spreads through contaminated food, liquids, surfaces or direct contact with an infected person. Infectious disease physician Dana Hawkinson recommends washing hands with soap and water. The CDC estimates norovirus causes 19 million to 21 million illnesses annually in the United States.

Outcry Forces Cancellation of U.s.-backed Infant Vaccine Trial in Africa

https://dripcast.ai/story/299979-outcry-forces-cancellation-of-us-backed-infant-vaccine-trial-in-africa

A U.S.-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial involving 14,000 newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been canceled after international criticism and opposition from the country’s transitional government. Researchers planned to compare babies vaccinated at birth with babies whose shots were delayed until six weeks, studying possible effects on health and development. Critics said delaying the vaccine would expose infants to a serious infection, especially in a country where nearly one in five people has chronic hepatitis B. The trial was designed by Danish researchers with the Bandim Health Project, which has worked in Guinea-Bissau since 1978, using a $1.6 million CDC grant. A revised plan would have screened mothers, but critics raised concerns about false-negative results. Four University of Southern Denmark ethics committee members resigned after the committee approved proceeding. Police announced plans to raid the project’s offices and seize vaccine doses; the government then said it would not authorize the study.

AI Reads Facial Images to Forecast Cancer Outcomes and Aging

https://dripcast.ai/story/299669-ai-reads-facial-images-to-forecast-cancer-outcomes-and-aging

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed an artificial intelligence model that estimates cancer patients’ risk of dying from a facial photograph. Called FAHR-FaceSurvival, it grew out of FaceAge, an earlier tool designed to estimate biological age and gather other information about a patient’s health. The models were trained on 40 million facial images. In the model’s highest-risk group, about half of patients died within 90 days; in its lowest-risk group, roughly 2% died within that period. Attention maps suggest the system focuses on areas below the eyes and along the nose, though researchers do not yet know exactly what signals it detects. Outside experts called the work intriguing but said it must show that it adds information beyond what doctors can already observe and does not encode racial or other biases. Researchers say these models are not ready for clinical use.

Study Links Legal Marijuana to Rise in Heart Attacks

https://dripcast.ai/story/299490-study-links-legal-marijuana-to-rise-in-heart-attacks

A study of hospitalized patients found that recreational cannabis legalization in the western United States was associated with rising rates of several cardiovascular conditions. Researchers in Boston analyzed national hospital data, comparing western states with other regions and examining trends before and after legalization began taking hold. For each year of legal cannabis, atrial fibrillation rates rose about 2%, heart failure rates nearly 4%, and heart attack rates around 3%. Cannabis-related diagnoses also increased after legalization, while urinary-stone rates remained stable. The study was observational, so it shows an association, not proof that cannabis or legalization caused the health problems. Its data also could not distinguish between individual states. The authors urged a cautious approach to future legalization and more detailed tracking of cardiovascular outcomes, but did not call for cannabis to be outlawed. They said the findings supported reclassifying cannabis to make research easier.

Herpes Virus May Turn Brain’s Immune Cells Against Itself

https://dripcast.ai/story/299483-herpes-virus-may-turn-brains-immune-cells-against-itself

A study in *PLOS Pathogens* found that herpes simplex virus type 1 can reprogram microglia, the brain’s immune cells, potentially helping explain how infection contributes to inflammation linked to cognitive decline. In mice, researchers found more than 30 times as many interferon-responsive microglia after infection as in animals given a mock treatment. Interferon proteins act as warning signals to nearby cells. The affected microglia showed reduced activity in genes involved in maintaining, monitoring, and communicating within the brain, which could weaken their ability to clear harmful material. The virus appeared in scattered areas of the brainstem, where signs of microglial activation were higher. Neuroscientist Christy Niemeyer said the virus may push these cells into emergency defense mode, potentially disrupting normal functions even after it is gone. The researchers cautioned that the findings came from a small mouse study and do not establish the same effects in people.