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Epoch Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Common Medications May Disrupt Brain Development
Many people don't think twice when their physician prescribes antidepressants or other medications—after all, mental health is just as important as physical well-being. However, new research suggests that some of these drugs may quietly interfere with brain development in unborn children, raising urgent safety concerns during pregnancy. A February The researchers analyzed how these medications disrupt sterol biosynthesis, particularly affecting the DHCR7 enzyme, which helps regulate cholesterol levels. Their findings highlight potential risks and raise concerns about drug safety, especially during pregnancy and early childhood, when brain cholesterol synthesis is crucial for development. Brain Development Cholesterol is essential for brain development and function. It helps build cell membranes, protects nerve fibers with myelin, and supports connections between neurons. Cholesterol also plays a key role in neuron growth, movement, and communication. Once the blood-brain barrier forms during early development, cholesterol from the body can't enter the brain. As a result, the brain must produce its own cholesterol. The blood-brain barrier is a protective filter that controls what enters the brain from the bloodstream, keeping harmful substances out while allowing essential nutrients in. 'Disrupting cholesterol biosynthesis, particularly during early development, can have profound consequences, including impaired neuronal connectivity, reduced myelination, and altered neurotransmitter function,' said Dustin Hines, a neuroscientist, researcher, and psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who was not involved in the study, in an email to The Epoch Times. Related Stories 2/17/2024 3/25/2024 'These disruptions may lead to deficits in cognition, sensory processing, and motor coordination,' he said. Cholesterol also plays an important role in making steroid hormones and bile acids essential for various body functions. Maintaining balanced cholesterol levels is important for brain health during development and adulthood. The review highlights findings from previous studies showing that higher brain cholesterol is linked to better memory in aging, while lower levels may increase the risk of depression, as well as aggression, impulsivity, and violence. Moreover, disruptions in cholesterol production or metabolism have been Drug Culprits The review indicates that some widely prescribed medications cross the blood-brain barrier, raising concerns about long-term effects on brain health. Pregnant women and unborn babies are especially at risk because the brain needs cholesterol to develop properly during pregnancy and early childhood. Some of the medications include: Cariprazine—used for mental health conditions Trazodone—antidepressant Aripiprazole—antipsychotic Haloperidol—antipsychotic Sertraline—antidepressant Metoprolol—heart medication Lead study author Dr. Karoly Mirnics, a professor of psychiatry, biochemistry, and molecular biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, emphasized how widely these medications are used. 'Approved medications that can interfere with normal sterol biosynthesis during development belong to various classes. These medications are commonly used for cardiology and hypertension treatment, some of which are routinely prescribed to pregnant women,' he told The Epoch Times in an email. Examples of such drugs include statins and ACE inhibitors, which are used to treat high cholesterol and hypertension. Sterols are fat-like molecules essential for making cholesterol in the body. They act as building blocks in the cholesterol production process. Because the brain cannot absorb cholesterol from the blood, it relies on sterol biosynthesis to make its own. 'These medications are generally safe and lifesaving for most people, especially adults. However, during pregnancy, their effects—when combined with certain genetic factors, the use of multiple sterol-inhibiting medications, underlying health conditions, or lifestyle factors—could become harmful to the unborn child,' said Mirnics. The Biochemical Link The medications listed above can block the DHCR7 enzyme, preventing the proper conversion of 7-DHC (7-dehydrocholesterol) into cholesterol. This leads to a buildup of 7-DHC, which is highly reactive and forms harmful byproducts called oxysterols, which can damage neurons, disrupt brain function, and potentially increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The review suggests that medication-induced sterol disruption may create a biochemical state similar to Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, a genetic condition in which 7-DHC accumulates due to a defective DHCR7 enzyme, leading to developmental and cognitive impairments. Mirnics' previous research supports the current study's findings. His Researchers treated mice with these drugs for 21 days and found that both accumulated in different tissues, altering sterol metabolism. Female mice also showed higher cholesterol clearance in the brain, suggesting their bodies metabolized and removed aripiprazole more quickly than male mice. People at Potential Risk The review also highlights that about 3 percent of the population may be more vulnerable due to genetic differences in sterol processing, and taking multiple medications can further worsen disruption. That means people with one faulty DHCR7 gene are usually healthy and make up about 1 percent to 3 percent of the population. 'However, when exposed to certain medications, their ability to process sterols is significantly impaired, much like a pulled muscle—fine at rest but struggling under stress,' said Mirnics. Another Among these, 43 samples contained medications that block the DHCR7 enzyme, preventing 7-DHC from converting into cholesterol. Moreover, the study notes that taking DHCR7-inhibiting drugs during the first trimester may be harmful to the baby and could increase the risk of birth defects. 'If such medications are essential, it may be beneficial to monitor neurodevelopmental milestones closely, supplement with supportive nutrients, and consider alternative treatments when possible. Parents should also be aware of early warning signs of cognitive or behavioral changes and seek neurodevelopmental assessments if concerns arise,' said Hines. Implications for Patient Care Given cholesterol's essential role in brain development, health care providers should carefully weigh the risks and benefits before prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs or other sterol-inhibiting medications to pregnant women, infants, and young children. Parents and patients should have open discussions with health care providers about the need for medications that impact cholesterol metabolism. While some medications are necessary during pregnancy, selecting one without DHCR7-inhibiting effects may lower the risk of complications and support better health outcomes for the baby. 'During pregnancy, especially if the unborn child or future mother has a potentially vulnerable genotype, I would suggest replacing the medication with one without the unwanted sterol-inhibiting side effect,' said Mirnics. 'Usually there are plenty of good options, and the majority of medications in all different classes do not interfere with sterol biosynthesis,' he said. While the study suggests that health care providers should assess current and future medications for their potential to affect sterol biosynthesis during development, Mirnics noted the need for larger studies to confirm these findings. 'Animal and cultured cell studies raise concerns, but they are not the same as comprehensive human studies. There is still so much we don't understand, and we should be cautious about drawing premature conclusions,' he said. Patients should not stop taking medications without consulting a doctor. Health care providers should consider the potential effects on sterol biosynthesis when prescribing multiple drugs, including those commonly used to treat heart and psychiatric diseases. If these drugs are necessary, genetic testing for both the mother and unborn child could help assess risks and guide treatment decisions.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Florence police recover stolen gun, narcotics from man who told officers he was a pharmacist at McLeod hospital
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — A man who told authorities he was a pharmacist at McLeod Regional Medical Center was arrested on Wednesday after Florence police found a stolen handgun and a large quantity of narcotics in his car. Police charged Mina George Sadek Georgy with possession of a stolen weapon. Officers pulled over his 2016 BMW in the hospital's parking lot after getting an alert from a Flock camera about a vehicle registered to a person wanted in Richland County. A McLeod spokesperson told News13 Friday afternoon that Georgy was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation and that the hospital is cooperating with authorities. '[Georgy] was arrested outside the workplace on hospital property for standing warrants unrelated to McLeod,' the spokesperson said. After Georgy told officers he worked at McLeod, police said they determined that he was wanted for grand larceny and a motor vehicle in Richland County. Florence police narcotics agents were called in after officers found several loose pills in his pockets. Officers also recovered the stolen handgun from inside the vehicle and learned during their investigation that it had been reported stolen from Richland County during a vehicle theft in which Georgy had been charged. Police said McLeod hospital and the state Department of Environmental Control were contacted to conduct internal investigations into the origin of the pills that were recovered. DHEC was given the recovered medications for their investigation, and police said the agency could file additional charges. Georgy was booked into the Florence County Detention Center but was transferred into the custody of Richland County authorities on Thursday, according to online jail records. Police released the following list of items found during the search of the vehicle. 3 d.u of Metoprolol Tartrate (Imprint M/1B) 8 d.u of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (Imprint GG/N7) (Riwa Al Aridi) 2.5 d.u. of Metoprolol Tartrate (Imprint M/1B) (Riwa Al Aridii) 65 d.u. of Tramadol (Believed to be) (No imprint) (Generic Label) 19 d.u. of Clonazepam (Imprint 2) (No label) 1 d.u. of Phenaobarbital (No label) 1 d.u. of Triazolam .25mg (No Label) 11 d.u. of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim (Imprint H49) (No Label) 83 d.u. of Tramadol (Believed to be) (No imprint) (Generic Label) 39 d.u of Alprazolam 1mg (Imprint X/73) (Yellow) ('X' on top)13 d.u. of Aripiprazole 5mg (Imprint ARI/5) (Blue) (Georgy's name on the bottle) 118 d.u of Buspirone Hydrochloride 10mg (Imprint Teva/54) (White) (Georgy's name on the bottle) 9 d.u of Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (Imprint G AMP/30) (Georgy's name on the bottle) 80 d.u. of Aripiprazole 5mg (Imprint 5/17) (White) (Georgy's name on the bottle) 287 d.u of Buspirone Hydrochloride 10mg (Imprint Teva/54) (White) (Georgy's name on the bottle) 12 d.u. of Aripiprazole 5mg (Imprint ARI/5) (Blue) (Georgy's name on the bottle) various pill bottles with different names on them and or 'X' THC Gummies Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro 9mmm Handgun w/ Magazine and 12 live rounds (reported stolen out of Richland County) * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
