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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
From Biohackers to MAHA—Functional Health Is Having a Moment
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With healthy living in the spotlight and the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement gaining traction, functional health should be leading the charge. Instead of meeting the moment, the topic of functional health has been pulled in opposite directions, losing touch with the everyday Americans it was designed to help. What began in the 1990s as a natural, root-cause approach to more accessible health has been adopted by wealthy biohackers chasing immortality through full-body MRIs and cryotherapy. While the advice around living a healthier lifestyle has merit, the messengers and price tags are turning people off. Functional health has become performative and polarizing. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are still searching for basic answers about their health. An athletic young woman running across a bridge on the Great Miami Bike Trail. An athletic young woman running across a bridge on the Great Miami Bike Trail. Getty Images The middle ground—the original promise of functional health as a science-backed, proactive approach to care—is getting drowned out. Functional health wasn't meant to be a trend. It was meant to help people live healthier, longer. It's time to bring it back to that. Functional Health's Potential vs. Reality Biohackers and wellness influencers may dominate the conversation, but here's the truth: most Americans don't want to reverse their biological age or spend thousands chasing optimal health. They just want answers. As a health care founder, I've met countless patients stuck treating symptoms without ever finding the root cause. It's not necessarily about more years to their life, but life to their years. That's what drove me to Shark Tank nearly a decade ago. After my own frustrating health care experience left me with more questions than answers, I knew people deserved better, accessible tools to understand their health, not just manage decline. But is functional health living up to its promise or has it left behind the very people it was meant to help? The data point to the latter, and it's not even close. Pew Research Center surveys show that alternative medicine, closely tied to functional health, is used mostly by higher-income individuals. Meanwhile, those who need it most—people with limited access to preventive care, living in health care deserts, or unable to afford pricey wellness plans—are left behind. Instead of transforming public health, functional health has become a luxury, shutting out everyday Americans. When Wellness Looks Like Wealth Functional health services can cost up to $25,000 a year, and a BMJ Open study shows the average appointment runs over $1,600. For most Americans, that's out of reach. Meanwhile, the loudest voices in functional health are pushing expensive interventions like full-body scans, creating a space that looks more like an exclusive club than a health care revolution. One way to make it more affordable? Insurance. Most plans cover only reactive care like prescriptions and procedures. Proactive items like diagnostics, nutritional counseling, and exercise plans are often considered "nonessential" despite their proven role in improving health and reducing long-term health care costs. If we're serious about ending the chronic disease epidemic and tackling skyrocketing health care spending, insurance needs to evolve to support preventive, functional care—not just the downstream consequences of avoiding it. A More Inclusive Path Forward If we want functional health to work for everyday Americans, we need to bring it back down to Earth. Here's how we do that: —Remove barriers for providers: Functional medicine certifications can cost up to $17,000—pricing out diverse talent. We need affordable pathways to build a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. —Cut the exclusivity: Sky-high fees, concierge perks, and long waitlists have turned functional health into a private club. It's time to open the doors. —Get insurance on board: Root-cause diagnostics and prevention shouldn't be out-of-pocket luxuries—they should be covered care. Let's be clear: biohackers have turned functional health into a spectacle—one that feels more like performance than health care. No wonder one of the top Google searches related to functional health is, "Is functional medicine legit?" Americans are skeptical, and they have every reason to be. Reclaiming Functional Health for the People A decade ago, I founded my digital health company because the traditional system was—and still is—failing millions. Most Americans aren't asking for flashy interventions. They just want real answers, affordable options, and a way to take control of their health. Functional health still has the potential to be part of that solution. But only if we bring it back to center—not on the fringe of alternative medicine, and not in the exclusive world of elite biohackers and social media wellness gurus. If we truly want to improve Americans' health, functional health must move beyond hype and into the hands of everyday people. Less spectacle, more access. It's time to bring functional health back to what it was meant to be: practical, inclusive, and rooted in science—for everyone. Julia Cheek is the founder and CEO of Everlywell, a pioneering company in biomarker intelligence, delivering essential health insights to nearly 60 million individuals and enterprise partners. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cold sores may play role in Alzheimer's development, new research reveals
Cold sores may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in BMJ Open. Researchers examined 344,628 "case-control pairs." The pairs were matched in age, sex, geographical region and number of healthcare visits — but one had Alzheimer's disease and one did not. Of the groups studied, 1,507 people with Alzheimer's also had herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the most common cause of cold sores. Only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1. First Blood Test For Alzheimer's Diagnosis Cleared By Fda Among these 2,330 people, 40% used anti-herpetic medication following their diagnosis. Those who were treated for the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who didn't use the treatments, the study found. Read On The Fox News App The risk of developing this form of dementia is known to rise with age. However, the chance of an HSV-1 diagnosis was 80% higher in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's, according to the research. Less commonly, cold sores can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Alzheimer's Disease Could Be Prevented By Antiviral Drug Already On Market The analysis places "an even greater emphasis on viewing the prevention of herpes viruses as a public health priority," the researchers said in a press release. Overall, women made up 65% of the Alzheimer's cases. Their average age was 73, and they tended to have more co-existing conditions, which were all risk factors. The study also observed the potential role of other herpes viruses, some of which were associated with an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. The specific connection between viruses like HSV-1 and heightened dementia risk isn't clear, the researchers noted. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in [Alzheimer's disease] development," they said in the release. Treatment with anti-viral therapy seems to lower the risk of Alzheimer's, "suggesting that HSV-1 treatment may be protective," the study says. "There's no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks," according to Mayo Clinic. "Prescription antiviral medicine or creams can help sores heal more quickly. And they may make future outbreaks happen less often and be shorter and less serious." There were some limitations in the study, the researchers acknowledged. "Due to limited data history, HSV-1 infections prior to the patient's database entry were not included in the analysis, and it is possible that some overlap exists between HSV-1 and HSV-2 diagnoses," the researchers noted. "Additionally, many individuals with HSV-1 infection are asymptomatic, and others may not seek medical care during recurrences and are therefore not clinically diagnosed and recorded in the database." While an estimated two-thirds of people under 50 are infected with HSV-1, data on symptomatic infections is limited, "as manifestations can be mild or unnoticed," the researchers added. For more Health articles, visit Under-diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could also skew the results. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers and other doctors for article source: Cold sores may play role in Alzheimer's development, new research reveals
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Cold sores may play role in Alzheimer's development, new research reveals
Cold sores may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in BMJ Open. Researchers examined 344,628 "case-control pairs." The pairs were matched in age, sex, geographical region and number of healthcare visits — but one had Alzheimer's disease and one did not. Of the groups studied, 1,507 people with Alzheimer's also had herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the most common cause of cold sores. Only 823 people in the control group had HSV-1. Among these 2,330 people, 40% used anti-herpetic medication following their diagnosis. Those who were treated for the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who didn't use the treatments, the study found. The risk of developing this form of dementia is known to rise with age. However, the chance of an HSV-1 diagnosis was 80% higher in those diagnosed with Alzheimer's, according to the research. Less commonly, cold sores can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The analysis places "an even greater emphasis on viewing the prevention of herpes viruses as a public health priority," the researchers said in a press release. Overall, women made up 65% of the Alzheimer's cases. Their average age was 73, and they tended to have more co-existing conditions, which were all risk factors. The study also observed the potential role of other herpes viruses, some of which were associated with an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. The specific connection between viruses like HSV-1 and heightened dementia risk isn't clear, the researchers noted. "However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in [Alzheimer's disease] development," they said in the release. Treatment with anti-viral therapy seems to lower the risk of Alzheimer's, "suggesting that HSV-1 treatment may be protective," the study says. "There's no cure for cold sores, but treatment can help manage outbreaks," according to Mayo Clinic. "Prescription antiviral medicine or creams can help sores heal more quickly. And they may make future outbreaks happen less often and be shorter and less serious." There were some limitations in the study, the researchers acknowledged. "Due to limited data history, HSV-1 infections prior to the patient's database entry were not included in the analysis, and it is possible that some overlap exists between HSV-1 and HSV-2 diagnoses," the researchers noted. "Additionally, many individuals with HSV-1 infection are asymptomatic, and others may not seek medical care during recurrences and are therefore not clinically diagnosed and recorded in the database." While an estimated two-thirds of people under 50 are infected with HSV-1, data on symptomatic infections is limited, "as manifestations can be mild or unnoticed," the researchers added. For more Health articles, visit Under-diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease could also skew the results. Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers and other doctors for comment.
The Journal
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Treating cold sores with anti-virals could help slash the risk of developing Alzheimer's
TREATING COLD SORES with anti-viral medicines could help slash the risk of Alzheimer's disease, research suggests. Previous studies have found that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can lie dormant in human cells for a lifetime before 're-awakening', leading to dementia symptoms. Experts have discovered that HSV-1 causes changes that resemble those in the brains of dementia patients, such as amyloid plaque-like formations and inflammation. Now, a large US study suggests that treating HSV-1 may be a route to lessening the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers, including from pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences and the University of Washington in Seattle, used data on 344,628 people with Alzheimer's matched with the same number of people without the disease. All were aged over 50 and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made between 2006 and 2021. A history of HSV-1 diagnosis was noted for 1,507 (0.44%) patients with Alzheimer's, compared with 823 (0.24%) of those without. Nearly two thirds (65%) of those with Alzheimer's disease were women, with an average age of 73. The study found that people who had suffered the herpes virus had an 80% increased risk of Alzheimer's, even when other factors were taken into account. But those with HSV-1 who used anti-virals to treat the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those who did not use the medicines. Among the 2,330 people with a history of HSV-1 infection, 931 (40%) used anti-virals after their diagnosis. The authors, writing in the journal BMJ Open , concluded: 'Findings from this large… study implicate HSV-1 in the development of Alzheimer's disease and highlight anti-herpetic therapies as potentially protective for Alzheimer's and related dementia.' In the UK, the drug aciclovir is one of those available for treating cold sores, chickenpox, shingles and other herpes virus infections. The researchers also looked at the potential role of other herpes viruses, including HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (which causes chickenpox), and cytomegalovirus. Both HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus infections were also associated with a heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease. Exactly how HSV-1 and other viruses might heighten the risk of dementia is not clear, point out the researchers. 'However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in (Alzheimer's disease) development,' they added. HSV-1 DNA is also found in the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, and people carrying the most common genetic risk factor for the disease are more susceptible to HSV infections, they said. Professor Tara Spires-Jones, from the University of Edinburgh, said: 'This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer's. 'Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation. 'More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer's disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer's risk.' Dr David Vickers, from the University of Calgary in Canada, said the 'research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of Alzheimer's disease cases'. He added: 'The observed 17% hazard reduction with anti-herpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in Alzheimer's disease onset.' Dr Richard Oakley, director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk. 'But this doesn't prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer's disease, or that anti-virals prevent it. 'The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn't track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication. 'Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions.' Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, welcomed the study but said more research was needed. 'We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there's not enough evidence to include infections in this list. 'This study doesn't tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.' Advertisement
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Treating cold sores with anti-virals ‘may slash risk of developing Alzheimer's'
Previous studies have found that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can lie dormant in human cells for a lifetime before 're-awakening', leading to dementia symptoms. Experts have discovered that HSV-1 causes changes that resemble those in the brains of dementia patients, such as amyloid plaque-like formations and inflammation. Now, a large US study suggests that treating HSV-1 may be a route to lessening the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers, including from pharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences and the University of Washington in Seattle, used data on 344,628 people with Alzheimer's matched with the same number of people without the disease. All were aged over 50 and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made between 2006 and 2021. A history of HSV-1 diagnosis was noted for 1,507 (0.44%) patients with Alzheimer's, compared with 823 (0.24%) of those without. Nearly two thirds (65%) of those with Alzheimer's disease were women, with an average age if 73. The study found that people who had suffered the herpes virus had an 80% increased risk of Alzheimer's, even when other factors were taken into account. But those with HSV-1 who used anti-virals to treat the virus were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those who did not the medicines. Among the 2,330 people with a history of HSV-1 infection, 931 (40%) used anti-virals after their diagnosis. The authors, writing in the journal BMJ Open, concluded: 'Findings from this large…study implicate HSV-1 in the development of Alzheimer's disease and highlight anti-herpetic therapies as potentially protective for Alzheimer's and related dementia.' In the UK, the drug aciclovir is one of those available for treating cold sores, chickenpox, shingles and other herpes virus infections. The researchers also looked at the potential role of other herpes viruses, including HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (which causes chickenpox), and cytomegalovirus. Both HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus infections were also associated with a heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease. Exactly how HSV-1 and other viruses might heighten the risk of dementia is not clear, point out the researchers. 'However, studies have shown that inflammatory alterations in the brain caused by HSV infection are pivotal in (Alzheimer's disease) development,' they added. HSV-1 DNA is also found in the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, and people carrying the most common genetic risk factor for the disease are more susceptible to HSV infections, they said. Professor Tara Spires-Jones, from the University of Edinburgh, said: 'This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer's. 'Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation. 'More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer's disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer's risk.' Dr David Vickers, from the University of Calgary in Canada, said the 'research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of Alzheimer's disease cases'. He added: 'The observed 17% hazard reduction with anti-herpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in Alzheimer's disease onset.' Dr Richard Oakley, director of research and innovation at the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk. 'But this doesn't prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer's disease, or that anti-virals prevent it. 'The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn't track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication. 'Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions.' Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, welcomed the study but said more research was needed. 'We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there's not enough evidence to include infections in this list. 'This study doesn't tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.'
