Latest news with #HackensackUniversityMedicalCenter
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man Tries to Save Snake Not Knowing It Was Venomous. He Spent 2 Nights in the Hospital After Getting Bitten
New York City writer Dan Geiger tried to save a snake he spotted while cycling in New Jersey Although he didn't know it at the time, the snake was venomous — and ended up biting him In images shared by Hackensack University Medical Center, where he had to stay for two nights to recover, the writer's finger was captured with a swollen black woundA man tried to help move a snake out of the road and got a nasty bite in the process. Dan Deiger was cycling in New Jersey's Palisades Cliffs on Wednesday, May 21, when he saw a small snake, according to a Hackensack Memorial Health press release. Not wanting the serpent to be injured by a bike, the writer — who lives in New York City — decided he was going to help move the creature away. However, unbeknownst to him, it was a venomous Copperhead. 'He first tried nudging the snake with his water bottle, hoping it would slither away,' the hospital wrote. 'When it didn't budge, Dan made a split-second decision he now regrets. He reached out with his hand. In a flash, the snake struck, sinking its fangs into his finger.' "Dan immediately knew something was wrong. Although he didn't know what type of snake it was, he assumed based on how much he was bleeding, it was venomous," the hospital continued. Fortunately, he was able to flag down two strangers to call 911. Geiger told local Fox affiliate WNYW that ultimately, his 'hand was just too close to its head." "It struck me with precision and speed," he added. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While it's rare for someone to die from a Copperhead snake's venom, a limb can be seriously damaged as a result of the bite, according to Hackensack Memorial Health. 'It contains toxins that break down tissue, causing intense pain, swelling, blistering, and even tissue death (necrosis),' they explained. The venom also disrupts blood clotting, leading to internal bleeding and further complications. The longer the venom circulates, the more widespread the damage.' In pictures shared by Hackensack Memorial Health, the snake bite victim's index finger featured a swollen, black wound. According to the hospital, Geiger stayed there for two nights before being discharged — but he still 'won't be using his hand for another week or so until the residual swelling and bruising subsides." 'He still loves the Palisades and its wildlife, but he's learned a valuable lesson: admire from a distance," the hospital wrote. "He'll think twice before intervening again, no matter how good his intentions." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NYC man bit by venomous copperhead snake on NJ bike path
A New York man dodged death when he was bit by a venomous snake while bike riding in New Jersey. Dan Geiger was pedaling along the Palisades Cliffs recently when he saw a snake in the middle of the bike path. 'I notice a lot of squashed snakes because snakes go out to the pavement to sun themselves or to gather heat, and I guess they're a target for automobiles,' Geiger told Fox 5. To prevent the animal from getting run over, he stopped to get off his bike and move it with his water bottle. Then disaster struck. 'I nudged it, it didn't, it was very lethargic seeming, and I just sort of nudged again, and I was just like too close, you know, my hand was just too close to its head, I guess, and it just, it struck me with precision and speed,' Geiger told the outlet. Geiger was able to call 911 with the help of two passersby, but he was already feeling the effects of the copperhead's bite. He was taken Hackensack University Medical Center, which has a team that specializes in treating bites from venomous snakes. While copperhead venom isn't usually deadly, it can cause serious symptoms like internal bleeding, swelling and tissue death. Daria Falkowitz, director of the Division of Medical Toxicology at Hackensack University Medical Center, told the station antivenom isn't a miracle cure. 'It just stops things from getting worse and so whatever tissue damage has already occurred prior to receiving it is there,' she said. Photos of the aftermath show Geiger's swollen, discolored right index finger. However, Falkowitz said because the antivenom was administered so quickly, Geiger likely avoided permanent damage. Copperheads are one of the 22 types of snakes native to New Jersey.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Retirement news: Doctor shares Alzheimer's warning signs, treatments
One of the reasons we plan for retirement is that we know our health may not hold up. It's an ugly thing to think about, but while we plan for our golden years, we also have to be aware that not everyone gets to be healthy in their retirement. Broadcast Retirement News' Jeffrey Snyder dug into this unpleasant topic with Dr. Manisha Parulakar of Hackensack University Medical Center on the May 23 edition of BRN. And, while the topic is not roses and bubblegum, Dr. Parulakar shares a lot of useful advice and makes it clear that slowing down and serious illness are not the same thing. Subscribe to The Morning Pulse daily newsletter from BRN. BRN May 23, 2025 transcript Jeffrey Snyder: This morning on BRN Science, it's time to take your memory loss seriously and joining me now to discuss this and a lot more Dr. Manisha Parulakar of Hackensack University Medical Center. Dr. Parulakar, great to see you. Thanks for joining us in the program this morning. Dr. Manisha Parulakar: Thank you for inviting me. Snyder: Yeah, it's great. We're talking about memory and I guess my first question is, how do you figure out whether or not forgetfulness needs to be taken more serious and that it could lead to a potential Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis? Parulakar: Before, I used to jokingly tell my patients that if you forget what you forgot, we have a problem and we need to get a formal assessment and formal evaluation. The topic has changed a little bit more now, especially because we do have the new treatment options available, which are for patients with mild cognitive impairment. So not necessarily the dementia diagnosis, the pre-pre-dementia stage of mild cognitive impairment. And what that looks like is if you are having difficulty doing your day-to-day task, something that you've been doing for years and had no problems, but now all of a sudden, you need a much longer time to complete that task. Maybe that's paying the bills, managing your calendar, managing a project. If you are having a harder time and you're requiring much longer time and many more resources to finish it, maybe there is something going on and you should talk to your doctor about it. Snyder: And so that takes some personal awareness. But what about a family member? I mean, is this something that a family member could check with their loved one to see if, hey, they're just not completing the tasks the way they used to complete the task? And also, doctor, we slow down a little bit as we age. I know I'm a lot slower than I was in my 20s. Parulakar: Absolutely. And those are two important points. And one is that some slowing down does happen to all of us. That's the loss of brain plasticity. And all of us are going to have that as we age. Being said that, it still should not interfere with our activities that we were doing so well. So we should still be able to pay our bills the same way that we were doing 10 years ago. I may have a difficult time figuring out setting up a new process. So if I was setting up a new account to do that, that may take a little bit longer. But if I was doing something like handwriting my checkbook, I should be able to do that in a timely manner. So if I'm taking much longer and if I'm asking many more questions, and that's something the family members can observe, is that the loved one, are they asking a lot of questions for their usual activity? Are they not able to do the cooking that they were doing without going back to the recipe or asking questions about recipe? Are they just repeating questions that they're forgetting the conversation that they had not that long ago? So those are all warning signs that, OK, there's something going on. Snyder: So, doctor, if you see something going on, what's the first, and you're a loved one, let's just say, or an individual, you feel something's not right. What's the first step you should take? Should you call your internist, your general practitioner? Or do you go directly to someone like yourself who's a specialist in cognitive functions and Alzheimer's and dementia? Parulakar: I would say it depends on what access you have. So if you do have access to a memory center around you, reaching out to them and making an appointment is a great idea because they have all the resources. And they can really, especially when it comes to mild cognitive impairment, which is a very, it's an accurate diagnosis. It does require a lot of multiple steps to get there. So if you have access, that would be great. But unfortunately, we don't have those many memory centers around. So talking to your primary care physician is a great first step. And they could start with some of the basic testing and then decide whether further investigation is needed. Yeah. Snyder: And then they would refer you to someone like yourself or someone else to help address and see what the root cause of it could be. Doctor, you mentioned as we age, the brain is not as elastic, I think is the term you use. But are there things that we can do to create better elasticity and improve the longevity of our thoughts, of our brains, of our memories? Parulakar: Absolutely. And I think that's the reason why it is so crucial for us to start thinking about our brain in our 40s and 50s. And not because we definitely know that Alzheimer's is a very long process. It's about, it's going on for about 10, 15 years before it starts producing those memory symptoms. So it really is important for all of us to work on the plasticity and to maintain our function of the brain. And the big threats for our brain health are our chronic conditions. So managing your high blood pressure, managing your diabetes, managing your cholesterol are really essential to maintain that brain health. The second big threat is our mobility. So not moving enough is an important risk factor. So just having any mobility is better than none, but continuing to move. And newer data is suggesting that we want to be mobile throughout the day. So not just hitting the gym for one hour, but then staying sedentary for the rest of the day, that doesn't help either. So staying active and not sitting at one place for too long is helpful. Managing our sleep, which is something else that we don't necessarily pay attention to. A lot of people will walk around saying, oh, I do fine with four hours of sleep. We know that's the time that our brain spends in managing our deep memories, creating new memories. So we need to have, that says, six to seven hours of sleep, ideally seven to eight hours of sleep to be able to recharge the brain for the next day. And then, of course, staying away from substances. We are finding more and more evidence that alcohol is really not good for us. Even small amounts of smoking, some other substances like marijuana, they all have negative effects on your brain. So staying away from substance use is another great way to maintain your brain health and managing. A lot of times the substance use is related to behavioral health issues. So managing the behavioral health issues by getting the right help. Meditation, yoga are great ways to help almost all behavioral health issues as a basic step. So addressing all of them together, we can technically push the risk of dementia to a much, much later part of our life. Snyder: And last question for you, doctor. In terms of treatment, are we further along in terms of the research and medications that maybe can delay or even reverse some of the effects of this disease? Parulakar: So a lot of, yes, we do have new medications, especially for Alzheimer's or mainly for Alzheimer's, that can be used in that mild cognitive stage of the disease or very early dementia disease. And it does have potential of slowing down the progression to some extent. We don't have anything right now that actually reverses the disease, so we're still working on that. And a lot of studies are showing that the non-pharmacological interventions that we just talked about, the exercise, the sleep, the brain exercises, can be equally helpful in slowing down the progression. And sometimes even maybe reverse it, especially if you're in the mild cognitive phase. And if you address all of those, that can be potentially helpful. Snyder: Yeah, I mean, and Alzheimer's, it sounds like, doctor, Alzheimer's, if you take the right steps, Alzheimer's doesn't have to be the end result of aging. It doesn't have to be the thing that ultimately we all get. Parulakar: Absolutely. And there are people telling us that that's true. If you look at the blue zone, where people are living to be 100, and a lot of them have their memory intact. So that tells you that following those non-pharmacological interventions, socializing and having that support structure can protect our brain health and potentially help us prevent or at least push it to a much, much later part of our life. Snyder: Well, doctor, you talked about treatment. And I want to ask you about maybe the, ask you about the blood test where we look at biomarkers. How successful is that blood test? And should I go run out to the store and take it or to the doctor and take it and get it? Parulakar: Okay. So yes to first question, no to the second question. So yes, we have done significant progress in helping in building biomarkers in Alzheimer's. And now we're using similar knowledge to look at Lewy body and other types of dimensions as well. So we have much more, we have gotten much more sophisticated to have that accurate diagnosis. And yes, we have moved from doing the cerebrospinal fluid to now blood to able to help us with those, with the accurate diagnosis. But those blood tests should be ordered in the context of if somebody has memory issues, has had some workup and there is a possible diagnosis of Alzheimer's. So it's not a screening test. We should not be just going and getting it. And we should not definitely be asking our doctors to say that, hey, you're doing my blood work. Can you add that screening test for Alzheimer's as well? Snyder: Yeah. It's not going to be showing up on the LabCorp menu anytime soon, I guess. Parulakar: It is on the LabCorp and Quest menu. And that's the reason I'm making a point even further that please don't ask for it just because it's on the menu. Snyder: Yeah. Very, very smart. Well, doctor, thank you so much again for joining us. And we look forward to having you back on the program again very soon. Thank you so much. And don't forget to subscribe to our daily newsletter, The Morning Pulse, for all the news in one place. Details, of course, at our website. And your subscription supports all this great BRN content, including the show you were just watching. And we're back again tomorrow for another edition of BRN. Until then, I'm Jeff Snyder. Stay safe, keep on saving, and don't forget, roll with the changes. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Medical News Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
FDA clears first blood test for Alzheimer's: How does it work?
The FDA has cleared the first blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Bowery Image Group Inc./Stocksy The earlier Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed, the better the outcomes; however, it can be hard to diagnose the disease in its earliest stages. The United States Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The new test measures the amount of proteins amyloid-beta and tau in the blood, and is less invasive than the currently used spinal tap to measure levels of these proteins in cerebrospinal fluid. Like all diseases, the sooner Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the better the outcome. This is partially because medications available for the condition aim to treat symptoms and potentially slow the progression of the disease. Despite all these tools, it can be hard to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, especially at its earliest stage . According to the FDA's press release , the Lumipulse blood test works by measuring the amount of pTau 217 and beta-amyloid 1-42 in the plasma of the blood. The concentration ratio of the two proteins is used to determine the presence or absence of amyloid plaques in the brain, which is considered a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. 'Imagine your brain is like an organized library, with information neatly stored on shelves (neurons),' Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, director of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center and co-director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey explained to Medical News Today. 'In Alzheimer's disease, two troublesome proteins, beta-amyloid and tau, disrupt this organization, making it hard to access the information.' 'Think of beta-amyloid as sticky notes that clump together between the bookshelves (outside the neurons),' Parulekar continued. 'These clumps, called plaques, interfere with communication between the neurons, like blocking pathways in the library. Tau is normally like a librarian, helping to keep the bookshelves (internal neuron structure) stable and organized. In Alzheimer's, tau becomes twisted and tangled. These tangles disrupt the transport of nutrients and other essential materials within the neurons, eventually leading to their death,' she said. 'In simple terms, this blood test helps identify the 'culprits' responsible for Alzheimer's damage, allowing for earlier diagnosis, better disease management, and faster development of effective treatments.' — Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD Up until now, the main laboratory test to check levels of amyloid-beta and tau proteins was by examining a sample of a person's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The sample is taken through a lumbar puncture — also known as a spinal tap — where a needle is inserted into a person's lower spine. Gediminas Gliebus, MD, director of cognitive and behavioral neurology at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, a part of Baptist Health South Florida, told MNT having a test requiring a blood sample instead of a CSF sample significantly simplifies the testing process, eliminating the need for invasive and costly procedures like lumbar punctures, which can deter some patients from seeking evaluation. 'By relying on a simple blood sample, this test makes it more accessible to a broader population, facilitating earlier diagnosis and enabling timely interventions that could help manage the progression of the disease. This new test has the potential to change how we diagnose Alzheimer's disease by streamlining the process and reducing the need for more invasive procedures.' — Gediminas Gliebus, MD 'Based on the scientific data provided by the company, only 20% of patients would require additional invasive and costly tests, such as lumbar punctures or PET scans, to confirm the diagnosis. This is a significant improvement, as it allows the majority of patients to receive a preliminary evaluation with minimal discomfort and expense, fostering early detection and intervention,' Gliebus explained. As part of their approval announcement, the FDA stated risks associated with the Lumipulse blood test include both false positive and negative results. For that reason, all of the experts we spoke with agree that while this new test is a promising diagnostic tool, it is not the only tool that should be used and more research is still needed. 'This test has potential for use in pre-screening participants in clinical trials for early stages of Alzheimer's disease, however, its application in primary care settings is not yet fully understood, and further research is needed before it is used as a screening tool for the general population,' Bhavana Patel, DO, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Florida explained to MNT . Things to keep in mind about the test 'As with many tests, false positives and false negatives can occur. Therefore, this test should be done in the setting of cognitive symptoms and with a specialist who can accurately interpret and counsel on the results.' — Bhavana Patel, DO, 'My first response to this blood test is concern (that) primary care physicians are going to diagnose patients with Alzheimer's dementia from a blood test who have no memory loss or risk factors for dementia,' added Clifford Segil, DO a neurologist in private practice in Santa Monica, CA, and on staff at Providence St John's Health Center. 'And tests like this, which were not approved by the typical rigorous FDA pathway, but rather through an abbreviated process via the FDA's ' Breakthrough Pathway ,' which cause me concern countless people are going to be told they have dementia per a blood test when they do not have dementia,' he said. 'Neurologists in clinical practice have found similar tau and amyloid biomarkers to have a high percentage of false positives in clinical practice and do not rely only on a blood test to diagnose a family member or you with dementia,' Segil told MNT . 'Neurologists are unlikely to use these tests, which will be used by primary care physicians. If you do get a positive result from a blood tau or amyloid test, please be evaluated by a neurologist to determine if they have any clinical significance.' With some questions still to be answered regarding the Lumipulse blood test, many experts expressed their hope that it will provide more assistance in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. 'This is an exciting time in the field, as we now have a noninvasive, easily accessible test that can help identify Alzheimer's disease in individuals experiencing memory changes,' Patel said. 'Having an easily accessible blood test will allow for an earlier diagnosis in those with cognitive changes and serve as an opportunity for participation in clinical trials and receive treatments that may impact disease progression.' 'I was genuinely excited to hear about the FDA's [clearing] of this blood test, as it represents a significant advancement in simplifying the evaluation of patients who present with symptoms that might suggest Alzheimer's disease,' Gliebus commented. 'This test offers a less invasive and more accessible way to evaluate the condition, potentially transforming how we approach early diagnosis and patient care.' Lower cost, less invasive 'The less invasive nature of a blood test will likely encourage more people experiencing mild cognitive impairment or early symptoms to seek testing. Earlier diagnosis is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of current and future treatments. The simplicity and lower cost of blood tests compared to PET scans or spinal taps will make testing more accessible to wider populations, including those in underserved communities or without easy access to specialized medical centers. This could lead to earlier diagnosis for individuals who might otherwise go undiagnosed for years.' — Manisha Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD 'We do have to follow appropriate steps in the diagnosis and make sure to use this as a diagnostic tool — this is not a screening test. It's a tool that holds promise — its true impact will depend on how it's integrated into clinical practice,' Parulekar added.
Economic Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Health emergency: Human brain becoming a plastic storehouse, linked to dementia surge in US; current situation and precautionary measures
TIL Creatives Microplastics are now found in human brains, linked to rising dementia cases in the US. Protect yourself by reducing plastic exposure It's in the deepest trenches of the ocean, the peaks of the Himalayas, and even the air we breathe. Plastic has crept into every corner of our world. Now, scientists say it's infiltrating something far more personal. In a concerning revelation, scientists have discovered that microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size, are accumulating in human brains, potentially contributing to the rise of dementia in the United States. These tiny particles can accumulate in the body, with prior research linking them to various forms of cancer, including skin, breast, cervical, and colorectal, as well as testicular cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and now dementia. A study conducted by researchers at the University of New Mexico analyzed brain tissue from 54 autopsies, spanning from 2016 to 2024. Remarkably, every sample contained microplastics, with concentrations increasing by 50% over the eight years. On average, the amount found was equivalent to the mass of a plastic spoon. Dr. Matthew Campen, the study's lead author and a toxicologist at the University of New Mexico, expressed his surprise and said, "I never would have imagined it was this high." The researchers identified 12 different plastic polymers in the brain tissues, with polyethylene, a material commonly used in packaging and containers, being the most individuals diagnosed with dementia exhibited up to ten times more microplastics in their brain tissue compared to those without the microplastics, especially those measuring 200 nanometers or smaller, can cross the blood-brain barrier, a protective shield that typically prevents harmful substances from entering the brain. Once inside, they may trigger inflammation, disrupt neurological signaling, and potentially contribute to the development of neurological Gary Small, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center, emphasized caution: "Current findings in relation to dementia do not prove a causal relationship, but they are still cause for concern."These particles likely enter the body through contaminated food and beverages. For instance, significant levels of microplastics have been found in store-bought meat. Professor Campen noted, "The way we irrigate fields with plastic-contaminated water, we postulate that the plastics build up there." Over time, these chemicals may accumulate in fields as a result of feeding crops to livestock and fertilizing fields with their disease is escalating at an alarming rate in the United States, with over 7 million Americans currently living with the condition. That number is expected to climb to nearly 13 million by 2050, driven largely by the aging population. Around 1 in 9 Americans aged 65 and older now lives with Alzheimer's, with women About 200,000 Americans under 65 are believed to be living with younger-onset dementia. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, these numbers are projected to cost of Alzheimer's is not just measured in lives affected—it's also placing a staggering burden on the U.S. economy. In 2025, health and long-term care costs for those living with dementia are projected to hit $384 billion, with that number expected to approach $1 trillion by 2050. In response to these findings and the current situation in the country, health professionals recommend several strategies to reduce microplastic exposure: Use alternatives to single-use plastics : Opt for glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic ones. : Opt for glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic ones. Install water purifiers : Filtering tap water can significantly reduce microplastic intake. : Filtering tap water can significantly reduce microplastic intake. Choose natural fibers: Select clothing and textiles made from natural materials over synthetic fabrics. The detection of microplastics in every human brain sample analyzed highlights the widespread reach of plastic pollution and its potential implications for human health.
