Month: December 2020

A non-COVID medical breakthrough: People over 60 now have access to a blood test for Alzheimer's disease. Why it matters: The existing PET brain scan test costs some people about $5,000 and often isn't covered by insurance, AP reports. Both the blood test and the brain scan are looking for a buildup of a protein called beta-amyloid, which combined with symptoms like memory loss can lead to a dementia diagnosis. The test hasn't received FDA approval, and it's being sold under rules for commercial labs. The big picture: Roughly 5.5 million Americans may have Alzheimer's-induced dementia, the NIH reports. Earlier diagnoses can't stop the disease, the NIH notes, but treatments can prolong the period before people lose the ability to function on their own. Between the lines: C2N Diagnostics ...

Samoa’s two positive Covid-19 cases have been declared historical cases and not infectious. The cases were detected in a 70-year-old who had travelled from Melbourne in Australia, and a sailor repatriated from Italy. Both Samoan citizens arrived in Apia on a repatriation flight on November 13, and subsequently tested positive for the novel coronavirus. But further examination of their cases has found they were both historical: the sailor had the virus in May and the Australian-based man in August. Blood samples from the two cases were sent to New Zealand: results showed low viral counts for both, and the cases were deemed not to be infectious. Samoa’s director-general of health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, said the two positive cases, and the rest of the 274 passengers who arrived in...