Good morning. It's Wednesday, May 20. Welcome to this week's Health & Medicine newsletter. Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here or click here to share with friends. |
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This week, we're taking a deep dive into autism, a spectrum disorder that continues to spark contentious debates. We'll then turn to the science on psychedelics, including substances that are being fast-tracked for research after a 2026 executive order. Finally, we'll unpack the basics and the latest advances in multiple sclerosis research and care.
You may notice we're decreasing the number of hyperlinks in some sections below to improve your experience, but you can still see all our findings on the website. Do you have thoughts about this newsletter or want to share your reaction to last week's? Reach out—it's as simple as hitting "reply." I'm the real human who reads your message. Wishing you all a wonderful wellness Wednesday!
—Dina Fine Maron, 1440 Health & Medicine Section Editor |
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Autism 101
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting interactions with others, communication, behavior, and how people learn. It can be diagnosed at any age, but its symptoms often appear in the first couple of years of life, potentially including social interaction difficulties and restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests, and actions.
Research suggests a combination of genetics and environmental causes, including older parental age and toxic exposures in utero, may heighten the risks of developing this condition. Numerous studies have proved that vaccines do not cause autism.
Estimates vary, but recent analysis suggests that about one in 31 children is autistic in America. Better screening for the condition and a broadened definition in 2013 (encompassing multiple disorders) have fueled a significant uptick in diagnoses.
Autism is defined as a "spectrum" because its symptoms and support needs vary significantly. While some autistic people are nonverbal and need lifelong care, others may be verbal and communicative but have trouble picking up social cues or have few noticeable symptoms at all.
Explore everything else we've found on Autism.
Also, check out ...
> Autism Spectrum Disorder, defined in 2013, was previously categorized as numerous disorders. (Watch)
> If your sibling has ASD, you have a 20% chance of developing it. (Read)
> "Love on the Spectrum," a popular Netflix reality show, is following people with ASD as they navigate romantic relationships. (Listen)
> Autism and ADHD may have overlapping symptoms, and someone can have both disorders. (Watch)
> Scientists with ASD are reshaping the field and research focus areas. (Read)
> Some UK doctors pushed for broad "do not resuscitate" orders for autistic adults during COVID-19. (Read) |
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Would Hallucinogens Help? |
A primer on psychedelics
Long relegated to the countercultural fringes of society, psychedelics have been experiencing a scientific and cultural renaissance in recent years. They're a class of psychoactive substances known to alter perception, mood, and affect cognitive processes, though their neural mechanisms are under active investigation. Common psychedelics include psilocybin, MDMA (commonly called ecstasy), LSD, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and more.
Psychedelic compounds have been tapped by communities around the world for ritual, medicinal, and sociocultural use for hundreds—if not thousands—of years, with cave art depicting their apparent use. But these powerful, hallucinogenic drugs are increasingly garnering scientific and political support for potential applications, including treating depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury and substance abuse disorders. Scientists are seeking to better understand their safety profiles, how they work—via brain-scan studies—and to launch clinical trials.
Some small-scale research and anecdotal reports suggest the compounds can yield significant effects on some mental health conditions with as little as one dose, potentially providing relief for entrenched conditions that did not respond to other medications and therapies. Yet they can also be risky: The substances have led to fatal health complications and in some cases worsened patients' mental health conditions.
Explore everything else we've found on Psychedelics.
Also, check out ...
> How a dose of MDMA transformed a white supremacist. (Read)
> Researchers recently took an unprecedented look at the neural effects of psychedelics. (Read)
> Psychedelics set off a flurry of brain activity that may permanently alter it.
(Watch)
> See veterans' response to psilocybin at a Mexican clinic. (Watch) |
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What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly targets and breaks down the protective coating of nerve cells, called the myelin sheath. This impairs the body's ability to transmit electrical nerve signals quickly, and results in movement and balance issues, pain, fatigue, vision impairment, numbness, and other symptoms. Approximately 1 million Americans have multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have linked genetics, cigarette smoke exposure, infection with Epstein-Barr virus, being female, and growing up in latitudes far from the equator—where there are lower vitamin D exposures—with an elevated risk of developing MS.
The body's ability to repair damaged myelin degrades naturally with age, and though MS patients may initially be able to repair some of the myelin breakdown, severe inflammation in the course of this disease can permanently damage nerves, leading to progressive disability and loss of function. The disease has no cure, but existing medications and lifestyle choices may control symptom flare-ups and slow disease progression. New drugs that would assist with remyelination and boost related cellular activities are a current research focus.
Explore everything else we've found on Multiple Sclerosis.
Also, check out ...
> MS drugs reduce inflammation, helping reduce relapses and slow disease progression. (Watch)
> MS can damage the brain up to 7 years before symptoms appear. (Read)
> Epstein-Barr virus—the cause of "kissing disease" mononucleosis—may be the leading cause of MS. (Listen)
> See MS prevalence by region in the United States. (Read)
> A new daily MS pill is seeking regulatory approval in 2026. (Read)
> Remyelination is a major treatment focus—especially among older adults (Listen)
> How supplements and alternative medicine are being used to treat MS. (Listen)
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Medical Developments Spotlight |
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We love spending time learning about the latest medical breakthroughs and spotlighting research that piques our interest, may influence future research directions, or inform healthcare conversations. Here's what we found this week.
> H5N1 jumped from a pet cat to a human for the first time
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report | Aisling Vaughan, Allison Joyce, et al. A new CDC report found that a veterinary professional became ill with "bird flu"—highly pathogenic avian flu virus—after caring for an infected cat. Risks to humans from this virus remain low, but scientists caution that cats shouldn't be fed raw animal products; cats in the study became sick after consuming raw milk, raw meat, or raw pet food. Since 2021, the virus has spread widely through bird populations and spilled over into numerous mammals, with rare human cases. (Read)
> A pill slashes the risk of developing COVID after virus exposure by two-thirds
CIDRAP | Mary Van Beusekom. New late-stage clinical trial findings suggest that the
antiviral drug ensitrelvir can prevent infection if given to people within 72 hours after exposure to the virus. The randomized controlled trial tested the drug and placebos given to people who were living with individuals sickened by COVID-19. (Read)
> Antidepressant use during pregnancy not linked to autism, ADHD in kids
Healthline | Nancy Schimelpfening. In an analysis of 37 existing studies, totaling more than 600,000 pregnancies with antidepressant use and about 25 million pregnancies without, researchers concluded that antidepressant use during pregnancy didn't elevate the risks of children developing autism or ADHD. There was also no difference between whether mothers took higher or lower doses of the antidepressants. (Read) |
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People who contracted the "kissing disease" virus —Epstein-Barr—had a roughly 32-fold increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis. |
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