Good morning. It's Wednesday, June 10. Welcome to this week's Health & Medicine newsletter. Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here or click here to share with friends. |
|
|
|
This week, we'll be taking a deep dive into the history, context, and science of Ebola, a disease that can prove highly fatal without treatment. A current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus, has led to more than 100 confirmed deaths and more than 500 confirmed cases.
We'll then turn to America's relationship with emergency care, highlighting surprising nuggets—including the relatively recent origins of the emergency department—and explore new developments in the field, such as the rise of stand-alone emergency departments. Finally, in our Medical Developments Spotlight, we take a close look at new research on the marketing and health effects of ultraprocessed foods—products containing chemical additives designed to help preserve shelf life, improve taste, and bring down food costs.
Thank you to our readers for inspiring us with their questions! Do you have any feedback about how this newsletter fits into your day and life? Tell me by replying to this message.
—Dina Fine Maron, 1440 Health & Medicine Section Editor |
|
|
|
Ebola, explained
Ebola is a contagious disease transmitted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids. The virus can cause fevers, diarrhea, pain, vomiting, and attack our blood clotting system, potentially leading to excessive internal bleeding and fatality rates as high as 90%. There are six known species of the virus, but only four—Ebola Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, and Tai Forest—have been known to sicken humans. There's an FDA-approved vaccine to combat Ebola Zaire, but not the other three Ebola virus species. The 2026 Ebola outbreak is spurring the development of new experimental vaccines targeting Bundibugyo.
Ebola was first discovered in humans in 1976 during outbreaks caused by two distinct virus species, one in southern Sudan (now known as South Sudan) and the other in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). But until the mid-1990s, cases were sporadic among humans and typically occurred in isolated areas, killing infected individuals. The first major Ebola outbreak occurred in 1994, and the 2014-16 West African outbreak proved to be the deadliest to date. Most existing evidence suggests that bats are the reservoir species for Ebola.
Historically, Ebola treatment consisted of rehydration with intravenous fluids or oral rehydration and maintenance of oxygen and blood pressure, but there are now two approved monoclonal antibody treatment options that mimic the immune system's antibodies to block the virus from replicating.
Explore everything else we've found on Ebola.
Also, check out ...
> Learn about the three Ebola species that have killed the most people. (Read)
> See what the Ebola virus does inside the body. (Watch)
> What did the most famous book about Ebola get wrong? (Read)
> What's the natural reservoir for Ebola? (Read)
> See the most famous images of the Ebola virus. (View)
> Bundibugyo is a (now highly stigmatized) place in western Uganda. (Read) |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Allen Institute |
|
Launching a New Era in Brain Health |
|
The number of people with a neurodegenerative disease is expected to double by 2025, yet progress toward treatment has been slowed by fragmented research and siloed expertise. With the launch of the Brain Health accelerator, Allen Institute is leading the charge for change.
The Brain Health accelerator is an ambitious global research effort powered by partnership. By uniting experts from across science, technology, clinical specialty and patient advocacy into a single pipeline, Brain Health will be able to develop and scale transformative research for greatest impact.
This collaborative undertaking will initially focus on 5 major neurodegenerative diseases. By harnessing the power of the latest technological and scientific advancements, the Brain Health accelerator is bringing fresh hope to one of medicine’s greatest challenges. Discover the science driving a new era of brain health. |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
A primer on emergency care
Emergency care is a central plank of America's healthcare system, providing essential aid for patients in crisis. Emergency departments treat time-sensitive, unexpected illnesses or injuries and provide nonurgent health services for those who don't, or can't, receive health assistance elsewhere.
Despite its critical role in healthcare, an emergency department is a relatively recent occurrence. The first emergency department opened just over six decades ago—founded in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1961. That facility offered emergency care in a 450-square-foot basement room of Alexandria Hospital. There are now more than 150 million emergency room visits annually in the US, amounting to costs of more than $80B. By definition, an emergency department is a hospital facility staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing unscheduled services to patients requiring immediate assistance.
Federal law bars hospitals that receive Medicare funding from turning away any emergency patient. If a hospital has an emergency department, it must stabilize the patient before discharging them—regardless of the patient's insurance status or ability to pay.
Explore everything else we've found on Emergency Care.
Also, check out ...
> America's first trained EMT service was in Pittsburgh's inner city. (Watch)
> Could AI improve emergency care? (Watch)
> Attacks against healthcare workers are growing—learn how states are trying to help. (Read)
> Freestanding emergency departments are growing increasingly common. (Read)
> Some rural emergency rooms are operating without physicians on-site. (Read)
> ... and see Canadian doctors critique the accuracy of medical TV shows. (Watch) |
|
|
|
|
Medical Developments Spotlight |
|
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.
> Big tobacco is using its cigarette playbook to sell ultraprocessed foods
The Guardian | Hannah Harris Green. A new edition of the American Journal of Public Health, focused on the health effects of ultraprocessed foods, has an analysis of previously undisclosed tobacco strategy documents. It states that after tobacco companies acquired food companies like Nabisco and Kraft, the marketing of the children's item Lunchables employed cigarette-style tactics and psychological strategies that can lead to excess consumption. (Read | Explore the AJPH edition)
> Ultraprocessed foods linked with 58% elevated risk of developing dementia
WSJ | Andrea Petersen. In that same AJPH journal package, researchers report that consuming high levels of foods containing these chemical additives—particularly processed meats—is associated with elevated risks of dementia (58% higher risk) and cognitive impairment (46% higher risk). The conclusion was based on research involving more than 5,300 US adults aged 50 and older. The adults, who self-reported their food consumption, were followed for almost nine years, on average. The analysis accounted for differences in income, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and other factors. (Read)
> Acupuncture can boost stroke recovery and gray matter volume
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics | Study authors. In a study that randomly allocated 56 stroke survivors to receive either real acupuncture or sham acupuncture over a two-week period, only the real acupuncture group showed significant improvements in motor recovery tests. The real acupuncture group's recovery also correlated with increases in gray matter volume in specific brain regions involved in cognitive-motor integration. (Read) |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Allen Institute |
|
Leading the Charge for Change |
|
Building on decades of foundational research, the Brain Health accelerator is the next chapter in brain health research. This groundbreaking, collaborative initiative will initially focus on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Lewy body dementia and the cells and circuits that fail when these diseases take hold.
This human-first strategy aims to generate findings that are more directly relevant to human health and accelerate progress toward earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and renewed hope for millions of patients. Learn how the Allen Institute is shaping the future of brain health. |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light." |
—Norman B. Rice, former mayor of Seattle |
|
|
Behind the Name. Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.
Want to connect with 4.7 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
