Feds, states scrutinize addictive supplements often sold at gas stations

The Food and Drug Administration is moving to reclassify 7-hydroxymitragynine — known as 7-OH — as a controlled substance, citing its potency and growing availability in convenience store products, such as powders, gummies and drinks. The decision comes amid evidence that the concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant carries significant addiction and overdose risks.

Why it matters

Kennedy pushes back during heated hearing, seeks return to agency’s original mission

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is looking to refocus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to what he calls its “core mission” — combating infectious disease. This comes amid high-level criticism of the secretary’s actions, highlighted recently during a fiery Senate Finance Committee hearing. Kennedy faced three hours of grilling by senators following the ousting of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez and changes to vaccine policy.

Read more

New evidence links microplastics to degenerative disease

Microplastics — tiny particles that are nearly ubiquitous in the modern world — trigger Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in mice with a genetic marker for the disease, according to a new study.

The findings are one more cause for concern in a growing field of research that has identified microplastics in most human organs, including the brain.

Why it matters

Toy: Bringing sophisticated care to all Americans

My perspective on healthcare is shaped, not only by my role as a plan CEO, but also by my personal experience as a patient with Marfan syndrome, a rare, chronic, genetic condition. My father had the same condition, and while I have been fortunate to benefit from modern preventative care, he was not as fortunate. Sadly, he died from an aortic dissection — a tearing of the aortic wall — a complication that might have been prevented with earlier diagnosis and better-coordinated care. The story of my father drives my personal mission to use technology to ensure that no patient is failed by a fragmented healthcare system or by leaving conditions undiagnosed and unmanaged for too long.

Read more