Dementia Test Breakthrough

In this week's curation of Moonlighting MD 💼, we’re covering:

• 🧠 A new Test which may diagnose dementia 9 years early

• 💉 Europe’s preparedness for a potential upcoming pandemic

• 🏥 An update on the on-going physician shortage

Read on for more info!

INNOVATION IN MEDICINE
New test may predict dementia up to 9 years before diagnosis with 80% accuracy

Imagine predicting dementia nearly a decade before symptoms show. Researchers at Queen Mary University have created a machine learning model with over 80% accuracy that can forecast dementia up to nine years early, including Alzheimer's. Analyzing 1,111 brain scans, the model detects early changes in the brain's default mode network, linked to introspection. Despite challenges like result reproducibility and diverse study needs, this breakthrough could revolutionize dementia care.

WORLD NEWS
Europe taps CSL Seqirus to produce bird flu vaccines for pandemic preparedness efforts

CSL Seqirus dives into the U.S. bird flu scene, scoring a big European deal. They've locked in a four-year contract to provide 665,000 doses of their pre-pandemic bird flu vaccine across 15 countries, with an option for an extra 40 million. The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) gives the nod, believing the vaccine matches the current avian influenza strain. As Europe prepares for possible outbreaks, CSL Seqirus steps up to keep the continent ahead of the flu curve.

HEALTHCARE NEWS
All hands on deck needed to confront physician shortage crisis

Imagine needing a doctor and finding none. For 83 million Americans, this is reality. Pregnant women in parts of Mississippi and Idaho can't find obstetricians, and many counties lack essential specialists. The physician shortage is a current crisis, with retiring doctors and slow training processes worsening the issue. The AMA calls for urgent action to prevent this from spiraling out of control. Discover the steps needed to fix our healthcare system.