Good morning. Reporters are inundated with email pitches daily. Just yesterday, I received one with Hannah Montana in the subject line. However, Elaine Chen’s latest story began with an unusual pitch, which had the subject line: “URGENT: PAID BOOKING.”
A new field of study for the mind-body connection
Earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asserted that dietary changes could “cure” schizophrenia, a claim experts dispute. However, there is a growing interest among scientists in the relationship between diet, nutrition, and mental health.
Shebani Sethi, a researcher at Stanford University, is at the forefront of this work in what she describes as metabolic psychiatry. “I can’t comment on his or other people’s way of expressing science,” Sethi told STAT’s O. Rose Broderick regarding Kennedy’s statement. “I think we have to focus on the science, on what the data show.”
Sethi finds the data encouraging. You can read more of her conversation with Rose to discover the patient who sparked her interest in this field, the potential gaps this emerging field could address, and whether Kennedy’s comments have increased interest in her research.
We know poor diets can lead to heart disease. But long-ago lead exposure?
Two distinct risk factors for coronary artery disease each led to 4 million deaths worldwide in 2023, according to two new analyses from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. One risk is linked to diet, while the other relates to lead exposure from various sources like air, water, and consumer products, which can result in lead accumulation in the body, hardening the arteries.
A study published in JAMA on Monday highlights that the lead problem persists, despite a significant drop in cardiovascular deaths following U.S. legislation 50 years ago to limit lead exposure. People born during the lead-heavy industrial era still carry the toxin, and countries lacking strict lead regulations continue to face health impacts.
The report published in Nature Medicine the same day notes that the 4 million deaths due to poor diet varied greatly by region. Central Asia experienced the highest death rates, while the high-income Asia Pacific region had the lowest. The main issues were not the absence of specific food groups but rather a lack of protective nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. — Elizabeth Cooney
‘Unconscionable’
Doctors Without Borders criticized biopharma company Gilead for its refusal to sell its HIV prevention treatment directly to the humanitarian organization. Despite months of discussions, Gilead Sciences declined to provide a “limited” supply of lenacapavir, which has been in high demand following research showing that a single set of injections every six months offers almost complete infection protection. STAT’s Ed Silverman provides insights into the latest dispute over this significant drug.
Psychedelics companies are at a critical juncture. Two years ago, the FDA rejected Lykos Therapeutics’ application for using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, several biotechs have advanced to late-stage trials, and the FDA might soon approve the first psilocybin treatment. Elaine Chen’s interest was piqued by YouTube videos made by influencers and funded by marketing agencies for drug developers.
“What if one dose of a nasal spray could do what years of antidepressants could not, and it only takes 90 minutes? That is not hypothetical. That is real clinical data,” claimed one video about a drug candidate from AtaiBeckley. Another video about Helus Pharma suggested the FDA had just given the company “a golden ticket.”
While paid promotion is not new, these videos make exaggerated claims about investigational drugs. Elaine Chen delves into the email pitch that led her to investigate these promotions, what companies said about them, and their potential impact on the field.
The bright side: gender euphoria and mental health
While gender dysphoria refers to the distress some transgender individuals feel when their gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth, gender euphoria describes the positive feelings associated with gender expression and affirmation. It might involve small affirming actions like dressing differently, new hairstyles, being called by a new name, or using correct pronouns. A new report from the Trevor Project indicates that gender euphoria correlates with positive mental health outcomes in transgender and nonbinary youth.
The survey of nearly 1,000 transgender and nonbinary individuals aged 13 to 24 showed that higher levels of gender euphoria are linked to 47% lower odds of depression, 37% lower odds of anxiety, and 37% lower odds of suicidal thoughts. Respondents rated their agreement with gender-positive statements, translating into a euphoria measurement. Older respondents generally reported more euphoria than younger ones, potentially due to better access to healthcare resources.
HSAs want to rebrand
Republicans have long sought to expand health savings accounts’ use. Following the momentum from tax reforms passed last summer, industry groups have established a nonprofit called the Great American Health Alliance (GAHA) to advocate for further expansion.
The organization is working to rebrand HSAs as “healthier spending accounts” and recently conducted a poll comparing HSAs to owning healthcare and health insurance to renting it. As a 501(c)(4) entity, GAHA can engage in unlimited lobbying, support political candidates, and maintain financial anonymity. Read more from STAT’s John Wilkerson.
What we’re reading
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A nursing home owner got a Trump pardon. The families of his patients got nothing, ProPublica
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The luxury birth center breaking hearts on the Upper East Side, The Cut
- First Opinion: America needs more clinics of last resort for patients who can’t get answers, STAT
- The camps promising to turn you — or your son — into an alpha male, New Yorker
- First Opinion: How the next CDC director can win back America’s trust, STAT
