FDA Approves A New At Home Test For Both Flu And COVID

A vial of influenza vaccine next to two syringes.


The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-ever over-the-counter test that can detect both the flu and COVID-19.  Unfortunately, this comes just two days after the company which developed the test, Lucira Health, filed for bankruptcy.  Lucira cited the lengthy process the FDA put them through to get the final approval.  The test works by taking a nasal swab and then you receive the results in only 30 minutes.  The test is meant to be used by people 14 and over or by an adult collecting a sample by someone 2 years or older.

It’s Official : Covid-19 Booster Is Effective Against Omicron-19

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Pfizer and BioNTech recently released research which found that the new booster generates a strong immune response against the Omicron-19 variant.  Better late than never I suppose—I have already gotten mine.  But hopefully the research will prove to those skeptical against getting vaccinated at all.

Link Between COVID-19 And Alzheimers And Dementia Found

A close up of many viruses on a red background


A new study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that there were seven new diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease for every 1,000 seniors who had a documented case of COVID-19 in the past year, compared to five new diagnoses for every 1,000 who did not. However, Heather Snyder, VP of medical and scientific relations at Alzheimer’s Association, played down the study.

“The pandemic presented serious delays for individuals seeking out medical diagnoses like Alzheimer’s, meaning these results could be driven by those who already had Alzheimer’s when they were infected but had not yet sought out a formal diagnosis,†Snyder said.

Dr. Elezer Masliah, director of the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, said there is evidence that COVID-19 could trigger cognitive impairment.  One step in finding out would be to follow people at risk for Alzheimer’s after a COVID-19 infection over the long term, tracking biomarkers found in the blood and doing brain scans.

Imagine how many millions of people over the age of 60 or 65, like myself, have had COVID.  Say 5% of them or 10% of them or even 1% of them are at risk,†he said.  “Wow.  We’re looking at a lot of people in the next few years that might add to the already very large epidemic that we have,†he added.

https://www.prevention.com/health/memory/a41284960/study-daily-multivitamin-use-linked-to-improved-brain-function/

Low COVID-19 Vaccination Rate Chops Two Years Off Life Expectancy Rate in The U.S.

A woman is combing the hair of an older person.


In 2020, most countries posted a huge decline in life expectancy as COVID-19 boomed.  Many countries have shown signs of recovery, but not in the U.S. according to a study published in Nature Human Behavior.  Researchers said seven nations in Western Europe showed a significant increase in life expectancy in 2021.  However, the U.S. reported the third-largest decline in life expectancy, closely behind Bulgaria and Slovakia.  More than two years have been cut off the average life expectancy between 2019 and 2021 in the U.S., when it fell from 78.86 years in 2019 to 76.60 years in 2021.  The study attributed much of the decline in the U.S. to an extremely low vaccination rate compared with Western Europe.

Link Between COVID-19 And Alzheimer’s And Dementia Found

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


A new study, which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that there were seven new diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease for every 1,000 seniors who had a documented case of COVID-19 in the past year, compared to five new diagnoses for every 1,000 who did not. However, Heather Snyder, VP of medical and scientific relations at Alzheimer’s Association, played down the study.

“The pandemic presented serious delays for individuals seeking out medical diagnoses like Alzheimer’s, meaning these results could be driven by those who already had Alzheimer’s when they were infected but had not yet sought out a formal diagnosis,†Snyder said.

Dr. Elezer Masliah, director of the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging, said there is evidence that COVID-19 could trigger cognitive impairment.  One step in finding out would be to follow people at risk for Alzheimer’s after a COVID-19 infection over the long term, tracking biomarkers found in the blood and doing brain scans.

Imagine how many millions of people over the age of 60 or 65, like myself, have had COVID.  Say 5% of them or 10% of them or even 1% of them are at risk,†he said.  “Wow.  We’re looking at a lot of people in the next few years that might add to the already very large epidemic that we have,†he added.

 

Flu and COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations In Salinas November 2

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Make your appointment now by calling 646-4931 or 646-5050 to get your flu shot and COVID19 booster vaccination.  Alliance on Aging has teamed up with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) to provide them at The HUB which is located at 236 Monterey Street in Salinas.  Bus passes and Taxi vouchers are available if transportation or parking is an issue please ask about them when you call.  They will be provided from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2.

COVID-19 Remains A Leading Cause Of Death, Especially Among Seniors

A blue background with some type of virus


There have been over 200K COVID-19 deaths this year, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of death certificates.  And that number may be low, because other studies have shown that the cause of death in many COVID-19 cases have been blamed on pre-existing conditions.  Most of the deaths are in older people with underlying health conditions and compromised immune systems.  “I don’t think people realize that this is still a big deal,’ the daughter of a man by the name of Mark Pfundheller who died at the age of 66 despite having the vaccine and a booster, told the Wall Street Journal.  About 85% of deaths from COVID_19 through mid-August were among those 65 and older.

New Study Says COVID-19 Can Lower Your IQ By 10 Points

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A new study from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London which was published in the journal eClinical Medicine found that COVID-19 can lower your IQ by 10 points, the equivalent of your brain aging from 50 to 70.   The findings jibe with a number of reports in the medical community about “brain fog,†which can persist for months or even years.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is occurring in millions of COVID survivors.

Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Hit With COVID-19 Lawsuits

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


Now that the pandemic seems to be calming down, a flurry of class action and individual lawsuits accusing nursing homes of not properly protecting its residents from COVID-19 have been filed.  The wrongful-death lawsuits have been spurred by a repeal of liability protections and statutory deadlines to file the suits.  Many nursing homes are claiming that the virus was beyond their control, with staffing shortages, inadequate testing supplies and a lack of masks and other personal protective equipment all contributing to the problem.  “It’s going to be a knock-down-drag-out battle,†said Steven Levin, a partner in Levin & Perconti and one of the many lawyers seeking damages for the families of those who died of COVID-19 while in a facility.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nursing-homes-face-growing-number-of-lawsuits-from-covid-19-fallout-11649507400

 

Free COVID-19 Tests Rolling Out For Seniors On Medicare

A close up of the word coronavirus with an image of a virus


Millions of seniors on Medicare can get up to eight free coronavirus home tests each month from pharmacies at more than a dozen national and regional chain retailers.  This has been a long time coming but I will certainly keep my eyes peeled to see if these show up on the shelves.  Locations which are now committed, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Food Lion, Giant, Hannaford, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, Kroger Family, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens and Walmart.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/04/04/covid-tests-medicare-pharmacies-free/7265479001/