Current Events in July 2024

A new study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden has found that a traditional blood test is showing promising results for detecting Alzheimer’s disease. 

Earlier studies have highlighted the efficacy of blood tests detecting p-tau217, a biomarker of Alzheimer’s. Now, this study is showing that the test can be effective in a traditional health care setting, making it easier than ever for patients to get an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. 

“The blood test can determine with 90% accuracy whether a person experiencing memory loss is suffering from Alzheimer’s,” said Lund University researcher Sebastian Palmqvist. 

“Early diagnosis is crucial as new treatments that slow the disease’s progression are developed,” said researcher Oskar Hansson. “For example, two immunotherapies have recently been approved in the USA and are expected to be available in Europe soon. An early and accurate diagnosis is also vital for facilitating research into new treatments.” 

Seeing the test in action

The researchers had over 1,200 participants with mild memory loss involved in the study. Nearly 700 participants were treated at a specialty memory clinic, while over 500 were treated by their primary care providers. 

In addition to receiving the blood test, the participants also had their cerebrospinal fluid tested. This is the primary way of diagnosing Alzheimer’s, so the researchers used the results to compare to the blood test results. 

Ultimately, the blood test was 90% effective at accurately diagnosing Alzheimer’s. Comparatively, primary care doctors had a 61% accuracy rate, while memory specialists had a 73% accuracy rate. 

“This underscores the lack of good, cost-effective diagnostic tools, particularly in primary care, and indicates the potential improvement in diagnosis with the adoption of this blood test in health care settings,” Palmqvist said. 

What happens now? 

Given the simplicity and ease of accessibility of a blood test, the researchers are hopeful that this testing method will become widely adopted. With more patients able to get tested, it will offer clear results to a wider population base. 

“The next steps include establishing clear clinical guidelines for the blood test’s use in health care,” Hansson said. “The test is already available in the USA and is likely to become available in many other countries soon. Initially, it will mainly be used in specialist memory clinics, and it may take approximately one to two years to implement guidelines and training in primary care.” 

Fast-food restaurants are struggling to hire and retain staff, even as they are raising wages. So Taco Bell is bringing on artificial intelligence (AI) to lend a hand. The chain, owned by Yum Brands, said it plans to employ AI voice technology in drive-thrus at hundreds of U.S. locations.

In the months ahead, it’s possible customers will interact with a computer and not a human being when they place their order. Will it work?

If you will recall, McDonald’s tried using AI in the ordering process with mixed results. In June, the company informed franchises that it was ending its AI experiment at about 100 locations. 

The partnership with AI produced correct orders about 85% of the time, according to company executives. The other 15% of orders went viral on social media after the computer made up hilarious food combinations.

One video on TikTok showed a customer who ordered ice cream and some water, but was baffled when the order also included four packets of ketchup and three patties of butter.

Worth the risk?

Taco Bell may be willing to risk unproven technology in a bid to ease staffing crunches and save money, especially at California locations, where the minimum wage recently rose to $20 an hour.

According to a survey of California restaurant operators, conducted by the Employment Policies Institute, the minimum wage increase is already having a big impact. The survey found that 67% believe the wage increase will cost their restaurant at least $100,000 per location. One in four said it would cost more than $200,000 per location.

Nearly all of those surveyed – 99% – said prices will increase to cover the added cost, with 73% saying prices will “significantly increase.”

Millions of Americans suffer from anxiety, which is highly treatable. But more concerning, a new study suggests that people who suffer from anxiety when they are young are at a higher risk of developing dementia when they get older.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It is believed to be the first study to explore any link between anxiety and dementia.

The research team assembled a group of more than 2,000 participants between the ages of 60 to 81, noting their use of tobacco or alcohol and whether they had other health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

The study was broken into three assessments, or “waves,” that were at five-year intervals. In the first and second assessments, researchers determined anxiety levels for each participant.

By the end of the study, 64 participants had developed dementia. Chronic anxiety was associated with three times the risk of dementia from any cause. But anxiety that had been resolved by medication or other treatment was associated with little risk – about the same as subjects who had no anxiety.

New blood test

Meanwhile, a newly developed blood test may predict the onset of Alzheimer’s disease with up to 90% accuracy. In comparison, clinicians are able to accurately predict Alzheimer’s 73% of the time.

The test measures tau protein 217, which researchers say can indicate amyloid pathology. Some scientists say higher concentrations of the protein in the blood are common in the onset of dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association says dementia is often underdiagnosed — and if it is diagnosed by a clinician, many people nonetheless are unaware or uninformed of their diagnosis. The association says that blood tests for Alzheimer’s are demonstrating in research that they could significantly improve a clinician’s accuracy and confidence and provide greater accessibility and a platform for enhanced communication.

“Blood tests, once they are confirmed in large populations to be more than 90% accurate and become more widely available, show promise for improving, and possibly redefining, the clinical trial recruitment process and the diagnostic work-up for Alzheimer’s,” said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. 

“While at this time doctors in primary and secondary care should use a combination of cognitive and blood or other biomarker testing to diagnose Alzheimer's, blood tests have the potential to increase the accuracy of early diagnoses and maximize the opportunity to access Alzheimer’s treatments as early as possible for better outcomes.”

Amazon is responsible for handling the recall of defective or dangerous products that were sold by other businesses on its website, a U.S. product safety regulator said Tuesday, marking the latest move by the government to hold the e-commerce giant accoutable.

In a unanimous vote, the Consumer Product Safety Commission ruled that Amazon was a "distributor" of more than 400,000 products that were defective or failed to meet federal safety standards. The ruling means Amazon is legally responsible for the recalls of these products, including providing means to return or replace the purchases.

The products in question are faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers without electrocution protection and children’s pajamas violating federal flammability rules. They sold on Amazon.com and were part of the company's Fulfilled by Amazon program, in which outside businesses partner up to deliver their goods and offer two-day shipping.

In court, Amazon argued it wasn't a distributor of the products and bore no responsibility for their safety through its shipping partnership with outside businesses. The CPSC decided otherwise.

Amazon responds

Amazon will appeal the decision, a spokesperson told ConsumerAffairs, adding the company already alerts shoppers about dangerous goods. 

“In the event of a product recall in our store, we remove impacted products promptly after receiving actionable information from recalling agencies," the spokesperson said. "Our recalls alerts service also ensures our customers are notified of important product safety information fast, and the recalls process is effective and efficient.

“We stand behind the safety of every product in our store through our A-to-z Guarantee, regardless of whether it is sold by Amazon or by one of our selling partners. We have proactive measures in place to prevent unsafe products, and we continuously monitor the listings in our store. If we discover an unsafe product available for sale, we address the issue immediately, and refine our processes,” the spokesperson added.

In 2021, the CPSC sued Amazon to force the recall of the hazardous products sold on its website, including 24,000 faulty carbon monoxide detectors that failed to alarm.

"When we were initially notified by the CPSC three years ago about potential safety issues with a small number of third-party products at the center of this lawsuit, we swiftly notified customers, instructed them to stop using the products, and refunded them," the Amazon spokesperson said.

The lawsuit led to the CPSC's ruling, which consumer advocacy groups applauded as a step forward for product safety.

'Necessary step'

“The only way to ensure the safety of consumers from dangerous or defective products is to hold every party involved responsible, from manufacturers to distributors and retailers," said Michelle Barry, president of nonprofit Safe Infant Sleep, in a statement. "This decision represents a significant and necessary step towards achieving that goal, reinforcing the principle that public safety must come before profit."

The CPSC said Amazon must now provide plans on how it will notify the public about the hazardous products and how shoppers can get refunds or replacements.

"The Commission will consider these plans and then issue a second order on notification and remedies," the CPSC said.