Medicaid expansion averts thousands of deaths from breast cancer

Oluwasegun Akinyemi, MD, PhD, MSc, expressed concern about recent cuts and potential threats to Medicaid expansion.
Previous studies have shown that Medicaid expansion was associated with improved outcomes for multiple malignancies, including lung and colorectal cancers.
A new investigation showed Medicaid expansion saved 1,400 lives per 100,000 breast cancer cases in the U.S.
“This policy works,” Akinyemi, senior research fellow at Howard University College of Medicine, told Healio. “With every cancer, we have been able to show that Medicaid expansion saves lives.”
Breast cancer continues to be

Nurses, physicians sound alarm over rule to cap student loans

A proposed rule from the Department of Education would limit graduate students enrolled in advanced practice nursing programs to borrowing a maximum of $20,500 per year and $100,000 for life.
“This rule is short-sighted, because this is a time in our nation’s health care system where we need more people taking care of patients, not fewer,” Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO, president and chair of the board of the American Association of Physician Assistants, told Healio. “When you change how you finance education, what you are really impacting is the number of people who are going to go

Hearing loss contributes to cognitive decline after childhood cancer treatment

A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital assessed cognitive and communication abilities in children treated for the brain tumor ependymoma to understand the impact of treatment better. They found that radiation was a significant contributor to hearing loss, a risk directly linked to cognitive health. Children who developed severe hearing loss experienced a greater decline on cognitive measures compared to children who did not. The study, published in Neuro-Oncology, highlights the importance of more tailored cancer-directed therapies that limit side effects and adherence to supportive interventions, such as hearing aids.

Dry powder inhalers can improve patient outcomes and lower environmental impact

New research from UCLA Health suggests that certain inhalers used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not only less harmful to the environment but can also lead to slightly better patient outcomes. Inhalers are essential therapies for COPD and other lung conditions, but many commonly used devices rely on propellants that are potent greenhouse gases.

Why do falls rise with age? Study points to cerebellar neuron firing

A new McGill University study has found a direct link between age-related declines in neuron activity in the cerebellum and worsening motor skills, including gait, balance and agility. While it is well known that these abilities diminish with age, this is the first research to pinpoint how changes in Purkinje cells—a key type of cerebellar neuron—drive this decline and translate into measurable changes in behavior and physical function.