‘Bone smashing’ Tiktok trend; Spinal cord implant for Parkinson’s; Health organizations demand finalized menthol cigarette ban - Morning Medical Update

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‘Bone smashing’ Tiktok trend

Some Tiktok users are striking themselves in the face with blunt objects to cause fractures, believing the bones will heal stronger, leading to a more chiseled jaw line. The belief behind ‘bone smashing’ is based on Wolff’s law, a 19th century German surgeon who said bones adapt to trauma. Videos demonstrating the “technique” have gathered over 250 million views.

Spinal cord implant for Parkinson’s

A French man with Parkinson’s is walking easier, thanks to a new device implanted in his spinal cord. Marc Gauthier, 63, can climb stairs and go to the store alone again. The device was in development for five years and is similar to the technology that treats neuropathic pain. With funding from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the team plans to implant the device in six more patients.

Health organizations demand finalized menthol cigarette ban

The proposed Food and Drug Administration ban on menthol cigarettes is running months behind schedule and some local politicians and health organizations are angry. “We are not going to allow future generations to be made subject to biochemical bondage," the Rev. Elder Kirsten John Foy said in a statement. Experts estimate a ban would save 654,000 lives over four decades.