Americans may be twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia than previously believed; biosensing platform that can detect nucleic acids; the effect of medical marijuana laws on opioid use outcomes – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

Dementia risk is now estimated to be 42% for both genders, with cases expected to double by 2060.
Northwestern University's ROSALIND platform now detects nucleic acids, enhancing its utility in diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
Medical marijuana laws correlate with reduced opioid misuse, while recreational laws show no additional impact, necessitating further research.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Americans may be twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia than previously believed

A study published in the journal Nature Medicine has determined that the risk of developing dementia is twice as high as previously believed. Past studies estimated that roughly 14% of men and 23% of women would develop dementia in their lifetimes, but the new study, published Monday, puts the number closer to 42% for both men and women. Researchers estimate that there will be twice as many people living with dementia by 2060. NBC News has more.

Technology that monitors toxins in drinking water can now detect nucleic acids in human body

Researchers at Northwestern University have enhanced their biosensing platform, ROSALIND, making it 10 times more sensitive and capable of detecting nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, as well as bacteria including E. coli. Originally designed to monitor contaminants in water, the upgraded system uses genetic circuity to amplify weak signals, enabling applications in medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. The findings, published in Nature Chemical Biology, could expand ROSALIND’s use into health care, agriculture and food safety.

Changes in opioid use outcomes after the introduction of medical marijuana laws

A Colombia University study found that medical marijuana laws (MCLs) were linked to reduced opioid misuse among cannabis users, but recreational marijuana laws (RCLs) had no additional impact. Using National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data from 2015-2019, researchers observed decreased opioid misuse in states with MCLs alone, particularly among past-year cannabis users. Published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, the study calls for further research to assess the evolving impact of cannabis legalization.