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Understanding Frontotemporal Dementia – which disproportionately affects Black people – through Wendy Williams’ diagnosis

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The recent news of Wendy Williams’ diagnosis with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the identical disease that actor Bruce Willis suffers from, is sending shockwaves throughout the Black community.

Williams, 59, best known for her profession as a radio and tv host, revealed her diagnosis on the Lifetime series “Where’s Wendy Williams?” a two-part documentary about her physical and mental health.

The former host of “The Wendy Williams Show” has an extended history of health problems, from cocaine addiction to cocaine-related Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism. In 2017, she passed out on set during a live Halloween taping, and in 2019, she admitted to living in a sober house after being found unconscious in her New York apartment months earlier, requiring emergency hospitalization and two blood transfusions. But for a lot of, the FTD diagnosis was a bombshell and a reminder of the impact of dementia on the Black community.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) disproportionately affects the Black community in comparison with others, and the causes remain unclear. Although research into FTD in black populations has advanced significantly over the past 20 years, the complex nature of the disease makes it difficult to pinpoint a single definitive cause.

Worryingly, the incidence of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is increasing amongst black Americans over the age of 70. This is especially concerning because FTD is each early-onset and rapidly progressive, affecting a big proportion – greater than 1 / 4 – of this population who’re already living with some type of dementia, with essentially the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. According to the study, Black Americans are less more likely to receive a diagnosis in a timely manner and usually tend to see 4 or more physicians before a diagnosis is made. Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) Associate.

Moreover, in line with a 2023 study, FTD symptoms are inclined to be more severe in Black people Research on the University of PennsylvaniaBlack study participants reported higher dementia severity on the Clinical Dementia Rating Dementia Staging in comparison with white and Hispanic participants.

Frontotemporal dementia was discovered

The exact explanation for FTD just isn’t known, nevertheless it involves progressive damage to neurons within the areas of the brain liable for language production, often affecting people under the age of 65. As the disease progresses, the brain shrinks, further affecting areas that control behavior and personality.

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Although symptoms vary from individual to individual, early symptoms of FTD (which can appear as early as age 45) may include talking less, having trouble sleeping, and personality changes equivalent to lacking empathy or displaying socially inappropriate behavior equivalent to swearing or stealing . Other symptoms include:

  • Impaired judgment
  • Apathy
  • Decreased self-awareness
  • Loss of interest in normal every day activities
  • Emotional withdrawal from others
  • Loss of energy and motivation
  • Language difficulties or delays, including trouble naming objects, expressing words, understanding the meaning of words, or hesitation when speaking
  • Loss of concentration
  • Problems with planning and organization
  • Frequent mood changes
  • Excitement

Although the small print of Williams’ symptoms and her family’s observations are unknown, frontotemporal dementia often presents with subtle symptoms that might be easily missed within the early stages. This is further complicated by diagnosing FTD, which is difficult. It requires an in depth description of symptoms, family and medicine history, in addition to brain scans and blood tests. Often, FTD is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it is simply reached after other potential causes have been ruled out.

There is currently no cure for frontotemporal dementia. However, supportive care strategies equivalent to therapy, behavior modification, and medications can assist patients adjust to their recent reality and deal with the continued mental and physical changes related to the disease. No cure has been found to stop or reverse the progression of frontotemporal dementia, but cholinesterase inhibitors (drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease), antidepressants and antipsychotics equivalent to trazadone may help relieve symptoms of agitation, aggression and insomnia in some people. People.

Living with frontotemporal dementia

Wendy Williams’ recent diagnosis has understandably led to speculation a couple of connection to her past struggles with substance abuse. However, there’s currently no evidence to suggest a link between the 2.

Experts acknowledge the numerous challenges faced by people within the early stages of FTD, including fear, frustration and even embarrassment. One of essentially the most disturbing elements of FTD is the progressive lack of independence. While the specifics of Williams’ situation are unknown, the disease often requires a big level of care, requiring a mixture of medicines, home care, potential nursing home placement, and various therapies equivalent to speech and mental health support, which could make treatment harder. a big financial burden on her family.

Advanced planning reduces this burden and helps the patient and their family make a smooth transition into the longer term.

More research is required

The path to unraveling the complexities of FTD may result in earlier diagnosis and increased research efforts, with a selected concentrate on increasing participation from the Black community. While increased participation from the Black community is critical to advancing FTD research and developing higher treatments, a concerted effort is required to make sure equitable access to research opportunities and health care resources.


 

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

NYFW Celebrity Look Of The Day: Day 1, Ciara – Essence

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Ciara’s talent for fashion is difficult to disregard. Her music has all the time been a staple of the band, however it can be unfair to forget that she’s a fashion lover. On the primary day of New York Fashion Week, the singer rocked a method we’ve never seen on her dancer’s body before.

She selected a totally engrossing, oversized Willy Chavarria ensemble in a plaid that blended effortlessly as a substitute of clashing. Her puffy pants moved rhythmically as she entered the show. Her top and trench coat blended together, almost as one, single top in the event you didn’t look closely enough. Her turtleneck shirt had an asymmetrical detail at the underside, a creative silhouette that added to her already detailed look. Layered cross necklaces in gold with encrusted diamonds dangled from the highest, sparkling in the sunshine from every angle.

NYFW Celebrity Look Of The Day: Day 1, Ciara
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Her trench coat gracefully touched the ground, as she opted for white boots as a substitute of heels. Nevertheless, the look was elegant.

She added a couple of gold rings that appeared to cover each finger to the max, matching her large necklaces. To complete her look, she added dark aviator sunglasses that accentuated the form of her face and added an effortlessly cool element to her already trendy outfit.

As New York Fashion Week continues to unfold, we won’t wait to see more looks from Ciara and other stars in the approaching days.

NYFW Celebrity Look Of The Day: Day 1, Ciara
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Some Doctors Use AI to Write Medical Documents. What You Need to Know

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Imagine this. You finally mustered up the courage to go to your loved ones doctor for an embarrassing problem. You sit down. Your family doctor says:

before we start, I take advantage of a pc to log my visits. This is AI – it is going to write a summary of notes and a letter to the specialist. Is this OK?

Wait – AI writes our medical records? Why would we wish that?

Documentation is important for protected and effective healthcare. Physicians must keep good records to keep your registrationHealth services must provide good record keeping systems for accreditationRecords are also legal documents: they could be essential within the event of an insurance claim or legal motion.

But writing things down (or dictating notes or letters) takes time. During visits, doctors can divide their attention between good recordkeeping and good patient communication. Sometimes doctors have to work on records after hours, at the top of an already long day.

So it’s understandable excitementfrom every kind of healthcare professionals about “ambient artificial intelligence” or “digital scribes.”

Who are digital scribes?

This is not an old-fashioned transcription program: you dictate a letter, and this system transcribes it word by word.

Digital scribes are different. They use AI – large language models with generative capabilities – similar to ChatGPT (or sometimes GPT4 myself).

The app silently records a conversation between a health care provider and a patient (using a phone, tablet, or computer microphone, or a dedicated sensitive microphone). AI converts the recording right into a word-by-word transcription.

The AI ​​system then uses the transcript and directions received to write clinical notes and/or letters for other clinicians, ready for the clinician to review.

Most clinicians know little about these technologies: they’re experts of their specialty, not in AI. Marketing materials promise to “let AI take care of your clinical notes so you can spend more time with your patients.”

Put yourself within the clinician’s shoes. You can say, “Yes, please!”

Some doctors would welcome the chance to reduce their workload.
Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock

How are they regulated?

Lately, Australian Medical Practice Regulatory Agency published a code of practice for the usage of digital scribes. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners an information card was published. Both warn physicians that they continue to be accountable for the content of their medical records.

Some AI applications are regulated as medical devicesbut many digital scribes usually are not. Therefore, it is commonly up to health care providers or physicians to determine whether scribes are protected and effective.

What does the research say to date?

Real-world data and evidence on the effectiveness of digital writers could be very limited.

In a big California hospital system, researchers tracked the work of 9,000 physicians for ten weeks. within the digital scribe pilot test.

Some doctors liked the scribe: their working hours were reduced, they communicated higher with patients. Others didn’t even start using the scribe.

And the person taking the notes made mistakes – for instance, writing down the incorrect diagnosis or writing down that a test was done when it must have been done.

So what should we do with digital writers?

This Recommendations the primary Australian National Citizens’ Jury on AI in Healthcare show what Australians expect from AI in healthcare and supply start line.

Building on these recommendations, listed below are some things to be mindful about digital scribes the following time you go to the clinic or emergency room:

1) You must be informed if a digital scribe is used.

2) Only healthcare-grade typescripts must be used in healthcare. Ordinary, publicly available generative AI tools (comparable to ChatGPT or Google Gemini) shouldn’t be utilized in clinical care.

3) You should have the ability to give or refuse consentto use a digital scribe. You must have all relevant risks explained to you and have the ability to freely agree or decline.

4) Those who create digital records for clinical purposes must meet strict privacy standards. You have the precise to privacy and confidentiality in healthcare. The entire record of a visit can contain way more detail than a clinical note. So ask:

  • Are your meeting transcripts and summaries processed in Australia or one other country?
  • How are they protected and secured (e.g. are they encrypted)?
  • Who has access to them?
  • How are they used (e.g. are they used to train AI systems)?
  • Does the scribe have access to other data out of your record to make the summary? If so, is that data ever shared?
A doctor takes notes on a piece of paper in the hallway of the clinic.
Physicians must comply with privacy standards.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

Is human supervision enough?

Generative AI systems could make mistakes, get confused, or misunderstand the accents of some patients. But they often communicate these errors in a way that sounds very convincing. This signifies that close human review is important.

Doctors are told by tech and insurance firms that they need to check every summary or letter (and they need to). But that is not It’s that straightforward. Busy clinicians can turn into overly depending on a scribe and easily accept summaries. Tired or inexperienced clinicians might imagine their memory have to be incorrect and the AI ​​have to be right (referred to as automation bias).

Some people have suggested these scribes must also have the ability to create patient summaries. We don’t own our own medical records, but we normally have the precise to access them. Knowing that a digital scribe is in use can increase consumers’ motivation to review what’s of their medical records.

Doctors have all the time written notes about our embarrassing problems and have all the time been accountable for those notes. Privacy, security, confidentiality and quality of those records have all the time been essential.

Perhaps at some point, digital scribes will mean higher records and higher interactions with our clinicians. But without delay, we want good evidence that these tools can work in real-world clinics without compromising quality, safety, or ethics.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

You may have trouble finding a dentist, but self-treatment is a very bad idea

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Many people within the UK are fighting for access proper dental care to assist keep your teeth healthy. NHS Dentistry is in a state of collapse AND poverty in dental hygiene in the expansion phase. Budget cuts contribute to “dental deserts“all around the country, where is minimal or lack of access to NHS dental care and personal healthcare is financially unaffordable for many individuals.

Lockdowns throughout the pandemic as well prevented many from access to healthcare, including NHS dentistry. It is no wonder that the previous couple of years led to reports of individuals fleeing to desperate measures to address dental problems.

March 2023 YouGov survey found that one in ten Britons had “performed dental procedures on themselves”, including “using cement and superglue to attach crowns and dentures, treating urine infections, using “heated polymer beads” to replace missing teeth and applying chemical metal (an adhesive usually used for home or outdoor repairs) as a filling”.

In 2022, academics from the Peninsula Dental School on the University of Plymouth he informed that one patient “removed large amounts of tartar with a dart,” while one other attempted to remove 13 teeth using vodka and forceps.

Most of the tools you see on the dentist are scaled down or improved versions of what you would possibly have in your toolbox at home. These pieces of dental equipment are designed to make it harder for microbes to colonize their surfaces and are sterilized after each use – the pliers used to repair that connection behind the bathroom last month are unlikely to be as hygienic.

Self-removal can result in the formation of an orosinus fistula, which is an abnormal tunnel between the oral cavity and the oral cavity. maxillary sinus (the empty space within the bones across the nose). If it is smaller than two millimeters, it normally heals by itself. However, larger fistulas pose a significant risk of infection.

Oral Microorganisms, Fluids and Foods the contents will be forced through the open hole into the nice and cozy, moist space of the maxillary sinus, where infection can manifest and develop – and require invasive surgery.

In addition, tooth extraction may not help if the infection is positioned on the junction of the tooth and bone. So someone who is brave with forceps may at best not feel higher, and at worst – have terrible pain and an open wound with the chance of secondary infection.

Amateur dentists also run the chance of leaving a part of the tooth within the gum. Root remnants often remain since the roots reach a thin point that usually breaks during extraction.

This is one other risk of infection because there are few or no blood vessels running through the teeth, so Immune cells cannot fight bacteriaThe average person having their very own tooth removed wouldn’t find a way to find out whether there was any root remaining and whether this is able to cause any future problems. requires oral surgery to remove it – which will be expensive and intensely painful.

There is also a risk that self-extractors will change their everlasting biting mechanicscausing pain when eating and damaging other healthy teeth within the jaw or soft tissue mouth

Not every little thing is white

While most individuals resort to DIY dental care to alleviate pain, some social media users will do anything to have a movie star smile.

There were cases people using nail files to smooth out the natural ridges and differences in your teeth. This is extremely dangerous. It removes the hard protective layer of enamel out of your teeth and causes micro-cracks to open within the layers beneath them, increasing the chance of infection, decay and potential tooth death – which can cause pain and suffering in the long run.

Next, we have home teeth whitening with hydrogen peroxideSome people apply hydrogen peroxide solution on to their teeth, risking long-term damage for (possible) short-term gain.

Legal whitening kits are regulated to stop maximum 0.1% hydrogen peroxidebut users are exposing their teeth to repeatedly greater than that – because the TikTokker demonstrated within the (disturbing) video above. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent that damages the tissue it comes into contact with. This means it may cause serious damage to the gums or digestive tractif swallowed.

All of those risks illustrate why seeing a dentist must be a priority in the event you have a dental emergency or are determined to undergo cosmetic procedures (and why making inexpensive dental care more accessible must be a government priority). Quick fixes and tricks normally cost more in the long term.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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