What We’re Reading: Alzheimer Blood Tests; Year-Long Adderall Shortage; Type 2 Diabetes Management

Blood Tests for Widespread Alzheimer Diagnosis Likely by 2023

A blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer disease may become available to the public in the very near future, as experts predict its availability in 2023, according to Reuters. This groundbreaking development offers a less invasive and more accessible means of detecting Alzheimer disease, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and better treatment options. This news brings hope to individuals and families impacted by this common form of dementia, as it could transform the landscape of Alzheimer disease diagnosis and care.

Year-Long Adderall Shortage Continues

Democrats are seeking answers regarding a year-long shortage of Adderall, a medication used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to The Hill. In a letter to the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Administration, lawmakers expressed concerns about the shortage’s impact on patients who depend on the medication. The shortage has created difficulties for patients in accessing the necessary treatment, raising questions about supply chain issues and potential actions to address the problem.

Digital Therapeutic AspyreRx Enhances T2D Management

A recent subgroup analysis of AspyreRx (formerly BT-001) in a pivotal trial for type 2 diabetes (T2D) demonstrated that when used in conjunction with standard of care and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), the digital behavioral therapy app led to substantial clinical improvements compared with those not using AspyreRx, according to Better Therapeutics. The study, which involved 160 participants, resulted in an average reduction of 0.7% in hemoglobin A_1C levels at 90 days, surpassing the 0.4% reduction seen among in the control arm of the BT-001 pivotal clinical trial population. Those combining GLP-1 RAs with AspyreRx also exhibited greater hemoglobin A_1C reduction, weight loss, and reduced medication use at day 180.