Public Health Update: Early Alzheimer’s Detection, Smartphone Use and Hemorrhoid Risk, Energy Drink Ban and More!
Scope: UK, US, Brazil, Germany, China, Ireland, Spain, Italy. Last updated: 05 Sep 2025
Discover the latest breakthroughs shaping the future of public health in this week’s update from LucidQuest. From fast Alzheimer’s risk detection to policy shifts and innovative therapies, we cover research you need to know.
In Today’s Newsletter
🧠 3-minute EEG “Fastball” flags early Alzheimer’s risk [1]
📱 Toilet scrolling linked to higher hemorrhoid odds [2]
🚫 England plans under-16 energy drink sales ban [3]
🧪 Sweeteners tied to faster cognitive decline in cohort [4]
❤️ Post-MI beta blockers may be unnecessary for many; risk in some women [5]
🧫 Meningeal neutrophils in stress-linked depression (mice) [6]
🟢 Plant microbeads trap fat; rodents lose >17% (preclinical) [7]
🤧 OTC azelastine nasal spray cut COVID-19 by 69% in RCT [8]
⚡ Electrical cues reprogram human macrophages toward repair [9]
♀️ Sex shapes course/cognition in schizophrenia vs bipolar [10]
Summaries
🧠 “Fastball” EEG test flags higher Alzheimer’s risk in MCI [1]
Claim: A ~3-minute passive EEG (“Fastball”) detected memory-response deficits in amnestic MCI, identifying people at greater Alzheimer’s risk.
Context: Home-based testing; 54 healthy adults, 52 MCI; findings published in Brain Communications; larger studies underway.
Where/When: UK, 02 Sep 2025.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
📱 Toilet phone-use linked to higher hemorrhoid prevalence [2]
Claim: In a PLOS One study of 125 adults, bathroom smartphone users had 46% higher odds of hemorrhoids vs non-users.
Context: Colonoscopy cohort; association persisted after accounting for fiber, exercise, constipation/straining; experts advise ≤5 minutes on toilet.
Where/When: US, 03 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🚫 England to ban energy drink sales to under-16s (consultation) [3]
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707074qdnko
Claim: UK government plans law to bar under-16s from buying energy drinks in shops/online; 12-week consultation to gather evidence.
Context: High caffeine/sugar tied to sleep, dental issues and rare adverse events; supermarkets already have voluntary bans.
Where/When: England, 03 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on policy design and implementation.
🧪 Higher intake of low/no-cal sweeteners tied to faster cognitive decline [4]
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/03/health/artificial-sweetener-cognition-wellness
Claim: In ~13,000 adults, highest consumers had 62% faster global cognitive decline (~1.6 years of “aging”); mid-tier 35% faster (~1.3 years).
Context: Observational cohort (Brazil); declines notable in working memory/verbal fluency; industry group cites broader safety consensus.
Where/When: Brazil/US, 03 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
❤️ Beta blockers after MI show no benefit overall with preserved EF; signal of harm in women [5]
Claim: Across modern-care cohorts (EF >40%), beta blockers did not reduce events overall; women on beta blockers had higher complications and mortality.
Context: 8,438 post-MI patients in Spain/Italy; results reported from NEJM and European Heart Journal studies; BBs still indicated for other conditions.
Where/When: Spain/Italy, 01 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🧫 Stress drives skull-marrow neutrophils into meninges, linking inflammation to depression (mice) [6]
Claim: Chronic social stress increased meningeal neutrophils originating from skull bone marrow; blocking type I interferon signaling improved behavior.
Context: Mouse model; suggests inflammatory biomarker and immune-targeted avenues for depression; published in Nature Communications.
Where/When: UK/US, 30 Aug 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🟢 Plant-based “fat-magnet” microbeads cut absorption; rodents lose >17% weight (preclinical) [7]
https://newatlas.com/disease/obesity/plant-based-microbeads-drug-free-weight-loss/
Claim: Edible beads (green tea polyphenols + vitamin E, alginate coating) bound intestinal fats; rodents on high-fat diets lost >17% body weight.
Context: Preclinical study in Cell Biomaterials; higher fecal fat; no reported gut discomfort; a 26-person clinical trial is underway.
Where/When: China, 30 Aug 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
🤧 OTC azelastine nasal spray reduced COVID-19 infections in RCT [8]
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/antihistamine-nasal-spray-prevents-covid-19-study-finds
Claim: Single-center RCT (n=450) found 69% lower PCR-confirmed COVID-19 vs placebo over 56 days with azelastine prophylaxis.
Context: Adults 18–65; fewer symptomatic infections and delayed time to infection; safety similar to placebo; published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Where/When: Germany, 03 Sep 2025.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
⚡ Electrical stimulation reprogrammed human macrophages toward repair [9]
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-electrical-reprogram-immune-body-faster.html
Claim: In vitro electrical stimulation shifted human macrophages to anti-inflammatory, pro-repair states with angiogenic gene upregulation.
Context: Human donor blood macrophages; custom bioreactor; published in Cell Reports Physical Science; future delivery modalities under study.
Where/When: Ireland, 02 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
♀️ Sex differences shape course and cognition in schizophrenia vs bipolar [10]
https://neurosciencenews.com/schizophrenia-bipolar-sex-differences-29656/
Claim: In the PsyCourse study (n=1,516), males with schizophrenia had highest substance use; females with schizophrenia presented later; bipolar group functioned better overall.
Context: Cross-sectional multicenter cohort; females with bipolar showed better verbal memory/psychomotor speed; thyroid alterations higher vs controls.
Where/When: Europe (incl. Spain), 03 Sep 2025.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
Why it matters
Early, home-based EEG screening could triage MCI patients toward disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies sooner [1].
Everyday behaviors (toilet phone-use; energy drinks) show measurable health signals shaping public health messaging and policy [2][3].
Diet sweeteners’ neurologic associations and post-MI beta-blocker utility are under renewed scrutiny in modern care contexts [4][5].
Immune-brain crosstalk and bioelectronic or diet-based interventions hint at new, nontraditional therapeutic avenues [6][7][9].
Low-cost OTC prophylaxis (azelastine) could complement vaccines during respiratory virus seasons if confirmed in larger trials [8].
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FAQ
How fast is the “Fastball” EEG, and who benefited in the study?
About three minutes. It differentiated amnestic MCI (higher Alzheimer’s risk) from healthy/non-amnestic MCI by reduced memory-response signals; larger predictive studies are ongoing [1].
Does azelastine actually prevent COVID-19 or just delay it?
In a 450-person RCT, azelastine was linked to a 69% lower infection rate vs placebo and a longer time to infection over 56 days, with similar adverse events. Larger phase 3 trials are needed [8].
Should all post-MI patients stop beta blockers if EF >40%?
No. The reported studies found no overall benefit and potential risk in some women with preserved EF, but beta blockers remain indicated for other conditions. Decisions should be individualized [5].
Are artificial sweeteners proven to cause cognitive decline?
No. The Brazilian cohort shows associations (e.g., 62% faster global decline at highest intake), but the study is observational. The source notes industry statements on established safety reviews [4].
Are the “fat-magnet” microbeads ready for use in people?
Not yet. Efficacy data are preclinical in rodents; a 26-person clinical study is underway. The source does not specify human outcomes [7].
Is the depression–neutrophil finding in humans?
The mechanistic link was shown in mice, with meningeal neutrophils from skull marrow and interferon signaling. The source does not specify human trials; it proposes biomarkers and targets [6].
Entities / Keywords
Fastball EEG (University of Bath; MCI; Alzheimer’s risk)
Azelastine (OTC antihistamine nasal spray; SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis)
Beta blockers (post-MI; preserved EF; NEJM, EHJ)
Low/No-calorie sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, tagatose)
Energy drinks (policy; under-16s; England)
Meningeal neutrophils (type I interferon; depression; mice)
Plant-based microbeads (green tea polyphenols; vitamin E; alginate; fat binding)
Macrophage electrostimulation (anti-inflammatory reprogramming)
Schizophrenia; Bipolar disorder (PsyCourse; sex differences; cognition)
References
The Guardian — 3-minute EEG “Fastball” and Alzheimer’s risk: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/sep/02/three-minute-test-helps-identify-people-at-greater-risk-of-alzheimers-trial-finds
NBC News — Bathroom smartphone use tied to hemorrhoids (PLOS One): https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/phone-use-hemorrhoids-bathroom-social-media-scrolling-rcna228080
BBC — England plans under-16 energy drink ban (consultation): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707074qdnko
CNN — Artificial sweeteners linked to faster cognitive decline (Neurology): https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/03/health/artificial-sweetener-cognition-wellness
ScienceAlert — Post-MI beta blockers in modern era; signal of harm in women (NEJM; EHJ): https://www.sciencealert.com/a-common-heart-drug-taken-by-millions-may-often-be-useless-or-even-risky
University of Cambridge — Meningeal neutrophils and depression (mice): https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/depression-linked-to-presence-of-immune-cells-in-the-brains-protective-layer
New Atlas — Plant microbeads trap fat; >17% rodent weight loss (Cell Biomaterials): https://newatlas.com/disease/obesity/plant-based-microbeads-drug-free-weight-loss/
CIDRAP — Azelastine nasal spray RCT shows 69% lower COVID-19: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/antihistamine-nasal-spray-prevents-covid-19-study-finds
MedicalXpress — Electrical stimulation reprograms human macrophages (Cell Reports Physical Science): https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-electrical-reprogram-immune-body-faster.html
Neuroscience News — Sex differences in schizophrenia vs bipolar (PsyCourse): https://neurosciencenews.com/schizophrenia-bipolar-sex-differences-29656/