Explaining Trump’s diagnosis; FDA panel signals support for easing menopause hormone warnings; AI boosts Alzheimer’s drug discovery by refining clinical trials – Morning Medical Update

Explaining Trump’s diagnosis

Last week, it was revealed that President Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). In response, the American Heart Association is urging awareness of the common but often overlooked vascular disease, especially in older adults. CVI, marked by leg swelling, varicose veins and skin changes, is tied to increased cardiovascular risk and can impact quality of life. While not life-threatening on its own, early detection and compression-based treatments can reduce complications and improve outcomes.

FDA panel signals support for easing menopause hormone warnings

An FDA advisory panel has endorsed removing the “black box” warning from menopausal hormone therapies, saying the decades-old caution may have discouraged appropriate use. Though nonbinding, the move reflects growing momentum among women’s health experts who argue the risks of estrogen therapy were overstated and fail to reflect newer data — especially for younger menopausal women. A label change could broaden access and spark wider use.

AI boosts Alzheimer’s drug discovery by refining clinical trials

University of Cambridge researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to reanalyze a failed Alzheimer’s drug trial and found the treatment slowed cognitive decline by 46% in early-stage, slow-progressing patients. The model, three times more accurate than standard assessments, could help match the right patients to the right drugs — speeding up trials, cutting costs and accelerating the search for effective dementia treatments.