Potential death penalty for alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO; new immunotherapy shrinks metastatic gastrointestinal cancers; how VR is transforming Alzheimer’s detection – Morning Medical Update

U.S. Attorney General to seek death penalty for alleged killer of UHC CEO

Attorney General Pamela Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of the premeditated murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024. Calling it a "cold-blooded assassination," Bondi emphasized the administration’s commitment to tackling violent crime. Mangione allegedly stalked and killed Thompson in an act of political violence, endangering bystanders, according to Bondi. This decision aligns with Bondi’s directive to reinstate the federal death penalty.

New immunotherapy shrinks metastatic gastrointestinal cancers

A breakthrough NIH trial shows that a new form of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, combined with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab, significantly shrank metastatic gastrointestinal tumors, including colon, rectal, pancreatic, and bile duct cancers. Nearly 24% of patients receiving the combination therapy saw tumor reduction, compared to just 7.7% with TIL therapy alone. Researchers say this is a major step toward expanding cell-based immunotherapy for common solid tumors, with efforts underway to further improve response rates.

How VR is transforming Alzheimer’s detection

Virtual reality (VR) isn’t just for gaming — it’s helping detect Alzheimer’s earlier. At the Cognitive Neuroscience Society’s 2025 conference, researchers showed how VR memory and navigation tests reveal early cognitive impairments linked to Alzheimer’s proteins.

By immersing participants in VR, scientists found measurable differences in navigation and memory, correlating with Alzheimer’s biomarkers in blood tests. This non-invasive approach could revolutionize early diagnosis, making VR a powerful tool in neuroscience.