The global cost of diabetes; plant-based treatment to slow aortic aneurysm growth; ‘forever chemicals’ tied to early fatty liver disease – Morning Medical Update

The cost of diabetes

Diabetes mellitus could drain as much as $78 trillion in purchasing-power-adjusted dollars from the global economy by 2050, according to an international study published in Nature Medicine.

Direct medical costs and lost productivity account for just $10 trillion of that total, with most of the economic impact coming from unpaid care provided by family members. Researchers estimate that caregiving alone makes up 85% to 90% of diabetes-related economic losses worldwide. The largest overall costs are expected in the U.S., China and India, but smaller and wealthier countries face the greatest losses per person.

Plant-based treatment to slow aortic aneurysm growth

Physicians at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are testing a new, minimally invasive treatment that could slow the growth of small and medium abdominal aortic aneurysms and help some patients avoid surgery. The clinical trial uses a compound derived from mangoes, delivered directly to the weakened section of the aorta through a balloon catheter during an outpatient procedure. The compound is designed to strengthen the aortic wall, where breakdown over time can lead to dangerous enlargement or rupture. Early results suggest aneurysms may grow slower after treatment, especially when they are still small. The experimental Nectero EAST system has received breakthrough and fast-track status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

‘Forever chemicals’ tied to early fatty liver disease

Exposure to common “forever chemicals” may substantially raise the risk of liver disease in adolescents, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Research. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the University of Hawaii found that higher blood levels of two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) — were associated with up to a threefold increase in risk of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adolescents. The study, which used MRI to assess liver fat, suggests risk is further amplified by genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors such as smoking in young adults.