Top Medical Breakthroughs to Start 2010

Well at least some areas of US healthcare made meaningful progress last year. While Washington, D.C., was doing what it does best – going around in lucrative circles, claiming progress – researchers were busy making breakthroughs that could potentially improve people’s health. It’s a concept. Here are 6 potential game-changers that can improve the prevention and treatment of disease in 2010 and beyond. Happy New Year, everyone.

1. HIV Vaccine: This one definitely has the wow factor. Researchers have found two antibodies produced by some HIV patients that neutralize many HIV strains. They are far more potent than the 4 already discovered, and may be specific to the developing world, where 95% of new cases occur. Stay tuned – current work is on developing a vaccine active ingredient to produce the antibodies.
2. Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Following along in the move from ‘take it easy’ to ‘get moving’ as treatment advice, oncologists are now beginning to prescribe exercise for their patients. Last year the American College of Sports Medicine certified its first group of exercise trainers specializing in cancer. Why? Research has shown exercise can both boost survival and lower recurrence rates among women battling cancer. For instance, brisk walking for 3 hours a week lowered breast and colon cancer mortality by 50%. Not bad for a treatment that costs nothing and has been around since the Stone Age.
3. Alzheimer’s Cure: Prick a finger, do chemotherapy, cured? Surely it can’t be that easy. But researchers at West Virginia University have developed both a test and a treatment that show promising results. A skin test detects defective enzymes involved in memory function that are found both in brain and skin cells, with 98% accuracy. Better yet, low doses of chemo drug bryostatin reactivate these defective enzymes, effectively rewiring broken brain connections and restoring memory. This one is early stage, as human clinical trials are scheduled to start in 2010.
4. Heart Attack Prevention: We know omega-3 fatty acids have protective cardiac effects. Now there is a prescription medication called Lovaza, which is FDA-approved to treat high triglycerides. Lovaza packs 3-4 times the EPA and DHA forms of omega-3s typically found in fish oil capsules. Four major studies have shown it helps treat those at highest risk, who have already had a heart attack or heart failure. Better yet, EPA and DHA lower the risk of atrial fibrillation (increases clot risk) and atherosclerosis (fatty plaque build-up in the arteries.) For those sticking to fish oil capsules, 800-1,000mg a day of EPA and DHA may keep the doctor away. Even better, there’s odorless/fish burp-less ones now.
5. Heart Attack and Stroke Prediction: We know that high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase our risk of having a heart attack. But now there’s a more sensitive tool to tell us who’s most at risk. Two devices that clip onto your finger, Endo-Pat and VENDSYS, can sense a lack of elasticity in your blood vessel lining (clinical term: endothelial dysfunction.) This indicates that early-stage cardiovascular disease has already begun, and an 8-year study showed that fully 50% of those found to have endothelial dysfunction go on to have a heart attack or stroke. Early detection helps early treatment, especially for women who are more prone to have endothelial dysfunction without any other risk factors. Just as with breast cancer diagnosis, non-invasive early detection is golden.
6. A Safer Blood Thinner: Warfarin (brand name Coumadin) has long been the blood thinner gold standard for those at risk of stroke. But it’s tough to get the dosing dialed in, and it interacts with other medications and foods, increasing patient risk of uncontrolled bleeding. For the first time in 50 years, warfarin might have a challenger. A study of 18,113 people found new drug dabigatran prevents more strokes with less bleeding than warfarin for those with atrial fibrillation, a key stroke risk factor. It’s also easier to use as it interacts with less medications and doesn’t need constant dose monitoring and adjustment. Sounds like a winner, but it’s currently only available in Canada and Europe, as FDA approval is pending. So much for US healthcare innovation.

Photo Tulane Public Relations / CC BY 2.0