**Apple Watch’s Sleep Apnea Detection & Presidential Debate Preview**
As the fall season approaches, Boston residents are gearing up for cooler temperatures and the search for the perfect apple cider donut. While the change in weather signals the end of the year drawing near, there are still important stories to cover before the year ends.
Tonight, Vice President Harris and former President Trump will face off in a presidential debate, and health care issues will take center stage. Here are the key health care questions that STAT’s team in DC will be keeping an eye on:
**Medicare:** Both candidates have made promises regarding Medicare, with Trump vowing not to cut any funding from the program and Harris stepping back from the Medicare for All proposal. However, specifics on their plans are still unclear. Trump’s stance on raising the Medicare eligibility age and promoting Medicare Advantage plans will be of interest. Similarly, how Harris plans to pay for expanding Medicare coverage for vision, dental, and hearing services will be scrutinized.
**Drug Pricing:** Both candidates have expressed a desire to take on the pharmaceutical industry. Harris has highlighted her vote for Medicare price negotiation, while Trump’s thoughts on the upcoming program launch in 2026 remain unknown. Questions also linger about Trump’s support for Republicans’ efforts to eliminate the IRA and what drug pricing plan he would propose. Additionally, Harris will need to clarify her Medicare plan and appeal to voters who may not be fully aware of her stance.
**Medical Debt:** Harris recently pledged to erase billions of dollars in Americans’ medical debt, but details on how she plans to achieve this remain vague. Similarly, Trump’s approach to tackling medical debt is unclear. The public will be looking for concrete plans from both candidates on this pressing issue.
In other news, recent research has shown that the Covid lockdowns had a significant impact on the brains of adolescents. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that teen brains, especially those of girls, aged prematurely during the pandemic period. The accelerated aging of the cerebral cortex due to chronic stress and adversity could potentially increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in these individuals as they grow older.
On the technology front, Apple announced a new feature for its Apple Watch that can detect signs of sleep apnea in users. This latest advancement in wearable technology aims to help individuals live healthier lives by identifying potential health issues such as sleep apnea and providing valuable information to users and their healthcare providers.
In the realm of medical advancements, researchers reported the results of the first whole eye and face transplant in JAMA. While the surgery was able to restore some function and aesthetics for the patient, full vision restoration remains a challenge. This groundbreaking procedure opens up possibilities for future eye transplants and highlights the complexities involved in such surgeries.
As we delve into the world of healthcare and technology, it’s essential to address systemic issues such as chronic kidney disease disparities. One Brooklyn Health, a safety net hospital system in Central Brooklyn, is working to remove race from the equations used to assess kidney disease and provide earlier care to underserved populations. However, addressing racial disparities in healthcare requires more than just recalculating algorithms – it necessitates addressing the underlying social determinants of health.
In conclusion, as we navigate the intersection of health, technology, and social justice, it is crucial to continue exploring innovative solutions to complex healthcare challenges. From presidential debates to medical breakthroughs, there is much to uncover and discuss in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on these critical issues.
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