5 Things Happening in Healthcare Right Now
With the spread of COVID-19 around the world and the race to develop a vaccine making front-page news, healthcare issues are at the center of many people's minds.
With the spread of COVID-19 around the world and the race to develop a vaccine making front-page news, healthcare issues are at the center of many people's minds. But there's a lot more going on in the healthcare world that's worthy of attention. Here are five developments pertaining to the field of mental health.
Alzheimer's Disease
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation has highlighted two recent studies that suggest that the flu and pneumonia vaccines could lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Presented at the Alzheimer Association’s International Conference at the end of July, one study looked at the health records of more than 9,000 people and found that there was a 17-percent reduction in Alzheimer’s disease among those who got a flu vaccine.
In the other study, health records of more than 5,000 people who were part of a heart study showed that a pneumonia vaccination for those between the ages of 65 and 75 was associated with an up to a 40-percent reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Publishing this potential promising news is part of the Fisher Center's efforts to educate about the early stages of Alzheimer's and what can be done to slow or stop the debilitating disease's progression
Drugs
Roivant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on applying technology to drug development, has a pipeline of investigational drugs and treatments being studied and tested in 14 therapeutic areas.
Among these is AXO-Lenti-PD an investigational gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease, which is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. But cognitive and behavioral problems arise, and more than one-third of those with Parkinson's suffer from depression and anxiety. AXO-Lenti-PD aims to restore steady levels of dopamine in the brain to assist with mental health.
Unfortunately, medical plans are often all over the place on providing prescription drug coverage for mental health medications, even in situations where it's critical to overall health. If your health plan doesn't provide for this type of coverage, you may still be able to receive financial assistance. For instance, you can look into prescription assistance programs like USA rx. This company helps consumers get discounts on prescription drugs and provides them with a card that gives them access to discounted rates at their local pharmacies.
Prevention Efforts
The spread of the coronavirus and the death and disease that come with it have led to concerns about suicides increasing and how to prevent someone from taking their own life. With increased unemployment and social isolation brought on by job loss, lockdowns and social distancing, mental health professionals, and actuaries who monitor the field are looking for ways to increase suicide prevention efforts. This is a challenge, given that one report says more than one-third of Americans have gone into a state of clinical depression and overwhelming anxiety during the pandemic.
Communication
The lockdowns and social distancing measures have also led to more online and electronic meetings between clients and mental health care providers. Skype, Zoom for Healthcare, Updox, and Google Meet are among the means by which counseling sessions have been conducted of late. Some see this as a convenient way for effective therapy. Others decry the lack of in-person contact. Either way, the Zooming sessions are trending and are likely to continue even after lockdowns end.
Meditation
Also likely to increase in the months ahead is the number of people turning to meditation to relieve stress and anxiety. More than a few tried it for the first time during the lockdowns. "The goal of meditation is not to stop the mind, but instead to shift the attention. This helps to balance emotions in difficult times," says a report in OnboardOnline.
Expect more change and innovation on mental healthcare in the future. With new drugs being tested and coming on the market, people are looking for solutions that are best for them, whether it be meditation, medication, or counseling.
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