The Washington Post (8/19, Docter-Loeb) says, “Alcohol consumption played a role in 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2019, according to a report from the World Health Organization.” After analyzing “alcohol and psychoactive drug usage in 2019 across 145 countries,” investigators observed that “young people ages 20 to 39 and individuals in Europe and Africa made up the largest proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths, and more men than women – 2 million vs. 0.6 million – died because of alcohol, according to the report.” Despite “400 million people globally” experiencing alcohol use disorders, “most of the countries assessed did not have a specific budget line or data on governmental expenditures for treatment.” The findings were published in a news release from WHO.

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

MedPage Today (8/19, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Despite the growing mental heath crisis among kids, pediatric inpatient psychiatric bed capacity remained unchanged from 2017 to 2020, and the number of beds varied widely by state, a cross-sectional study showed.” Investigators also observed that “pediatric inpatient psychiatric beds were offered most frequently at nonprofit and general medical hospitals,” with 52.2% of 11,276 beds being “in free-standing psychiatric hospitals (34.9% at general psychiatric hospitals and 17.3% at children’s psychiatric hospitals), and 23% of beds…in hospitals specializing in pediatric care.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

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ABC News (8/14, Shaik) reports, “Deaths from dementia have tripled in just 21 years, according to a new study.” The research found that “in 1999, about 150,000 Americans died from dementia,” but “by 2020, that number had tripled to over 450,000.” The study indicated that “the chances of dying from dementia increased among every demographic group studied.” The findings were published in The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders.

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— “More people are dying from dementia, according to new study,”Dr. Noor Shaik, More people are dying from dementia, according to new study, August 14, 2024

Psychiatric News (8/14) reports research found that “more than 90% of individuals experiencing a first-episode psychosis (FEP) achieved remission within two years.” Among those “who relapsed, the researchers found that they experienced delusions that were similar to those they had experienced during their initial psychotic episode.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

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— “High Rate of Remission, Persistence of Delusions Among Those Who Relapse in FEP Clinic Found,”, Psychiatric News , August 14, 2024

CNN (8/13, LaMotte ) reports, “Eating an anti-inflammatory diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables instead of an inflammatory diet focused on red and processed meats and ultraprocessed foods, such as sugary cereals, sodas, fries and ice cream, lowered the risk of dementia by 31%, a new study found.” Researchers found “that benefit held true even for people with existing diagnoses of cardiometabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

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— “Eating these foods lowers dementia risk, even with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, study says,”Sandee LaMotte, CNN, August 13, 2024

Healio (8/13, Herpen) reports research found that “a podcast that offers guidance for living with dementia as well as a space for those with lived experience to share their stories has received favorable reviews.” The Alzheimer Society teamed up “with the Centre for Education in Research in Aging and Health at Lakehead University in Ontario to produce Dementia Dialogue, a podcast dedicated to furthering education and creating dialogue around the issues that arise from a dementia diagnosis for patients and caregivers.” The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

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— “Eating these foods lowers dementia risk, even with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, study says,”Sandee LaMotte, CNN, August 13, 2024

The Washington Post (8/9, Gilbert , Ovalle , Roubein ) reported that on Friday, the Food and Drug Administration “rejected for now the first attempt to win approval of MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder – a major blow for advocates who for decades have pushed to integrate illegal psychedelic drugs into mainstream medical care.” The agency has “requested another large study, which could take several years to conduct, according to” Lykos Therapeutics. The company “said it plans to contest the FDA’s request, saying it believes the existing data is adequate to prove the drug’s efficacy.”

The New York Times (8/9, Jacobs ) reported that following the FDA’s decision, “supporters of psychedelic medicine were deeply disappointed, and some said they were stunned, having assumed the therapy’s promising data would overcome flaws in the company’s clinical trials, which had been designed in consultation with F.D.A. scientists.” The agency “declined to discuss the decision or release the letter it sent to Lykos outlining its reasoning, citing confidentiality rules.” However, an FDA spokesperson said in a statement that the agency “will continue to encourage research and drug development that will further innovation for psychedelic treatments and other therapies to address these medical needs.”

The AP (8/9, Perrone ) reported that while disappointing for some, “the FDA’s decision was expected after a panel of government advisors voted overwhelmingly against the drug’s use for post-traumatic stress disorder in June.” The agency “said Friday the MDMA application had ‘significant limitations’ that ‘prevent the agency from concluding that the drug is safe and effective for the proposed indication.’”

Also reporting was Reuters (8/10, Roy, Sunny).

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The New York Times (8/12, Jacobs ) reports, “The journal Psychopharmacology has retracted three papers about MDMA-assisted therapy based on what the publication said was unethical conduct at one of the study sites where the research took place.” The conduct in question involved “a sexual relationship” between “an unlicensed Canadian therapist who took part in the trial” and “a participant after the conclusion of the trial’s dosing sessions.” Multiple authors “are affiliated with Lykos Therapeutics, the drug company whose application for MDMA-assisted therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder was rejected last week by the Food and Drug Administration.” While Lykos “said the research in the retracted papers was not part of its application to the F.D.A.,” on Sunday the company “said that it disagreed with Psychopharmacology’s decision and that it would file an official complaint with the Committee on Publication Ethics.”

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Healio (8/12, Mahoney) reports, “Suicide rates among U.S. preteens increased significantly from 2008 to 2022, with the greatest increases being among Hispanic preteens and girls, according to a study.” Investigators also observed “the rate of suicide remained highest among Black preteens from both 2001 to 2007 (4.94 per 1 million persons) and 2008 to 2022 (8.5 per 1 million persons).” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

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— “Suicide rates rise among preteens, with highest increases seen among Hispanic youth, girls,”Moira Mahoney, Healio, August 12, 2024

The AP (8/11) reports Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “said Sunday he will work to block a plan that would significantly cut the proposed budget of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warning that such a spending reduction could endanger the public.” Senate Democrats “said the proposal in a House bill includes a reduction of the CDC’s proposed budget by $1.8 billion, or about 22%,” which “would mean a major cut in programs designed to address firearm injuries and opioid overdose prevention.” Schumer “said such a reduction ‘would wreak havoc and chaos on food safety funding mechanisms and tracking operations at a core level,’” pointing “specifically to the CDC’s work on the ongoing listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that has killed at least three people and sickened more than 40 others.”

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— “Schumer says he will work to block any effort in the Senate to significantly cut the CDC’s budge, AP, August 11, 2024