Feb 28, 2026

Email 1:

Subject: Is Alzheimer’s an infection? (Plus: Life after GLP-1s)

Summary: This newsletter explores new theories suggesting that Alzheimer’s and heart disease might be caused by infections rather than the commonly targeted plaques and cholesterol. It highlights the need to treat root causes instead of just symptoms. Additional topics include sustaining weight loss after stopping GLP-1 drugs using digital health wearables, the importance of teaching mental self-care in medical schools to combat physician burnout, vocal health tips from a speech-language pathologist, the role of respiratory therapists in critical care, how timing affects chemical exposure risks via chrono-exposomics, reflections on medicine’s silent victories, challenges in direct primary care models, revisiting the infectious hypothesis of heart disease, and treating autism and ADHD as a spectrum for holistic care.

Email 2:

Subject: 🏥 ViVE 2026 Recaps

Summary: A comprehensive on-the-ground report from the ViVE 2026 conference covering innovation and healthcare developments. Key points include networking experiences with industry leaders, observable conference logistics, major deals such as Danaher’s $9.9B acquisition of Masimo, policy updates including a Supreme Court ruling affecting tariffs and healthcare supply chains, and significant investments and acquisitions in home health and pharmacy sectors. Discussions touched on AI’s role in primary care, healthcare data interoperability emphasizing patient-centered authorization, cost inflation challenges, hospital earnings, and payer enrollment data. The email also highlights strategic moves by companies like Akasa and Dock Health in improving hospital operations and revenue cycle management. The tone is optimistic about ongoing healthcare system improvements.

Email 3:

Subject: What’s behind Kennedy’s AI-fueled promos

Summary: The article discusses Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s distinctive, provocative AI-generated social media campaigns portraying him in unusual roles to rally support within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, aligning with Trump supporters. The letter covers policy and societal challenges including transgender rights affected by new Kansas ID laws, impacting medical care access for trans individuals. It notes a Trump administration moratorium on new durable medical equipment suppliers to combat fraud and waste. An outbreak investigation of salmonella linked to a beer cooler at a fair is detailed, showcasing the use of AI (ChatGPT) in epidemiological hypothesis generation. Finally, calls for increased U.S. investment in male contraceptive and STI prevention research are highlighted.

Email 4:

Subject: 🚨 White House vs. MAHAs

Summary: The newsletter analyzes tensions between the Trump administration’s current healthcare agenda and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, particularly around vaccine politics ahead of the 2026 midterms. While vaccination remains popular with the public, some MAHA-aligned vaccine critics are feeling sidelined amid personnel changes and shifts in health policy focus. The article covers the departure of vaccine skeptics from the CDC, Kennedy’s dietary reform efforts, FDA actions on flu vaccines, and ongoing debates around vaccine advisory committee agendas including COVID vaccine critiques. A central tension is balancing political risks between alienating MAHA supporters or the broader electorate who reject vaccine skepticism.

Email 5:

Subject: Is a ‘selfish gene’ making a Utah family have twice as many boys as girls?

Summary: Researchers have potentially identified the first conclusive human case of sex ratio distortion driven by “selfish” genes, through a Utah family with a seven-generation history of producing twice as many boys as girls. The finding is supported by strong genetic evidence though alternative explanations are still debated. Other highlights include a small trial where in utero stem cell therapy showed safety and potential for treating spina bifida in fetuses, evidence that ‘super agers’ continue to produce memory neurons contributing to better cognitive function, and reflections on the scientific and cultural impact of Pokémon. The newsletter also covers delays in U.S. science funding allocations due to White House budget controls, concerns about sexism in science exposed by Epstein files, and a feature on why sneakers squeak from a physics perspective.

Email 6:

Subject: NEW STAT Report: Explore the year the NIH system cracked

Summary: STAT announces the release of an investigative special report documenting how sudden federal policy reversals, abrupt grant terminations, and sweeping funding cuts destabilized the traditional partnership between Washington and America’s research institutions. The report provides deep analysis relevant for policymakers, biotech investors, scientists at all career stages, and patient advocates. It highlights the challenges to the stability of U.S. scientific research and the future outlook for life sciences innovation amid these disruptions. The report is essential reading for those interested in American biomedical research’s future trajectory.

Stay Well!