7 Vital New Ideas From January 2023 - Examined

Among the hundreds of headlines, don't overlook this handful.

Here are 7 handpicked ideas that I found curious, practice-changing, or remarkable in my medical reading during January. This topic won the Examined subscriber poll, so I’m doing it! A sincere thanks to those who support this side project of mine. I’m thinking a curated 7 ideas will be a regular monthly thing if you like it. There is just too much information constantly streaming in for this to be a comprehensive resource - but I’ll highlight a few items, and riff on them with my generalist experience and primary care focused mind.

This post is longer than most, so take your time reading it only when you have a chance. It’s chock full of stuff like:

• Viruses causing future diseases like Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, and dementia, and what we can do to prevent this.

• The new injectable meds for diabetes and weight loss like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy. Should they be first line?

• Hearing aids help in a lot of ways, and hearing loss is the number one modifiable risk factor for preventing cognitive decline. Where to get cheap hearing aids.

• SARS CoV-2 is lingering in multiple organs… can antivirals help?

• Get up and walk around. Even a little bit, but often.

• A new oral treatment for Covid is looking good.

• Might as well chuck those U.S. News and World Report med school rankings. And how ridiculous will med school names become?

• The Green Comet portends an Eagles Superbowl victory. I think it’s OK to watch football… or not?

• Plus bonus graphics you might find amusing and enlightening, to say the least.