The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new blood test to help detect Alzheimer’s disease. This is the fourth Alzheimer’s blood test approved in less than two years. The test checks for a specific protein in the blood called pTau217, which rises in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It is made for people aged 55 and older with signs of cognitive decline. The test does not diagnose Alzheimer’s but helps identify those who need further medical testing. Early detection can improve treatment options.

From 2014 to 2022, CDC data show that rates of prostate cancer have increased among men in the United States. The increase is partly due to more men being screened for prostate cancer; however, some men may not be getting screened early enough. Diagnosis of more advanced prostate cancer also increased among men in all age groups. Early diagnosis can mean better treatment options and higher survival rates. The American Cancer Society suggests men at average risk be screened starting at age 50. Men are at higher risk if they have a family history of prostate cancer, have obesity, or are Black/African American. Men at higher risk should start screening at 45 or 40 if they have multiple risk factors. A PSA blood test, prostate-specific antigen, can screen for prostate cancer.

In a new report, the UN warns we will soon cross the 1.5°C (2.7°F) warming threshold. As a result, the UN is shifting to an “overshoot” plan: letting temperatures rise temporarily, then trying to cool Earth later through carbon removal. This plan could still bring irreversible damage, including deadly extreme weather, food shortages, and melting ice sheets. The full report, Limiting Overshoot, is available here: https://www.unep.org/resources/limiting-overshoot-navigating-exceedance