In Man’s Bones 06/30/2024 | Zero wave radio

The entire program is in good hands, with Carles Aguilar. We discuss new research on Alzheimer’s disease, heart failure, regenerative medicine, osteoporosis, and venous insufficiency.

Researchers from the Research Area in Neurology, Neuroscience and Mental Health at the Sant Pau Research Institute have found that more than 95% of people over 65 who have two copies of the APOE4 gene – APOE4 homozygotes – show biological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain or biomarkers of the disease in cerebrospinal fluid and PET. The study, published in Nature Medicine, concludes that these homozygous individuals for the APOE4 gene also develop the disease earlier than those with other variants of the APOE gene. These findings suggest that having two copies of the APOE4 gene could represent a new genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease. We spoke to Dr. Victor Montal, a researcher in the Neurobiology of Dementia Group at Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona.

Heart failure is a widespread syndrome characterized by high morbidity and mortality that claims approximately 20,000 lives in Spain every year, in addition to significantly limiting the quality of life of affected people by preventing them from carrying out more routine activities such as climbing stairs or even sleeping. Early and correct diagnosis of heart failure is the starting point for a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach, aimed at reducing hospitalizations and deaths. In addition, current data estimate that 1 in 5 people will develop heart failure during their lifetime, and in Spain, this disease has been ranked as the number one cause of hospitalization for more than 65 years. Carles Aguilar interviews Dr. Tony Soriano, cardiologist at the Heart Failure Unit at Val d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona.

Regenerative medicine involves a series of treatments that seek to regenerate tissues and organs. Regenerative medicine is a broad field that includes research into self-healing, where the body uses its own systems, sometimes with the help of biological materials, to regenerate cells and rebuild tissues and organs. Unlike many conventional treatments, some of which are expensive, have side effects, and which target not the causes but the symptoms, cell therapy has had very positive responses, especially for the treatment of osteoporosis. Talk to Dr. Humberto Lucertales, Director of Medicentre.

Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune inflammatory disease (IMID). It affects at least 125 million people worldwide. In Spain, its incidence is about 2.3% of the population, affecting more than one million people. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that appears mostly in the skin, nails and joints but also gives rise to other associated diseases (comorbidities) that can seriously affect the health of affected people. The most common is psoriatic arthritis, which causes a significant impact on health and significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life. The doctor explains it to us. Ana Lopez, from the Dermatology Service of Hospital Santa Cruz y Sant Pau and Director of the “Forum Without Borders in Psoriasis”

Venous insufficiency, along with visual and dental changes, is one of the most common diseases occurring in the population. According to recent data from the STADA Health Report, 50% of the population experiences some symptoms of venous insufficiency during the summer. More than 6 out of every 10 women and 40% of men suffer from it. Venous insufficiency is a progressive disease that results in a low perception of quality of life, and patients themselves rate it at levels similar to diabetes or heart failure due to the suffering it causes. Venous insufficiency leads to decreased oxygen in the microcirculation and produces edema, leading to inflammation and the appearance of varicose veins. There are a number of etiological factors and causative factors, being a more common disease in women, especially due to pregnancy. Carles Aguilar interviews Dr. Pablo Gallo, Head of the Vascular Department and Vascular Surgeon at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid.