Good morning! In today's issue, we examine how physicians are affected by the rise of medical misinformation, and how wearable technology could help clinicians avoid burnout. Learn more, too, about Kentucky's efforts to keep a dangerous unregulated drug off the streets.

Early assessments of functional and cognitive health in aging patients help identify risk factors and enable person-centered care plans to maintain mobility, strength, balance and cognitive function, writes geriatrician Dr. Kanramon Watthanasuntorn, medical director of the Center for Better Aging in Chicago. Watthanasuntorn presents the holistic "4Ms framework" to guide geriatric care plans, and notes that clinicians can incorporate quick, simple assessment tools into existing workflows.

A study in BJOG involving 634 pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome found that metformin use was associated with a reduced rate of maternal infections, particularly viral infections. However, children exposed to metformin in utero had a higher long-term risk of allergies and eczema.

Omega-3 fatty acids may help protect women from Alzheimer's disease, a study by King's College London researchers found. The study noted a significant loss of unsaturated fats in the blood of women with Alzheimer's compared to healthy women, a difference not observed in men. The study suggests that lipid biology in Alzheimer's varies by sex, highlighting the potential for dietary interventions and new treatment avenues, though clinical trials are needed to confirm findings.

Isotretinoin treatment for acne in adolescents was linked to slower growth rates but did not affect final adult height, compared with antibiotics, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The researchers said even with the study data, "the risk of a potential negative effect on growth should be carefully considered for each individual patient as part of shared decision making."

Ohio had a 52% increase in cannabis-related poisonings among children 12 and younger in 2024, compared with the year before, linked to the legalization of recreational marijuana and overall increased availability of delta-8 and other products. Most cases involved edibles, which often come in child-attracting forms like candy and gummies.

Novo Nordisk has reduced the cost of Ozempic for cash-paying patients in the US from nearly $1,000 to $499 monthly. This move aims to improve access to FDA-approved semaglutide medicines and address competition and political scrutiny around drug prices.

The rise in misinformation, particularly online, is making it challenging for physicians to provide quality care, according to a survey by The Physicians Foundation. Misinformation has become more pervasive, with 50% of physicians noting a significant increase over the past five years, leading to difficulties in patient interactions and a potential for burnout among health care providers, said Physicians Foundation President Dr. Gary Price.

The CMS will be sending lists to states each month identifying Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollees "whose citizenship or immigration status could not be confirmed through federal databases," according to a CMS news release. The CMS has instructed state program administrators to verify the citizenship or immigration status of people on the list and adjust coverage or disenroll ineligible people.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has taken emergency action to ban the sale of the synthetic drug bromazolam, known informally as "designer Xanax," after a request from state Attorney General Russell Coleman. The drug was linked to nearly 50 overdose deaths in the state last year. A group of 21 attorneys general is urging the DEA to ban the unregulated drug at the federal level.