Roundup: Anti-Smoking Campaigns have Saved 3.8 Million Lives from Lung Cancer; and More News

Study: Tobacco Control Since 1970 Saved 3.8 Million Lives from Lung Cancer

A new study led by the American Cancer Society (ACS) underscores the tremendous effect of tobacco control policies in reducing lung cancer deaths over the past five decades.

The research, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, found that between 1970 and 2022 more than 3.8 million lung cancer deaths were averted in the United States, contributing to a gain of over 76 million years of life. These findings mark a major milestone in public health, thanks to substantial reductions in smoking prevalence driven by national tobacco control efforts, states the ACS in a news release.

Farhad Islami, M.D., senior scientific director for cancer disparity research at ACS and the study's lead author, commented on the significance of the results in a statement: "The substantial estimated numbers of averted lung cancer deaths and person-years of life gained highlight the remarkable effect of progress against smoking on reducing premature mortality from lung cancer."

However, he cautioned that despite these gains, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. He also noted that smoking-related diseases and cancers continue to burden many individuals across the country.

The study’s findings were based on a detailed analysis of National Center for Health Statistics mortality data, which covers a broad span of demographics, including age, sex, and race. By comparing observed lung cancer deaths with expected deaths, the researchers were able to estimate the number of averted fatalities. They also calculated "person-years of life gained," a measure that quantifies the potential years individuals would have lived if they had not died from lung cancer.

The results of the study are striking: About 3.86 million lung cancer deaths were avoided, with 2.25 million averted in men and 1.61 million in women. In addition, the study estimates that over 76 million person-years of life were saved, with an average of 19.8 years gained for each death averted.

These gains were particularly significant in men, who accounted for 60.1 percent of the averted deaths, compared to 42.7 percent in women. When analyzed by race, the findings showed that 53.6% of the declines in overall cancer deaths were linked to reductions in lung cancer mortality among White individuals, while 40.0% of the decline occurred in Black populations.

While these results are a testament to the success of tobacco control, Dr. Islami emphasized that further action is needed to continue this positive trend. "We need a stronger commitment at the local, state, and federal levels to help further reduce smoking and substantially augment the progress against smoking-related mortality."

He also highlighted the importance of targeting groups at higher risk of smoking, such as individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, to ensure that these life-saving efforts reach those most in need.

Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS's advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), reinforced the urgency of maintaining and expanding these efforts. "Increased and sustained funding for evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs is needed now more than ever," she said. "The study’s findings show the impact of past tobacco control measures but also underscore the preventable deaths that continue to persist."

Study: Blood Test That Diagnoses Alzheimer’s Progress Could Help Advance Early Treatments

A newly developed blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden provides a potential advancement in assessing progression of the neurodegenerative condition.

Published in Nature Medicine, the study finds that this blood test identifies the presence and progress of Alzheimer’s by measuring tau protein levels in the blood.

Current Alzheimer’s tests, including those based on technology licensed from Washington University, can confirm the diagnosis in patients showing cognitive symptoms. However, these tests fall short of determining the stage of the disease, leaving a gap in clinical decision-making, researchers say.

With Alzheimer’s therapies being most effective in the early stages of the disease, identifying its progression could be crucial in determining which patients would benefit most from treatment. Additionally, the blood test offers insight into whether symptoms are attributable to Alzheimer’s or another condition.

The test measures levels of a protein known as MTBR-tau243, which reflects the accumulation of toxic tau aggregates in the brain. The study found that higher levels of MTBR-tau243 in the blood correlate with the severity of Alzheimer’s disease. This correlation enabled the researchers to distinguish between patients with early-stage and late-stage Alzheimer’s, and to differentiate those whose cognitive decline was due to Alzheimer’s from individuals with other causes of similar symptoms.

Randall J. Bateman, MD, co-senior author of the study and a neurologist at WashU Medicine, emphasized the significance of the findings in a news release.

"This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia," Dr. Bateman stated. "In clinical practice right now, we don’t have easy or accessible measures of Alzheimer’s tangles and dementia, and so a tangle blood test like this can provide a much better indication if the symptoms are due to Alzheimer’s and may also help doctors decide which treatments are best for their patients."

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques followed by tau tangles in the brain. Cognitive symptoms typically begin when tau tangles become detectable, and they worsen as these tangles spread.

The study's findings offer hope for a more efficient, reliable way to diagnose Alzheimer’s and monitor its advancement, ultimately assisting doctors in making more informed decisions regarding treatment. As researchers continue to refine and validate this blood test, it could significantly improve the management of Alzheimer’s disease, making early and more targeted interventions a reality for patients worldwide.

Even Weekend Workouts Can Have Significant Health Benefits, Researchers Find

With daily obligations, fitting in exercise into a work week can feel like an unattainable goal. However, a new study suggests that become a "weekend warrior" can offer significant health benefits.

The term "weekend warrior" typically refers to individuals who manage to fit all of their recommended physical activity into one or two days over the weekend. A new study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that this pattern of physical activity may reduce the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other causes.

The study, which followed 93,409 adults aged 37 to 73 over a period of about eight years, concluded that individuals who met the weekly exercise target — 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity — by cramming their activity into one or two days were 32 percent less likely to die from any cause, compared to those who were less active. They were also 31 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 21 percent less likely to die from cancer. These results were comparable to those of individuals who spread their physical activity across three or more days of the week.

The findings provide compelling evidence that time spent exercising doesn't have to be distributed evenly throughout the week to achieve health benefits.

"You don't need to exercise every day to stay healthy," said Zhi-Hao Li, M.D., the study’s co-author and an epidemiologist at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, in a news release from the American Heart Association. "As long as you get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week, you’re doing something great for your health."

U.S. guidelines recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination each week. The study found that nearly 43 percent of participants were classified as weekend warriors, while approximately 24 percent spread their physical activity over three or more days.

The results align with other research indicating that the total amount of physical activity, rather than the frequency or timing, is what matters most for health. A study published in Circulation last fall found that individuals who met the 150-minute weekly target, whether spread across the week or condensed into a shorter time frame, had a significantly reduced risk of over 200 diseases.

The study used data from the UK Biobank, which includes physical activity records collected from participants through wrist accelerometers. These devices measured movement, capturing a range of activities from structured exercise like jogging to everyday tasks like gardening, as long as the intensity was moderate to vigorous.

Dr. Li emphasized that "any activity – whether structured exercise such as jogging or daily tasks such as gardening – can be included if the intensity is moderate to vigorous."