Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is a neurology holy grail. What if a standard metabolic test already employed for testing for diabetes risk could identify who will decline most rapidly? Recent research indicates just that. Researchers at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025 in Helsinki reported that a cheap and readily available marker—the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index—may predict whether individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from Alzheimer's will progress rapidly or remain quite stable.

The TyG index, a ratio of fasting triglycerides and glucose, is a simple surrogate for insulin resistance. It's painless, inexpensive, and already included in standard blood panels everywhere. Notably, insulin resistance isn't only bad for blood sugar—it can also interfere with the brain's glucose use, induce inflammation, and weaken the protective blood-brain barrier.

Although previous research associated insulin resistance with the development of Alzheimer's, this study is the first to demonstrate that it can also forecast the speed of cognitive deterioration, providing essential timing information for intervention.

Researchers at Brescia University, Italy, reviewed data from 315 non-diabetic adults with cognitive impairment, including 200 with Alzheimer's MCI. All had baseline TyG testing, then were followed for three years. Participants in the highest tertile of TyG declined cognitively at a rate four times faster than their lower-scoring counterparts—losing more than 2.5 MMSE points annually.

Remarkably, this sharp fall that was associated with elevated TyG was present in the Alzheimer's group only—not among patients with other neurological dysfunction—illustrating a disease-specific susceptibility

Why Insulin Resistance Hurts Alzheimer's Brains?

Insulin resistance can play a far more pivotal part in Alzheimer's development than was previously realized, derailing brain function by multiple critical mechanisms. One of the most important is decreased glucose intake—insulin resistance can literally deprive brain cells of the energy they require, affecting neuronal function. Meanwhile, raised TyG levels correlate with disruption of the blood-brain barrier, which is supposed to serve as a protective buffer shield against toxic substances. When the blood-brain barrier becomes compromised, toxins and inflammatory mediators gain access to the brain more readily, further exacerbating neural injury.

In addition, persistent insulin resistance can speed up the deposition of amyloid-beta—clumpy protein plaques that are regarded as a signature of Alzheimer's disease. Such deposition leads to structural and functional decay of brain tissues. Insulin signaling disruption also initiates chronic neuroinflammation, which exacerbates damage by initiating a chain of inflammation cascades that enhance neurodegeneration.

These interlinked processes highlight that insulin resistance is not an independent metabolic problem—it is possibly an active contributor to the progression of Alzheimer's. With studies now demonstrating that a high TyG index status is a strong predictor of accelerated cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), novel clinical opportunities arise. Clinicians are now able to identify high-risk subjects for more focused clinical trials targeting early or aggressive treatment approaches. Interventions that increase insulin sensitivity—through lifestyle modification, for example, or medications like metformin—may possibly change the course of the disease. Notably, early detection also empowers families with valuable time to prepare medically, emotionally, and financially for what is ahead.

As Dr. Bianca Gumina, who led the study, stated, “Once mild cognitive impairment is diagnosed, families always ask how fast it will progress… a simple metabolic marker available in every hospital laboratory can help identify more vulnerable subjects…”

Longitudinal population studies have already shown higher TyG levels correlate with increased dementia risk—including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia—even after adjusting for typical cardiovascular factors.

Although overall effect sizes have been small, the value of this Brescia study resides in that it is based on progression speed rather than merely risk.

What Should Patients and Clinicians Do?

If you or someone close to you has received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease, it might be worthwhile to ask your physician to check your TyG index, or fasting triglyceride-glucose ratio. This is a simple blood test that may give you some very valuable insight into the speed at which cognitive loss will occur.

Tracking your TyG score annually may offer an early warning system; a rising trend could signal the need for more frequent cognitive assessments. If your TyG score is elevated, discuss possible interventions with your healthcare provider. Lifestyle changes such as adopting a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and exploring insulin-sensitizing medications may help slow the pace of cognitive deterioration.

Although TyG testing is not yet a mainstream Alzheimer's care tool, it has promise as one, particularly considering its ease of use and availability. That said, the current results do have some caveats. The research was conducted in a relatively small sample and utilized a retrospective design, so the results must be verified by larger, prospective clinical trials. Also, the study was conducted among non-diabetic patients only, so the findings may not be applicable to diabetics whose metabolic markers respond otherwise.

In the future, intensive research will strive to combine TyG index values with genetic markers such as APOE ε4, imaging biomarkers in the brain, and extensive lifestyle data for a more complete risk analysis. However, due to its low cost and universal access, TyG testing is an appealing candidate for potential early risk stratification in Alzheimer's—at least until further clinical confirmation.

Alzheimer’s has long been diagnosed too late, after irreversible brain damage. A simple change in blood glucose metabolism now appears linked not only to getting Alzheimer’s, but to how fast it worsens.

This TyG insight brings a new level of personalisation. Rather than solely reactive care post-diagnosis, we may soon evaluate each patient’s trajectory risk, tailoring timing and intensity of interventions to their metabolic profile.

Hexagonally, it repositions Alzheimer's as not only a neurological disease, but a metabolic one—a metabolic one in which insulin resistance is the leading actor.

A standard insulin resistance test—the TyG index—can potentially identify soon enough Alzheimer's patients who are likely to fall into a steep downward spiral before symptoms rapidly accelerate, providing a window of time for directed trials, therapies, and early intervention.

Global pharma giant Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy in India, a pivotal moment in the battle against increasing obesity levels in the nation. This follows closely on the heels of Eli Lilly's Mounjaro launch in India.

Wegovy, the semaglutide-based GLP-1 receptor agonist, will be available by the end of the month across major pharmacy chains in India. The once-weekly injectable prescription drug has already changed the landscape of obesity management in the United States and Europe.

"One out of every three patients attain 20% weight loss using the increased dose of Wegovy," stated Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India. The firm has completed late-stage trials involving 3,500 people in India, indicating encouraging results in sustained weight loss.

Wegovy will come in several dosages, ranging from Rs 4,336 for 0.25 mg to Rs 26,015 for the highest 2.4 mg dose. Its price is comparable to its rival Mounjaro, which was also launched in India last month in March.

Wegovy is timely given the increasing weight problem in India. A recent National Family Health Survey reveals that 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men aged between 15 and 49 years are overweight or obese—a notable increase from past years. India, with a population of over 1.4 billion and fast-emerging lifestyle diseases, is a huge market for weight-loss medications.

The medication has already proven to be successful across the world. Clinical trials have indicated that Wegovy consumers would lose around 15% of their body weight on average, especially when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise. For comparison, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), being a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist, experienced close to 23% of weight loss under the same circumstances.

Novo Nordisk's launch in India is at a time of corporate leadership transition, following the recent resignation of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen. The move is said by analysts to be intended to protect market share in a competitive environment rising from Lilly competition as well as Indian generic drugmakers who are gearing up to move into the field of obesity drugs when semaglutide's patent is about to end in 2026.

Although Wegovy brings new hope to millions of people with obesity, there are warnings with the medication. The drug has a boxed FDA warning about the potential for thyroid cancer, as suggested by studies on animals. Because of this, the drug is not approved for use in someone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

As India joins the global fight against obesity with cutting-edge therapies, India is all set to benefit from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which is ready to provide a new, science-driven solution for long-term weight management. The competition has already turned hot, and for Indian consumers, it could mean more options, improved results, and a new age of obesity treatment.

When Stacie Golebiowski went for her 36-week ultrasound last summer, she knew her baby would be big, but no one was truly ready for just how big. On July 4, 2024, at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), Stacie gave birth to her son, Grayson, who weighed a surprising 15 pounds and 10 ounces. This was such an unusual size that it caused a first-ever problem for the hospital staff when trying to record his weight.

System Limitations Of Dealing With Above Average Baby Weight

Laura Ferris, who helps manage women and children's services at the hospital, explained that when Grayson was born, the nurses found his weight was too high for the Ontario registry system. They actually had to call the registry, which then had to manually update their records – something that had never happened before.

Now, as Grayson gets close to his first birthday, he's doing great. Stacie shared that there were difficulties and unknowns with Grayson at the start, even for the doctors and nurses. But they got through it all, and he's "doing amazing."

The family hopes their story can help other parents who have unusually large babies. Stacie mentioned feeling like she might have done something wrong, but she emphasized that it's important for parents to understand that it's just what their body does and it's not their fault. According to BORN Ontario, Grayson's birth weight puts him in the top 0.01 percent of all babies born in the province.

Concerns Regarding High Birth Weight

According to MedlinePlus, when babies are born larger than average, it's called having a high birth weight. While every baby is a blessing, being very big can sometimes come with a few challenges. For example, it can make the delivery more difficult for both the baby and the mother, and there might be a higher chance of minor injuries during birth. After birth, bigger babies might also face some specific health issues like,

Blood Sugar Issues

Their bodies might have trouble keeping their blood sugar levels steady, which needs to be watched closely by doctors.

Breathing Problems

Sometimes, these babies can have trouble with their breathing, requiring extra care.

Jaundice

This is a common condition that causes a yellowing of the skin and eyes because of too much bilirubin in the blood. While many babies get jaundice, those with a high birth weight might be more prone to it or have a more noticeable case.

Risks Associated with Higher Birth Weights

The Standford Medicine Children’s Health points out that many large babies are born to mothers with diabetes. They also list the risks that are associated with high birth weight,

• A long labor.
• A difficult birth.
• Injuries to the baby, such as a broken collarbone or nerve damage in the arm.
• A greater chance of needing a C-section.
• Higher risk of birth defects.

Does High Birth Weight Cause Health Issue?

According to a 2021 study published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics journal, more and more children are being born with high birth weight or are considered "large for gestational age" (LGA). This is happening even more with babies conceived through certain fertility treatments like frozen embryo transfer (FET). While we know a lot about the short-term risks for these babies, less is known about their health in the long run.

A 2021 study looked at the connection between high birth weight and long-term health in children. After reviewing many studies, it found that being born with a high birth weight or LGA was linked to a slightly higher risk for certain cancers in childhood (including breast cancer), some mental health conditions, high blood pressure in childhood, and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The season is again transitioning, from spring to summers and some areas are also seeing early monsoons. This is also the allergy season in the US, and thanks to global warming, it has begun earlier. This has caused 25% of adults and 20% of children to experience seasonal allergies. While almost everywhere in America seasonal allergies are going on, there are certain regions where cases are more. You may be more prone to catching diseases. A recent 2025 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the contiguous United States based on tree, grass, and weed pollen counts. The data also accounts for number of allergy specialists and estimates of over-the-counter sinus and allergy medication usage.

Each city was scored based on the three factors, and the scores would top out of 100.00 for the worst city for allergies to 45.29 for the best.

Each metropolitan area was also rated as “worse than average,” “average,” or “better than average” based on its levels of tree, grass, and weed pollen. Similar ratings were given for medication usage and access to allergy specialists.

10 Worst US Cities To Live In During Seasonal Allergies

10. At number 10 is Greensboro, North Carolina with a score of 82.08. The pollen rating for this region is worse than average.

9. At number 9 is Greenville, South Carolina with a score of 82.74, and rating worse than average.

8. Next up is Richmond in Virginia, with a score of 82.80. Rating for this too is worse than average.

7. The rating for all is worse than average, and on number 7 is Raleigh, North Carolina, with scoring of 82.87.

6. Little Rock in Arkansas scored 82.94.

5. Memphis in Tennessee scored 83.50.

4. At number 4 is Tulsa in Oklahoma with allergy score of 84.16.

3. For the top 3, we again have Oklahoma with Oklahoma City with allergy score of 86.05.

2. Top 2 is New Orleans in Louisiana, scoring 86.81.

1. For top 1, Wichita in Kansas has scored an allergy score of 100.00.

What Are The Common Allergy Triggers For US?

As per the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, in many parts of the United States, spring allergies kick off as early as February and can last through early summer. Tree pollen is typically the first to appear, followed by grass pollen later in the season, and then ragweed, which dominates in late summer and fall. In tropical regions, grass pollen can linger for much of the year. Warmer winter temperatures may trigger early pollination, while a rainy spring often leads to fast plant growth and a spike in mold—prolonging allergy symptoms well into the fall.

Ragweed: The Top Fall Allergen

Ragweed is the most common cause of fall allergies. It grows wild across the U.S., especially along the East Coast and throughout the Midwest. Ragweed typically starts releasing pollen in August and continues through November, with levels peaking in early to mid-September in many regions.

Other Plants That Trigger Fall Allergies

• Burning bush
• Cocklebur
• Lamb’s-quarters
• Pigweed
• Sagebrush and mugwort
• Tumbleweed and Russian thistle

What Affects Allergy Severity

The intensity and timing of allergy seasons can vary by location, but several climate-related factors play a role in how severe your symptoms may be:

• Tree, grass, and ragweed pollens flourish in cool nights and warm days.
• Mold thrives in hot, humid conditions.
• Pollen counts are usually highest in the morning.
• Rain can wash away pollen, but levels often rise quickly once it stops.
• Calm, windless days keep allergens low to the ground.
• Warm, windy days cause pollen counts to spike.