Global Scans · Illness · Weekly Summary

• [New] A pioneering experimental treatment for motor neurone disease, developed by UCL spinout Trace Neuroscience, will be trialled in humans as part of a new international clinical programme. UCL News
• [New] Deaths from Alzheimer's disease have more than doubled since 2000, and the number of people affected is expected to nearly double by 2060. Southcoast Health
• [New] By disease type, the cardiovascular diseases segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] Wegovy offers adults with obesity significant weight loss, along with diet and exercise, and is FDA-approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with obesity with known heart disease - making Wegovy pill truly distinct. BioSpace
• [New] The majority of the adult population 50 years and older, across all races, will have at least one chronic disease by 2050, with the majority between the ages of 60 to 79 years. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] One in four Singaporeans could be living with chronic kidney disease by 2035. ST
• [New] North Carolina continues to receive federal support through entities such as the CDC's Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program, which helps strengthen laboratory systems and detect infectious disease threats. WRAL
• Fastest-growing Region: Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing, driven by expanding healthcare infrastructure, rising surgical volumes, broader insurance coverage, and increasing chronic disease-related wound care demand. Persistence Market Research
• The 40-59 years category will have the highest CAGR, due to an increased incidence of wet AMD in younger populations with earlier onset neovascularization related to genetic predispositions, inflammatory pathways and modifiable risk factors such as smoking, obesity and cardiovascular disease. P&S Intelligence
• Mental health telehealth represents the most time-sensitive actionable opportunity with 57 million Americans living with mental illness (SAMHSA) and 45 states reporting provider shortages, offering above-average subscription retention, high session frequency, and CMS-expanded reimbursement parity. Persistence Market Research
• About 80% of premature heart disease cases, strokes, and cases of type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancers, could be avoided if the major risk factors for non-communicable diseases, such as unhealthy diets, were eliminated. PubMed Central (PMC)
• More than 100 million American adults are currently living with obesity - a condition that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. GoalBMI Wellness
• FDA approves Ozempic for a new indication: reducing the risk of worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. GoalBMI Wellness
• The shift from accelerated FDA approval to full approval is now the key Medicare coverage trigger for Alzheimer's drugs - a pattern expected to repeat with the next generation of disease-modifying therapies. Understood Care
• Threats from emerging pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and global disease spillover have not abated - indeed, many believe risk is rising. BIO International Convention 2026
• Additional studies reported at AAIC 2026 found that heading a soccer ball, even in amateur play, was linked to short-term spikes in markers of brain cell injury, and that longer soccer careers were associated with higher risk of the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Dementia Research Advances from AAIC 2026
• Wet AMD, or wet age-related macular degeneration, is a highly prevalent disease, with more than 4 million individuals expected to be affected in the next five years in certain major markets, including the U.S., the EU and Japan. GlobeNewswire
• A growing body of research has linked UPF consumption with increased risk of Crohn's disease, greater disease activity and higher chances of flare-ups among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. FoodNavigator.com
• Larger, longer-term randomized trials examining GLP-1 effects on ageing in diverse populations - including healthy adults without metabolic disease - will be needed before any anti-aging indication could realistically reach the FDA's approval process. Medical Daily
• By 2050, the number of people living with at least one chronic disease is predicted to nearly double from 2020 figures, to nearly 143 million people. West Health Mosaic
• Alzheimer disease affects 6.7 million Americans, with projections reaching 13.8 million by 2060, necessitating urgent preventive intervention development. Nature
• Vermont became the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to higher risk of Parkinson's disease. Circle of Blue
• According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, a wave of scientific advances has the potential to transform healthcare from a system primarily focused on treating disease to one increasingly centered on predicting, preventing, and intervening earlier. Stordahl Capital Management

Last updated: 02 August 2026