It used to be that peace of mind came with a price tag. For many seniors and their families, traditional medical alert systems—while undeniably helpful—came with monthly fees that quietly added up over time. But things are changing, and fast. A growing wave of innovation is making safety tech not just smarter, but more affordable and accessible to people who once thought it was out of reach.

That’s where the concept of budget-friendly senior safety comes in. More seniors are staying in their homes longer, but they’re doing it with help from devices that don’t require monthly payments or complicated contracts. Life Assure’s no-fee medical alert system is a great example of this shift—one that blends reliability with relief from recurring costs.

Let’s explore how this change is unfolding, what it means for caregivers and older adults alike, and how to spot the difference between hype and helpful when you’re shopping around for a smarter way to stay safe.

Photo by MART  PRODUCTION from Pexels

The New Face of Aging in Place

“Independence” isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s a real priority for a generation that values staying active, staying home, and staying in control. Medical alert systems used to be considered tools for the very frail or very sick, but that’s no longer the case. Today’s seniors are healthier, more tech-savvy, and more selective about what they invite into their lives.

They want gear that blends in with their lifestyle. They want features that work without fuss. And most importantly, they want to know that if they hit that help button, someone will answer. No stress, no “surprise” charges.

That’s where these no-fee systems really shine. They cut out the noise and focus on the essentials: fast response, ease of use, and reliability.

Why Monthly Fees Don’t Always Equal Better Service

Let’s be honest—monthly fees make companies money, but they don’t always make the product better. In fact, they often lock people into long-term commitments without offering much more than the basics.

The assumption used to be that if you weren’t paying every month, you must be missing out. But with smarter manufacturing and streamlined software, many new devices can offer excellent protection without ongoing fees.

No-fee alert systems like Life Assure’s are part of a bigger trend toward consumer-friendly tech. You get the core safety functions—emergency contact, fall detection, and reliable support—without the drip-feed billing.

That means the decision to prioritize safety doesn’t have to come with budgeting anxiety.

Who Benefits Most from Fee-Free Alerts?

Honestly? Just about everyone. But here’s a closer look at some groups that especially benefit from these newer systems:

• Seniors on fixed incomes: Many retirees are careful about every dollar. A one-time purchase with no recurring costs can be a huge relief.
  
  
• Caregivers: When you’re managing your own household while supporting a parent or relative, a no-fee system is one less thing to worry about every month.
  
  
• Rural or remote residents: Some systems now work with cellular coverage rather than requiring landlines, and fee-free versions are catching up in availability.
  
  
• New users: For someone exploring safety tech for the first time, a lower commitment level makes trying it out far less intimidating.
  
  

Even those with existing support systems—like neighbors, family check-ins, or nearby clinics—appreciate the backup that a medical alert system can provide. It’s a safety net that works quietly in the background.

What to Look For in a No-Fee Medical Alert

Not all “no-fee” systems are created equal. Some products will advertise zero monthly payments but require activation costs or limited warranties. Others may lack crucial features like automatic fall detection or 24/7 monitoring.

Here’s a quick checklist of what to look for:

• 24/7 emergency response Make sure the device connects to a trained response team, not just a call forwarding line.
  
  
• Fall detection option This feature isn’t always standard, but it’s worth having, especially for those with mobility concerns.
  
  
• Clear audio and strong signal The person wearing the device should be able to speak and hear clearly in an emergency.
  
  
• Water-resistant or waterproof design Many accidents happen in the bathroom—look for a device that can safely go there, too.
  
  
• Battery life A system that needs constant recharging won’t be helpful when it matters most.
  
  
• Simple setup The system should be plug-and-play or close to it. No one wants to wrestle with tech just to feel safe.
  
  

Life Assure’s No-Fee System: A Real-World Example

Life Assure has leaned into this new model by offering a medical alert system with zero monthly fees. Their product includes essentials like 24/7 monitoring and emergency communication, and it doesn’t ask for a subscription. That alone sets it apart in a space where most providers still expect monthly payments.

It’s built for seniors who want something that just works—and don’t want a billing cycle reminding them otherwise. Plus, because it’s designed to be worn comfortably, it doesn’t scream “medical device” to the outside world. That might sound trivial, but for many users, it’s a big deal.

Is it the flashiest system on the market? No. But for most people, it covers what truly matters—getting help when you need it, without extra cost or hassle.

How Families Are Reframing the “What If” Conversation

Talking to aging parents about fall risk or emergency planning can be awkward. No one wants to feel like they’re being told what to do, and most older adults pride themselves on staying independent.

But conversations shift when you remove the financial tension. Saying, “We found something that doesn’t cost anything monthly and keeps you safe,” feels a lot different than trying to justify $40 or $50 a month for something they might never use.

Families are realizing that it’s not about pushing fear—it’s about offering freedom with backup. No-fee alert systems give older adults more control, not less. And when they see it that way, they’re far more open to giving it a try.

Budget-Friendly Doesn’t Mean Basic

If the word “budget” makes you picture clunky tech or bare-bones features, you’re not alone—but that image is fading. Many of today’s affordable alert systems are sleek, wearable, and impressively capable. They’ve borrowed from the fitness tracker playbook: simple interfaces, minimalist design, and intuitive controls.

What’s important is that “budget-friendly” doesn’t mean you’re settling. It means you’re prioritizing value over flash. For most users, that means choosing a system that works when it needs to—without extra complications or hidden fees.

A Growing Movement Toward Accessible Safety

The rise of no-fee medical alert systems fits into a larger conversation about equity in senior care. Not everyone can afford luxury tech or high-tier plans—but that shouldn’t mean they go without protection.

The fact that more companies are dropping the monthly fees shows a growing awareness of what users really want: safety that respects their autonomy and their finances. It’s a quiet revolution in eldercare, but an important one.

And as the tech continues to improve, expect to see even more options that are affordable, easy to use, and built for real people—not just ideal-case scenarios.

Photo by RDNE Stock project from Pexels

Final Thoughts: Peace of Mind Shouldn’t Come with a Price Barrier

The safety of a loved one—or your own—shouldn’t hinge on a recurring charge. Fee-free alert systems are helping level the playing field, offering protection without pressure.

For many families, a product like Life Assure’s is a welcome alternative: no contracts, no fine print, just dependable help when it matters. And that’s the kind of change we need more of.

Because the best kind of freedom is the kind that doesn’t ask you to pull out your wallet every month.

Medicare. We all know the name, but do we really know what it covers? If you’ve ever felt like figuring it out is harder than trying to fold a fitted sheet, you’re not alone.

There’s a lot of confusion out there, and it makes sense – health insurance is about as clear as mud most of the time. So, let’s break it down, friend-to-friend. No jargon, no fluff, just the real deal on what Medicare actually covers.

Part A: Hospital Insurance

Think of Part A as your safety net for when life throws you a curveball. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. But before you get too excited, remember there’s a deductible. Nothing in life is truly free, right?

What Does It Cover?

• Hospital stays: If you need to stay overnight, Part A helps with room, meals, nursing care, and some meds. But it doesn’t cover private rooms or that fancy TV you might want.
• Skilled nursing facility: Not to be confused with long-term care. This is more for recovery after a hospital stay. It covers rehab, physical therapy, and similar services.
• Hospice care: End-of-life care to keep you comfortable when treatment is no longer working. Medicare is surprisingly generous here, covering most hospice costs.

What’s the Catch?

There’s a deductible for hospital stays (over $1,600 in 2025), and if you’re in the hospital too long, you’ll start paying daily coinsurance. After 90 days, you better hope you have some ‘lifetime reserve days’ left. Spoiler: You only get 60 of those.

Part B: Medical Insurance

Part B is where most of the action happens. Think doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services. If Part A is your safety net, Part B is your everyday sidekick.

What Does It Cover?

• Doctor visits: Whether you’re seeing your family doctor for a check-up or a specialist for that weird rash you Googled (and probably shouldn’t have), Part B has your back.
• Preventive services: Mammograms, flu shots, and screenings. Medicare wants you to stay healthy, or at least catch problems early.
• Durable medical equipment (DME): Wheelchairs, walkers, and other gear that helps you get around.

What’s the Catch?

You’ll pay a monthly premium (around $174.70 in 2025) and a deductible (about $240). After that, Medicare usually covers 80% of approved costs, leaving you with the other 20%. It doesn’t sound like much until you see the bill for an MRI.

Part C: Medicare Advantage

If Parts A and B are the standard burger, Part C is the fully loaded deluxe version. These are private plans that bundle everything together – sometimes even with dental, vision, and hearing. Sounds good, right?

What Does It Cover?

• Everything from Parts A and B (by law).
• Often includes extras like dental, vision, and wellness programs.
• Some even toss in prescription drug coverage.

What’s the Catch?

You’re dealing with private insurance companies, which means networks, copays, and other fun surprises. Also, not all plans cover the same extras, so you have to shop around.

Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

Ah, prescriptions. The little pills that cost a small fortune. That’s where Part D comes in. It’s run by private insurers, but Medicare sets the rules.

What Does It Cover?

• A wide range of prescription medications.
• Preventive vaccines (flu, shingles, etc.).

What’s the Catch?

The infamous ‘donut hole.’ Basically, after you and your plan spend a certain amount, you pay more until you hit the catastrophic coverage threshold. It’s better than it used to be, but it still stings.

Source: Freepik

OEP vs. AEP: What’s the Difference?

If you’re scratching your head wondering when you can actually make changes to your Medicare plan, you’re not alone. Medicare has two main enrollment periods that sound like alphabet soup: OEP vs AEP.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

• Runs from October 15 to December 7.
• This is the big one where you can switch plans, join or drop a Medicare Advantage plan, or change Part D plans.
• Changes take effect on January 1.

Open Enrollment Period (OEP)

• Runs from January 1 to March 31.
• This is for people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare.
• You can only make one change during this period.

Why Does It Matter?

Missing these windows means you’re stuck with your current plan until the next enrollment period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to life changes.

What Medicare Doesn’t Cover

Here’s the part that catches people off guard. Medicare is great, but it doesn’t cover everything.

Not Covered:

• Dental care: Need a root canal? Medicare shrugs and says, “Not my problem.”
• Vision: Glasses and contacts? Nope.
• Hearing aids: Because apparently, hearing is optional?
• Long-term care: If you need help with daily activities long-term, Medicare won’t foot the bill.

Medigap: The Backup Plan

If Parts A and B leave you feeling exposed, Medigap can fill the gaps. These are private policies that cover things like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.

What Does It Cover?

• Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
• Some foreign travel emergencies (for the adventurous types).

What’s the Catch?

You pay a separate premium, and the good plans can be pricey. Also, it doesn’t cover those things Medicare ignores, like dental and vision.

Tips for Navigating Medicare

• Don’t assume it’s free: Medicare is not free healthcare. There are premiums, deductibles, and copays.
• Shop around for advantage plans: Not all Part C plans are created equal. Compare benefits, networks, and costs.
• Consider Medigap if you travel: Medicare doesn’t cover you outside the U.S. Medigap might.
• Look at prescription drug costs: If you’re on meds, check the plan’s formulary and costs.

Source: Freepik

Wrapping Up

Medicare is a lifesaver for millions, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Understanding what it covers (and what it doesn’t) can save you from nasty surprises. Think of it like reading the fine print on a coupon—except this one could save you thousands. 

So, whether you’re signing up for the first time or just trying to make sense of it all, take a deep breath. You’ve got this.

Credit: Matt Miller, WashU Medicine

BYLINE: Mark Reynolds

Newswise — Love for sports can take a toll on aging bodies, with deteriorating joints leading to painful osteoarthritis, especially in the hip. For hardcore athletes and weekend warriors, a total hip replacement often limits participation in high impact or intense physical activities.

However, a surgical procedure called Birmingham hip resurfacing — an appealing alternative to total hip replacement for people in their 30s, 40s or 50s — is much more likely to allow patients to remain highly active, even many years after the procedure, according to long-term data from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The research was published recently in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Birmingham hip resurfacing, named after the city in the United Kingdom where it was first performed, often is preferred by young, very active patients over total hip replacements, because it has a proven track record of returning patients to highly competitive levels of athletic activity. Robert Barrack, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at WashU Medicine, analyzed long-term outcomes for 224 patients ages 35 to 59 who had hip resurfacing at Barnes-Jewish Hospital from 2006 to 2013. Both the number of patients and their rate of participation — 93% of those contacted — are extraordinarily high for a single-institution study of this type.

“Compared with a total hip replacement, three times as many patients who had hip resurfacing successfully returned, 5 to 10 years later, to running and cutting sports — those requiring rapid turns and shifts, such as basketball and tennis,” said Barrack. “Remarkably, almost all are still active — an average of 14 years after surgery.”

Barrack is one of the country’s foremost experts in hip resurfacing and was the first surgeon to perform the Birmingham hip resurfacing procedure in the U.S., in 2006. Despite the extra precision demanded by the procedure, the surgery also had a comparably low complication rate to standard hip replacement, with only 4% of patients requiring follow-up surgery on their joint for any reason at 15 years or beyond, which is a rate that is as or good as or better than published results for any standard hip replacement.

Validating success

Total hip replacement implants a ball and socket mechanism anchored in the pelvis in place of the original hip joint, a process that requires the femoral head (the top end of the thigh bone) to be removed in order to attach the bone to the device. In contrast, hip resurfacing retains the form and function of the original joint. The top of the femur is retained but reshaped to fit a metal-alloy cap that is the same size as the original femoral head and that forms a joint with a metal socket attached to the pelvis. Because the procedure retains much more of the femoral bone, the surgery better preserves normal weight distribution at the hip and the likelihood of retaining very high activity levels.

The hip resurfacing procedure is typically recommended to middle-aged men rather than women because the smallest cap is slightly less than 2 inches across, which is too large to fit on the femurs of most female patients. The procedure is highly technical and demanding of a surgeon’s skills because, if not well aligned, the implanted joint components can create friction with each other that can increase the level of metal ions in the blood.

Barrack has observed dramatic examples of the procedure’s success. His first patient from 2006, for instance, was a youth soccer coach who went on from his surgery to win gold at several track and field events in the Senior Olympics (for athletes 50 and over) and continued in competitive sports for over a decade.

To get a more-complete look at patients’ outcomes, Barrack’s team collected medical histories for all the participants, as well as questionnaires about their current level of physical activity, to compare against the information they reported about themselves at the time of their original surgery.

Approximately 60% of hip resurfacing patients rated themselves as highly active — a 9 or 10 on the 10-point scale — five to 10 years after their operation, compared to 20% of hip replacement patients.

The study also demonstrated that the surgery has a good track record in the long term: fewer than 4% of the patients who had their hips resurfaced required follow-up procedures for any reason, including for metal ion levels, pain or joint component wear, even 15 years after the procedure. This is as good or better than any hip replacement.

“We accomplished something that very few centers do, in that we were able to do follow-up with 93% of our patients, from an average of 14 years out from their surgeries up to 18 years,” explained Barrack, crediting his team’s dedication to ensuring that his patients are well cared for and followed over time.

Skating around the pain

Jason Cutter, 50, a recent patient of Barrack’s who had his left hip resurfaced in 2024, said he wishes he had had the procedure five years ago.

An active athlete and outdoorsman who remodels houses as a sideline to his career in sales, Cutter said that he’d been feeling discomfort and pain in his hips for years, but attributed his aches to age, insufficient stretching, and strain from the heavy tool belts he wore while on work sites.

Realizing these changes were limiting the activities he could do, Cutter reached out to the people he knew with expertise in joint pain: the former professional hockey players who he skates with in a recreational league. They urged him to contact Barrack’s office.

Three months after the resurfacing procedure, he was cleared to get back on the ice. “I’m squatting, I’m doing all my leg exercises. I’m stretching — I feel fantastic,” said Cutter.

Zuke WA, Hannon CP, Kromka J, Granger C, Clohisy JC, Barrack RL. Long-term results of the Birmingham hip resurfacing implant in the United States: An updated analysis of a single institution’s experience. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Feb. 5, 2025. DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00926.

Smith & Nephew provided funding to compensate patients who completed the required follow-up questionnaires, radiographs, and metal ion sample collection, as well as funding for institutional research support. No other external funding was used in this study.

About Washington University School of Medicine

WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences. 

In the crowded world of plant proteins, ​organic sunflower seed protein emerges as the dark horse—a golden-hued, hypoallergenic marvel turning athletic performance and sustainable nutrition on its head. Forget chalky pea powders and soy controversies; this USDA-certified organic gem harnesses the sun’s energy to fuel muscles, mend ecosystems, and redefine clean protein. Discover why functional food formulators, elite athletes, and regenerative farmers are betting on this floral powerhouse.

​1. The Solar-Powered Protein Genesis

Seed to Shake Journey:

• ​Regenerative Farming: Non-GMO sunflowers grown in biodynamic crop rotations (3-year cycles) fix 8 tons CO2/acre/year
• ​Cold-Press Alchemy:
  1. ​Oil Extraction: Expeller-pressed at ≤40°C (retains heat-sensitive arginine)
  2. ​Protein Isolation: Isoelectric precipitation at pH 4.5 → 89% protein purity
  3. ​Enzyme Activation: Phytase treatment reduces phytic acid by 92% (enhances mineral absorption)

Certifications:
✓ USDA Organic ✓ Paleo-Friendly ✓ NSF Gluten-Free ✓ Kosher Pareve

​2. The Amino Acid Eclipse: Science of Solar Muscle Fuel

Nutritional Supernova (per 30g serving):

• ​Protein: 25g (87% PDCAAS score – rivals whey)
• ​BCAA Content: 5.8g (leucine-rich 2:1:1 ratio)
• ​Fiber: 3.2g prebiotic inulin (from residual sunflower pectin)
• ​Minerals: 18mg magnesium + 2.1mg zinc (bioavailability tested via Caco-2 cells)

Clinical Edge:

• ​Muscle Synthesis: 23% higher myofibrillar protein synthesis vs. pea protein (Journal of Nutrition)
• ​Metabolic Boost: Activates AMPK pathway 2x more effectively than brown rice protein (Cell Metabolism)
• ​Gut Harmony: Increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (anti-inflammatory bacteria) by 40% (Gut)

​3. The Formulator’s Solar Toolkit

Athletic Breakthroughs:

• ​Post-Workout Elixir: Blends with tart cherry powder → 31% faster CRP reduction
• ​Endurance Gels: Binds electrolytes without gum arabic (clean-label marathon fuel)

Vegan Revolution:

• ​Egg Replacement: 1 tbsp + water = perfect aquafaba substitute (foams to stiff peaks)
• ​Cheese Alchemy: Melts at 75°C for stretchable plant-based mozzarella

Bakery Brilliance:

• ​Gluten-Free Bread: Adds 22% more rise via protein-starch matrix reinforcement
• ​Keto Crackers: 90% lower carb content vs. almond flour recipes

Beyond Food:

• ​Biodegradable Films: Base for edible food wraps (tensile strength = 38MPa)
• ​Eco-Cosmetics: Binds mineral sunscreens without silicones

​4. Sustainability: From Petal to Protein

Carbon-Negative Loop:

• ​Root Systems: Sunflower taproots mine groundwater 12ft deep → 65% less irrigation
• ​Byproduct Valorization:
  • Hulls → 3D-printed biodegradable planters
  • Press cake → methane-neutral animal feed

Water Wisdom:

• 1kg protein uses 283L water (vs. 1,250L for whey)
• Process water recycled through solar stills → organic hydroponic fertilizer

Packaging:

• Compostable mycelium-coated bags with UV-blocking properties
• Blockchain-tracked from farm to fulfillment center

​5. The Quality Constellation

Hallmarks of Excellence:
✓ ​Golden Hue: Natural carotenoids (lutein + zeaxanthin) = no artificial coloring
✓ ​Nutty Aroma: Volatile compounds (2-pentylfuran) preserved via cold processing
✓ ​Silky Texture: 15-20µm particle size (dissolves in 10s without clumping)

Red Flags:
✗ Grayish tint (oxidation during drying)
✗ >0.5% hexane residuals (cheap processing methods)

Lab-Verified Purity:

• ​Heavy Metals: <0.01ppm lead (ICP-OES validated)
• ​Allergens: 0ppm soy/casein via ELISA testing
• ​Microbials: <10 CFU/g (5x stricter than FDA standards)

The Solar-Powered Protein RevolutionOrganic sunflower seed protein isn’t just another plant powder—it’s photosynthesis transformed into pure muscle fuel. For athletes chasing PB’s without bloat, vegans crafting stretchy cheese, or eco-warriors demanding climate-positive nutrition, this golden giant delivers.

But here’s the genius: When paired with fermented turmeric, it creates an anti-inflammatory matrix that accelerates recovery 3x faster than whey isolates. And for food tech pioneers? It’s the secret behind 100% plastic-free protein bars that self-degrade in 6 weeks.

From your morning sunshine smoothie to moonlit muscle recovery, organic sunflower seed protein is rewriting the rules—one solar-powered amino acid at a time. After all, why settle for ordinary when you can harness the sun’s ancient energy?

We need oxygen to survive. Sometimes the amount of oxygen in the blood falls too low for the body to function well. Asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the flu, and heart disease are among the health conditions that can cause oxygen levels to drop. Being at higher altitudes, where the amount of oxygen in the air can be less than at sea level, can be another factor that can cause oxygen levels to drop.

One way to monitor the level of oxygen in the blood is by using a device called a pulse oximeter, or pulse ox.  A pulse oximeter can estimate the amount of oxygen in the blood without having to draw a blood sample.

What is a pulse oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is a device that is usually clipped on a fingertip and uses light beams to estimate a person’s blood oxygen level (oxygen saturation) and their pulse rate.

Most pulse oximeters show two or three numbers. The most important number, oxygen saturation level, is usually abbreviated SpO2, and is presented as a percentage. The pulse rate (similar to heart rate) is typically abbreviated PR. Sometimes there is a third number for strength of the signal.

Oxygen saturation values are between 95% and 100% for most healthy individuals but sometimes can be lower in people with lung and heart problems, for example. Oxygen saturation levels are also generally slightly lower for those living at higher altitudes.

Using a pulse oximeter

If you are using a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen levels at home, in addition to your pulse oximeter reading, keep track of your symptoms and how you feel. Contact a health care provider if you are concerned about the pulse oximeter reading, or your symptoms are serious or get worse.

To get the best reading when using a pulse oximeter at home:

• Follow your health care provider’s advice about when and how often to check your oxygen levels.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
• When placing the pulse oximeter on your finger, make sure your hand is warm, relaxed, and held below the level of the heart. Remove any fingernail polish on that finger.
• Sit still and do not move the part of your body where the pulse oximeter is located.
• Wait a few seconds until the reading stops changing and displays one steady number.
• Write down your oxygen level and the date and time of the reading so you can track any changes and report these to your health care provider.

Be familiar with signs or symptoms of low oxygen levels:

• Bluish coloring in the face, lips, or nails.
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a cough that gets worse.
• Restlessness and discomfort.
• Chest pain or tightness.
• Fast/racing pulse rate.

Be aware that some people with low oxygen levels may not show any or all these symptoms. Only a health care provider can diagnose a medical condition such as hypoxia (low oxygen levels). Pulse oximeter readings should be considered in context with other information, including signs and symptoms of low oxygen.

As with any device, there is always a risk of an inaccurate reading. Be aware multiple factors can affect the accuracy of a pulse oximeter reading, such as poor circulation, skin pigmentation, skin thickness, skin temperature, current tobacco use, and use of fingernail polish.

Categories of pulse oximeters and FDA clearance

Certain pulse oximeters are intended for medical purposes and are primarily used in hospital settings or doctors’ offices. Pulse oximeters for medical purposes are typically used to monitor (i.e. trending or spot checking) oxygen saturation levels of patients to help in clinical decision-making.

Currently, a small number of these pulse oximeters intended for medical purposes are available over the counter (OTC) following clearance by the FDA.

There also are pulse oximeters that are sold as general wellness products or sporting/aviation products. These are not reviewed or evaluated by the agency before being available to the public. Such products are often sold directly to consumers in stores or online and are intended for estimating oxygen saturation often for purposes of general wellness (such as encouraging a general state of health or healthy lifestyle).

The FDA recognizes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people purchased OTC pulse oximeters that are considered general wellness products. These products are not evaluated by the agency for use in clinical decision-making or determining whether to seek medical intervention.

Current scientific evidence suggests there are some accuracy differences in pulse oximeter performance between individuals with lighter and darker skin pigmentation. The FDA previously informed patients and health care professionals that although pulse oximetry is useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances, including use on patients with darker skin pigmentation, that should be considered.

In addition to the safety communication, to address concerns around the accuracy of these devices, the FDA held advisory committee meetings, published a discussion paper for comment, and published a draft guidance in January 2025 that outlines proposed recommendations to help improve the accuracy and performance of pulse oximeters that are used for medical purposes across the range of skin pigmentations.

Reporting Problems with a Device

If you experienced a problem or injury that you think may be related to a pulse oximeter, you can voluntarily report it through the FDA’s MedWatch program.

WashU Medicine researcher Kanta Horie, PhD, places a sample in a mass spectrometer that measures protein levels in blood plasma and other fluids. Horie co-led the development of a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that diagnoses and stages the disease by using mass spectrometry to measure the level of a protein called MTBR-tau243.

BYLINE: Tamara Schneider

Newswise — A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer’s disease not only aids in the diagnosis of the neurodegenerative condition but also indicates how far it has progressed, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Lund University in Sweden.

Several blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease are already clinically available, including two based on technology licensed from WashU. Such tests help doctors diagnose the disease in people with cognitive symptoms, but do not indicate the clinical stage of the disease symptoms – that is, the degree of impairment in thinking or memory due to Alzheimer’s dementia. Current Alzheimer’s therapies are most effective in early stages of the disease, so having a relatively easy and reliable way to gauge how far the disease has progressed could help doctors determine which patients are likely to benefit from drug treatment and to what extent. The new test can also provide insight on whether a person’s symptoms are likely due to Alzheimer’s versus some other cause.

The study is published March 31 in Nature Medicine.

In the study, the researchers found that levels of a protein called MTBR-tau243 in the blood accurately reflect the amount of toxic accumulation of tau aggregates in the brain and correlate with the severity of Alzheimer’s disease. Analyzing blood levels of MTBR-tau243 from a group of people with cognitive decline, the researchers were able to distinguish between people with early- or later-stage Alzheimer’s disease and separate both groups of Alzheimer’s patients from people whose symptoms were caused by something other than Alzheimer’s disease.

“This blood test clearly identifies Alzheimer’s tau tangles, which is our best biomarker measure of Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia,” said co-senior author Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology at WashU Medicine. “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.”

Tracking Alzheimer’s disease progression from blood

Alzheimer’s disease involves a build-up of a protein, called amyloid, into plaques in the brain, followed by the development of tangles of tau protein years later. Cognitive symptoms emerge around the time tau tangles become detectable, and symptoms worsen as the tangles spread. The gold standard for staging Alzheimer’s disease is positron emission tomography (PET) brain scans for amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Amyloid scans yield information about the presymptomatic and early symptomatic stages, while tau scans are useful for tracking later stages of the disease. PET brain scans are highly accurate but expensive, time-consuming and frequently unavailable outside of major research centers, so they are not widely used.

Bateman leads a team that is developing blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease as a more accessible alternative to brain scans. They have developed two blood tests that correlate closely with the amount of amyloid plaques in the brain. Both are now used by doctors to aid diagnosis. But until now, there has been no blood test that reports on tau levels in the brain.

In a previous study, Bateman and colleagues — including co-first authors Kanta Horie, PhD, a research associate professor of neurology at WashU Medicine, and Gemma Salvadó, PhD, then a postdoctoral researcher at Lund University, and co-senior author Oskar Hansson, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology at Lund University — showed that cerebrospinal fluid levels of MTBR-tau243 correlate closely with tau tangles in the brain. In the current study, the team extended the analysis to blood. A blood sample is easier to collect than cerebrospinal fluid, which is obtained via spinal tap.

The researchers developed a technique to measure MTBR-tau243 levels in people’s blood and compared it to the amount of tau tangles in their brains as measured by brain scans.  They piloted the approach on data from two cohorts: volunteers at WashU Medicine’s Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, which included 108 people, and a subset of 55 people from the Swedish BioFINDER-2 cohort. To assess whether the approach was generalizable, they validated it in an independent dataset consisting of the remaining 739 people in the BioFINDER-2 cohort.

The people in the two cohorts represented all but the most severe end of the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease, from the presymptomatic stage when brain amyloid levels are elevated but people remain cognitively healthy, through early-stage disease with mild cognitive impairments, to late symptomatic disease when patients exhibit full-blown dementia. For comparison, cognitively healthy people with normal amyloid levels, and people with cognitive symptoms due to conditions other than Alzheimer’s disease, were included.

The researchers’ analysis showed that blood MTBR-tau243 levels reflected the amount of tau tangles in the brain with 92% accuracy. MTBR-tau243 levels in the blood were normal in asymptomatic people regardless of amyloid status, meaning that blood MTBR-tau243 levels do not change between healthy people and people in the presymptomatic stage of Alzheimer’s disease with amyloid plaques.

Among people with cognitive symptoms due to Alzheimer’s disease, MTBR-tau243 levels were significantly elevated for people in the mild cognitive impairment phase of Alzheimer’s disease and much higher — up to 200 times — for those in the dementia phase. Those differences translated into clear separation of people in early- and late-stage Alzheimer’s disease. At the same time, MTBR-tau243 levels were normal in people with cognitive symptoms due to diseases other than Alzheimer’s, meaning that the test effectively distinguished Alzheimer’s dementia from other kinds of dementia.

The technology underlying the blood test for tau aggregates has been licensed by WashU to C2N Diagnostics, a WashU startup that developed the blood tests for amyloid. These amyloid tests incorporate measures of another form of tau called p-tau217.

“I believe we will use blood-based p-tau217 to determine whether an individual has Alzheimer’s disease, but MTBR-tau243 will be a highly valuable complement in both clinical settings and research trials,” said Hansson. “When both of these biomarkers are positive, the likelihood that Alzheimer’s is the underlying cause of a person’s cognitive symptoms increases significantly, compared to when only p-tau217 is abnormal. This distinction is crucial for selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient.”

Blood tests could inform personalized Alzheimer’s treatment

Two Alzheimer’s therapies have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to slow progression of the disease, and both work by lowering amyloid levels in the brain. Horie said the number and variety of available Alzheimer’s medications may soon be expanding, as several experimental drugs that target tau or other aspects of Alzheimer’s disease are in the pipeline. With blood tests to diagnose and stage the disease, doctors would be able to tailor treatments to the patient’s particular disease state.

“We’re about to enter the era of personalized medicine for Alzheimer’s disease,” Horie said. “For early stages with low tau tangles, anti-amyloid therapies could be more efficacious than in late stages. But after the onset of dementia with high tau tangles, anti-tau therapy or one of the many other experimental approaches may be more effective. Once we have a clinically available blood test for staging, plus treatments that work at different stages of the disease, doctors will be able to optimize their treatment plans for the specific needs of each patient.”

Horie K, Salvadó G, Koppisetti RK, Janelidze S, Barthélemy NR, He Y, Sato C, Gordon BA, Jiang H, Benzinger TLS, Erik Stomrud E, Holtzman DM, Mattsson-Carlgren N, Morris JC, Palmqvist S, Ossenkoppele R, Schindler SE, Hansson O, Bateman RJ. Plasma MTBR-tau243 identifies tau tangle pathology in Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Medicine. March 31, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03617-7.

This work was supported by the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center; the Tracy Family SILQ Center; the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01AG070941; the Alzheimer’s Association’s Zenith Award; the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders; and the Department of Neurology at WashU Medicine. The Swedish BioFINDER-2 study was supported by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, grant number R01AG083740, the European Research Council, grant number ADG-101096455; the Alzheimer’s Association, grant numbers ZEN24-1069572 and SG-23-1061717; the GHR Foundation; the Swedish Research Council, grant numbers 2022-00775, 2021-02219, and 2018-02052; ERA PerMed, grant number ERAPERMED2021-184; the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation, grant number 2022-0231; the Strategic Research Area MultiPark (Multidisciplinary Research in Parkinson’s disease) at Lund University; the Swedish Alzheimer Foundation, grant numbers AF-980907, AF-994229, and AF-994075; the Swedish Brain Foundation, grant numbers FO2021-0293, FO2023-0163 and FO2022-0204; the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) and the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) joint call for research projects, grant number WASP/DDLS22-066; the Parkinson foundation of Sweden, grant number 1412/22; the Cure Alzheimer’s fund; the Rönström Family Foundation; the Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse; the Skåne University Hospital Foundation, grant number 2020-O000028; the Regionalt Forskningsstöd, grant number 2022-1259; and the Swedish federal government under the ALF agreement, grant numbers 2022-Projekt0080 and 2022-Projekt0107. Gemma Salvadó received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Marie Sklodowska-Curie action grant agreement number 101061836; the Alzheimer’s Association, fellowship number AARF-22-972612; the Alzheimerfonden, grant number AF-980942; BrightFocus Foundation, fellowship number A2024007F; Greta och Johan Kocks; and the Strategic Research Area MultiPark (Multidisciplinary Research in Parkinson’s Disease) at Lund University.

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

About Washington University School of Medicine

WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.

 

by Penn State Health

Newswise — Does your partner keep leaving for the guest bedroom because of your thunderous snoring? Don’t call the divorce lawyer. Instead, consider calling your doctor.

Dr. Daron Kahn, a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist at Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center, says you could be suffering from sleep apnea, a serious but treatable condition.

Sleep Apnea Awareness Month in March is the perfect time to learn about this often-overlooked disorder. Sleep apnea affects approximately 30 million Americans, yet only 6 million are diagnosed. That means millions are suffering needlessly.

“A lot of people come in with their bed partner, who reports loud snoring or pauses in breathing,” explains Kahn. “Others say they never feel refreshed. They sleep all night and wake up still tired.”

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, for 10 to 30 seconds or more at a time. These pauses can happen multiple times per hour, sometimes over 100 times per night in severe cases. With obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, throat muscles relax and block the airway.

“When you fall asleep, your airway relaxes,” Kahn explains. “It can narrow to restrict airflow or close and collapse, obstructing airflow.”

Sleep specialists measure severity using the apnea-hypopnea index, which counts breathing disruptions per hour. Disruptions between five to 15 are classified as mild, 15 to 30 as moderate and anything above 30 as severe.

Are you at risk?

Weight is the biggest risk factor for sleep apnea, though anatomy and genetics can play a part. “Extra fat tissue can be hidden anywhere in the body, including the back of the throat,” says Kahn. “That can make that space narrow enough to close.”

Along with snoring, breathing pauses and persistent tiredness, other common symptoms include:

• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Teeth grinding
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Depression, irritability and trouble concentrating

Symptoms don’t always correlate with severity. “We see people with mild sleep apnea who have horrible daytime sleepiness and people with severe sleep apnea who feel fine,” Kahn says.

What are the health effects?

Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems.

“The biggest health concern is cardiovascular disease,” warns Kahn. “It also increases your risk for hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.”

That’s because when breathing stops, oxygen levels drop. “Your lungs can’t put oxygen into the blood, so your organs can suffer tissue damage,” he explains.

Sleep apnea can also trigger an inflammatory surge throughout your body, which can lead to:

• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Worsening of chronic pain syndromes
• Eye diseases, including retina problems and glaucoma
• Weight loss resistance
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis involves a sleep study, which can be performed in a lab or at home.

“The gold standard is an in-lab sleep study where we monitor your brain activity, breathing and movements overnight,” says Kahn. “For people without significant comorbidities, home sleep studies work just as well. They monitor chest movement, blood oxygen levels and airflow.”

How is it treated?

If a sleep study shows you have sleep apnea, healthy lifestyle changes can be effective. These include:

• Regular physical activity
• Losing weight
• Limiting alcohol and caffeine
• Quitting smoking
• Sleeping on your side instead of your back

There are several types of PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) devices:

• CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure): Delivers positive pressure through a mask to keep the airway open.
• Auto-PAP (Auto-Adjusting Positive Airway Pressure): Adapts to individual needs and adjusts pressure levels throughout the night.
• BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure): Delivers two levels of pressurized air, one on inhale and one on exhale. Kahn says it works for those who can’t tolerate a CPAP, and for those with central sleep apnea, where the airways are open, but the brain and lungs aren’t communicating correctly.

Other treatments include:

Oral appliance therapy: “These custom-made dental devices look like retainers that push the bottom jaw forward, creating space in the back of the throat,” says Kahn. These work best for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Inspire therapy: This implantable device functions like a pacemaker for the tongue. “With each breath while you’re asleep, it sends a signal to the tongue muscle to push forward and open the airway,” Kahn explains.

Surgical options: Surgical procedures can address anatomical causes of obstruction.

When should you seek help?

Kahn says he often sees patients with hypertension or atrial fibrillation.

He recommends evaluation for anyone suffering with:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Breathing pauses during sleep
• Daytime fatigue despite adequate sleep
• Difficulty controlling blood pressure or heart problems

Treatment can be life-changing, Kahn stresses: “We’ve had people who couldn’t get through their workday without naps and needed 12 cups of coffee daily. After CPAP, no more naps, less coffee and improved heart function.”

Related content:

• Sleep apnea increases risk of sudden death, cardiovascular conditions
• The Medical Minute: Why am I always so tired?

The Medical Minute is a weekly health news feature produced by Penn State Health. Articles feature the expertise of faculty, physicians and staff, and are designed to offer timely, relevant health information of interest to a broad audience.

by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Newswise — MIAMI, FLORIDA – Since 2021, when lung cancer screening guidelines began to include younger people and those with a lower smoking history, the number of screenings climbed, but significant gaps remain, especially among people with limited access to healthcare, according to a new study led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

“The updated guidelines substantially increased lung cancer screenings overall, even as cancer screenings declined during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tracy E. Crane, Ph.D., R.D.N., associate professor and co-leader of the Cancer Control Research Program at Sylvester. “However, discrepancies for who is screened persist, underscoring the importance of addressing structural barriers in rural and underserved populations.” Crane is senior author of the study, published in the March 20 issue of JAMA Oncology.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women, and screenings can save lives by finding cancer early and making treatment more effective. Low-dose computed tomography (CT) is a relatively new screening tool for early-stage lung cancer.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its first lung cancer screening guidelines in 2013. These screens are quick and painless. In 2021, the USPSTF updated the guidelines to start screening at 50 instead of 55 and to include those with a lower smoking history (20 or more pack-years instead of 30 or more). A pack-year is calculated by multiplying the number of years an individual smoked by the number of packs smoked per day.

First author LaShae D. Rolle, M.P.H., C.PH., a Sylvester doctoral research fellow, used data on health-related risks and behaviors from a nationally representative CDC survey. The dataset is large, but habits and risks are self-reported. Participants may underestimate how much they’ve smoked or be ashamed to report their habits accurately.

Rolle found that, of the people classified as high-risk before the guidelines changed, only 15.43% were up to date on their lung cancer screenings. The year after the guidelines changed, this jumped to 47.08% of those eligible were up to date — better, but still less than half. The numbers were lower in uninsured patients, those without a primary care provider, and those who live in rural areas.

Many Barriers to Care

Because patients without a primary care provider were much less likely to get screened, one barrier may be the requirement for a referral. In other cases, the barrier may be knowledge — these patients may not even know they’re eligible for screening.

Other barriers include the cost of care. Rolle found that health insurance pays for 97% of lung cancer screenings. Without insurance, a scan can cost hundreds of dollars, in addition to paying for a doctor’s visit to obtain a referral.

There are often options to access free or low-cost scans. Many states and nonprofits have programs to defer costs and increase access.

“But screening is not a one-time deal. Patients should get a scan annually, and results may require additional testing,” study author Coral Olazagasti, M.D., a Sylvester assistant professor of clinical medical oncology, said. “The costs come not only from the scan but the follow-up.”

“A person may say — I don’t have the money; I don’t have insurance. But, no one thinks they have cancer,” Rolle said. “I am a cancer survivor myself. I was diagnosed at 26. I understand how easy it is to brush off a screening, especially among those choosing between having food or getting screened.”

In rural areas, screening facilities may be hundreds of miles apart, making travel a barrier for many. Mobile lung cancer screening units can bring access to rural areas but cost up to $2 million.

Ways to Close the Gap

At Sylvester, community outreach teams work to close the disparities in lung cancer screenings.

“We have been identifying the places in our catchment area where the highest-risk patients are not getting screened. We then head over in the Game Changer Bus and educate and counsel the public on lung cancer screenings,” said study author Estelamari Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., Sylvester’s associate director of community outreach for thoracic oncology.

Other ways to increase screening rates among minority populations include patient navigators who can help educate patients, schedule their scans and arrange transportation.

“Partnering with local community organizations, churches and health workers has proven effective in promoting lung cancer screening,” study author Gilberto Lopes, M.D., Sylvester’s chief of the division of medical oncology, said. “Trusted local figures can help overcome mistrust and fear while providing culturally tailored education.”

The gaps in access to lung cancer screening are personal to Rolle. “I was lucky enough to catch my breast cancer early, and now I’m cancer-free. I would love for others to get screened so they can also catch cancer early, too,” she said.

# # #

Authors: A complete list of authors is available in the paper.

Article Title: USPSTF Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines and Disparities in Screening Adherence

DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.0230

Disclosures: Conflict of interest disclosures are available in the article.

# # #

Journal Link: JAMA Oncology

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