New genetic evidence suggests certain cholesterol pathways may influence long-term dementia risk

• A large genetic study found people with gene variants that lower certain cholesterol pathways had a markedly lower chance of developing dementia.

• The research methodmimicked lifelong effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs on dementia risk, drawing on data from over one million people across three countries.

• The strongest associations were seen for gene targets tied to widely used cholesterol-lowering pathways suggesting potential brain-health benefits.

Dementia is a major public-health concern as our population ages, any clue toward prevention draws attention.

Now, a recent study from the University of Bristol suggests that the same biological mechanisms that control cholesterol might also influence our likelihood of developing dementia.

While weve long known that high cholesterol affects heart health, this research opens the door to thinking about brain health too and raises the question: could keeping cholesterol low help preserve memory and cognitive function down the road?

"What our study indicates is that if you have these variants that lower your cholesterol, it looks like you have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia," researcher Dr. Liv Tybjrg Nordestgaard said in a news release.

The study

Instead of running a long clinical trial, the researchers used peoples genes to understand how cholesterol might affect dementia. Our genes can naturally raise or lower cholesterol throughout our entire lives. Because genes are set at birth, they arent influenced by things like diet, income, or other health conditions.

The team looked at over one million people from several large population studies. They focused on certain gene variants linked to six different cholesterol pathways the same pathways targeted by common cholesterol-lowering medications.

By comparing people with genetic traits that naturally lower non-HDL cholesterol (a type of unhealthy cholesterol) to those without them, the researchers could estimate what lifelong lower cholesterol might do to dementia risk.

The results

The results were striking: people who had genetic traits that lowered non-HDL cholesterol through specific pathways had a much lower chance of developing dementia.

The strongest effects were seen for three key cholesterol-related genes:

• HMGCR linked to statins

• NPC1L1 linked to ezetimibe

• CETP a target of another group of cholesterol drugs
  

For these pathways, having genes that lowered unhealthy cholesterol was linked to a substantially lower risk of dementia over time.

For the other cholesterol pathways the team studied, the genes did not show a clear effect on dementia risk. This means how cholesterol is lowered not just how much may matter.

Its important to note what the researchers didnt conclude: They did not say that taking cholesterol-lowering drugs will definitely prevent dementia. Their study only shows what happens when cholesterol is lower throughout a persons entire life due to genetics. But the findings suggest that the biological pathways targeted by some cholesterol drugs could have protective effects on the brain something future clinical trials will need to test directly.

It would be a really good next step to carry out randomized clinical trials over 10 or 30 years, for example, where you give the participants cholesterol-lowering medication and then look at the risk of developing dementia, Dr. Nordestgaard said.

A recent study shows that even late-stage cancer patients live significantly longer when they stop smoking

• Cancer patients who quit smoking had a two-year survival rate of about 85%, compared with 74% for those who kept smoking.

• Among patients with advanced-stage (stage III/IV) cancer who smoked, those who quit reached 85% survival at ~540 days versus ~210 days for those who didnt quit nearly a full year of extra life.

• Only about one in five smokers in the study managed to quit within six months of their initial oncology visit, highlighting the challenge and the need for integrated cessation support.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, its easy to feel that smoking cessation might no longer make a meaningful difference.

However, recent research from Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center shows that this isnt the case.

Across cancer types and stages, patients who stopped smoking after beginning cancer care went on to live significantly longer than those who continued.

The takeaway? Its never too late to quit, and doing so can meaningfully improve survival.

By showing that its never too late, even for the sickest patients, we hope to inspire all cancer centers and patients to include smoking cessation support as part of routine cancer care to improve survival, researcher Li-Shiun Chen, M.D., said in a news release.

The study

The research team conducted an observational study involving 13,282 adults receiving outpatient oncology care at Siteman.

At their first visit, smoking status was recorded and patients who reported smoking were observed over the next six months to see whether they quit. About 1,725 participants identified as current smokers at that initial visit.

The primary outcome: overall survival (OS) over the next two years. The study tracked who quit within six months and compared survival outcomes between those who quit and those who kept smoking. They also looked across cancer stages (stage I/II vs. III/IV) and cancer types.

A key feature: the cessation program was integrated into cancer care through electronic health record tools and on-site support (counselling, apps, medications) at Siteman.

The results

The survival advantage for those who quit was clear. Among all cancer patients in the study, two-year survival was about 85% for quitters compared to 74% for those who continued smoking.

For patients with advanced stage (III/IV) cancer, the difference was especially striking: 85% of quitters were alive at ~540 days, whereas those who kept smoking reached that 85% survival mark only at ~210 days. Thats nearly one additional year of life on average.

Bottom line: For anyone diagnosed with cancer who smokes, this study sends a clear message: quitting mattersno matter how far along the diagnosis. Quitting smoking isnt just a quality-of-life decision, it may extend survival in meaningful ways.

Advanced-stage cancer patients often feel hopeless, researcher Steven Tohmasi, M.D. said in the news release. If they feel they have limited time, some doctors might not actively encourage patients to quit smoking or may prioritize patient comfort over cessation efforts.

But when weve shown patients our data, it gives them hope and motivates them to want to quit. An extra year of life is a long time for patients who may have been told they only had months to live.

How to not get scammed (better yet, make your own)

• Sold-out Starbucks Bearista cups are reselling for $200$300, pushing fans toward cheaper dupes on Walmart, Amazon, Etsy, and DIY honey-bear cups
• For look-alikes, confirm safe materials, read seller reviews, and avoid listings using Starbucks logos or stock photos to appear official
• Check return windows, who pays return shipping, and whether the cup is hot- or cold-onlyespecially since more Starbucks holiday drinkware is coming soon

Fans shut out by Starbucks sold-out Bearista Cold Cup are turning to look-alikes on Walmart, Amazon and Etsy, often for a fraction of the price. Here are the trade-offs, safety checks, and return rules to keep in mind.

The 20-oz glass Bearista Cold Cup hit Starbucks stores on Nov. 6 after a social tease the day prior and it vanished almost instantly. Starbucks apologized for the rollout, saying it shipped more Bearista cups than almost any other merchandise item, but demand still far outstripped supply. Part of the problem was that many employees were accused of buying them for themselves before the doors opened.

Resale listings popped up within hours, with many still selling in the $200-$300 range on eBay.

The dupe market: whats out there

Walmart: Theyre selling a bear-shaped glass with a beanie-style lid in-store for $12-$14, and online for $29. These are clearly not a Starbucks product as they lack the logo.

Amazon & Etsy: Many similar bear-inspired cups popped up on Amazon and Etsy. Prices vary wildly, anywhere from $30 to $75. Again, these are third-party designs without the Starbucks branding.

The eBay DIY honey bear workaround: Another trend also popped up in the days following the craze. Many clever fans are turning the classic honey-bear bottles (yes, the Kirkland ones from Costco) into look-alike cups with a lid and straw. TikTok creators have posted how-to videos using empty honey bottles, framing it as a free dupe if you already have the bottle at home.

Consumer check-list before you buy a look-alike

Verify materials & capacity. Look for tempered glass, BPA-free lid/straw, and dishwasher guidance. Third-party listings should disclose this; if they dont, skip. (Marketplace product pages usually list materials and care, ask for them if they dont)

Check seller history and photos. When shopping on eBay be sure prioritize sellers with many positive reviews and real photos. Always avoid listings using Starbucks stock photos or implying that theyre somehow affiliated with Starbucks.

Know return windows. Walmart, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy policies vary by seller. Confirm the return period and who pays return shipping before you purchase. (Policies should be posted on each product page.)

Check hot vs. cold. Starbucks Bearista is a cold cup. Many dupes are as well. If the listing claims hot safe, look for explicit temperature ratings in the description.

Will Starbucks restockor offer alternatives?

Starbucks says more holiday merchandise is coming. The company also announced a Roller Rabbit limited collection slated for Dec. 2, giving fans another shot at seasonal drinkware without turning to the resale market.

If you missed the drop, dupes can capture the vibe for much less. Just make sure you dont pay top dollar thinking youre getting the real deal when clearly, youre being duped. Protect yourself by scrutinizing materials, reviews, and returns and remember that splashy resale prices are list prices, not guaranteed sale prices.

The Colorado law is aimed at state-chartered banks and fintech firms that charge predatory interest rates

• Federal appeals court upholds Colorados right to apply its interest rate limits to loans made by out-of-state banks to state residents
• Decision could reshape bank-fintech partnerships that rely on state-chartered banks to bypass local lending caps
• National banks, which arent subject to state rate limits, may become preferred partners for fintech lenders

A federal appeals court has ruled that Colorado can enforce its own interest rate caps on loans made by state-chartered banks from other states to Colorado residents, a landmark decision that could ripple through the consumer lending and fintech industries, making it harder for predatory lenders to operate across state lines.

In a 21 ruling on Nov. 10, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit overturned a lower court injunction that had blocked Colorado from applying its 2023 lending law to out-of-state banks. The decision means that banks based elsewhere must now comply with Colorados lower rate limits when lending to people who live in the state.

Judge Gregory A. Phillips, writing for the majority, said Congress gave states the power to opt out of federal rate allowances under a 1980 law, allowing them to ensure that loans made in the state meet local standards. We acknowledge that this decision may cause some immediate uncertainty, Phillips wrote, but concluded that Colorado acted within its rights under federal law.

Fintech partnerships face new scrutiny

The ruling could have major implications for bank-fintech partnerships arrangements in which technology firms team up with state-chartered banks to issue loans nationwide. Many of those loans carry interest rates that would be illegal under the borrowers home-state laws but are allowed under the banks charter state.

By upholding Colorados authority, the court opened the door for other states to assert similar powers, potentially upending how fintech lenders price and issue credit.

The banks interpretation robs the state of one of its oldest police powers, creating a race to the bottom, Colorado Senior Assistant Attorney General Brian Urankar argued before the court earlier this year.

Industry groups, including the National Association of Industrial Bankers, warned the decision could push banks to seek national charters, which are exempt from state interest rate limits. That shift could concentrate more lending power in federally chartered institutions and reduce flexibility for smaller state-chartered banks. "Industrial" banks are generally chartered in states without strict interest rate caps.

Dissent warns of patchwork lending rules

Judge Veronica S. Rossman dissented, saying the majoritys interpretation created a practical problem by making loan regulation inconsistent across states. I struggle to see how this patchwork approach which abides a level of disuniformity Congress never intended will be administrable in our world of interstate, online banking, she wrote.

Rossman argued that the law was originally meant to regulate banks, not protect borrowers, and that loans made in a state should refer to the lenders location, not the borrowers.

What happens next

Colorados law, known as House Bill 1229, was enacted in 2023 to stop out-of-state banks from bypassing local lending caps. The state joined Iowa and Puerto Rico as the only jurisdictions to use the federal opt-out provision.

For now, the decision applies only to loans made to Coloradans, but observers say other states could soon follow Colorados lead. The caseNational Association of Industrial Bankers et al. v. Weiser et al.marks the first time a federal appellate court has sided with a state on this issue, setting the stage for potential challenges in other circuits or even the U.S. Supreme Court.

As Judge Phillips noted, Congress could have focused on the lender but chose instead to allow states to decide whether loans made to their residents should reflect their own interest rate standards.