Science Essentials: What You Need to Know
Evidence-based answers to critical health and science questions. We translate complex research into practical, actionable guidance.
Cannabis & Cannabinoids
A Simple Guide for Health-Related Use
Cannabis (THC and CBD) can offer relief for specific conditions, but it is not a "magic cure-all." Effects vary based on individual biology, dosage, and product quality.
Potential Benefits
- • Chronic Pain (Nerve, Joint, Muscle)
- • Cancer-Related Nausea & Appetite loss
- • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Spasms
- • Sleep & Anxiety (specifically CBD)
Key Risks & Precautions
- • Drug Interactions (Blood thinners/Heart meds)
- • "Wake-and-Bake" risks for older adults
- • Avoid if pregnant or under 25
- • Avoid if history of psychosis/schizophrenia
The Menopausal Transition
Q: What is the difference between Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is a multi-year transition marked by erratically fluctuating estrogen and FSH levels. Diagnosis is clinical, based on cycle irregularity (e.g., changes of 7+ days or skips of 60+ days). Menopause is a retrospective diagnosis made only after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea.
Q: What are the 'chronic' symptoms I should watch for?
While hot flashes (VMS) often diminish, Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) and bone loss are chronic and progressive. GSM involves vaginal dryness, urinary urgency, and painful intercourse due to urogenital tissue changes. Unlike VMS, GSM symptoms worsen over time without localized or systemic treatment.
Q: Is Hormone Therapy (MHT) safe for me?
The 2022 Medical Consensus highlights the "Window of Opportunity." For healthy, symptomatic women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, MHT is the most effective first-line therapy for VMS and GSM. Risks increase significantly if initiated after age 60 or 20 years post-menopause.
Q: Are there new non-hormonal options for hot flashes?
Yes. In 2023, the FDA approved Fezolinetant (Veozah), a first-in-class NK3 receptor antagonist. It works by blocking neurokinin B in the hypothalamus (the brain's thermostat), interrupting the hot flash cascade at its source without using hormones.
Vaccine Essentials
Q: How are new vaccines monitored for safety?
Vaccines undergo three phases of clinical trials before authorization. Post-approval, monitoring continues via VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) and "v-safe." While VAERS is an "early warning system," it relies on public submissions and should not be used in isolation to determine causality.
Q: Is there evidence linking vaccines to dementia risk reduction?
Yes. Recent studies suggest that certain vaccines, like Zostavax for shingles, can reduce dementia risk by approximately 20%. This may be due to "off-target" effects that reduce neuroinflammation.
Q: Do vaccines contain harmful ingredients like aluminum?
Vaccines contain tiny amounts of ingredients for specific purposes. Aluminum is an adjuvant used to boost immune response; infants actually receive more aluminum from their daily diet than from a vaccine dose.
Deep Dive Research
Access the full clinical whitepapers via our AI Research Hub.
Translating Science into Execution
Need more information? Start with our AI, Menopause and Vaccine research Hubs for links to more information.