A Ghost in the Machine

In a tale of digital resurrection, Joshua Barbeau, a reclusive writer, finds solace in the AI-driven chatbot Project December. Struggling with the loss of his fiancée, Jessica, he crafts a virtual echo of her using GPT-3's uncanny linguistic prowess. While the A.I. mimics Jessica's essence, it's a poignant reminder that technology can offer a shadow of comfort but not the substance of genuine human connection. In this age of A.I., even the ghosts of our past can send texts, blurring the lines between memory and bytes. (One of the most thought-provoking articles I've read this year.) He couldn't get over his fiancee's death. So he brought her back as an A.I. chatbot.

A.I. Not Ready for Medical Advice

Although A.I. can now pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, the models are not (yet) ready to become your go-to source for medical advice. Two articles drove home the point this week: People Are Using ChatGPT for Nutrition Advice — The Results Are Dangerous and Doctors Wrestle With A.I. in Patient Care, Citing Lax Rules - The New York Times (gift article).

The Heavy Price of Slimming Down

Opinion | Are obesity drugs worth it? - The Washington Post (gift article) examines the economic equation of obesity drugs like semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy. It highlights the drug's potential to reduce obesity-related health costs by mitigating the risks of chronic diseases. However, the article implies skepticism about the cost-effectiveness of such medications, considering their high prices, and questions whether long-term healthcare savings justify the upfront expense. I believe they will, but further analysis and breadth of the pharmaceuticals (such as Mounjaro) are needed.

+And more on the need to further evaluate the impact of these blockbuster drugs: Opinion | Open question for obesity drugs: Will they improve people's health? - The Washington Post. (gift article)

NCCIH on Probiotics

Another excellent evidence-based summary on probiotics: Probiotics: What You Need To Know | NCCIH. See, too, my cautionary tale on the indiscriminate use of probiotics: Are Probiotics Making You Fat? probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented food — HealthHippieMD.

Sweet Sound of Pain Relief

Researchers at McGill University have uncovered a noteworthy connection between music and pain management. In their study, patients donned headphones to listen to their favorite tracks while a thermal simulator applied heat to their forearms. The findings strikingly suggest that the pleasure derived from music may alleviate discomfort to a degree comparable with over-the-counter pain relievers. This research adds a new layer to our understanding of pain perception, hinting at the potent therapeutic potential of personal music choices. Listening to favorite songs can reduce pain as much as Advil, study finds - The Washington Post. (gift article)

Music and Mental Health

"When you join other human beings through music, there's no other experience. I think it completely changes how you think of yourself." Scientists are starting to unravel how music improves our mental health: How Music Therapy Can Soothe Anxiety and Improve Mental Health - The New York Times. (gift article)

Towards a Cuffless Era

Emerging cuffless blood pressure monitors are set to revolutionize health tracking by offering non-invasive, on-demand readings. These devices, which forego the traditional arm cuff, utilize sensors and algorithms to estimate blood pressure from physiological signals. While they promise a more integrated and less disruptive health monitoring experience, their clinical adoption is pending further validation. The accuracy and reliability of these innovative devices must match up to the established standards before they can fully integrate into medical practice and personal health regimes. This New Blood Pressure Monitor Could Radically Shift How We Track Diseases.

Navigating the Storm of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, a condition affecting over 12% of Americans, is often rooted in the fear of rejection, according to research from George Washington University's Fallon Goodman. Goodman's work in the Emotion and Resilience Lab explores how this fear can lead to severe isolation and increased risks of depression and substance abuse. Contrary to the belief that sufferers prefer solitude, they deeply crave social connections. Goodman's research, which includes a popular TED Talk, uses real-time smartphone data to track emotional responses and aims to foster "social courage." Her findings emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing social anxiety in a world where connection is crucial. Fear of Failing: The Secrets Behind Social Anxiety - Neuroscience News.

Starved for Time

"If you have an hour, how would you spend it? On things you COULD do? Or things you SHOULD do?" Just this week, I shared, with a close friend, an article I wrote on time poverty: Time Poverty: a significant threat to wellness — HealthHippieMD. The very next day, I found an Arthur Brooke's podcast episode in my queue: ‎How to Talk to People: How to Spend Time on What You Value. The podcast is well worth a listen.

The Last Purchase You'll Ever Make

In the melting pot of American death practices, individualism doesn't cease to breathe even as the body does. Diana Blaine reveals a trend where traditional communal death rituals give way to personalized post-mortem adventures. From vinyl records made of ashes to space-bound urns, Americans are increasingly opting for unique, consumer-driven final farewells. This shift mirrors a broader cultural move from the collective to the individual, from earth burials to diamonds made from ashes. Ironically, in the quest to escape the mundane finality of death, these choices still cling to a timeless human desire: to immortalize one's essence, albeit in a consumerist afterlife. American individualism lives on after death, as consumers choose new ways to put their remains to rest.