"It's not just a function of testing. Yes, we're getting more cases identified. But the cases are actually going up. And we know that too because hospitalizations are going up."

Trump's head of COVID testing says Trump is totally wrong about COVID testing

Actually, No

Contrary to what Trump has been insisting for the whole pandemic, the surge in new coronavirus cases has nothing to do with how many tests are administered.

Trump’s Head of COVID Testing Says Trump Is Totally Wrong About COVID Testing

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-case-surge-trump-5cf102c0-89e0-4fb7-8b61-05cf92f6f14f.html">Trump&#8217;s testing czar: COVID surge &#8220;is real&#8221; and not just caused by more tests</a> [Axios]

More on COVID-19: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/third-wave-covid19-crashing-over-united-states-right-now">A Third Wave of COVID-19 Is Crashing Over the United States Right Now</a>

Developments

Well, this is awkward.

"I think we are right now at the cusp of what is going to be exponential spread in parts of the country."

A third wave of COVID-19 is crashing over the United States right now

New Wave

A third wave of COVID-19 cases — shaping up to be the worst one yet — is hitting the U.S., and the federal government is throwing in the towel.

A Third Wave of COVID-19 Is Crashing Over the United States Right Now

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/26/covid-last-counties-without-cases/">As the coronavirus surges, it is reaching into the nation’s last untouched areas</a> [The Washington Post]

More on the third wave: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/trump-fauci-disaster-fauci-pandemic-not-over">Trump: Fauci&#8217;s a &#8216;Disaster.&#8217; Fauci: Pandemic&#8217;s Not Over.</a>

We are begging you to take this seriously.

The hormone that makes you feel hungry also helps steer your brain's development.

Doctors link Parkinson's to a hormone in your gut

Microbiome Strikes Again

New research links Parkinson's Disease dementia to the activity of a specific hormone found in our guts, perhaps leading to new treatments or diagnostics.

Doctors Link Parkinson’s to a Hormone in Your Gut

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201022183809.htm">Gut hormone blocks brain cell formation and is linked to Parkinson&#8217;s dementia</a> [Swansea University]

More on Parkinson&#8217;s: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/replacing-cells-human-brain-parkinsons-disease">Replacing Cells in the Human Brain Could Bring an End to Parkinson&#8217;s Disease</a>

Neuroscience/Brain Science

They say the discovery could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's.

"Our findings thus recommend that policymakers be aware of the importance of CJD and focus on preparing to address the increasing prevalence of dementia."

As Japan's population ages, a rare brain-eating disease is becoming more common

Unfortunate Trend

A rare neurodegenerative disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is becoming more common in Japan as its population ages.

As Japan’s Population Ages, a Rare Brain-Eating Disease Is Becoming More Common

READ MORE: <a href="https://gizmodo.com/a-brain-destroying-prion-disease-is-becoming-more-commo-1845451661">A Brain-Destroying Prion Disease Is Becoming More Common, Study Finds</a> [Gizmodo]

More on neurodegenerative disease: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/cognitive-decline-senescent-brain-disease">Clearing Fault Cells Out of the Brain May Stave Off Cognitive Decline</a>

As the prions gradually eat away at neurons, they create sponge-like holes in the brain.

It suggests a potential roadmap toward more specific, controlled, LSD microdoses.

Study: Microdosing LSD improves mood and cognition

Brain Booster

A placebo-controlled study identified which impacts of microdosing LSD, from improved focus to anxiety, emerge at which dosages.

Study: Microdosing LSD Improves Mood and Cognition

More on microdosing: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/research-lsd-microdoses-effective-opioids-pain">Research: LSD Microdoses as Effective as Opioids at Treating Pain</a>

Rx/Medicines

Here are the doses they tried.

Cancer researchers discover new salivary gland

"It seems like they may be onto something."

Scientists claim to discover new organ in human skull

I Spy

Doctors may have found secretive new organs in the human skull. Learn more about the first pair of new salivary glands in 300 years.

Doctors May Have Found Secretive New Organs in Human Skull | Futurism

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/health/saliva-glands-new-organs.html">Doctors May Have Found Secretive New Organs in the Center of Your Head</a> [The New York Times]

More on neuroscience: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/new-method-measure-consciousness">Scientists Claim New Method Can Measure Consciousness</a>

"If it's real, it could change the way we look at disease in this region."

Scientists Claim to Discover New Organ in Human Skull

The patient spoke to his father for the first time in eight years, but the effect was short-lived.

Ambien temporarily restored a man's ability to walk, speak

Waking Up

In an unusual case report, a high dose of Ambien temporarily restored the ability to speak and walk to a man who'd spent eight years in a coma-like state.

Ambien Temporarily Restored a Man’s Ability to Walk, Speak

READ MORE: <a href="https://gizmodo.com/brain-injured-man-temporarily-regains-ability-to-talk-a-1845414334">Brain-Injured Man Temporarily Regains Ability to Talk and Walk After Taking Ambien</a> [Gizmodo]

More on Ambien: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/ambien-side-effects-bigotry">Here&#8217;s What Ambien Can Actually Do To You</a>

But it only works every few weeks.

"In addition to the human cost, this would impact the workforce as a whole and overwhelm the ability of health care systems to provide acute and routine care.'

Experts: Herd immunity is an absolutely terrible idea, you idiots

Wait For Vaccines

While a popular politically-motivated document calls for the U.S. to focus on herd immunity against COVID-19, but doctors agree that it would be disastrous.

Experts: Herd Immunity Is an Absolutely Terrible Idea, You Idiots

READ MORE: <a href="https://gizmodo.com/false-hope-that-will-predictably-backfire-scientists-c-1845381179">&#8216;False Hope That Will Predictably Backfire&#8217;: Scientists Condemn &#8216;Herd Immunity&#8217; Letter</a> [Gizmodo]

More on herd immunity: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/white-hosue-advisor-pushing-herd-immunity-covid-strategy">A White House Advisor Is Pushing a Reckless Herd Immunity COVID Strategy</a>

Treatments

"Instead of selling false hope that will predictably backfire, we must focus on how to manage this pandemic in a safe, responsible, and equitable way."

It's the first confirmed COVID-19 death linked to a reinfection.

Woman dies after catching COVID-19 a second time

Troubling Development

A woman died after catching the coronavirus, even though she had recovered from COVID-19 months prior. It's the first confirmed death linked to reinfection.

Woman Dies After Catching COVID-19 a Second Time

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/13/europe/covid-19-dutch-woman-reinfection-death-intl/index.html">Dutch woman dies after catching Covid-19 twice, the first reported reinfection death</a> [CNN]

More on coronavirus reinfections: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/reinfected-patients-second-case-covid19-more-severe">Reinfected Patient&#8217;s Second Case of COVID-19 Was Even More Severe</a>

Studies

It's the first confirmed death of someone who caught the coronavirus twice.

"The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of COVID-19 immunity."

Reinfected patient's second case of COVID-19 was even more severe

Ah Crap

A coronavirus patient caught the disease on two separate occasions, and the second time around was even more severe than the first.

Reinfected Patient’s Second Case of COVID-19 Was Even More Severe

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54512034">Covid reinfection: Man gets Covid twice and second hit &#8216;more severe&#8217;</a> [BBC News]

More on immunity: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientists-mutated-coronavirus">Scientists: Mutated Version of Coronavirus May Have Hit NYC, Italy</a>

/ medicine