Neurologists are warning that popular weight-loss medications could have severe negative effects on neurodegenerative conditions like ALS.

Jinsy Andrews, MD, a neurologist and director of NYU Langone’s ALS Center, says the very mechanism that makes these drugs popular — rapid weight loss — can go against the biological needs of patients with neuromuscular disorders.

GLP-1 agonists have shown to be highly effective at managing diabetes and obesity, which are major health concerns across the population. However, the doctor emphasized that the clinical rules shift when dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

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In addition to mitigating some of the inflammation related to obesity and diabetes, GLP-1 medications have been linked to other protective effects.

The therapies have been helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, liver disease and addiction, according to Andrews.

However, when it comes to an incurable neurodegenerative disease, losing weight and body fat can accelerate a patient’s physical decline.

For an ALS patient, losing weight can cause the condition to progress faster, Andrews said, because the disease’s unique traits make it dangerous to be in a caloric deficit.

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In fact, standard clinical care guidelines for ALS often recommend that patients actively maintain or even gain weight to help preserve their remaining nerve and muscle function.

“In certain conditions where hypermetabolism is something that negatively affects the disease […] losing weight actually makes the disease worse and move faster,” Andrews told Fox News Digital..

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“So, in the setting of a person with ALS — whether they have diabetes or not — using GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression.”

In a 2025 case report published in the medical journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, a 52-year-old ALS patient was prescribed semaglutide to treat her type 2 diabetes.

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Prior to starting the medication, her physical functions were declining at a predictable rate on the standard ALS rating scale.

According to the case report, the patient lost 25 pounds in three months. At the same time, she experienced a sudden, dramatic shift in her disease trajectory, with symptoms worsening significantly.

“GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression.”

Once the semaglutide was discontinued at the advice of medical professionals, the patient’s rapid physical decline stabilized.

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Andrews pointed out that this published documentation, alongside retrospective cohort data of ALS patients with diabetes, provides growing evidence that clinicians must be careful and thoughtful about who they treat with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

While weight-loss medications offer significant benefits for many patients, experts say maintaining body weight and muscle mass remains an important consideration for people with neurodegenerative diseases.

“Patient safety is of utmost importance to Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously,” Ambre James-Brown, global head and AVP of global media at Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told Fox News Digital.

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“It’s important to note that ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases are not listed adverse reactions or warnings and precautions in the prescribing information for our semaglutide products, including Ozempic or Wegovy,” he added.

Millions of Americans with high cholesterol now have a new treatment option, as the FDA has approved the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor.

Merck, the New Jersey-based manufacturer of Lipfendra (enlicitide), announced the approval on Thursday.

Lipfendra blocks the action of PCSK9, a naturally occurring protein that affects how the liver removes LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from the bloodstream.

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“PCSK-9 is a protein that works in the liver, preventing the recycling of LDL receptors, as a result increasing bad cholesterol in the blood,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.

“In the caveman days, this was useful when we were hunter-gatherers and didn’t always have food, but now it mainly forms plaques that lead directly to heart disease.”

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The pill is approved as an add-on to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies in adults with high cholesterol, including inherited forms of high cholesterol, Merck stated.

In phase 3 clinical trials, Lipfendra was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by roughly 56% to 60% when combined with statin therapy.

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“This is around double the impact of statins,” Siegel noted.

The pill was generally well-tolerated in the trials, Merck reported. The most common side effects were diarrhea and dizziness, while serious side effects and treatment discontinuations occurred at rates similar to those in the placebo group.

Statins, which work by blocking an enzyme in the liver that the body uses to make cholesterol, are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, according to the American Heart Association.

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For many people, statins are effective on their own. But for some patients who have very high cholesterol levels, inherited forms of high cholesterol or adverse side effects when taking statins, another medication — such as a PCSK9 inhibitor like Lipfendra — may be necessary, per the AHA.

Until now, PCSK9 inhibitors — such as Repatha and Praluent — have only been available as injections, a factor experts say may have contributed to their underuse.

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“Repatha, the injectable form, is very useful, with few side effects,” Siegel noted. “The oral form, Lipfendra, is also well-tolerated and just as effective.”

Additional research is needed to determine whether Lipfendra also reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. Results from a large clinical trial are expected to be available in 2029, Merck stated.

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“Steve Nissen, longtime head of preventive cardiology at Cleveland Clinic, tells me that the lower the better when it comes to LDL cholesterol, especially in those at risk for heart disease,” Siegel added.

A Cyclospora parasite outbreak has put lettuce in the spotlight as investigators examine a possible link to Taco Bell, raising concerns among consumers about whether it’s still safe to eat fresh greens.

While investigators have not identified a specific product or supplier as the source of the outbreak, interviews with sick patients have repeatedly pointed to lettuce and other salad greens as common exposures, and many of those patients also reported eating at Taco Bell before becoming ill.

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State and federal health officials – including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), CDC and FDA – are investigating a possible link between fresh ingredients served at certain Taco Bell locations and the Cyclospora outbreak.

The chain has voluntarily removed select fresh ingredients at certain locations while public health officials continue their investigation.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, California-based Taco Bell Corp. said, “The health and safety of our guests is our top priority. Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities.”

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What is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite (Cyclospora cayetanensis) that infects the small intestine after people consume contaminated food or water, according to the CDC.

The agency confirmed that 1,645 domestic Cyclospora cases have been reported since May 1, most often linked to fresh produce, including leafy greens, cilantro and berries.

The CDC is also investigating more than 5,100 additional suspected cases, with a total of 145 people having been hospitalized with the infection.

“Cyclosporiasis is not generally a life-threatening illness for most people,” Tammy Lundstrom, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Trinity Health in Michigan, told Fox News Digital.

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“The biggest concern is that it can cause severe, prolonged diarrhea that may last for weeks or even longer if it’s not diagnosed and treated.”

People should seek medical attention if they have lasting, severe diarrhea. The symptoms can be very prolonged in people with compromised immune systems, Lundstrom noted.

Experts share food safety guidance

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said the parasite has been primarily identified in packaged lettuce and salad bags, but no particular brand has been pinpointed.

“In the meantime, the best strategy is to wash lettuce and all salad greens thoroughly and to wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing food,” he told Fox News Digital, adding that “the chances of acquiring it still remains extremely low.”

Registered dietitian nutritionist Caroline Margolis, the on-staff registered dietitian at Lifeway Foods, an Illinois-based company best known for its kefir and other cultured dairy products, also weighed in on the risk.

“While health officials have identified lettuce as the likely culprit, the exact source remains unknown,” she told Fox News Digital.

For now, she recommends skipping prewashed, bagged lettuce and salad mixes.

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“Instead, choose whole heads of lettuce, discarding the outer two to three leaves, and wash and rinse thoroughly,” Margolis advised. “If you do develop cyclosporiasis, stay hydrated and seek medical care if needed.”

“Be sure to support your recovery with nutrient-rich, easy-to-digest foods and probiotic options like kefir, yogurt, bananas, apples and oatmeal.”

Lundstrom reiterated that it’s unclear whether any specific fresh produce is responsible, though past outbreaks have sometimes been linked to fruits and vegetables.

“Federal public health authorities have not issued any warnings to avoid lettuce or other fresh produce at this time,” she told Fox News Digital. “It is recommended to thoroughly wash lettuce and other leafy greens, which can significantly reduce the amount of any pathogen present.”

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Until further information is known, Lundstrom said iceberg is currently a better option for lettuce. She recommends first washing the entire head, then discarding the outermost leaves.

“Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly when handling and preparing fresh produce,” she added.

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For those who wish to take further precautions, frozen and canned produce may be safer options, according to the dietitian.

“It’s important to follow CDC recommendations for safe food and vegetable handling and preparation to help reduce the risk of illness,” she said.

Those recommendations include the following. 

• Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
• Fruits and vegetables that are labeled “prewashed” do not need to be washed again at home.
• Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
• Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).

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Lundstrom added, “It’s important to remember that fruits and vegetables in all forms are an essential part of our daily healthy diet — and by exercising these practical preventive steps, people can still enjoy these nutritious foods.”