Health Report

If you're having a month off the beers to kick off the year, do you know what a short stretch of sobriety could achieve?
Some companies in the United States are even pushing people to trade their alcohol for THC, for "high" January. 
Also, there hasn't been a big COVID spike over the holidays, but the flu has been going around. 
People aren't accessing palliative care early enough to reap the benefits, but are there enough services to go around?
And a study finds women notified of their breast density are often confused and anxious about what to do next. 
References:
NSW respiratory surveillance
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’
Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Alcohol consumption and mortality from four alcohol-related cancers in Australia 1950-2018: a time series analysis
Early Palliative Care and Quality of End-of-Life Care for People With Terminal Cancer, Victoria, 2018–2023: A Retrospective, Population-Based Cohort Study
Impact of population based breast density notification: multisite parallel arm randomised controlled trial in BreastScreen

How far would you go to save your dog? One owner has used ChatGPT and other AI models to find a treatment for his pup's cancer. 
Also, we could be missing cases of liver disease because of differences between pathology centres. 
The final instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. 
And a look back at the year: does artificial intelligence have a place in your local doctors' office?
References
What AI scribes can (and can't) do for healthcare - the Health Report
Paul is using AI to fight his dog's incurable cancer - UNSW

People with osteoarthritis used to be told to take it easy and avoid overdoing exercise. But the advice has changed drastically. 
Also, should everyone going onto GLP-1 medications for weight loss be screened and monitored for eating disorders? 
Another instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. 
And a look back at the year: Robert F. Kennedy Jr and his hyperfixation on autism as an epidemic. 
References
Trump links paracetamol to autism, urges parents to delay vaccines
The EPIPHA-KNEE trial: Explaining Pain to target unhelpful pain beliefs to Increase PHysical Activity in KNEE osteoarthritis – a protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial with clinical- and cost-effectiveness analysis
Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline
Eating disorder resources:
The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or webchat.
Eating Disorders Foundation Victoria
Eating Disorders Families Australia — 1300 195 626
Professionals Credentialed in Eating Disorders
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Anxiety can manifest in an excessive worry about your health, and it can be debilitating. But there are effective treatments. 
Also, antidepressants can be difficult to come off because of the withdrawal symptoms. An expert highlights the need to better educate patients and doctors on deprescribing. 
Another instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. 
And a look back at the year: infectious diseases. 
References
Why the US measles outbreak is so concerning
How Australia's measles vaccine coverage compares to the US
Antidepressant prescribing in Australian primary care: time to reevaluate
RELEASE information and resources
Health anxiety information and workbook
Health anxiety in Australia: prevalence, comorbidity, disability and service use | The British Journal of Psychiatry
The global economic burden of health anxiety/hypochondriasis- a systematic review
Increase in the prevalence of health anxiety in medical clinics: Possible cyberchondria
Cognitive behavior therapy for health anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical efficacy and health economic outcomes
A clinician’s quick guide to evidence-based approaches: health anxiety

There's a paradox in neurodegenerative disease  – sometimes as the brain deteriorates, creativity flourishes.
Researchers have used imaging techniques to map creativity in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Also, the exercise program that could change the game for colorectal cancer survivors. 
And a look back at the year: GLP-1 medications for weight loss. 
References
Answering common questions about GLP-1s for weight loss
Weight loss drugs could help people with schizophrenia
GLP-1s and eating disorders — what are the risks?
Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer - NEJM 
Mapping Neuroimaging Findings of Creativity and Brain Disease Onto a Common Brain Circuit