Trending News Today: Alex Azar Sworn in as HHS Secretary

Yesterday, Alex Azar II was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a stated goal of sparking administrative and regulatory changes needed to ensure Americans receive high-quality, affordable health care, The Hill reported. Trump also said Azar will be on the frontlines of fighting the opioid epidemic. Azar was confirmed last week and received some Democratic votes despite scrutiny of his past work as an Eli Lilly executive, according to the article.

President Donald Trump said he would reduce prescription drug costs during Alex Azar’s swearing in as HHS secretary, according to Bloomberg. Trump also blamed manufacturers for unfair price discrimination and noted that the companies sell their products for a lower cost overseas. He said the administration plans to eliminate conflicts of interests that have resulted in skyrocketing drug costs, according to the article.

New research suggests that a restless night’s sleep and taking naps during the day may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Los Angeles Times. While sleep difficulties are common during aging, the study found that cognitively healthy patients whose circadian rhythm was off were more likely to have amyloid clumps in their brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, the Times reported. In contrast, patients with normal sleep-wake patterns were less likely to develop the aggregates, which suggests they have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the report.