NewsMakers
Popular prescription weight loss drugs linked to uncommon blinding condition
Patients prescribed semaglutide (as Ozempic or Wegovy) for diabetes or weight loss had a higher risk of having a potentially blinding eye condition called NAION than similar patients who had not been prescribed these drugs.

A new study led by investigators from Mass Eye and Ear found that patients prescribed semaglutide (as Ozempic or Wegovy) for diabetes or weight loss had a higher risk of having a potentially blinding eye condition called NAION than similar patients who had not been prescribed these drugs.
Notably, the study found people with diabetes who had been prescribed semaglutide by their physician and then filled the prescription were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION. Those who were overweight or had obesity and prescribed this drug were more than seventimes more likely to get the diagnosis.
The study, which was led by Joseph Rizzo, MD, director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Mass Eye and Ear and the Simmons Lessell Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, published July 3rd in JAMA Ophthalmology.
“The use of these drugs has exploded throughout industrialized countries and they have provided very significant benefits in many ways, but future discussions between a patient and their physician should include NAION as a potential risk,” said Rizzo, the study’s corresponding author. “It is important to appreciate, however, that the increased risk relates to a disorder that is relatively uncommon.”
NAION is relatively rare, occurring up to 10 out of 100,000 people in the general population. NAION is the second-leading cause of optic nerve blindness (second only to glaucoma) and it is the most common cause of sudden optic nerve blindness. NAION is thought to be caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve head, with the consequence of permanent visual loss in one eye. According to Rizzo, the visual loss caused by NAION is painless and may progresses over many days before stabilizing, and there is relatively little potential for improvement. There are currently no effective treatments for NAION.
The impetus for the study occurred in the late summer of 2023 when Rizzo, a resident (study co-author Seyedeh Maryam Zekavat, MD, PhD) and other Mass Eye and Ear neuro-ophthalmologists noticed a disturbing trend — three patients in their practice had been diagnosed with vision loss from this relatively uncommon optic nerve disease in just one week. The physicians observed all three were taking semaglutide.
This anecdotal recognition led the Mass Eye and Ear research team to run a backward-looking analysis of their patient population to see if they could identify a link between this disease and these drugs, which had been surging in popularity.
Semaglutide was developed to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug encourages weight loss, and its use has snowballed since its launch as Ozempic for diabetes in 2017. The drug was also approved for weight management, branded as Wegovy, and released in 2021.
The researchers analyzed the records of more than 17,000 Mass Eye and Ear patients treated over the six years since Ozempic was released and divided the patients in those who were diagnosed with either diabetes or overweight/ obesity. The researchers compared patients who had received prescriptions for semaglutide compared to those taking other diabetes or weight loss drugs. Then, they analyzed the rate of NAION diagnoses in the groups, which revealed the significant risk increases.
There are several limitations to the study. Mass Eye and Ear sees an unusually high number of people with rare eye diseases, the study population is majority white, and the number of NAION cases seen over the six-year study period is relatively small. With small case numbers, statistics can change quickly, Rizzo noted. The researchers also couldn’t determine if the patients actually took their medication or if they started and then stopped taking semaglutide at some point and how this might have impacted their risk.
Importantly, the study does not prove causality, and the researchers don’t know why or how this association exists, and why there was a difference reported in diabetic and overweight groups.
“Our findings should be viewed as being significant but tentative, as future studies are needed to examine these questions in a much larger and more diverse population,” Rizzo said. “This is information we did not have before and it should be included in discussions between patients and their doctors, especially if patients have other known optic nerve problems like glaucoma or if there is preexisting significant visual loss from other causes.”
Authorship: In addition to Rizzo and Zekavat, other Mass General Brigham co-authors include Jimena Tatiana Hathaway, MD, MPH (MEE); Madhura P. Shah, BS (MEE); David B. Hathaway, MD (BWH); Drenushe Krasniqi, BA (MEE); John W. Gittinger Jr, MD (MEE); Dean Cestari, MD (MEE); Robert Mallery, MD (MEE); Bardia Abbasi, MD (MEE); Marc Bouffard, MD (MEE); Bart K. Chwalisz, MD (MEE) and Tais Estrela, MD (MEE).
NewsMakers
Research suggests drinking coffee may reduce the risk of frailty
Habitual coffee consumption of 4-6 cups and over* (with one cup measuring at 125ml) per day is associated with a reduced risk of frailty.

A new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition has suggested that habitual coffee consumption of 4-6 cups and over* (with one cup measuring at 125ml) per day is associated with a reduced risk of frailty.
The study, funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) is the first to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption and the underlying components of frailty.
Coffee consumption has previously been linked to reducing the risk of some of the natural symptoms of ageing, such as improving cognitive function2 and mitigating against inflammatory related diseases. This latest research adds to the growing knowledge base within this area, exploring the benefits of regular coffee consumption over an extended period of time.
For this study, researchers conducted a detailed analysis over a long seven-year follow-up period, surveying 1,161 adults aged 55+ years through the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).
The relationship between coffee consumption and the presence and incidence of frailty was investigated. Frailty status was evaluated using Fried’s five-component frailty phenotype4,which is defined by the presence of three or more of the following symptoms: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slow gait (walking) speed, and low physical activity.
The results of this study indicate that higher habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower overall odds of frailty. These findings can be considered alongside the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion that up to 400mg of caffeine (3-5 cups of coffee) per day is a moderate and safe amount5.
The researchers explain that coffee’s effect on reducing frailty can partly be attributed to the role of antioxidants in coffee, which may help to reduce inflammation, sarcopenia (muscle loss), and prevention of muscle damage. Coffee may also help to improve regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in older people.
The study’s lead author, Margreet R. Olthof, Associate Professor at the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, commented: “Drinking coffee is a key part of many people’s daily routine, and as people age they are constantly looking for ways to maintain their health. Our findings highlight the possible beneficial association between daily coffee consumption and reduced risk of frailty in later life in the older population. Coffee consumption may thus enhance healthy aging, but it is important we also explore further dietary interventions, to ensure older adults can continue to live fulfilling lives.”
* Moderate coffee consumption can be defined as 3–5 cups per day, based on the European Food Safety Authority’s review of caffeine safety.
NewsMakers
Landers opens first Cavite store in Vermosa
Landers Superstore, the fastest growing membership store in the country, proudly marks another milestone with the grand opening of Landers Vermosa – its first-ever store in the province and its 15th store nationwide.

Premium membership shopping has finally arrived in Cavite.
Landers Superstore, the fastest growing membership store in the country, proudly marks another milestone with the grand opening of Landers Vermosa – its first-ever store in the province and its 15th store nationwide.
Conveniently located inside Ayala Vermosa’s sprawling estate and lifestyle hub in Imus, Cavite, the newest Landers store offers a fresh and elevated way of shopping for Caviteños, complete with massive savings, world-class finds, and exclusive membership perks, all under one roof. It is also the largest Landers store to date at 12,900 sqm, promising a bigger and better experience for every member who walks through its doors.
Welcoming Landers in Cavite
Landers Vermosa opened with an exciting grand launch that brought together members of the media, content creators, and special guests for a first look at the newest and biggest Landers Superstore. The attendees were in high spirits as they explored the spacious store and enjoyed exclusive product samplings and guided tours.
During the event, Landers Deputy Chief Executive Officer Bill Cummings delivered heartfelt opening remarks, expressing his excitement for the new store and his appreciation for the warm welcome from the Cavite community, noting that over 60,000 members had already signed up prior to opening day – a clear sign of the anticipation surrounding the launch.
The celebration also highlighted the strong collaboration between Landers Superstore and Ayala Land, along with the support of the city government of Imus, led by Mayor Alex Advincula. The event underscored Landers’ commitment to bringing world-class shopping experiences to more Filipino families, starting with the vibrant and growing community in Cavite.
What to expect at Landers Vermosa
At Landers Vermosa, members can look forward to filling their carts with high-quality local and imported products—from daily essentials to unique international finds. Beyond shopping, the store offers a host of exclusive perks that make every visit more rewarding. Members can enjoy free haircuts or blow-dry services at Federal Barbers, low-priced medicine and wellness products at Capital Care Pharmacy, up to P10 off per liter at Landers-Caltex gas stations, and up to 50% off on Solane LPG refills.
Members of Landers Vermosa will gain access to all of Landers Superstore’s massive sale events like Super Crazy Sale and 50% Off Produce Sale, which offer unbeatable savings on a wide range of products. To complete the experience, members can enjoy regular in-store activities every month and free product samplings that are perfect for the whole family.
Sign up for Landers membership
Be among the first to explore this exciting new shopping destination and enjoy all the perks that come with being a Landers member.
If you’re not yet a member, now’s the perfect time to sign up! Memberships are currently on sale at 50% off—just P350 for a full year of exclusive savings and benefits. Promo runs until May 31.
Looking for even more value? Apply for the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card and get up to 5% cashback on all Landers purchases, plus earn rewards wherever you shop.
Landers Vermosa is here with more perks, more savings, and more reasons to love shopping in the South. See you in-store.
NewsMakers
Cannabidiol therapy could reduce symptoms in autistic children and teenagers
The use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behaviour of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

New research presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry reveals that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behaviour of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children around the world and symptoms can include difficulty interpreting language, difficulty expressing emotions, and repetitive behaviour and routines.1,2
The meta-analysis included randomised, placebo-controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of CBD cannabis extracts in children and adolescents with ASD. Three studies were used in total with 276 participants with a mean age of 10.5, ranging in age from 5 to 21. The dosage of CBD cannabis extract started at 1 mg/kg per day and was titrated up to 10 mg/kg.
Key findings from the study include:
- CBD cannabis extract use shows moderate improvements in social responsiveness and small yet notable reductions in disruptive behaviours.
- CBD cannabis extract significantly enhanced social responsiveness and reduced disruptive behaviour.
- The use of CBD cannabis extract has a favourable safety profile as it did not increase adverse events compared to placebo
- There were no significant differences between adverse events in CBD cannabis extract versus placebo
Lara Cappelletti Beneti Branco, Lead Investigator, São Camilo University Center, University of São Paulo, said: “The global population prevalence of ASD diagnosis amongst children and adolescents is growing, but many treatment pathways are not effective. It is promising to see the effect of CBD cannabis extract on the study participants. However, there still needs to be considerable focus on further research with larger trials to clarify its efficacy and safety in managing ASD.”
Professor Geert Dom, EPA President, said: “ASD can be extremely frustrating for all involved; parents of children and adolescents with the disorder, the treating clinicians and of course the children and adolescents themselves. A large part of this frustration is down to finding a viable treatment option that works to reduce symptoms. It is with delight that we see the results of this meta-analysis and we hope to see further research into this so we can move towards a solution to the unmet need within this community”.
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