Archive · 31 Dec 2025
2025 Healthcare Milestones: Obesity Rules, Alzheimer’s Tests, and Gene Editing
In 2025, healthcare saw big changes.
Obesity is now defined more carefully, including symptoms and activities.
The WHO recommended new weight-loss drugs and included them in essential medicines.
In India, these drugs became available, and schools started sugar boards to reduce sugar intake in children.
There was also good news for Alzheimer’s, with a new blood test approved and a vaccine shown to lower dementia risk.
Scientists used gene-editing to treat rare diseases in babies and prevent mitochondrial diseases.
Lastly, a patent was broken to make a rare disease drug much cheaper in India.
Obesity redefined to include physical attributes, symptoms, and daily activities.
WHO recommended long-term use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs with lifestyle changes.
India introduced popular GLP-1 drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Shingles vaccine linked to 20% lower risk of dementia in vaccinated individuals.
US FDA approved first blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s.
Gene-editing therapies developed for rare genetic disorders in babies.
India established sugar boards in schools to monitor and reduce sugar intake.
Supreme Court allowed generic version of risdiplam, reducing price from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 15,900.
- Who
- WHO, Indian researchers, US and UK researchers, CBSE, Natco Pharmaceuticals
- What
- Changes in obesity definition, new Alzheimer’s blood test, gene-editing therapies, sugar boards in schools, patent breakthrough for affordable medicines
- When
- Throughout 2025
- Where
- Globally, with significant developments in India, the US, and the UK
- Why
- To improve healthcare diagnostics, treatments, and policies for healthier lives
- Obesity Definition Change
- Includes height, weight, waist circumference, symptoms, and physical activities
- WHO GLP-1 Guidelines
- Recommends long-term use with lifestyle changes and behavioral therapy
- GLP-1 Drugs in India
- Semaglutide and tirzepatide entered the market
- Shingles Vaccine and Dementia
- 20% lower relative risk of dementia in vaccinated individuals
- Alzheimer’s Blood Test
- Approved by US FDA, measures protein ratio in blood
- Gene-Editing Therapy
- Used to treat rare genetic metabolic disorder in a baby
- Mitochondrial Disease Prevention
- Donor mitochondria used to prevent disease in eight children
- Sugar Boards in India
- Established to monitor and reduce sugar intake in school canteens
- Patent Breakthrough
- Generic version of risdiplam approved, reducing price from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 15,900