Human Health
What we believe:
Knowledge is power
You can make better choices for managing your health when you gain a basic understanding of the pros and cons of treatment options. We believe that simple, inexpensive options are often the best – but may be neglected or overlooked by researchers, pharmaceutical companies and care providers because of a lack of profit potential and investment.
Our goal:
Improving health with affordable and accessible options
The Parsemus Foundation’s goal is to advance innovative and neglected medical research. We focus on supporting small proof-of-concept studies and then pursuing press coverage of the results, so that the advances change treatment practice rather than disappearing into the scientific literature. Many of the studies we support involve low-cost approaches that are not under patent. From support for new male contraceptives to research on the use of existing medicines to treat COVID-19, the Parsemus Foundation aims to improve human health with affordable and accessible options.
This section of our website provides information on specific medical topics, and includes references and educational links for further study. You’ll also find information on select past projects focused on areas we are no longer pursuing.
Human Health Projects
Vasalgel Male Contraceptive
Vasalgel is a male contraceptive launched by Parsemus Foundation to fill the need for a non-hormonal, long-acting, reversible male method.
PEMF Therapy for Enlarged Prostate
Noninvasive treatment using PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) therapy can reduce the symptoms of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and the size of the prostate.
Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention
An ongoing clinical trial in Australia will lead to better understanding of the influence of testosterone and DHA on Alzheimer’s disease.
Hearing, hearing aids, and dementia
An ongoing clinical trial in Australia will lead to better understanding of the influence of testosterone and DHA on Alzheimer’s disease.
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency and anemia are common and can result in significant negative health impacts. Intravenous iron offers a rapid treatment option.
Non-Specific Effects of Vaccines
Iron deficiency and anemia are common and can result in significant negative health impacts. Intravenous iron offers a rapid treatment option.
Male Contraceptive Research
Resources and information to stay up-to-date on efforts to develop new options for male contraception.
Breast Cancer Prevention
Intraductal methods can provide less invasive options for treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common noninvasive lesion of the breast.
Overused Medical Procedures
Some doctors still prescribe unnecessary medical procedures and medications. These resources can help you make informed medical decisions.
Hormones for Menopause
Menopause hormone therapy is an underutilized and misunderstood treatment for menopause symptoms. Learn the facts for informed decisions.
Angioplasty: Ending Inappropriate Use
Angioplasty and stenting continue to be used in stable coronary artery disease, even though trials have shown that they add no significant survival benefit.
Human Health News
Shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk
The recombinant zoster vaccine known as SHINGRIX may also lower the risk of developing dementia, according to a new study. The vaccine prevents shingles, a painful viral infection, and is typically recommended for those 50 and older. Researchers in the U.K. published a study in Nature Medicine on July 25 that showed that among people diagnosed with dementia, those who received the recombinant zoster vaccine had more diagnosis-free time compared with those who received a different vaccine.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats similar to Alzheimer’s disease
House cats live an average of 14 years, and it’s not uncommon for a cat to live more than 20 years. Older cats often develop cognitive decline resulting in dementia. It’s called “cognitive dysfunction syndrome” or CDS. This condition is similar in many ways to Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid beta and tau protein accumulation. Some believe that environmental stressors from life as a house cat contribute to cognitive decline.
Ultra-processed foods affect brain health
Recent research has revealed that eating ultra-processed foods affects brain health. Studies suggest that diets high in these foods could increase the risk of cognitive impairment and stroke. Ultra-processed foods include industrially prepared items like packaged snacks, ready-made meals, and sugary drinks. These foods are often convenient, but they carry hidden health dangers.
The spread of dangerous medical misinformation
You may have heard that vaccines cause autism, but are you unsure where this idea came from? Are you — or someone you know — suspicious of the U.S. government response to COVID-19? If so, you’ll be interested in a two-part series of articles that John Parkinson wrote about the challenges of communicating medical information to the public and the ease with which medical misinformation spreads.
Hormone therapy is safe for treating menopause symptoms
Many women approaching menopause are concerned about the safety of hormone therapy. That’s because in 2002, researchers reported that hormone replacement therapy — or HRT — was related to increased risk of breast cancer. However, experts now report that hormone therapy in early menopause is safe and beneficial.
Targeting 14 risk factors can cut dementia cases by nearly half
As life expectancy increases worldwide, more people are living with dementia. Even though the age-specific rate of dementia is falling in some high-income countries, the overall number of cases is still rising. This highlights the need for effective prevention strategies. The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care recently updated its findings, revealing 14 modifiable risk factors that can help reduce dementia cases. Their latest report emphasizes that targeting 14 risk factors can cut dementia cases by nearly half.
Shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk
The recombinant zoster vaccine known as SHINGRIX may also lower the risk of developing dementia, according to a new study. The vaccine prevents shingles, a painful viral infection, and is typically recommended for those 50 and older. Researchers in the U.K. published a study in Nature Medicine on July 25 that showed that among people diagnosed with dementia, those who received the recombinant zoster vaccine had more diagnosis-free time compared with those who received a different vaccine.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats similar to Alzheimer’s disease
House cats live an average of 14 years, and it’s not uncommon for a cat to live more than 20 years. Older cats often develop cognitive decline resulting in dementia. It’s called “cognitive dysfunction syndrome” or CDS. This condition is similar in many ways to Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid beta and tau protein accumulation. Some believe that environmental stressors from life as a house cat contribute to cognitive decline.
Ultra-processed foods affect brain health
Recent research has revealed that eating ultra-processed foods affects brain health. Studies suggest that diets high in these foods could increase the risk of cognitive impairment and stroke. Ultra-processed foods include industrially prepared items like packaged snacks, ready-made meals, and sugary drinks. These foods are often convenient, but they carry hidden health dangers.
The spread of dangerous medical misinformation
You may have heard that vaccines cause autism, but are you unsure where this idea came from? Are you — or someone you know — suspicious of the U.S. government response to COVID-19? If so, you’ll be interested in a two-part series of articles that John Parkinson wrote about the challenges of communicating medical information to the public and the ease with which medical misinformation spreads.
