Posted on 01/10/2026 9:53:03 AM PST by DFG
Your medication might start tattling on you if you skip a dose.
Scientists at MIT have developed a groundbreaking smart pill that can wirelessly report the moment it’s been swallowed, giving doctors a way to monitor whether patients are taking their prescriptions on schedule.
It may sound simple, but the stakes are high. Studies show that half of all Americans with chronic conditions don’t take their long-term medications as prescribed.
The fallout is staggering: in the US, poor adherence contributes to 125,000 potentially preventable deaths, drives 25% of hospitalizations and racks up more than $500 billion in avoidable healthcare costs each year.
People skip their medications for many reasons: high costs, fear of side effects, confusing instructions — and, for many, simple forgetfulness.
“The goal is to make sure that this helps people receive the therapy they need to help maximize their health,” Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of medical engineering and the senior author of the study, told MIT News.
In the past, Traverso’s lab developed capsules that can remain in the digestive tract for days or weeks, releasing medication on a set schedule. But the approach isn’t suitable for every drug.
“We’ve developed systems that can stay in the body for a long time, and we know that those systems can improve adherence, but we also recognize that for certain medications, we can’t change the pill,” he said.
“The question becomes: What else can we do to help the person and help their health care providers ensure that they’re receiving the medication?”
The answer: radio frequency (RF), a type of signal that can be easily detected from outside the body and is safe for humans.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
In Soviet Russia, your medicine takes you.
In future news: Scientists baffled by sudden increase in digestive track cancers.
Buh-dum-sssss
🥁
It’s like falling asleep reading dystopic fiction — then waking up to find it’s real.
“contributes to 125,000 potentially preventable deaths”
We know our overlords would approve of that, so what’s the real purpose here?
First, it is none of the insurance companies business. It is none of anyone's business but especially not the insurance companies.
And it will raise the cost of the medicine. Which is not a good thing.
So take this idea, fold it five ways and sit on it and spin until you throw up.
Scary idea. But something like this might’ve been helpful when Mom was in her 90s and didn’t always remember to take her meds.
> But something like this might’ve been helpful when Mom was in her 90s and didn’t always remember to take her meds. <
Two things to consider:
1. The old tried-and-true weekly pill containers.
2. There are now services that will phone you to remind you to take your pills. The cost is reasonable, about a dollar a day.
More seniors should consider that second option, as it doubles as a welfare check. You get to pick the time of the call. And if you’re going to be away from the house, just let them know and they’ll suspend the calls until your return date.
👍🏻
“The goal is to make sure that this helps people receive the therapy they need to help maximize their health,”
Like the Pfizer vaccine?
Curing cancer? Well, not really.
Developing meds that report on the patient? Check.
How positively Chicom.
Actually, it is. Why should they fund something you don't use?
I’m going to feed some to my dog.
And, some in food outside for the feral cats to injest.
And, going way out, put some in a politican’s food if I see them at a resturant.
Any more ideas?
Monthly.
And rather generously.
This does not originate with me. These come from winnings in court.
Still.
No matter what some paid off black robed sodomite whined out.
Good luck.
Wasn’t this a Venture Brothers episode?
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