The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: Florida Trans Youth Care Ban Halted, Tendon Injuries in Basketball, A Blood Test for Parkinson’s Disease, Screen Time and Language Development

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine® is a pop-culture medical newsletter and exclusive benefit for 2 Minute Medicine Plus subscribers.

We start with the ruling that Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care is unconstitutional. Then we cover Porzingis’s rare tendon injury at the time of the NBA finals. After that, we take a look at the new AI-based model developed to predict Parkinson’s disease years before the onset of motor symptoms. Finally, we go over the implications of increased screen time on children’s language development.

Florida Trans Youth Care Ban Halted

The story: On June 11, a federal judge declared a 2023 Florida law that prohibited gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth and severely limited such care for adults to be unconstitutional.

What were the implications of the ban enacted in 2023?

On May 17, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted a law prohibiting gender-affirming medical treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors, and establishing barriers for adults seeking similar treatments. DeSantis argued that sex change operations and puberty blockers are irreversible and harmful to minors, and the bill would “outlaw the mutilation of minors.” The bill penalized doctors who offered gender-affirming treatments to minors and gave an advantage to parents who were not supportive of these treatments in custody battles during divorce proceedings. Around a year later, on June 11, 2024, U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle deemed the ban unconstitutional, stating it unlawfully applies even when gender-affirming care for minors is considered “medically appropriate.”

The lawsuit did not contest the state’s ban on surgeries for minors; however, per DeSantis’ press secretary, the state will appeal the decision.

What is the path forward?  

About 1.6 million people in the US (age 13 and above) identify as transgender. Despite the controversial laws that target the transgender population, advocacy for transgender youth has increased in the past few years, as showcased by several celebrity parents such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Dwyane Wade, and Gabrielle Union publicly supporting their transgender and nonbinary children.

There are several research gaps in the medical care of transgender people. Since around 2005, there has been a substantial increase, possibly tenfold, in the number of children and young adults seeking help at gender identity clinics. This trend has been observed in the UK, Canada, the USA, and Finland. It is uncertain whether the significant rise in referrals to gender identity clinics is due to a greater willingness of early-affected individuals to come out or if it reflects a different population with distinct needs. Moreover, while puberty blockers are generally considered safe with no serious adverse effects, more research is needed to understand the potential metabolic abnormalities from cross-sex hormone use. Finally, there is also a need for research to compare the ability of children and young people with that of older individuals to fully understand the implications of using puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

Tendon Injuries in Basketball

After 16 years, the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA finals on June 17, 2024. Kristaps Porzingis, nicknamed “The Unicorn” because of his agility and versatile footwork, played an important role in achieving this victory for the team. Despite his rare tendon injury and missing Game 3, he could make it to Game 5, play for 16 minutes, and score 5 points on four field goal attempts, although he will require offseason surgery. So, what was Porzingis’s rare tendon injury?

According to the Celtics, Porzingis had a “torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg,” an injury that restricts the ability to flex the feet and is considered rare as the overextension happens on the inner side of the foot. In contrast, sprains and tears of the lateral ankle ligaments such as ankle sprains, which occur on the outer side of the ankle, are more common. Basketball ranks among the sports with the highest incidence of injuries which can be minimized by playing with the correct technique, wearing the proper equipment, and playing in safe environments.

A Blood Test for Parkinson’s Disease

According to experts at the Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, the current diagnosis method relies on clinical assessment. This means definitive tests such as blood tests are not available yet, and instead, specific physical symptoms must be present to confirm Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, according to a new study published in Nature Communications, there might be some hope to develop a blood test as a diagnostic tool for PD in the future. Such diagnostic tests will be helpful to better distinguish between PD and other diseases that present with similar symptoms. Researchers from the University Medical Center Goettingen and Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik Kassel have developed a machine-learning model that accurately identified patients from the study who would go on to develop PD, seven years before the onset of motor symptoms. This AI model used eight protein biomarkers in the blood, many of which are correlated with symptom severity.

Over 10 million people worldwide and about 1 million people in the United States live with PD. PD becomes more common as people age, yet around 4% of individuals diagnosed with PD are under the age of 50. Several public figures such as Ozzy Osbourne (former Black Sabbath vocalist), Brain Grant (former professional basketball player), and Michael J. Fox (retired actor) suffer from PD. However, some of them have also become PD advocates who established foundations to advance research (the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research) and to promote an active life despite PD (the Brian Grant Foundation).

Screen Time and Language Development

Cristiano Ronaldo is known as one of the greatest soccer players of our era and holds records for competition appearances and goals. As captain of Portugal in UEFA Euro 2024, he achieved the distinction of being the first player to participate in 6 European Championships.  However, on social media, he is also known for another fact: the billionaire athlete refuses to buy cell phones and tablets for his young children, stating he does not want them to be “obsessed with technology” at an early age.

According to a recent study in Pediatric Research, parents influence screen time in youth through their own screen-use habits and whether they implement strategies like restricting device access during meals and bedtime. But why is it important to impose such restrictions?

Studies have shown that growing up surrounded by a diverse language environment is linked to the language, social, and emotional development of young children, as well as their IQ and brain development. Besides verbal communication, children also acquire knowledge of body language, facial expressions, and other non-verbal forms of human interaction. Studies also indicate that early language abilities correlate with future academic achievement and social-emotional health. As such, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of balancing screen time with interactive communication with children.

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