Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Convicted Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein May Have Used A Sperm Bank, Records Show
The New York Times: Jeffrey Epstein’s Sperm May Have Survived Him
Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019, but his genetic material may live on. Emails and records in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department indicate that Mr. Epstein had been banking his sperm for at least several years before his death, and that he did not want the cryobank to discard it if he died. (Mroz and Astor, 6/1)
HealthDay: Weed Use Tied To Higher Testosterone In Young Men, Study Finds
A new Swiss study links regular cannabis use to about 23% higher testosterone levels in young men, while raising fresh questions about male fertility, sperm health and potential hormonal biomarkers of weed exposure. (Thompson, 6/1)
On aging —
The Washington Post: Four Types Of Technology That Can Help You Remain Independent As You Age
Saul Morse had no idea when he equipped his house with smart home products that they would prove potentially lifesaving. The 78-year-old, who has post-polio syndrome and uses a wheelchair, had connected the Amazon Alexa in his bedroom to his contacts list, so when his wife had a stroke in their bedroom one night, and his phone was in another part of the house, he was able to use voice control to phone his adult children, who in turn called 911. (Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) (Felton, 5/30)
AP: An Elder Companion Robot Is Helping A Couple With Disabilities Stay At Home
After outliving Booker T. Bones, their second service dog, Brenda and Brian Marquis still needed help with some of the more difficult parts of daily life. They found Robbie, a robot that rolls out of a hallway into their living room several times a day. “Do you want to exercise now? Please answer yes or no,” the caregiver robot asks 59-year-old Brian Marquis, who has been living with a traumatic brain injury since a 2012 car crash. “Yes,” he responds. Then he stands up as the robot’s googly-eyed digital screen “face” morphs into an exercise video that guides him through an afternoon workout. (O’Brien, 6/1)
Wellness trends —
The New York Times: Prized By ‘MAHA’ Influencers And Chefs Alike, Craft Flour Is On The Rise
Growing demand for fiber-rich grains is boosting the premium flour industry, which offers less processed, but pricier, alternatives to the classic grocery store brands. (Kronsberg, 6/1)
San Francisco Chronicle: Do Red Light Therapy Masks Actually Work? What Dermatologists Say
If you follow skin care or wellness trends, you’ve probably seen countless ads and posts about at-home red light therapy masks that claim to target a host of skin care woes, from acne to wrinkles and pigmentation. There is some science behind the hype. Years before it became a skin care trend, red light therapy was cleared by the FDA in 2007 to increase hair growth. Studies suggest it can have modest benefits for inflammation, wound healing, acne and sun damage. (Ho, 5/31)
NPR: Is Bovine Colostrum Really ‘Liquid Gold’ For Gut Health?
Known as "liquid gold," colostrum is the first milk that mammals produce after giving birth. And it's chock full of antibodies, proteins, vitamins and minerals that help build up a newborn's immunity and strengthen their gut lining. But this substance that's uniquely tailored for newborns is also receiving plenty of attention from adults who've taken to chugging bovine colostrum. (Daniel, 6/1)
