Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gene Variant Linked To Parkinson's Risk For Some Of African Descent
NPR: A Gene Variant Raises The Risk Of Parkinson's For Some People Of African Descent
A global effort to make genetic studies more diverse has led to a discovery about Parkinson's disease, a common brain disorder that can impair a person's ability to move and speak. ... The finding, published in August in The Lancet Neurology, suggests that Parkinson's may work differently in people of African, rather than European, descent. It could eventually help scientists develop a treatment specifically for people with this particular gene variant. (Hamilton, 9/24)
In other research news —
The Washington Post: Day-Care Food Program Linked To Better Health Overall In Children
Every day, more than 4.2 million children receive nutritious food and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federally funded, state-administered initiative that reimburses child-care centers and home day cares for providing food to eligible kids. A new analysis suggests the program positively affects not just children but also their families, tying subsidized child-care meals to better child health and lower rates of household food insecurity. (Blakemore, 9/24)
The Conversation: Short Naps Can Improve Memory, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress And Promote A Healthier Heart
Research shows that there are many benefits to napping. Short naps can boost mental functioning and memory, as well as improve alertness, attention, and reaction time. Short naps are also linked to increased productivity and creativity. Because napping seems to improve creative thinking, some companies have attempted to harness this by introducing napping rooms into the workplace. (Bender, 9/24)
Fox News: Aspartame And Autism: Drinking Diet Soda Amid Pregnancy Linked To Diagnosis In Male Offspring, Says Study
Pregnant or breastfeeding women who consume diet soda or other foods and drinks containing aspartame could experience higher rates of autism diagnoses in their sons, a new study has revealed. "Our study does not prove causality — it does not prove that maternal intake of diet sodas, and aspartame specifically, during pregnancy or nursing increases a child’s risk of autism — but it does raise a major warning flag," said lead author Sharon Parten Fowler, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of medicine at UT Health San Antonio, in an interview with Fox News Digital. (Rudy, 9/24)
In news on covid research —
CIDRAP: Remdesivir Tied To Lower COVID Death Rates In Hospital Patients Receiving Oxygen
A comparative-effectiveness study that spanned the dominance of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) finds that the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) significantly reduced in-hospital COVID-19 death rates among adults receiving supplemental oxygen on admission. The study, led by researchers from remdesivir manufacturer Gilead Sciences, was published today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. (Van Beusekom, 9/22)
Also —
Fox News: Jellyfish Are Not The ‘Simple Creatures’ Once Thought: New Study May Change An Understanding Of Our Own Brains
Jellyfish could be much smarter than scientists previously thought, asserts a new study published in the journal Current Biology. Poisonous Caribbean box jellyfish can learn at a far more complex level than ever imagined, despite only having 1,000 nerve cells and no centralized brain, according to new research from the University of Copenhagen. Scientists say their findings change the fundamental understanding of the brain — and could reveal more about human cognitive functions and the process of dementia. (Rudy, 9/24)
