Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gen X, Millennials Dying At Higher Rates Than Earlier Generations: Study
Fox News: Americans Born After 1970 Face Higher Death Rates From Several Major Causes In Middle Age
Americans born after 1970 are dying faster than their parents did, data shows. New analysis from Tufts University reveals that Gen Xers and millennials are failing to outlive their predecessors, dying at higher rates from common chronic illnesses and external causes than previous generations did when they were the same age. (Quill, 6/10)
Factors that affect health —
Newsweek: Popular Supplement Linked To Faster Alzheimer’s Progression
A supplement taken by millions of older adults to ease joint pain may accelerate the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from the University of Florida. The study, published June 9 in Nature Metabolism, found that people already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment were 25 percent more likely to develop dementia if they were taking glucosamine in supplement form than those who did not use the pill. (Afshar, 6/11)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: High Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Linked To Increased Dementia Risk
Eating a diet high in ultra-processed food such as hot dogs and packaged snacks may increase the risk of dementia, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They found that those who ate the highest amount of ultra-processed food every day had a 58% increased risk of developing dementia and a 46% increased risk for cognitive impairment compared to people who ate the lowest amount of daily ultra-processed food. (Roeder, 6/10)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Visceral Fat Loss Associated With Better Long-Term Cardiometabolic, Cognitive Health
Irrespective of weight loss, maintaining a lower level of visceral fat—fat stored deep within the abdomen, wrapping around vital organs—may lead to better long-term cardiometabolic and cognitive health, according to two new studies led by Iris Shai, adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (Brownstein, 6/10)
MedPage Today: Study Warns On Sugary Drinks And Liver Cancer
Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of two liver cancer subtypes, according to a pooled analysis of 11 prospective cohort studies including more than 1.5 million adults. (Bassett, 6/10)
Boise State Public Radio News: Wildfire Smoke Degrades Quality Of Bull Sperm Samples, Researchers Find
Wildfire smoke is associated with a growing list of health impacts. New research now ties it to reproductive harm in bulls – a finding with implications for humans. (Woodhouse, 6/10)
In mental health news —
MedPage Today: Lawsuits Claiming Social Media Is 'Addictive' Gain Momentum
Social media has been on trial for allegedly harming youth mental health, and tech companies have been facing uphill legal battles in recent months. In a landmark case in March, a California jury found Meta and Google liable for the depression and anxiety of a woman who compulsively used social media as a child, awarding her $6 million. (Henderson, 6/10)
Military.com: Army Veteran Uses Cooking Show To Tackle Mental Health And Loss In Military Families
After Cory Brown left the Army in 2015 after serving more than 16 years, he felt lost and isolated, missing the camaraderie and responsibility he enjoyed in the military. Body and mind still flowing with adrenaline and nervous energy, Brown needed to find a way to channel his anxiety. He turned to the thing he loved almost as much as Army life, cooking. (Damask, 6/10)
Also —
Bloomberg: Roblox Seeks To Move Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Into Private Arbitration
Myra’s daughter got a Roblox account when she was 8. For more than a decade, the immersive gaming platform had advertised itself as a safe place for kids to play, and during the pandemic, there weren’t many other options. Myra herself had grown up trawling the chatrooms on AOL Instant Messenger, but knew it was a different internet era and decided to be more stringent with her daughter’s safety. She reviewed Roblox’s website and checked various “parental control” boxes, according to a September lawsuit she filed in California. (D'Anastasio, 6/10)
