Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Using A Smartphone By Age 12 Increased Likelihood Of Disordered Eating By Age 14, Study Finds
CNN: Smartphone Use At Age 12 Linked To Eating Disorder Symptoms By 14
Kids who have their own smartphones at age 12 are more likely to develop eating disorder symptoms than their peers without the devices, according to a new study. (Schupak, 9/25)
More news about mental health —
AP: TikTok Settles Alabama Mental Health Lawsuit Just Before Trial Begins
TikTok will pay the state of Alabama at least $100 million and must implement a slew of safety features for teens in the state as part of a settlement agreement reached just before the case was set to go to trial. Alabama sued the social media company in 2025 claiming that the platform had negative effects on the mental well-being of youths. (Huamani, 9/26)
HealthDay: Loneliness And Isolation Can Strip Six Years Of Healthy Life
Loneliness and social isolation can cost a person up to six years of healthy life, a new study says. Physical and mental health suffer when people feel lonely and become isolated, even if they largely stick to healthy habits, researchers reported recently in the journal Nature Communications. The two conditions are different. Social isolation refers to having few relationships or limited contact with others, while loneliness is a distressing feeling caused by a lack of meaningful connection, according to the National Council on Aging. (Thompson, 9/25)
Fox News: Brain Fog And Memory Loss May Signal Reversible Causes, Neurologist Says
Everyday memory lapses, like misplaced keys or forgotten names, are often overinterpreted as early signs of dementia, but neuroscience experts say actual early cognitive changes may be reversible if addressed promptly. Dr. Tommy Wood, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, said minor forgetfulness is often caused by fatigue or stress rather than the beginnings of a neurodegenerative disease. (Quill, 9/27)
In other health and wellness news —
MedPage Today: Growing Support For Initiatives To Recognize Myopia As A Disease
Support from the American Medical Association (AMA) to classify myopia, or nearsightedness, as a disease created momentum to increase access to evidence-based treatment and stave off a public health crisis, according to the nation's largest ophthalmology group. At its annual meeting in June 2026, the AMA House of Delegates approved a resolution to "recognize that myopia is a significant and increasing public health concern warranting public health outreach, improved screening in children, and prevention efforts." (Bankhead, 9/25)
The Hill: Alzheimer’s Fighting Peptide May Offer Broader Approach To Treatment
Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s remains one of medicine’s most difficult diseases to treat. Now, a newly identified naturally occurring peptide could provide a new approach to combating it and other neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine discovered the small protein fragment called catestatin, or CST, which they believe could counter many of the key processes that cause neurodegeneration, or the loss of brain cells. This gradual loss can lead to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, poor judgment, and in later stages, difficulty walking, talking and swallowing. (Sitz, 9/25)
NPR: Living With Real-Time Progress In Lung Cancer Treatment
Stanford medical professor Bryant Lin founded the school's Center for Asian Health Research and Education, advocating for better lung cancer screening in particular. Then two years ago Lin became a Stage IV patient of the very disease he long crusaded against. "Super ironic that I would be co-leading the center that supports research and education in this disease, and I get diagnosed myself," he says. (Noguchi, 9/27)
