Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
People Over 45 Warned About Greater Risk Of STIs
CNN: Over-45s At Greater Risk Of STIs, New Study Finds
Middle-aged adults face a greater risk of catching sexually transmitted infections than ever before -- because society is unwilling to talk about older people having sex, a new study has found. Negative attitudes toward sexual health and limited knowledge of the needs of over-45s mean some older people are unaware of the dangers of unprotected sex, researchers from the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands have warned. (Woodyatt, 11/23)
The Hill: Study: People Over 45 At Higher Risk Of Contracting STIs 'Than Ever Before'
A recent study determined that people over 45 years old are at greater risk “than ever before” of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to stigma surrounding middle-aged and older individuals having sex. The University of Chichester, along with researchers from the U.K., Belgium and the Netherlands, found that negative views toward discussing sexual health and a general lack of knowledge contribute to some older people being unaware of the risks of unprotected sex. (Coleman, 11/23)
In other science and research news —
Boston Globe: A New Startup Wants To Use Natural Killer Cells To Fight Cancer
On a blustery day last December, five biotech entrepreneurs and scientists walked past the snow-draped Boston Common and entered Yvonne’s, the cozy supper club and bar, to discuss a new potential biotechnology company to fight cancer. (Saltzman, 11/23)
NPR: 'Waste' Activist Digs Into The Sanitation Crisis Affecting The Rural Poor
Hookworm is an intestinal parasite often associated with poor sewage treatment and the developing world. It was long thought to have been eradicated from the United States — until a 2017 study revealed otherwise. According to the study, more than one in three people in Alabama's Lowndes County tested positive for hookworm infection. (Davies, 11/23)
