Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study Finds Protein Structure Linked To Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
Newsweek: One Protein May Prevent Brain Process Linked To Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s
Scientists have identified a protein that may help stop the brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that tubulin—a protein best known for building the cell’s internal "railway tracks"—can prevent harmful protein clumps from forming in brain cells. (Gray, 6/23)
In other news about aging —
MedPage Today: 'Super Movers' Show Signs Of Exceptional Brain Aging
Super movers -- adults 80 and older who walk as fast as people 30 years younger -- had lower risks of cognitive impairment, data from multiple cohorts suggested. (George, 6/22)
KFF Health News: Worried About Your Aging Parents? Welcome To The Caregiving Club
Cara Anthony tries to convince her HealthQ co-host Blake Farmer that there are benefits to embracing the caregiver identity when helping an aging parent. When his father was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer in 2025, William Morrison immediately went into caregiving mode. (Siner, Anthony and Farmer, 6/23)
More health and wellness news —
Reuters: Shopify To Bar Vapes As U.S. Authorities Crack Down On Illegal Industry
Shopify Inc will ban all vapes from its platform as soon as this week following pressure from a group of U.S. state attorneys general aiming to curb sales of illegal e-cigarettes online, according to two sources familiar with its plans. The Ottawa-based company provides the underlying infrastructure that lets millions of merchants operate and scale e-commerce channels. It has been in talks since last year with a bipartisan coalition of 25 state attorneys general, who have been pushing Shopify to do more to clamp down on a booming market for vapes that lack the legally required license for U.S. sales, or violate other laws. (Rumney, 6/23)
HealthDay: Kids’ Juice And Soda Intake Linked To Higher Blood Pressure As Adults
That juice box you hand your child as a daily treat could be setting them up for poor heart health later on, a new study says. Drinking fruit juice or sugary sodas throughout childhood may be linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure in adulthood, researchers reported June 22 in the journal Circulation. (Thompson, 6/23)
NPR: 8 Things To Know About The Gut Microbiome And Keeping Yours Healthy
In the world of wellness and health content, few areas of our anatomy attract more interest lately — and specious claims — than the gut microbiome. This vast ecosystem of bacteria and microorganisms within our intestines shapes our health in profound ways that go well beyond digesting food — our immune system, mood, cognition, metabolism and much more. (Stone, 6/22)
In global health news —
Bloomberg: Intensifying Heat Wave Threatens To Set Records Across Europe
A strengthening heat wave is threatening to break temperature records from France and the UK to Spain and Germany, posing risks to transport, power systems and public health. On Monday, a temperature of 43.3C (110F) was recorded at Chateaumeillant in France, according to government forecaster Météo-France. Daytime highs are forecast to climb as high as 42C in parts of western France through Thursday. (Wertz, 6/23)
The Washington Post: 40 People Drown As France Seeks Relief From Record Heat
A deadly and record-breaking heat dome has scorched France, where officials and local reports have said at least 45 people have died amid the heat, including 40 by drowning. (Noll and Francis, 6/23)
The New York Times: Pakistan To Cut 18% Period Tax On Menstrual Products, But Poorest Families Still Can’t Afford Them
Pakistan wants to abolish a sales tax on menstrual pads and tampons starting in July, a move that is aimed at making the products more affordable in a country where access to and knowledge about menstrual hygiene remains low. Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced a plan to remove the 18 percent sales tax this month, saying that pads and tampons were “indispensable for women’s health, dignity and full participation in social activities.” (Peltier and Shabir, 6/22)
