Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Death Rate Fell To Record Low Last Year; Decline In Overdose Deaths Likely Played A Large Role
CNN: US Life Expectancy On Track To Reach Record High As Death Rate Falls To Record Low In 2025
New mortality data from the federal government suggests that life expectancy probably hit another record high in 2025, as death rates have continued to fall since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were about 689 deaths for every 100,000 people in the US in 2025, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the lowest rate recorded in more than a century of tracking. The age-adjusted rate has fallen 22% since 2021, landing about 4% lower than it was just before the pandemic in 2019. (McPhillips, 7/2)
On Alzheimer's disease and dementia —
TODAY.com: Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis On TODAY: EXCLUSIVE
Legendary actor Danny Glover revealed in a TODAY exclusive interview that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for multiple years. Glover, 79, and his family spoke with former NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt in an interview aired July 1. They gave a glimpse into what life is like now for the four-time Emmy winner and why he decided to publicly share his diagnosis now. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” Glover said. (Stump, 7/1)
The Hill: Dementia Will Cost Americans $818 Billion In 2026, Mostly Paid By Families
Dementia will cost the U.S. $818 billion this year, according to a new study. Research shows that bill will be mostly footed by unpaid caregivers, not the government. About 5.7 million Americans are living with dementia, including 5.1 million who are 65 or older — another 5.2 million people are caring for them without pay. The research, published last week by the Alzheimer’s Association, found individuals and families are shouldering more than three times the cost that falls on health systems and government programs. (Fischels, 6/30)
Medical Xpress: BCG Vaccine May Rewire Brain Immunity, Shift Alzheimer's Markers Over 12 Months
New research led by Mass General Brigham investigators suggests that the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine—which is delivered through the skin to prevent tuberculosis—may remodel the human brain's immune environment, offering a potential biological explanation for previously observed associations between BCG vaccination and lower Alzheimer's disease risk. Findings are published in Communications Medicine. (Baum, 7/2)
More health and wellness news —
MedPage Today: Cheerleading Head Injuries Declined After 2012 Rule Change
Head injuries among cheerleaders declined after a 2012 rule change that banned the "double down" twisting dismount in stunts performed in high school and lower-level grades, a study showed. (Henderson, 7/1)
San Francisco Chronicle: How ‘Exercise Snacks’ Can Improve Your Health
Doctors and researchers have long known that exercise is good for your health. For years, federal health agencies and medical associations told Americans to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, and that physical activity as short as 10 minutes at a time counts toward that total. But more recently, research began focusing on shorter bouts of activity, often called “exercise snacks,” which can be a few minutes or less — like a quick round of jumping jacks, wall sits or a jog up the stairs on the way to work. (Ho, 6/28)
CNN: Coffee May Lower Risk For Liver Disease, Cancer
Your daily cup of coffee may lower your risk for liver disease or liver cancer, a large new study has found — even if you drink five or more cups a day. (Rogers, 7/1)
MedPage Today: Most Adults On Social Media Engaged With Health Content
The bulk of adults who use social media reported engaging with health information via these platforms, despite not always finding it trustworthy, according to survey data. Out of over 7,000 adults, 87.8% reported using social media, and among those, engagement with health-related content was common, with 84.8% sharing personal or general health information, and 70.2% participating in online communities, reported Rohan Khera, MD, MS, of Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues. (Henderson, 6/30)
KFF Health News: A Mom Said Infant Formula Killed Her Baby. The Manufacturer Closed The File.
In September 2016, a distraught mother sent infant formula maker Mead Johnson a message: “REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST!!!! DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL ME ANY MORE! It is because of your animal based pre-term artificial baby food crap that you peddle to hospital NICU’s that my son is dead from NEC.” The mother was referring to neonatal intensive care units and necrotizing enterocolitis, an often fatal condition in which intestinal tissue can die and allow infection to spread through the body of an infant born prematurely. (Hilzenrath and Hacker, 7/2)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
Jackie Fortiér reads the week’s news: More Americans than ever are surviving cancer and face lingering mental health issues. Plus, tips to get your health insurance company to pay for a GLP-1 drug. (7/2)
