Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Researchers Identify Optimal Walking Speed To Reduce Diabetes Risk
NBC News: How Fast Should You Walk To Lower Your Diabetes Risk?
The American Diabetes Association recommends taking 10,000 steps per day or walking daily for at least 30 minutes to reduce your diabetes risk. Walking at a faster pace can improve that benefit, but researchers haven't identified an ideal speed — until now. An analysis published Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that, independent of distance or step count, walking at least 2.5 mph can significantly lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. That's the equivalent of a brisk walk — around 87 steps per minute for men and 100 steps per minute for women. (Bendix, 11/28)
WMFE: Study Could Help Doctors Prescribe The Right Exercise To Battle Dementia
Physical exercise is good for our brains as we age. But why is that? And what's the right amount to deter dementias like Alzheimer's disease? And why do some older adults stay the course and others don't? Kirk Erickson, a leading researcher on exercise and dementia working at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, is coordinating a major study to answer those questions. (Byrnes, 11/28)
The Denver Post: Patients With Neurodegenerative Diseases Turn To Pingpong For Rehabilitation. Scientists Are Paying Attention
Mark Lauterbach was leaving a brewery in Fort Collins earlier this year when he found himself being pelted by hail. Instinctively, he took off running toward his car. When he made it, he burst into tears. “I felt like Forrest Gump,” Lauterbach said. “I ran, and I just cried. It’s been incredible.” The 58-year-old, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis eight years ago, thought his running days were long over. But playing pingpong, he said, had brought back the gift of running. (Hernandez, 11/28)
ABC News: Cannabis Use Does Not Reduce Long-Term Heroin Use, Study Finds
People with heroin dependency don't use less of that drug if they start also using cannabis, according to a new study. The findings cast some doubt on the idea that cannabis might help people reduce their dependence on opioids, experts say. "Cannabis is becoming increasingly recognized as a therapeutic product," says study author Dr. Jack Wilson, a researcher at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. (Jhaveri, 11/29)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest 'KFF Health News Minute'
This week on the KFF Health News Minute: Conflicting definitions of preventive care can leave patients with surprise bills, and high demand for a new RSV shot to protect babies this flu season leaves parents scrambling. (11/28)
