US Fertility Rate Falls To Record Low As Teen Pregnancies Decrease
Plus: Two hair-growth products have been recalled because of a poisoning risk to children; how to reverse cognitive decline from social media use; and more.
The New York Times:
U.S. Fertility Rates Drop To Another Record Low
The U.S. fertility rate fell slightly in 2025, to another record low, extending two decades of declines, according to federal data released on Thursday. The fertility rate — the number of births per 1,000 women of childbearing age — dropped to 53.1, from 53.8 in 2024, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The number of births dropped too, falling by 1 percent from the previous year, to 3,606,400. (Tavernise, 4/9)
In other health and wellness news —
The Hill:
Tuymec Hair, TecFloc Growth Serum Products Recalled For Poisoning Risk: CSPC
Two hair growth serum products were recalled last week after their packaging was found to pose a poisoning risk. The products, Tuymec’s Minoxidil Hair Growth Spray and TecFlox Hair and Beard Growth Serum, contain minoxidil, which is required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act to be in child-resistant packaging. About 6,200 have been recalled. “The hair serum’s packaging is not child-resistant, posing a risk of serious injury or death from poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children,” the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said of the products. (Taub, 4/8)
MedPage Today:
Is Kissing For Celiacs Gluten-Free? Study Weighs In
While people with celiac disease have a number of challenges in leading a gluten-free life, it appears kissing is not one of them. In a prospective study of couples in which one partner had celiac disease, it was possible to transfer gluten through kissing, but it usually involved small amounts considered safe, reported Anne R. Lee, EdD, RDN, of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues in Gastroenterology. (Bassett, 4/8)
NBC News:
These Simple Lifestyle Changes Could Decrease Dementia Risk By 25%
Are you sitting right now? If you want to protect your brain, you should take a walk and be sure to go to bed early. Regular exercise and about seven hours of sleep a night could protect brain health in the long term, a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One found. Long bouts of sedentary behavior may increase dementia risk. (Sullivan, 4/8)
The Washington Post:
This Detox May Erase 10 Years Of Social Media Brain Damage, Researchers Say
Studies show that taking even short breaks could reverse measures of cognitive decline. (Cha, 4/9)
