Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
From KFF Health News - Latest Stories:
KFF Health News Original Stories
The Drugs and Devices Have Been on the Market for Years. But FDA-Ordered Studies Still Aren’t Done.
To get drugs and devices out faster, the FDA lets companies conduct studies of safety or efficacy after the products are approved. In many cases, such “postmarket” studies are behind schedule or overdue, records show.
Cost-Saving Medicaid Meal Deliveries Threatened by Cuts, Policy Uncertainty
An experiment to provide meals to some Medicaid recipients shows food can be cost-effective medicine. But even as federal officials tout the power of nutrition, Medicaid budget cuts could lead states to think twice about covering healthy food for sick residents. One has already reconsidered.
Sticker Shock at the Doctor's Office Could Motivate Midterm Voters
Steep jumps in health insurance premiums and deductibles are top of mind for many voters heading into midterm elections. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner explains how rising costs may shape competitive races. She also distills plans from candidates on both sides of the aisle to bring costs down.
What the Health? From KFF Health News: The Health Risks of AI
Reports from a top AI company that it found and stopped attempted uses of its product to manufacture a potential bioweapon caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington this week. Meanwhile, President Trump wants to send $500 checks to about a million Obamacare enrollees. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sabrina Corlette of the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
Here's today's health policy haiku:
NOTHING ARTIFICIAL ABOUT ANXIETY
Building up AI.
— Jaymee Leak Matthews
No government oversight?
Are we in danger?
If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.
Opinions expressed in haikus are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.
Summaries Of The News:
Government Policy
Installing 8 Panelists To Preventive Services Task Force, RFK Jr. Departs From The Norm
Stat: Kennedy Overhauls USPSTF, A Key Advisory Panel
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday named eight new members to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential panel of experts who assess the evidence behind a wide array of preventive medical services. (Cirruzzo, Cooney and Todd, 9/17)
The New York Times: RFK Jr. Assures Vaccine Skeptics They Have A ‘Friend At The White House’
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday told members of the anti-vaccine group he founded that they had “a strong and steadfast friend at the White House” and that he would “die with my boots on” pursuing answers about the risks of vaccines. His remarks, to a convention of Children’s Health Defense, signaled a notable shift from earlier this year when White House officials and political advisers had pushed Mr. Kennedy to sidestep the vaccine issue, given widespread support among voters for protecting children against deadly diseases. They came just one day after President Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier, gave a full-throated defense of the safety and efficacy of vaccines during her Senate confirmation hearing. (Jewett and Rosenbluth, 9/17)
Stat: Kennedy Announces New Effort To Improve Autism Diagnoses
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday a new effort to improve autism diagnoses, arguing that the current model is outdated, too time-intensive, and overreliant on professionals with limited availability. (Broderick, 9/17)
More health news from the federal government —
Yahoo News: New U.S. Customs Rule Could Impact International Medication Shipments
A new customs requirement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection could delay or disrupt some international mail shipments to the United States, potentially creating added costs for people who buy prescription medications from pharmacies outside the country. (Johnson, 9/15)
The War Horse: Most Female Marines Are Passing Hegseth's Fitness Test, Data Shows
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, Virginia, last September, he delivered a blunt message: Things were changing fast in the newly renamed Department of War. “No more division, distraction, or gender delusions,” he said. “We are done with that shit.” (Kehrt, 9/17)
The Hill: Sen. Andy Kim Introduces Bill To Phase Out SSDI Waiting Periods
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) on Thursday introduced legislation to phase out waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare benefits. Kim’s bill, the Stop the Wait Act, would phase out the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits over five years as well as eliminate the 24-month waiting period for Medicare disability benefits. The senator from New Jersey cited data from the Government Accountability Office that found more than 100,000 people died between fiscal 2008 and 2019 while waiting for a final decision on their SSDI benefits. This figure represents roughly 1.2 percent of total disability applicants who filed an appeal. (Choi, 9/17)
Military.com: Petition Forces Stand-Alone Vote On Major Richard Star Act For Combat-Injured Veterans' Benefits
A petition to force a vote on the Major Richard Start Act reached 218 signatures on Wednesday, paving the way for a U.S. House vote on the bill. The Major Richard Star Act, introduced in the Senate and House by bipartisan lawmakers in March 2025, would allow certain veterans who suffered combat-related injuries that made them cut their military careers short to receive both military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. (Plummer, 9/17)
CIDRAP: Advocates, Lawmakers Call For Release Of Congressionally Approved Global Health Funds
The clock is ticking on more than a billion dollars in congressionally approved funding for global health programs that's being held up by the Trump administration. According to an analysis by Partners in Health, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is withholding $1.35 billion in bilateral funding that was previously approved by Congress for tuberculosis (TB), malaria, HIV, and maternal and child health programs. The funding is set to expire on September 30, the end of the federal government's fiscal year. (Dall, 9/17)
Politico: Industry Titans’ Warning To Congress: Do What We Say Or Health Insurance Premiums Are Going Up
Some of America’s largest companies are warning Congress that a law shielding patients from surprise medical bills is about to spike their health insurance premiums. The ERISA Industry Committee, whose board includes executives from ExxonMobil, Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo and Walmart, says that unless Congress stems the huge fees they’re bearing from the 2020 No Surprises Act, businesses will have to pass more of the cost on to their employees. The committee hopes that message resonates at a time when Americans frustrated with the cost of living are thinking about taking it out on incumbents seeking reelection. (Chu and Levien, 9/17)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: The Health Risks Of AI
Reports from a top artificial intelligence company that it stopped several attempted uses of its product that could assist in manufacturing a bioweapon caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington this week. But it is still unclear whether or when Congress will act to regulate the fast-moving industry — and the House has left town until after Election Day. (Rovner, 9/17)
Health Industry
Organization That Sets Standards For Medical Residents Weighs Reducing Rest Periods Between Shifts
MedPage Today: Are Resident Work-Hour Protections Being Rolled Back?
Proposed changes to the standards that govern accredited residencies are raising concerns about potential roll-backs of work-hour protections. In its proposed revision of the Common Program Requirements, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) suggested eliminating the requirement that residents have 8 hours off between shifts, and reducing the mandatory rest period after a 24-hour in-house call from 14 to 12 hours. (Robertson, 9/17)
Healthcare Dive: Mental Health Gap Widens Between Employed And Independent Physicians: Survey
Employed doctors report worse well-being than independent practitioners, with workload and administrative burden driving distress. (Hughes, 9/17)
In other healthcare industry developments —
Chicago Tribune: Insight Health To Operate West Suburban And Weiss Hospitals
After months of fighting in court, the owners of West Suburban and Weiss Memorial hospitals hammered out an agreement late Wednesday night that could ultimately see the hospitals sold to Insight Health Systems. (Schencker, 9/17)
Modern Healthcare: Intermountain Closes Idaho Hospital Deal With Surgery Partners
Surgery Partners has sold its ownership interest in two Idaho hospitals to Intermountain Health. Surgery Partners received $797 million in gross proceeds, netting $587 million in cash, according to a Thursday news release. Transaction proceeds will go toward paying down debts, the release said. (DeSilva, 9/17)
Healthcare Dive: Federal Watchdog Accuses Humana, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans Of Upcoding
Plans operated by the two largest Medicare Advantage insurers jointly overcharged the government almost $180 million in 2020 and 2021 by exaggerating the health needs of their members, according to new audits from a federal watchdog that could intensify concerns about insurers gaming the privatized Medicare program. HumanaChoice and UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin frequently submitted diagnosis codes to Medicare that weren’t backed up by medical documentation, generating an extra $131 million and $47 million in reimbursement, respectively, over the two years, according to the HHS Office of the Inspector General. (Parduhn, 9/17)
Modern Healthcare: Aetna Eases Prior Authorization For Medicaid Cancer Treatment
Aetna announced Thursday that some Medicaid members only have to obtain a single prior authorization for cancer treatments. The CVS Health subsidiary’s announcement comes as the health insurance industry works to pare back and streamline precertification requirements. Beginning Sept. 1, Aetna launched a program to bundle prior authorization requests for Medicaid members in eight states seeking a range of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation oncology services where appropriate. The initiative builds on a pilot program the insurer unveiled in June 2025. (Tepper, 9/17)
The Baltimore Sun: Luminis Health Sued Over Anne Arundel Cybersecurity Incident
Patients are suing Maryland hospital system Luminis Health over a cybersecurity incident that has left crucial systems offline for over two weeks. (Wilson, 9/17)
Also —
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Rethink Services To Ease Bed Capacity Strain
Limited capacity and growing financial pressure are forcing health systems to reconfigure service offerings as they look to increase access and revenue. They are eliminating duplicative services after years of mergers and acquisitions. That often means consolidating low-volume facilities that are expensive to staff and operate and tend to produce worse outcomes. Executives hope more rigorous service-mix evaluations and the resulting changes will prepare their organizations for reimbursement reductions and rising costs. (Kacik, 9/17)
KFF Health News: Sticker Shock At The Doctor's Office Could Motivate Midterm Voters
Healthcare prices are likely to keep increasing next year. As midterm elections approach, candidates are laying out their plans to tackle these growing expenses. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner joined WAMU’s Health Hub on Sept. 16 to explain how healthcare could play a critical role in the midterm elections. She said similar cost increases in the early 2000s led to the debate that became the Affordable Care Act. (Rovner, 9/18)
Stat: Geriatrician Explains Why AI For Older Adults Deserves Careful Scrutiny
Across medicine, doctors are increasingly using artificial intelligence models to predict patient risk, from sepsis to falls to death. Often embedded directly into electronic health records, these predictions can be easy to incorporate into care — and their performance can be easily taken for granted. (Palmer, 9/18)
CIDRAP: Study Suggests Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter May Spread Through The Air
A new study by Chinese researchers suggests a highly resistant, healthcare-associated bacterial pathogen could be transmitted through the air. In the study, published yesterday in the American Journal of Infection Control, researchers from Sichuan University investigated the extent of air contamination with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in an intensive care unit (ICU) at West China Hospital. CRAB is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that tends to infect severely ill hospital patients, and is known to spread in ICUs through contact with contaminated high-touch surfaces and shared medical devices. (Dall, 9/16)
Outbreaks and Health Threats
Pennsylvania's Measles Scare Grows As Philadelphia Children's Hospital Reports Possible NICU Exposure
WHYY: Philadelphia Officials Report Possible Measles At CHOP’S NICU
City health officials say there was a possible measles exposure at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, including in the hospital’s NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit. ... Officials said they’re working to give all infants in the NICU a preventative antibody treatment to help protect them from measles. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be prevented in adults with a vaccine. (9/17)
More about measles —
St. Louis Public Radio: First Measles Case In 20 Years Confirmed In St. Louis County
A person who boarded a train to Chicago in Missouri late last month has tested positive for measles, becoming the first confirmed case in a St. Louis County resident in 20 years, health officials announced Thursday. The person boarded a Chicago-bound train Aug. 27 that also carried another person who boarded the Missouri River Runner (Train 318) in Sedalia and was later confirmed to have measles. Jackson County health officials confirmed that initial case earlier this week. (Fentem, 9/17)
The Hill: New York Health Officials Launch Measles-Tracking Dashboard Amid Outbreak
The New York State Department of Health launched an online dashboard Tuesday to monitor a measles outbreak that has infected at least 57 people in 2026. With 51 cases occurring outside New York City, health officials are urging residents to check their immunization status. State Law requires vaccinations for students, though the department recently defied a presidential executive order regarding split vaccine doses. (Sheridan, 9/17)
Aurora Beacon-News: Kane County, Illinois, Health Department Offering Free Measles Vaccines
After two measles cases were reported so far this year in the county, the Kane County Health Department is offering free measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccinations through Sept. 25 — regardless of individuals’ insurance status. (Morrow, 9/17)
On chikungunya, dengue fever, rabies, and tuberculosis —
WUSF: Florida Health Department Moves To Allow Pharmacists To Give Chikungunya Vaccine
The Florida Department of Health is proposing a rule that would allow pharmacists to administer a vaccine against chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness that can cause fever and severe joint pain. (Mayer, 9/17)
WUSF: Hillsborough County, Florida, Steps Up Mosquito Spraying With More Dengue Cases Reported
Locally acquired dengue fever continues to spread in Hillsborough County, according to the latest weekly update from the Florida Department of Health. There were 39 additional cases of the mosquito-spread disease reported in Hillsborough from Sept. 6-12, according to most recent data made available Thursday. (Mayer, 9/17)
MPR News: Rabies Confirmed In A Minnesota Cow. MDH Recommends Shots For 9 People Exposed
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed that a cow in Brown County tested positive for rabies last week after it was euthanized. The board said the owner of the heifer noticed the animal behaving oddly on Sept. 1 as it laid flat with its head down. A veterinarian observed the animal the same day and the owner had administered oral medication with bare hands. Another veterinarian examined the animal the following day and also gave it oral medication without wearing gloves. (Yang, 9/17)
The San Diego Union-Tribune: County Reports Persistent Delays In Tuberculosis Reporting At Otay Mesa Detention Center
San Diego County warned doctors at the Otay Mesa Detention Center this week that continued weeks-long delays in reporting suspected tuberculosis cases “may subject health care providers to professional licensing actions. ”The letter, dated Tuesday and signed by Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, the county’s public health officer, cites a three-week notification delay for a suspected TB case. Though the patient began treatment Aug. 5, the county public health department did not receive a report on the suspected case until Aug. 27. (Sisson, 9/17)
On the spread of covid, flu, and bird flu —
CIDRAP: Airport Air Sampling Captures COVID, Influenza Viruses
Air sampling at four US airports in 2023 and 2024 detected SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in over 98% of samples and influenza A in over 17%, according to a study published in PLOS Global Public Health. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led the study, which involved air monitoring in congregate areas at San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. (Van Beusekom, 9/17)
CIDRAP: Few People With The Flu Isolate For The Recommended Period
A few days after contracting the flu, muscle aches fade, exhaustion lifts, and the couch starts to lose its appeal. A return to ordinary life feels overdue. But according to a study published last week in the American Journal of Epidemiology, some people diagnosed as having flu might shed the most virus RNA just as their symptoms start to improve. It’s also when roughly four-fifths of study participants stopped isolating and started interacting with the broader community. (Bergeson, 9/16)
CIDRAP: Avian Flu Detected In Minnesota Turkeys, US Waterfowl
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) noted three major H5N1 avian flu outbreaks at Minnesota facilities this past week. Two commercial turkey operations in Big Stone County and Becker County had 55,700 and 44,400 birds affected, respectively. A commercial poultry breeder facility in Otter Tail County also reported an outbreak hitting 18,000 birds. (Soucheray, 9/17)
State Watch
Texas Hospitals Regain $12B In Medicaid Funds As Federal Impasse Ends
The Texas Tribune: Texas Gets Back $12 Billion In Hospital Medicaid Funds From Feds
Nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals will be restored, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday, ending a near year-long impasse between Texas and the federal government. (Langford, 9/17)
CalMatters: Newsom Signs Law To Let California Seniors Get Out Of Jury Duty
Starting Jan. 1, 2028, Californians ages 80 and older can opt-out of jury service permanently due to a medical condition, without needing a note from a health care provider. The change comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1359 on Monday, which enables seniors to request a permanent exemption by attesting that they have an impairment that renders them incapable of performing jury service. Further medical documentation will not be required. Seniors who still want to serve on a jury can still do so. (La, 9/15)
Cardinal News: Virginia Food Pantry Gets Creative To Weather SNAP Cuts, Loss Of USDA Food
As she stood behind the folding table, weighing boxes and taking notes, Teresa O’Donnell focused on what wasn’t there yet. “What’s we got? What do we have?” she asked, picking up a call, setting her phone on the table and turning to a new page in her notebook. (Rubenstein, 9/18)
KFF Health News: Cost-Saving Medicaid Meal Deliveries Threatened By Cuts, Policy Uncertainty
On a weekday morning in a quiet Boston neighborhood, a kitchen bustled with activity. Volunteers sliced chicken breasts, stuffed bell peppers, filled trays, and carefully labeled each item. It was part of an experiment to offer nutritious and medically tailored meals to Medicaid patients who are unable to shop for groceries and cook for themselves. “Once I started to eat these meals that were geared toward my illness, I built up my muscle mass again, built up my strength, built up my confidence in myself,” said Vanessa Georges, who is in remission from throat cancer and said she would struggle to consume enough calories without the deliveries. “These meals have given me a second chance.” (Dayal McCluskey, 9/18)
The New York Times: Toxic Fracking Waste Becoming A Political Issue In Ohio
For years, Ohio has been a disposal destination for hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater produced by the fracking industry. The wastewater, which contains hazardous chemicals and radioactive material, is pumped deep underground into injection wells, where it’s supposed to stay. But recently it has been bubbling up to the surface, raising fears about health risks and drinking water contamination. Now, as elections loom, the issue is gaining political traction. (Glabicki, 9/17)
Verite News: Livingston Parish Residents Worry About CO2 Pipeline Proximity
Residents are speaking out against the construction of a carbon dioxide pipeline they say will bring risks right up to their backyards and near community schools. Property owners near the planned CF Industries CO2 pipeline voiced their opposition to the project and displeasure with the lack of information from public officials about details including safety plans. The proposed line will stretch 50 miles from Ascension Parish to Livingston Parish, crossing through a cypress swamp as well as near schools and residential areas. (Plunk, 9/17)
Pharma and Tech
Oral Pill for Sleep Apnea Shows Promising Results In Trial
The Hill: Oral Pill AD109 Could Provide New Option For People With Sleep Apnea, Stage 3 Trial Shows
An oral drug designed to treat sleep apnea showed promising results in a recent clinical trial, suggesting there may be another alternative on the market soon for people who don’t like using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines. In the phase 3 trial, 646 adults with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea were given the once-nightly pill AD109, Science Daily reported, based on materials provided by the American Thoracic Society. Researchers found that more than 40 percent of participants’ conditions improved to a less severe OSA classification, while 18 percent achieved complete control of the disease. (Kaplan, 9/17)
More pharma and tech updates —
Stat: FDA Approves First-Ever Gene Therapy For Sanfilippo Syndrome
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a new gene therapy for Sanfilippo syndrome type A, an ultra-rare disease sometimes known as childhood Alzheimer’s. The therapy, called Fayuvi, was developed by Ultragenyx. It is the first drug specifically approved to treat Sanfilippo. Ultragenyx did not immediately release a price. (Mast, 9/17)
AP: South Korea Plans To Approve Abortion Pills
South Korea plans to approve abortion pills for the first time to promote women’s rights to health and safety, deepening debates over abortions in a country that until recently had imposed strict rules on the procedure. The government announced Wednesday that it aims to allow medication abortions for women who are up to nine weeks pregnant by the first quarter of 2027. Officials said that for the first two years, abortion pills would be directly prescribed and dispensed by doctors. (Kim, 9/17)
The New York Times: The Next Gene-Editing Technology May Also Be The Oldest
Over the past decade, the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR has become a familiar scientific tool, used to create lifesaving cures, make more productive crops, and even engineer allergy-free dogs. But scientists didn’t invent CRISPR from scratch. They discovered it in bacteria and other microbes, which use it as a defense against invading viruses. On Thursday, scientists reported that they had found another gene-editing defense in nature, this one in viruses themselves. (Zimmer, 9/17)
Medical Xpress: New MRI Measure Reveals How Closely Blood Flow Matches Brain Cells' Energy Needs
Researchers from the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have developed a new, noninvasive way to examine how blood flow and cellular organization align across the layers of the living human brain. The study, published in Nature Communications, introduces the cerebral blood flow–cell-body staining intensity similarity index, or CCSI. It may help scientists understand how blood vessels, cells and energy-producing machinery work together to support brain function. (Mondal, 9/17)
KFF Health News: The Drugs And Devices Have Been On The Market For Years. But FDA-Ordered Studies Still Aren’t Done
When the FDA was deciding whether to approve the drug Tavneos several years ago to treat a set of rare autoimmune diseases, agency experts argued that would be a mistake, according to FDA records. One problem cited: The manufacturer had provided only “limited safety data.” As it often does, the FDA in 2021 approved the drug with a proviso: It required the manufacturer to conduct an additional years-long safety study once the drug was on the market. (Hilzenrath, 9/18)
Public Health
Scientists Pinpoint Gene Variant That Puts Nonsmokers At Higher Risk For Lung Cancer
Stat: Rare Gene Variant Raises Lung Cancer Risk 25-Fold In Non-Smokers
For years, researchers have known that, among people diagnosed with lung cancer, the prevalence of nonsmokers has been increasing. But they have been trying to determine what factors — whether genetic, environmental, or something else — might put these “never-smokers” at heightened risk. (Joseph, 9/17)
On dementia and aging —
Newsweek: Scientists Uncover A Hidden Alzheimer’s Clue Deep Inside Brain Cells
Scientists have discovered that the three-dimensional shape of DNA inside brain cells is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease, uncovering a previously hidden layer of the illness that could point researchers toward new treatments. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Washington found that the way the genome folds differs in certain brain cells from people with Alzheimer's, changing which genes are switched on and off. (Fleur Afshar, 9/17)
Fox News: Osteoporosis Drugs Linked To Lower Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia Risk
Commonly used osteoporosis drugs were linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia in a large study of older adults. Among a group of 121,492 adults age 60 or older, the use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBP) was associated with a 16% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias compared to those who did not take osteoporosis medications. The risk was 24% less compared to people taking other types of osteoporosis medications. (Rudy, 9/16)
FiercePharma: Lilly Boxes Up Fresh Produce To Cultivate Alzheimer’s Awareness
Eli Lilly is marking World Alzheimer’s Day with a partnership to distribute 13,500 boxes of brain-healthy fresh produce and educational materials to underserved senior populations across the U.S. Lilly, which sells the Alzheimer’s disease medicine Kisunla, has partnered with Planet Harvest and Thrive Global on the initiative. Together, the partners are shipping boxes containing 12 to 15 pounds of fruits and vegetables, chosen for their links to healthy aging and cognitive wellness, and a pouch of salmon to people. Recipients will also get recipes suggesting ways to quickly and easily turn the produce into meals. (Taylor, 9/17)
The Washington Post: The Age-Related Eye Disease That Leads To Hallucinations
Studies suggest that Charles Bonnet syndrome affects roughly one in six people with retinal disease or significant vision loss. (Hetherman, 9/18)
More health and wellness news —
The 19th: Violence Against Women And Trans People Is Worse Than Previously Thought, New Research Finds
Violence against women and trans people is worse than previously thought, according to new research released Wednesday from Tulane University and University of California, San Diego. (Mithani and Padilla, 9/16)
The 19th: Trans Kids Face Higher Risk Of Eating Disorders. This Therapist Knows What They’re Going Through.
Penny Gautreaux has spent her career helping people in crisis. But facing her own took a village. A licensed social worker and therapist, Gautreaux struggled with an eating disorder for 24 years. As a transgender woman, dysphoria tied to her gender made it worse. She was hospitalized twice for being undernourished. She was, as she puts it, gearing up for a third round of hospitalization when the people in her life stepped in. (Rummler, 9/17)
The Hill: Study Finds That Kids' Risk Of Anxiety, Behavioral Issues Rises When There's A Cat In The House
Got a cat and a toddler in the house? One study suggests that could lead to a purrrfect storm when it comes to your child’s emotional development. Researchers tracking nearly 1,900 families found kids who had a cat at home, specifically kids aged 4-5, were more likely to show signs of anxiety, withdrawal or emotional struggles by the time they turned 7 or 8. They were also somewhat more likely to act out, break rules or have other behavioral issues. The study also looked at dogs, birds, rodents, fish and reptiles, but none showed the same pattern. (Fischels, 9/15)
Medical Xpress: Children's Pupils May Reveal Shifting Attention In ADHD, Especially When Off Medication
The eyes are more than lenses to the outside world; they can also be windows that offer a glimpse into what's happening inside our bodies. What if the eyes could help us understand how attention shifts from one moment to the next? Scientists are now testing whether tiny changes in pupil size can serve as a physiological marker of these fluctuations in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Mondal, 9/17)
MedPage Today: Brain Disorder Due To Vitamin Deficiency Often Goes Unrecognized
Korsakoff syndrome -- a neurocognitive disorder resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that often develops after untreated Wernicke encephalopathy -- was difficult to diagnose and frequently led to death, a retrospective study showed. (George, 9/17)
San Francisco Chronicle: Did The Brain Evolve From Two Origins? Stanford Study Suggests So
While the brain appears to be a single organ, a new study suggests that it begins developing from two distinct types of early cells. The results challenge a longstanding view that a common population of progenitor cells can give rise to the entire brain. The work was led by scientists at Stanford Medicine, with collaborators at other institutions, including UCSF. (Lee, 9/18)
Weekend Reading
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
CNN: ‘Once An Alcoholic, Always An Alcoholic’ Is Outdated. Here’s Why
Brad Pitt’s reported return to drinking in “a more restrained manner” has fueled debate around what constitutes recovery from alcohol use disorder. (Rogers, 9/18)
The Washington Post: Inside One Woman’s Psychedelic Experiment To Treat Lyme Disease
Elizabeth Richwine is at the frontier of a boom that could transform medicine — and create a massive new industry. (Eunjung Cha, 9/17)
CNN: Weeks After A Tick Bite, He Couldn’t Speak Or Move. A Slew Of Tests Finally Gave Him A Diagnosis
John Reagan, 66, was enjoying the first few months of retirement when he pulled a tick off his skin in early May. A few weeks later, though, he started having flu-like symptoms that included a headache, body aches, a fever, nausea and diarrhea. He visited a local emergency room in mid-May, but doctors couldn’t zero in on a cause, so they sent him home after giving him fluids and anti-nausea medications. Still, he got worse. (Goodman, 9/12)
The Washington Post: The Hidden Risks Of Noise Pollution
The human body is remarkably good at getting used to the environment around it. Over time, what once seemed unusually loud may barely register. (Coco, 9/17)
The Washington Post: Having A Parent Live To 100 Gives You A Leg Up On Longevity, Study Finds
People with centenarian parents may live longer and be less likely to develop heart disease. But genes don’t fully determine lifespan. (Felton, 9/17)
Editorials And Opinions
Viewpoints: 'Looksmaxxing' And The Surge Of Men Getting Cosmetic Surgery; AI Is Already Poisoning Us
Stat: Why More Young Men Are Seeking Plastic Surgery
There are more men sitting in my plastic surgery waiting room now than ever before. If I had to choose one word to describe the men I see today, it would be “influenced.” (Kavitha Ranganathan, 9/18)
Bloomberg: AI Is Already Damaging Human Life. We Gave It A Head Start
Data centers are also poisoning water sources and using "forever" chemicals, which attack the liver, kidneys, and blood and cause serious health problems, prompting calls for state and local officials to implement real oversight and environmental protections. (Mark Gongloff, 9/17)
Bloomberg: AI's Greatest Threat Is Biological, Not Robotic
Imagine an AI-aided researcher inserting an immune-signaling gene into a poxvirus that suppresses the immune response so thoroughly it kills every unvaccinated animal it infects and most who are immunized. (Gautam Mukunda, 9/17)
Stat: What ‘Asian Glow’ Means For Patients’ Long-Term Health And Drinking
I was 8 years old, sitting at dinner with my grandparents, watching Gong Gong’s face turn bright red after a few sips of yellow wine. He loved making me laugh, and though he enjoyed his drinks, I think he liked my reaction even more. Over a decade later, I would recognize the same alcohol flush reaction at parties and happy hours in some of my East Asian friends, and in myself. (Brian Zhang, 9/18)
The Washington Post: Your Questions About This Horrible Cannabis Syndrome, Answered
Here’s why cannabis can help with nausea but also cause unrelenting vomiting. (Leana S. Wen, 9/17)