Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Research shows people often 鈥渁ge out鈥 of crime, and health care costs are ballooning. But still, many states oppose releasing elderly prisoners. (Lartey, 3/21)
A few qualities, including a sense of purpose, seem to have real benefits 鈥 especially as you age. (Smith, 3/26)
Tango is the national dance of Argentina, known for its passion, precision and heart. In a hospital in Buenos Aires, it has another purpose: as a therapy for patients with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. Once a week, about a dozen patients come to Ramos Mej铆a Hospital to dance 鈥 a session that uses the movements of tango to help address issues of balance, stiffness and coordination. The goal is to give them approaches to movement that they can use in their daily lives, as well as a social and emotional boost from moving to music. (Belluck, 3/24)
During her first year of college, Elisabeth Bradley was inspired to try weightlifting after she followed a woman tracking her fitness transformation on social media, one barbell at a time. Then, Bradley found herself to be the only woman in the weight room at San Diego State University. 鈥淚 felt like I stuck out a lot, and I just thought, 鈥極K, I鈥檓 gonna look dumb,鈥欌 she says. Intimidated by a room full of grunting, muscular men, she moved over to the cardio area, mirroring countless women who, for various reasons, avoid the free weights and machines. But with research mounting on the benefits of resistance training, experts say a few things need to change at the gym to make it more enticing to women. (Stumm, 3/21)
Research has increasingly connected wildfire and smoke with worsening mental health, partly due to damage in the brain. (Foehringer Merchant, 3/23)