Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Fish Oil May Not Be A Useful Alzheimer's Preventative
Millions of Americans take fish oil supplements hoping to keep their brains sharp as they age. But evidence just published in the journal EBioMedicine suggests those capsules may not deliver the cognitive boost many expect. A two-year clinical trial followed 365 adults between the ages of 55 and 80 who were at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. Participants received either a daily high-dose omega-3 supplement or a placebo. Memory tests and brain scans showed no advantage for those taking fish oil supplements. (6/19)
The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to double by 2060. New research is shedding light on warning signs and risk factors that could signal cognitive decline ahead. One clear risk factor, the research shows, is hearing loss. (Martichoux, 6/21)
More health and wellness news —
Skepticism of sunscreen, which has long alarmed dermatologists and health care experts, is relatively rare on TikTok. But a small number of videos pushing misinformation about sunscreen received a disproportionately high share of likes, shares and comments on the platform, suggesting that anti-sunscreen views resonate strongly with some users, according to a new study published Thursday. (Wu, 6/20)
Stephen Lankenau has spent years studying how people use cannabis in everyday life. As director of Drexel University’s Medical Cannabis Research Center, he has watched legalization spread, products grow stronger and daily use become increasingly common. Yet one of the most basic questions remains surprisingly difficult to answer: How much cannabis is too much for the brain? (Eunjung Cha, 6/18)
As people age, cholesterol and fat gradually clog the walls of two large arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Over time, depending on a person’s diet and other lifestyle choices, the carotid arteries can narrow to the point surgeons intervene by scraping out calcified gunk, called plaque, to reduce the risk of stroke and other diseases. It turns out tiny bits of plastics pollution accumulated during this hardening of the arteries might increase the probability of future health problems. (Hawthorne, 6/21)
At just 22, Connor Gibson is doing something he never dreamed possible: using his engineering skills to 3D print dentures for America’s most vulnerable people — and giving them back their sense of dignity in the process. (Drash, 6/22)
