Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ultraprocessed Diet Contributes To Early Signs Of Parkinson’s Disease
Eating about a dozen servings of ultraprocessed food each day could more than double your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. A single serving in the study was 8 ounces of diet or sugar-sweetened soda, a single hot dog, one slice of packaged cake, a mere tablespoon of ketchup or 1 ounce of potato chips — a typical small bag of chips is 1.5 ounces. (LaMotte, 5/7)
American adults say sticker shock at the grocery store is making it harder for them to have a healthy diet, according to a nationally representative survey of adults by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that conducts data-driven research. (LaMotte, 5/7)
Wildfires driven by climate change contribute to as many as thousands of annual deaths and billions of dollars in economic costs from wildfire smoke in the United States, according to a new study. The paper, published Friday in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment, found that from 2006 to 2020, climate change contributed to about 15,000 deaths from exposure to small particulate matter from wildfires and cost about $160 billion. The annual range of deaths was 130 to 5,100, the study showed, with the highest in states such as Oregon and California. (Pineda, 5/7)
After getting hot and sweaty during a workout, many now opt to take a cold plunge—typically between 50–60 degrees Fahrenheit (10–15 Celsius)—in hopes of speeding up muscle recovery and easing post-exercise soreness. However, a new study has cast doubt on whether either of these methods actually help women recover faster following intense physical activity. (Notarantonio, 5/7)