The AP (1/22, Stobbe , Aleccia , Perrone ) reports, “federal health agency communications with the public” have been put on a freeze “through at least the end of the month.” According to the Associated Press, agency staff leaders were told in a Tuesday memo that “an ‘immediate pause’ had been ordered.” In addition to public communications, the pause “also applies to anything intended to be published in the Federal Register, where the executive branch communicates rules and regulations, and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientific publication.”

Related Links:

— “Trump administration freezes many health agency reports and online posts,”Mike Stobbe and Jonel Aleccia , AP, January 22, 2025

HealthDay (1/23, Thompson ) reports research indicates that “pregnancy increases the risk of mental illness among women with multiple sclerosis (MS).” Investigators found that “pregnant MS patients have a higher risk of mental illness both during gestation and in the first years after they give birth, researchers” found. The data indicated that “overall, women with MS have a 26% increased risk of mental illness during pregnancy and a 33% increased risk after giving birth, compared to women without” MS. The research was published in Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Pregnancy Increases Mental Health Risk in MS Patients,”Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 23, 2025

HCPlive (1/23, Derman) reports, “A recent study reported that sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic use disorders diagnoses increased 3- to 5-fold between 2001 and 2019 for adolescents and young adults.” Researchers found that “the prevalence of these diagnoses was low in adolescents.” The findings were published in Addiction.

Related Links:

— “Sedative, Hypnotic, Anxiolytic Use Disorders Rose from 2001 to 2019 in Young Adults,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, January 23, 2025

MedPage Today (1/22, Smyth) reports, “Intermittent explosive disorder (IED), characterized by impulsive aggression and poorly regulated emotional control, was associated with multiple classes of comorbidities, an analysis of 117.7 million healthcare records showed.” Out “of 30,000 individuals with an IED diagnosis during their lifetime, 95.7% had at least one other psychiatric diagnosis.” Researchers found that “all psychiatric subcategories and 92% of psychiatric diagnoses were significantly associated with IED, with hazard ratios ranging from 2.1 for substance use disorder to 76.6 for disorders of adult personality and behavior.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

USA Today (1/21, Snider ) reports, “Nearly half of Americans (49%) say they plan to drink less [alcohol] in 2025 – up from 41% who said that was their plan in 2024, according to a new survey, released Tuesday, commissioned by advertising and sales measurement technology firm NCSolutions.” The survey found that Generation Z, made up of “adults ages 18 to 28,” is “leading the way,” as almost two-thirds of them “(65%) say they plan to drink less in 2025.” Almost “four out of 10 in Gen Z (39%) said they will adopt a dry lifestyle in 2025.” Additionally, Gen Z and millennials “are more likely to try alternatives to alcohol such as THC drinks, marijuana and edibles.”

Related Links:

— “What will we be drinking in 2025? Americans are chasing moderation,”Mike Snider, USA Today, January 21, 2025

HCPlive (1/21, Derman) reports, “A new study found that adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving buprenorphine treatment who participated in mindfulness had significantly greater reductions in residual opioid craving than those without mindfulness training.” But, “M-ROCC [Mindful Recovery Opioid Use Disorder Care Continuum] was not more effective than a non-mindfulness evidence-based recovery support for reducing illicit opioids, benzodiazepines, or cocaine.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Mindfulness Reduces Cravings in OUD, No Impact on Abstinence,”Chelsie Derman, HCPlive, January 21, 2025

Modern Healthcare (1/17, Young, Subscription Publication) reported, “At least 24.2 million people purchased health insurance on the exchange marketplaces during open enrollment for 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Friday.” That number “surpasses a record set a year ago, as sign-ups for exchange plans accelerated mostly due to the enhanced subsidies enacted in 2021 and extended in 2022.” The final tally “of exchange enrollees is likely to be higher than 24.2 million, which is more than double the number for the 2020 plan year, before the enhanced subsidies were available.”

Related Links:

— “Exchange enrollment breaks another record,”Jeffrey Young, Modern Healthcare, January 17, 2025

Healio (1/17, Rhoades) reported, “The rates of opioid use disorder among pregnant people enrolled in Medicaid may be twice as high as prior estimates, according to a recent cross-sectional analysis.” Researchers found that “pregnant persons with opioid use disorder also faced a higher risk for severe adverse health outcomes, with that risk increasing among those who enrolled in Medicaid in their final trimester or after delivery.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Risks faced by some pregnant Medicaid enrollees highlight need for adequate postnatal care,”Andrew (Drew) Rhoades, Healio, January 17, 2025

Psychiatric News (1/17) said, “Black adults who have a low level of mistrust toward medical professionals may be more willing to seek mental health services than those with no medical mistrust, reports a study.” Researchers found that “above a certain threshold, however, more medical mistrust was linked with less mental health care seeking.” The findings were published in Psychiatric Services.

Related Links:

— “Low Level of Medical Mistrust May Not Discourage Mental Health Care Seeking in Black Adults, Psychiatric News, January 17, 2025

Healio (1/16, Herpen) reports, “Higher consumption of red meat, including processed red meat, was associated with a higher risk for cognitive decline and dementia, according to research.” The investigators said, “Replacing red meat with alternative, healthier protein sources, such as plant-based options, could help reduce cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. … Replacing processed red meat with healthier protein sources may have substantial benefits for maintaining cognitive health.” The findings were published in Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Higher red meat intake increases risk for cognitive decline, dementia,”Robert Herpen, Healio, January 16, 2025