NBC News (9/10, Carroll ) reports “the age when girls hit puberty has been falling at an alarming rate for decades,” and “new research suggests a compound found in a wide variety of products – from cosmetics to air fresheners to detergents and soaps – may send a signal to an area of the brain that triggers the start of puberty.” While “combing through 10,000 compounds in a library of licensed pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals and dietary supplements, the researchers found several that might influence the timing of puberty.” However, “children were most likely to be exposed to only one of them: musk ambrette, according to the report.” The findings were published in Endocrinology.

Related Links:

— “Early puberty may be linked to a common chemical used in personal care products,”Linda Carroll, NBC News, September 10, 2024

HealthDay (9/10, Mundell ) reports, “An analysis of where suicides are occurring in the United States shows that, tragically, location matters.” The research found that “people living in poorer areas with fewer resources are significantly more likely to fall victim to suicide versus those living in more affluent areas.” The findings were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— “U.S. Suicide Rates Rise in Less Affluent Areas,”Ernie Mundell, HealthDay , September 10, 2024

CNN (9/10, Seher ) reports “a bipartisan group of” 42 “attorneys general on Tuesday demanded that Congress require Surgeon General warning labels on social media apps to help curtail addiction and a mental health crisis among young adults.” The AGs’ letter to Congress said, “As state Attorneys General, we sometimes disagree about important issues, but all of us share an abiding concern for the safety of the kids in our jurisdictions – and algorithm-driven social media platforms threaten that safety.” The AGs said, “In addition to the states’ historic efforts, this ubiquitous problem requires federal action – and a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, though not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be one consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth.”

The Washington Post (9/10, Lima ) reports, “In their letter to Congress, the state attorneys general said a social media warning label ‘would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people, but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research, and investment into the oversight of social media platforms.’”

Related Links:

— “42 state attorneys general demand a Surgeon General warning label for social media apps,”Jason Seher, CNN, September 10, 2024

Fierce Healthcare (9/9, Minemyer ) reports, “The four largest pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S. control 70% of the national market, and most regional PBM markets are highly concentrated, according to new data from the American Medical Association (AMA).” The research “dived into 2022 data on commercial and Medicare Part D plans and found that CVS Health’s Caremark is the largest PBM, owning 21.3% market share.” It is “followed closely by UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx, which has a 20.8% market share, according to the report.” Meanwhile, Express Scripts “has a 17.1% market share,” while Prime Therapeutics “controls 10.3% of the market.” AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, said the findings “warrant attention as Congress and the administration continue their work to protect patients and ensure prescription drugs remain affordable and accessible.”

Related Links:

— “AMA study: The 4 largest PBMs control 70% of the market nationally,” Paige Minemyer, Fierce Healthcare , September 9, 2024

MedPage Today (9/9, DePeau-Wilson ) reports, “Young people with chronic pain also have higher rates of depression and anxiety, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.” In the “analysis of 79 studies totaling almost 23,000 youth, the prevalence of anxiety was 34.6% in those with chronic pain, and the prevalence of depression was 12.2%.” Those rates are over “three times greater than observed in the community setting, the authors noted.” The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)