The AP (12/3, Murphy ) reports, “Nearly three out of 10 U.S. drugstores that were open during the previous decade had closed by 2021, new research shows.” The AP adds, “Black and Latino neighborhoods were most vulnerable to the retail pharmacy closures, which can chip away at already-limited care options in those communities, researchers said in a study.” In addition, “the trend has potentially gained momentum since the study’s timeframe, because many drugstores are still struggling.” The study was published in Health Affairs.

Related Links:

— “Nearly 30% of US drugstores closed in one decade, study shows,”Tom Murphy, AP, December , 2024

Modern Healthcare (12/2, Kacik , Subscription Publication) reports, “Health systems are boosting investment in outpatient expansion as some convert acute care hospitals to meet the growing demand for mental health, long-term care and other ambulatory services.” According to Modern Healthcare, “Health systems are pumping billions of dollars into outpatient construction, which executives say their organizations will need as the population ages and as patients spend less time in the hospital.” Meanwhile, “some health systems are downsizing their acute care network to make space for an increasing number of patients managing anxiety, depression and other mental health issues and recovering from major procedures.”

Related Links:

— “Why systems are pumping billions of dollars into outpatient care,”Alex Kacik , Modern Healthcare , December 2, 2024

Diagnostic Imaging (12/2, Hall ) reports, “Visceral fat reduction may have a significant impact in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in…patients” with obesity, “according to emerging findings from positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research.” Investigators “reviewed brain PET, abdominal MRI and metabolic assessment data for 80 people with an average age of 49.4 and body mass index (BMI) of 32.31.” The investigators “found higher Centiloid scores in” patients with obesity “and higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accounted for 77 percent of the correlation between high BMI and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.” Meanwhile, “a mediation analysis revealed that VAT plays a prevailing role in mediating the impact of BMI on Centiloid scoring, according to the study authors.” The findings were presented at the Radiological Society of North America conference.

Related Links:

— “New PET and MRI Research Suggests that Visceral Fat Reduction May Prevent or Delay Alzheimer’s Disease,”Jeff Hall , Diagnostic Imaging , December 2, 2024

The New York Times (11/28, Kim ) reported, “Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online.” However, “many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered.” According to the Times, “after sailing through Parliament’s lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday with bipartisan support.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “said that it puts Australia at the vanguard of efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of children from detrimental effects of social media, such as online hate or bullying.”

The AP (11/28, McGuirk ) reported, “The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts.” The social media “platforms have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced.”

Related Links:

— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

Psychiatric News (11/27) reported, “This year, nearly a third of Americans (28%) say they anticipate more holiday-related stress than last year, according to the latest APA Healthy Minds Monthly Poll.” However, “the holidays also remain a season of joy for many: Nearly two-fifths (38%) of adults say the holidays positively impact them.” APA President Ramaswamy Viswanathan, MD, Dr. Med. Sc., said, “Although there are several different holidays we celebrate in December, many of us share the same anxiety and excitement about preparing for them. … Holiday stress is normal, and as psychiatrists, we understand that the social determinants of mental health can and do influence the experience of the winter holidays.”

Related Links:

— “Holidays Bring Anxiety for Some but Continue to Be a Source of Merriment for Many, Psychiatric News, November 27, 2024