Latest Morning Briefing Stories

Historic Numbers of Americans Live by Themselves as They Age

Longer life spans, rising rates of divorce, widowhood, and childlessness, and smaller, far-flung families are fueling a “gray revolution” in older adults’ living arrangements. It can have profound consequences for their health.

In Montana, 911 Calls Reveal Impact of Heat Waves on Rural Seniors

State and local governments are struggling to keep up with the increasing burden of heat-related illness as summers get hotter because of climate change. In Missoula County, Montana, officials are working with researchers to understand trends in heat-related 911 calls.

Exercise Is Key for Parkinson’s Relief. But Bias, Underdiagnosis Hold Black Patients Back.

Exercise is considered fundamental treatment for Parkinson’s disease, a progressive condition that attacks the central nervous system. But there’s a huge equity gap, researchers say, with Black people missing from popular treatment programs.

Nurses and Residents Confront Rampant Violence in Dementia Care Facilities

Clashes between residents — verbal, physical, and sexual — can be spontaneous and too unpredictable to prevent. But the chance of an altercation increases when memory care homes admit and retain residents they can’t manage, according to a California Healthline examination of inspection and court records and interviews with researchers.