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Population Health
Trends
- 1
The Guardian reports that artificial light from cities is erasing natural darkness, with light pollution now blotting out the night sky for a large share of the world's population. The piece argues that few people alive today have seen a truly dark sky, and calls for regulation of urban lighting to protect the night environment, human health and wildlife.
- 2Thousands of Maryland immigrants set to lose Medicaid coverageβThousands of immigrants in Maryland to lose Medicaid coverage under H.R. 1
Thousands of immigrants in Maryland are expected to lose their Medicaid coverage as a result of H.R. 1, the federal legislation signed into law in 2025. The cuts will strip health insurance from a vulnerable population, and state officials and advocates are weighing how to respond to the coverage losses, which are drawing attention across the region.
- 3Study links cardiovascular fitness to sustained attention in elderlyβThe association between cardiovascular fitness and sustained attention in the elderlyβa diffusion decision model approach
A new study published in Frontiers examines the association between cardiovascular fitness and sustained attention in older adults, using a diffusion decision model approach to analyse cognitive performance. The research adds to growing scientific interest in how physical fitness may support attention and cognitive health in ageing populations.
- 4CDC Releases 2025 National Health Interview Survey Data FilesβΌNew: 2025 National Health Interview Survey Public-use Files
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published the public-use files from the 2025 National Health Interview Survey, making the nation's largest in-person household health survey data available to researchers, policymakers and the public. The release allows analysis of health status, insurance coverage, access to care and health behaviours across the US population for the year.
- 5
New demographic analysis highlights that while Europe remains the world's oldest region by median age, Latin America's population is aging at a much faster pace. The finding draws attention to how quickly fertility declines and rising life expectancy are transforming societies that were until recently considered young, raising questions about pension systems and health care across the region.
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Health authorities in Bangladesh have warned that the country's dengue outbreak could deteriorate further following a deadly September in which the mosquito-borne illness claimed many lives. Officials are urging heightened prevention measures as cases continue to strain hospitals. The outbreak is among the deadliest the country has faced, drawing attention to public health preparedness and the impact of seasonal monsoon conditions on mosquito populations.
- 7PAHO and Andean countries launch climate health protection planβΌPAHO, ORAS-CONHU and Andean countries launch plan to protect health from the impacts of climate change
The Pan American Health Organization has joined with ORAS-CONHU and the Andean countries to launch a plan to protect public health from the impacts of climate change. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the subregion's capacity to respond to climate-related health threats, though further details of the plan's measures and funding were not immediately available.
- 8
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is drawing attention to the role of public health approaches in suicide prevention. The message emphasizes that suicide can be addressed through population-level strategies such as identifying risk factors, expanding access to mental health care, and community-based intervention programs, positioning prevention as a shared societal responsibility rather than an individual issue.
- 9Exercise Slows Biological Aging in Breast Cancer SurvivorsβExercise Slows Biological Aging and Improves Attention in Breast Cancer Survivors
New research reported by Technology Networks indicates that regular exercise can slow biological aging and improve attention in breast cancer survivors. The findings suggest physical activity may counteract some of the cellular and cognitive effects of cancer treatment, offering a low-cost way to support recovery and long-term health in this growing survivor population.
- 10Large genetic study of type 2 diabetes in East Asians publishedβDecomposing population differences in type 2 diabetes through a high-resolution GWAS of ~600,000 individuals with East Asian ancestry
Researchers have published a high-resolution genome-wide association study of roughly 600,000 people with East Asian ancestry, aiming to break down why type 2 diabetes rates and risk factors differ between populations. The work, appearing in Nature, identifies ancestry-specific genetic contributions to diabetes risk and may help explain the higher disease burden seen in East Asian populations compared with other groups.
- 11Trump signs executive order targeting mosquitoes and ticks in DCβTrump issues executive order aimed at controlling mosquito, tick populations in DC
President Trump has issued an executive order aimed at controlling mosquito and tick populations in Washington, DC. The order directs federal action against the disease-carrying pests in the capital. Details on implementation and funding have not yet been widely reported, and reaction to the measure is still developing.