Celebrity Assault Allegations, Rising Dementia Cases, and Growing Concerns Over Inappropriate Prescribing

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Selma Blair, who lives with multiple sclerosis, was accused of kicking a nurse at a hospital after an alleged incident in which she assaulted two flight attendants on a Los Angeles–New York flight; her representative said the 54‑year‑old was undergoing a medical emergency. (AP)

Actor and disability advocate RJ Mitte, who has cerebral palsy and is known for playing Walter White Jr. in “Breaking Bad,” died by suicide at age 34. (People)

In other celebrity health news, rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs — currently serving about a four‑year prison sentence for prostitution‑related offenses — was taken to the hospital after sustaining a head injury. (People)

Pennsylvania reported a sixth measles‑related death, involving a 39‑year‑old woman who had not been vaccinated. (NBC News)

For guidance on checking your measles immunity, see this resource. (NPR)

Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of Pennsylvania and New York have adopted different strategies to combat their measles outbreaks. (Politico)

Roughly one in four pregnant women in the United States have received the maternal RSV vaccine since it became available in 2023, while a comparable nation, Scotland, has reached a uptake rate of about 50%. (Lancet Regional Health-Europe)

A meta‑analysis published in JAMA Neurology estimated that there were 11.4 million new cases of all‑cause dementia worldwide in 2023, with projections suggesting the figure could rise to 24.7 million by 2050.

A woman in New Hampshire seeking care says she was left unattended in a ConvenientMD urgent‑care clinic after staff closed for the night. (WMUR)

Experts advise parents to prepare their children for the possible livestreaming of the Fort Hood shooter’s execution. (AP)

Supporters of a “Medicare for All” system now outnumber opponents by nearly two to one, according to an Axios-Ipsos poll.

Emergency assistance for Christa Pike was delayed due to confusion among first responders and Tennessee prison officials after her botched execution, as indicated by 911 dispatch recordings. (AP)

Ongoing lawsuits claim that GLP‑1 medications may cause serious adverse effects. (NPR)

A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that phenobarbital and diazepam are nearly therapeutically equivalent for managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Hospitals are once again suing the Department of Health and Human Services over its proposal to turn the 340B drug‑discount program into a rebate structure. (Healthcare Dive)

Research appearing in JAMA shows that urban hospitals are closing at the same pace as those in rural or outlying areas.

Worries about patient safety are increasing as the U.S. physician workforce ages. (Washington Post)

Gifts such as meals and payments from pharmaceutical companies to physicians are linked to higher rates of inappropriate prescribing, according to a Cochrane review.

Fraudsters are siphoning millions of dollars from beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (ProPublica)

Peter Piot, MD, PhD, who co‑discovered Ebola half a century ago, remains concerned about the virus’s lethality. (New York Times)

The World Health Organization has launched a strategy designed to enable nations to detect outbreaks within 24 hours.

Six Flags shut down nine roller coasters at six amusement parks after one guest died and several others were injured in Georgia. (The Guardian)

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