News Above the Noise—April 9, 2023
1. We’ll Never Solve Our Crises Without This One Ingredient
We are living in times that often feel difficult. News headlines about everything from gun control to climate change can make even the most optimistic among us feel down. Yet this op-ed in The Washington Post was an incredible reminder that hope is possible—and essential—if we are going to solve some of the biggest challenges that face us. Click here to read this inspiring piece .
2. What Happens to the Brain After Age 40?
There’s a good chance you’ve heard that the brain goes through significant structural changes as we age—and oftentimes, we think of that change as bad. After all, some of the ways the brain changes can contribute to alterations in cognition. However, new research suggests that after the age of 40, the brain undergoes a rewiring that results in more integration and connection between brain circuits—a good thing. To read more about this research, click here.
3. Meet Four Women Who Are Transforming Global Health
Here at The Sunday Paper, we love news articles that highlight the great works of architects of change—and this piece about four incredible women working to advance healthcare around the world wowed us. From “the good troublemaker” Winnie Byanyima (who is spurring efforts to increase women’s access to healthcare and end unpaid work) to Chelsea Clinton (who is working to combat childhood obesity, vaccine hesitancy, and championing early brain and language development), meet four of the women working to transform global health for the better. To read the article, click here.
4. Here’s Why a Hand Gesture Dominated Women’s College Basketball
Much has been written about the controversy surrounding women’s college basketball players April Reese and Caitlin Clark. Both players have addressed the issue; many commentators have written about it. Yet this piece in the Los Angeles Times struck us as particularly poignant, touching on what it all means for sportsmanship, how female athletes are held to a different standard, and how race played out in the commentary. To read the piece, click here.
5. New Study Explains The Connection Between Menopause Hormone Therapy and Alzheimer’s
For years, brain health experts have known that a drop in estrogen at menopause could be to blame for the fact that a disproportionate number of women suffer from Alzheimer’s disease compared to men. Last week, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a big study giving even more credence to the connection. The research found a definitive association between an early onset of menopause and the presence of tau tangles (related to Alzheimre’s disease). What’s more, the researchers found that those women who waited longer than five years after the onset of menopause to supplement with estrogen had significantly more tangles. For a succinct synopsis of the research, click here.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sifts through the news to make sense of what's happening in the world and provide hope for your week to come. We find what Rises Above the Noise and do our best to highlight what we think matters. If you’d like to read more in-depth, please note that while we do our best to feature articles that are not behind a paywall, some of the news pieces we recommend require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
