News Above the Noise—Week of June, 21, 2026
1. ‘Can I Take Hormone Therapy?’ Is the Wrong Question
Too many women have spent years suffering through menopause symptoms after a doctor said hormone therapy wasn’t an option—and Dr. McBride says that answer was often more about a rushed appointment than sound medicine. Saying no, it turns out, carries its own set of risks. The conversation most women deserved simply never happened. Read more of her Sunday Paper Guest Op-Ed here.
2. Don’t Laugh! Silly One Liners Strengthen the Bond Between Fathers and Children
There’s a reason this particular kind of humor has been around forever, and scientists are starting to understand why it sticks. Researchers have been digging into the psychology behind it, and the findings point to something that goes far beyond getting a laugh. The ripple effects show up in ways most people never see coming. Read more here.
3. The Visions People Have Before They Die
Most families assume that what they’re witnessing at a loved one’s bedside is confusion or medication. But hospice physicians and researchers say something else entirely may be happening, and that for the vast majority of patients, it brings a stillness and peace that medicine alone rarely achieves. Read more here.
4. Midlife Might Be the Most Important Years for Your Brain
A growing number of scientists believe that by the time memory problems show up, the window to meaningfully intervene may have already passed. The good news: nearly half of all dementia cases could potentially be delayed or prevented, and some of the most powerful protective factors are simpler than you’d expect. Read more here.
Editor's Note: Every week, The Sunday Paper's team of journalists sift through the news to find what Rises Above the Noise, makes sense of what's happening in the world, and provides hope for your week to come. While we do our best to provide our own informative summary of each piece, some publications require their own subscriptions beyond our control.
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