Before we get into the stories, I just want to give you a heads up that we’ll be taking next week off from the newsletter to recharge our batteries. More about what I’ll be up to at the end of this newsletter. :) Ok, here’s this week’s news!
I don’t have a very big following on social media. But one time I wrote an amusing response to a tweet by Peter Sagal, which was followed by 24 hours or so of continuing likes and replies. Each time I refreshed my screen, I experienced a jolt of delight. Yet somehow I never quite felt satisfied, and I was disappointed when the interactions petered out.
Those jolts of delight I experienced were my brain producing the neurochemical dopamine. You’ve probably heard that a dopamine surge brings about pleasure, and then is quickly followed by a come-down, which motivates us to want more of whatever brought about the surge – more “likes,” more junk food, more booze, more Succession etc.
Dopamine is part of a neural pathway that evolved in our brains to draw us to things that are essential to our survival like water, social interactions and sex. But research about the molecule in the past decades has shown that dopamine does not really bring about pleasure so much as desire. In fact, studies show that over time, people can end up not enjoying the activities that trigger big surges in dopamine – even if they can’t stop doing them.
The good news is understanding how the neurochemical works can help us break or cut down on unhealthy habits that drive dopamine spikes. NPR science correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff harnessed neuroscience to help wean her seven year-old off cartoons and cupcakes, with impressive results. Learn Michaeleen’s ‘anti-dopamine parenting’ tips, and strategies to take control over your own cravings.
Chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and cisplatin — both core to treating many different cancers — both fell into short supply earlier this year. Denver oncologist Jennifer Rubatt says she fears for her patients. "When I was faced with this drug substitution for a young woman with young kids, I did cry, because if her cancer comes back, I will always question whether it was because I had to give her a substitute," Rubatt says.
The shortage of some cancer drugs is part of a larger shortage of generic medicines, which make up over 90% of prescriptions in the U.S. The low price of generic drugs makes it difficult for manufacturers to turn a profit, says Stanford professor Dr. Kevin Schulman. Global inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated factory shutdowns. Observers say pharmaceutical companies and healthcare systems need a new business model to ensure a good quality, steady supply.
Sharon Gwinn was shocked when she found out her husband racked up a $3,000 bill buying rounds for strangers at a bar. It turned out he had been spending money erratically in other ways too. It was all totally out of character. Later, she learned that her husband's loss of financial awareness was the first of a series of cognitive changes that led to an eventual dementia diagnosis. As NPR has reported, a study from Johns Hopkins University found that people with Alzheimer's and related dementias started to develop subprime credit up to six years before getting diagnosed.
WESA reporter Sarah Boden asked financial advisers and mental health professionals for advice on how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones’ finances as we age. They recommend putting guardrails in place, such as working with companies that keep track of bills and monitor for fraud and unusual spending; and developing a plan around money management with family members, even when that conversation is uncomfortable. Find out how to be better safe than sorry when it comes to dementia and money.
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