Researchers are trying to answer big health questions for women.

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Researchers are trying to answer big health questions for women.

On what?

Autoimmune diseases and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Of the up to 50 million Americans living with an autoimmune disease like lupus, about 80% are women. As many as 5 million American women live with PCOS, but it often goes undiagnosed. This week, researchers published studies on the issues. Here’s what they found on…

Autoimmune diseases…There’s an RNA molecule called Xist (pronounced like “exist” and has no known ties to Elon Musk). Xist’s job is to shut down one of the two X chromosomes that women typically have so their body doesn’t make toxic levels of proteins. Now, a new study suggests that Xist can confuse cells in the process, causing the body to produce an overactive immune response. Men with XY chromosomes don’t necessarily have this problem. Researchers say Xist may help explain why women are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than men and that it could help lead to new treatment options. Still, more studies are needed since men can end up with the same autoimmune diseases.

PCOS…It’s a hormonal imbalance that can lead to infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and excess body hair. There isn’t much known on how it can affect brain health. Now, new research suggests there could be an association between PCOS and cognitive decline in women. At the end of the 30-year study, participants with PCOS reportedly scored about 11% lower on the attention test compared to others who didn't have the condition. The decline for women began around the midlife mark (typically between the 40s to 60s). Still, the researchers say more studies are needed since there’s just a correlation now, not causation.

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For years, women have been overlooked by medical research, underrepresented in medical trials, and had their doctors dismiss their concerns — an issue that is especially true for women of color. Now, new research could validate these women’s experiences and develop new pathways for treatment.

Yesterday, President Biden signed an executive order sanctioning four Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians in the West Bank. Violence in the West Bank existed before the Israel-Hamas war, with more than 100 Palestinians killed in 2022, according to an Israeli human rights org. Since the October 7 attack, violence has escalated. The UN says Israeli settlers have launched nearly 500 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, killing at least eight people. The EO is reportedly the first ever move by the US to sanction Israeli settlers with frozen assets. It comes as Biden landed in Michigan yesterday, where Arab and Muslim Americans have launched the “Abandon Biden” campaign in response to his admin’s handling of the war.

Meanwhile, the US and UK have also each revealed they are considering options for the possible recognition of Palestinian statehood. US policy has been that Palestinian statehood can reportedly only come about through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The Biden admin maintains this is not a policy shift, with former presidents looking at a two-state solution. In recent weeks, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the option for a Palestinian state.

…Oh and speaking of Biden’s plans for the Middle East, the US has reportedly approved plans to strike Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq. This is meant to be a direct response to the attack along the Jordanian-Syrian border that killed three US soldiers last week, blamed on Iranian-backed militants in Iraq. Still, the US and Iran have each said they don’t want war.

Who might’ve felt personally attacked by the “Barbie” movie...

The Gen Z boys. Yesterday, new data showed that Gen Z boys and men are more likely than older baby boomers to think that feminism has caused more harm than good. Researchers polled about 3,700 people in the UK and found 35% of men between the ages of 16 and 29 think it is more difficult to be a man than a woman. One-fifth also had a positive opinion on self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, who has more than eight million followers on X. Among those more likely to follow Tate are people from ethnic minority backgrounds, with more than one-third agreeing he “raises important points about real threats to male identity and gender roles.”

Which issue the FDA has its eye on...

Sleep apnea. Earlier this week, Philips Respironics said it would stop selling all of its breathing devices that treat sleep apnea and other breathing disorders as part of a settlement with the FDA. On Wednesday, the FDA reported 561 deaths in connection to the machines. In 2021, Philips recalled millions of breathing machines amid reports of them blowing gas and pieces of foam into users’ airways. The settlement is expected to cost about $400 million and is pending approval by the court.

Who’s going full country…

Lana Del Rey.

While Punxsutawney Phil is deciding how long seasonal depression is going to last...

A pigeon is apparently no longer a threat.

What needs to not be a trend…

Legging legs.

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