The Dementia Drug Dilemma

Care

The Dementia Drug Dilemma

What’s going on: About one in four people with dementia on traditional Medicare are prescribed brain-altering drugs that doctors have warned against for years, according to a new study published in JAMA. The list includes antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, certain antidepressants, and sleep medications — all of which can worsen confusion and raise the risk of falls or hospital visits in older adults. Researchers analyzed prescriptions from 2013-2021 and found that older people with cognitive impairment or dementia were more likely to receive those drugs than their cognitively healthy peers.

What it means: Doctors caution that the study has limits, and that prescribing decisions often reflect day-to-day symptoms that might not appear in medical records, as well as difficult risk-benefit trade-offs. If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, it’s reasonable to ask these questions — especially after a fall, a hospital stay, or when a new sleep or anxiety medication is added. Keep the conversation collaborative, and ask whether a safer option could work just as well. For extra support, consider a specialist who works with older patients: Here’s a searchable list of geriatricians and geriatric pharmacists. You can also check this comprehensive list of meds that could be risky for older adults, or this abbreviated option, before an appointment. Finally, bring a complete, up-to-date list of all medications, digital or printed, so every doctor sees the full picture.

Related: How Your Body Clock Could Shape Brain Health Later in Life (The Conversation)

The News in 5

🗞️ The EPA plans to nix this crucial step when setting air pollution rules — a move that could make it cheaper for industries to pollute and easier for Americans to breathe dirtier air. 

🗞️ As Iran’s protest death toll nears 650, President Donald Trump says Iran is open to negotiations.

🗞️ Nearly 15,000 NYC nurses went on strike over pay, staffing, and new concerns about AI in hospitals. 

🗞️ The Trump administration floated a cap on credit card interest rates — and banks are sounding the alarm. 

🗞️ Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s rise is pushing some doctors to make an unexpected career move.

Care

Sign Us Up for "Care Blocks"

What’s going on: We’ve all heard of the “third shift.” Well, one city has decided to take the unpaid emotional and caregiving labor women do outside their jobs seriously. In Bogotá, about half of the city’s 8 million residents — specifically women — do some form of unpaid care work, and about a quarter of them spend more than 10 hours a day on it. This is typically on top of paid work, which for many women also involves caring for others. That’s why the city created “care blocks,” Vox reports. These physical city blocks and mobile buses offer essential services for women, ranging from laundry services and job skills training to rest and relaxation. Meanwhile, trained staff and teachers look after their children and elderly parents. The goal is simple but radical: give women back time.

What it means: The city has essentially built infrastructure for survival. Care blocks are operating in Mexico City and Santiago, Chile, too, and organizers and public health officials want to expand to other cities globally, including one in the US by the end of the year. The results could bring some needed relief and acknowledgement to people caring for loved ones — many of whom also work. And according to Vox, the ethos is this: “You shouldn’t have to be doing this so much — you deserve a full life beyond caring for kids, for aging relatives, for your partner.” Amen to that. 

Related: How One Ohio Program Is Paying People To Care for Their Loved Ones (10 WBNS)

Relationships

Friendship Doesn't Need To Be a Numbers Game

What’s going on: As if making friends as an adult isn’t hard enough, there’s an expectation to have the “perfect” friend group — the kind that regularly brunches or hosts annual girls’ trips. Social media and Hollywood sell that as the standard, with shows like Friends and The Big Bang Theory making it seem normal to do everything with your buds. However, the gap between that fantasy and real life is where the anxiety creeps in, making anyone without a crew wonder if they missed a memo on how adulthood is supposed to work. The reality is that many adults have multiple friends, but not a “core group.” And experts have an important reminder: Feeling lonely and being socially isolated are not the same. 

What it means: Quality over quantity, always. A party with 50 of your “closest” friends might sound fun, but spending hours with one person can be just as emotionally fulfilling (if not more). There’s nothing wrong with taking stock of your relationships and asking whether something is missing. But remember: That nagging feeling that your social calendar should look better usually comes from comparisons to versions of life that are more curated than real (cough, Instagram, cough). If you already have people who show up when it matters, you’re not missing out. Still want to expand your circle? Be patient — deep friendships take time to develop. And focus on the things you enjoy. You might find your next connection at a book club, craft meet-up, or even your local coffee shop. 

Related: Tips for Making Friends as an Adult and Only One Involves Apps (Parade)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ The Supreme Court will hear arguments in cases challenging state trans athlete bans in girls and women’s sports.

🗓️ The final inflation report of 2025 will be released. 

🗓️ The best way to celebrate National Rubber Ducky Day is with a hot bath.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Which major kids' TV show just teamed up with Popsicle — and is about to make freezer-aisle negotiations even tougher?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.