Lois Collins
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Reporter/columnist for @Deseret | Family policy, research. Honed sense of ridiculous | muckrack.com/lois-collins-2 | #family #parenting #aging #health
Articles by Lois Collins
Meta dealt a $25B financial blow in New Mexico lawsuit
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company misled users about Facebook’s data privacy practices. The case involves Cambridge Analytica, which collected millions of Facebook users’ personal data without obtaining consent. Jurors found more than 43 million violations of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws, but Meta plans to appeal the ruling.
1 in 3 people now live where older adults -- 65 an
1 in 3 people now live where older adults -- 65 and older -- outnumber kids. But population is still growing. And in the future may be shrinking. Here's what's happening around the world. The world is aging but its population is still growing
1 in 3 people live where older adults outnumber children Original
About 1 in 3 people live where adults 65 and older outnumber children under 15. Low fertility is widespread with more than 70% of people in countries with below-replacement rates. The world is still projected to grow, reaching about 9.6 billion people by 2050. More than 2.8 billion people — roughly a third of the world’s population — live in communities where older adults outnumber children younger than 15.
Trump signs women’s health order, directs creation of new female-focused task force Original
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday establishing a White House Women’s Health Task Force. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will co-chair the task force The initiative emphasizes research, faster development of treatments, affordability and open discussion of women’s health. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order aiming to bolster women’s health by targeting research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
One thing I was told repeatedly as I reported this
One thing I was told repeatedly as I reported this story about older adults who don't have enough to eat: They are for the most part very quiet about their food insecurity. It was great to see so many stepping up to help. The hidden hunger among older Americans — and the people working to feed them
Rare protective gene variant offers clues to Alzheimer’s disease Original
Researchers identified how excess fibronectin can disrupt the blood-brain barrier in APOE ε4-associated Alzheimer’s disease. Increasing fibronectin caused barrier leakage in experimental models; reducing it improved barrier function. The findings suggest potential treatment targets, but do not establish actual therapy or prevention.
For Gen Z, an awkward moment can live forever
Daniel Cox argues that Gen Z is missing traditional social experiences and opportunities to develop relationship skills. Digital interactions may buffer rejection, while possibility of being recorded can make face-to-face embarrassment feel riskier. Cox says an emphasis on individual achievement and self-expression weakens relationships and communal responsibilities.
For Gen Z, an awkward moment can live forever
Ask Daniel Cox what's happening with older teens and young adults in the U.S. and he'll tell you that the real story is what's not happening. They're not dating, going to parties or hanging out with friends. Nor are they routinely working a part-time job or embracing a faith community.
Pope’s lung cancer reminder nonsmokers can be at risk. What to know Original
People who haven't smoked can develop lung cancer. Early detection can make a major difference. Often there are no early symptoms of lung cancer. Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer diagnosis and surgery are good reminders that even those who never smoked can get lung cancer, too. Friday, Dr. John Stringham, an Intermountain Health thoracic and oncology surgeon, briefed the media on other risk factors.
Vaccine interest rises as U.S. measles cases reach 35-year high
The CDC reported 4,080 confirmed measles cases through Oct. 8, the highest annual count since 1991. Local health officials say outbreaks and school exclusions prompted increased interest in MMR vaccination. Death tallies differ depending on the source and the CDC changed how it recognizes measles-related deaths. Last year, with 2,289 measles cases confirmed, there was speculation the U.S. would lose its status as a country where measles was considered eliminated. It was a decades-high count.
Vaccine interest rises as U.S. measles cases reach 35-year high
Last year, with 2,289 measles cases confirmed, there was speculation the U.S. would lose its status as a country where measles was considered eliminated. It was a decades-high count. But 2026 has left those numbers in the dust, marking a 35-year high with more than two months to go. As of Oct. 8, the count of confirmed U.S. measles cases was 4,080, with infections reported in 47 jurisdictions, most of them associated with 42 confirmed outbreaks.
The ‘invisible’ hunger problem of older Americans Original
Older adults on fixed incomes can struggle to afford groceries after paying for housing, utilities and medical care. Getting food can be as difficult for older people due to disabilities, limited transportation and isolation. Assistance does not reach everyone who needs it, such as those who fall between poverty thresholds and the cost of living. The last few years have been tricky for Patricia and Rick Earl, a Magna, Utah, couple who married 52 years ago when both were 16.
From childhood poverty to life of service: Remembering Pamela Atkinson Original
Pamela Atkinson devoted her life to helping Utahns experiencing homelessness, poverty and illness, drawing on her own childhood in poverty. A nurse educator and health care executive, she helped establish clinics for underserved communities and advised four Utah governors. Known as “Utah’s Mother Teresa,” Atkinson built friendships across political and religious divides, pairing statewide advocacy with personal acts of kindness.
Do you live in a ‘marriage desert’ or a ‘marriage garden’? Original
A new report maps substantial geographic differences in marriage and married-parent households across the United States. The highest-ranking areas have married-householder shares of 74%–79%, compared to 13%–17% in the lowest-ranking areas. Higher marriage shares tend to occur in suburban areas, while lower shares often occur in urban centers. America’s family divide has its own geography, with potential to impact family structure.
Even brief e-cigarette use hurts lungs, ability to fight viruses Original
Brief e-cigarette exposure damaged human lung cells in laboratory tests, disrupting protective barriers and processes involved in cell repair. Prior exposure altered antiviral defenses in hamsters, increasing SARS-CoV-2 levels and suppressing several antiviral genes after infection. The findings need confirmation in people.
Plague suspected in Russian lab worker death. What happens next? Original
Nearly 200 people are under observation in Russia after a laboratory worker died of suspected plague. Plague is not a disease of the past but U.S. cases are rare and occur primarily in the rural West. Most reported human cases of plague occur in Africa. Roughly 200 people are under observation in Russia’s Irkutsk region in eastern Siberia after a laboratory worker died of what’s suspected to be plague, which was being handled in the lab where she worked.
SNAP benefits look different starting now. What changed?
SALT LAKE CITY — Major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — food stamps — took effect Thursday, including small upward adjustments to account for inflation. But the biggest effects are expected to be seen in the future, as potentially millions lose access to the food assistance benefits due to new requirements. And states are bracing for increased costs they will be required to bear. USA Today reports that about 37 million people in the U.S. receive SNAP benefits.
This diet might slow aging of the brain
Closer adherence to the MIND diet was linked to slower gray matter loss and less enlargement of the brain’s fluid-filled ventricles. The study followed 1,647 middle-aged and older adults for 12 years, using dietary questionnaires and repeated brain scans. The eating pattern emphasizes vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, beans, fish, poultry and olive oil while limiting sweets and fried fast foods. Can your eating habits impact how fast your brain ages?
States tackle ways to help families with young children. Did your state? Original
A new report highlights policies that have proven important to the well-being of families. The measures include paid leave, tax credits, health coverage, wages and childcare assistance. The support available for children varies depending on where a family lives. Paid leave, child care support, Medicaid coverage for doula services and higher wages are among the investments some states have made to ensure families with young children — ages 0 to 3 — get off to a healthy start.
SNAP benefits look different starting now. What changed?
SNAP benefit limits are rising a little bit to meet inflation and new work requirements kicked in. States must cover 75% of administrative costs instead of half. Beginning Oct. 1, 2027, states with payment error rates of at least 6% will have to pay a portion of SNAP benefit costs. Major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — food stamps — took effect Thursday, including small upward adjustments to account for inflation.
This exotic fruit could help treat a certain type of heart failure
Eating pomegranates creates a compound in the gut that might lead to a treatment for a challenging type of heart failure. Pomegranates may provide anti-inflammatory and other benefits, according to other studies. The new study used mouse models and lab work and would need to be tested in humans. A natural compound the body makes when gut bacteria break down substances in pomegranates could lead to a new treatment for a kind of heart failure that’s hard to treat.
Cutting these types of foods may ease depression symptoms
SALT LAKE CITY — Add this to the list of ills that might be linked to eating ultra-processed foods: A small UC San Francisco pilot study suggests that cutting back on ultra-processed foods may help improve depression symptoms, although larger trials are needed to confirm the findings.
Written in blood: Disease discovery keeps expanding with new tests Original
An FDA panel recommended approval of a blood test that looks for signals associated with more than 50 cancer types. Blood tests have expanding uses, but important limits. Blood tests are a tool, but sometimes more an indication than an answer. A panel that advises the Food and Drug Administration has recommended it approve the Galleri blood test by biomedical company Grail.
Cutting these types of foods may ease depression symptoms
A small pilot study found improvements in depression symptoms after participants reduced ultra-processed foods. Participants cut their ultra-processed food intake by 85% and saw some reduction in symptoms of depression. Other research has shown a growing concern with ultra-processed food and how it might adversely impact health.
Trump administration to drop 750K Americans from ACA coverage over alleged fraud Original
Vice President JD Vance says 750,000 ACA enrollees are being removed for suspected fraud, saving an estimated $2.2 billion. The Paragon Health Institute estimates the broader problem involves more than 6 million improper enrollments. Advocacy groups and some experts called for greater transparency on how those who lost coverage were identified.
Dads don’t see themselves as key to their kids’ faith. The data says otherwise Original
The religion decline isn't individuals drifting away — each new generation enters adulthood less faithful than the last. Families are the single most important determinant of whether faith is carried forward by children into adulthood. Parents need to both talk about and model their faith, while talking too little creates a bigger risk than saying too much.
Kids and caffeine: Your child’s habit could become a health problem
Nearly 63% of U.S. youth under age 19 consume caffeine on any given day, according to CDC data from 2021–2023. Emergency room visits tied to caffeine among children ages 11–18 have doubled in recent years. Poison control centers logged roughly 2,700 energy-drink calls involving minors in a single recent year, a 20% spike.
Your body may be older than you think — raising cancer risk
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Your body may be older than you think — raising cancer risk Original
New generations appear to be aging faster biologically than the one before, according to a study in the U.S. and UK. Accelerated aging was linked to an 8% higher risk of lung, gastrointestinal and uterine cancers. The connection held even after accounting for inherited genetic cancer risk. As cancer rates rise in adults younger than 50, research suggests that younger generations may be aging faster biologically than earlier generations did at the same age.
Could vitamin D be missing piece in pain management?
Evidence continues to grow that vitamin D could help manage pain, something that has been suggested for some time. In a just-published study in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, a group of researchers from Egypt found that women who have low levels of vitamin D experienced more pain and sought “significantly more” opioid medication after undergoing breast cancer surgery.
Medical groups issue ‘science-based’ respiratory vaccine guidance
Medical groups teamed up to issue vaccine guidelines for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, independent of federal guidelines. Why now: The CDC's advisory panel, ACIP, is in legal limbo after Kennedy fired its members and a judge blocked the replacements, creating a vacuum these medical groups are filling independently. Coverage and pharmacy dispensing rules vary by state, creating a patchwork that may affect who can get vaccinated where.
What 1 sugar-sweetened drink a day does to your health
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What 1 sugar-sweetened drink a day does to your health
A new, decades-long study from Mass General Brigham has sobering news for people who regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages: Drinking at least one a day more than doubles the risk of developing stomach cancer, compared to those who seldom consume sugary drinks. The same link was not found with artificially sweetened beverages, based on the data gathered from more than 100,000 people. Study findings were published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.
After the fall: Trauma surgeon sees profession differently from hospital bed Original
Dr. Thomas Higgins, an orthopedic trauma surgeon, fell an estimated 100–300 feet while backcountry skiing on Dec. 30. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, a split face, broken bones, and had roughly a 5% chance of survival. Approximately 20 rescuers — ski patrol, Salt Lake County search and rescue, DPS, and Intermountain Life Flight — extracted him from remote terrain between Little and Big Cottonwood canyons. The experience has changed his approach to trauma care.
Blockbuster weight-loss, diabetes injections reduce asthma attacks in study
While semaglutide may significantly reduce asthma attacks, COPD flares, experts say it's not a good idea to self-prescribe to get those benefits; more study needed. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to fewer psychiatric hospitalizaitons, depression and anxiety and better bone and cardiovascular health.
We followed this cancer survivor to United Nations to talk about nuclear fallout Original
Mary Dickson, a Salt Lake City downwinder and thyroid cancer survivor, was invited to testify at the U.N.'s first-ever International Meeting on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation after Deseret News profiled her. Representatives of dozens of countries shared testimony, but nuclear-armed states were absent. Recommendations from the meeting will be compiled in a report by the U.N. secretary-general for the General Assembly's consideration.
Patient’s survival says pig kidneys might solve transplant organ shortage Original
Tim Andrews, 66, lived 271 days without dialysis using a genetically edited pig kidney — the longest such survival on record — before receiving a human kidney in January 2026. His case demonstrates that pig kidneys might serve as a "bridge" for patients with end-stage kidney failure awaiting a human organ.
What can be done? The who and why of teen death by suicide
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What can be done? The who and why of teen death by suicide Original
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services released a deep study of youth suicides. The project used psychological autopsies to understand circumstances behind each death. Researchers urge parents to directly ask their children if they have ever thought about suicide. Suicide is a leading cause of death among young Utahns, ages 10-17, and the state has spent years trying to figure out why teens choose to end their lives.
Updated COVID shots are approved. Getting one may not be simple
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Updated COVID shots are approved. Getting one may not be simple
Four COVID-19 updated vaccines from three manufacturers have received FDA approval and should be available soon. They are recommended for everyone 65 and older and for those with a health condition that could cause severe illness. Questions abound regarding insurance coverage and states may have different rules.
Instead of throwing away watermelon rind, try doing this with it
Instead of throwing away watermelon rind, you can eat it. Watermelon rind now has a standardized nutrition profile in FoodData Central. Rind is good for digestion, blood pressure and blood flow and provides potassium and fiber. This food item is good for digestion, lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow, and provides both potassium and fiber. It’s also quite likely that you’ve been throwing it away all summer.
Instead of throwing away watermelon rind, try doing this with it
Lois M. Collins Thu, August 27, 2026 at 4:03 PM EDT 3 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Yahoo on Google Travis White, 37, takes a bite out of a refreshing watermelon slice during a city-wide heat advisory at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Sunday, July 26, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News This food item is good for digestion, lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow, and provides both potassium and fiber.
Here’s what Meta promises to do to protect children on its platforms Original
Meta has agreed to settle state claims of child harm from its social media platforms. The social media giant didn't admit fault but agreed to pay $12.2 billion to the states. The agreement, if approved, means sweeping product changes for teen accounts. Meta has agreed to settle with more than 50 attorneys general across states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia over claims of child harm from its social media platforms.
Innocent Texting or Infidelity? Americans Have Different Ideas on Cheating
A new survey says that 1 in 7 Americans who are married or in a relationship have feelings for someone who isn’t their partner. But it isn’t just whether or not that outside interest turns into a fling that decides whether there’s infidelity, according to the findings. Talker Research took a deep dive into a not-so-simple question: What counts as cheating in a romantic relationship?
2 dead from measles in Pennsylvania as cases surge across U.S. Original
Two unvaccinated people in Pennsylvania died from measles — the first U.S. deaths this year. The national case count surpassed 2,700 as of Aug. 20, the highest since 1991 Measles is extraordinarily contagious, lingering in the air up to two hours. Two people in Pennsylvania have died as a result of measles, marking the first deaths from the highly contagious virus in the U.S. in 2026. The Pennsylvania Department of Health called the deaths the state’s first losses to measles in 35 years.
These recreational drugs greatly increase the risk of stroke
A new study links recreational drug use, including marijuana and cocaine, to increased risk of stroke. Amphetamines doubled the odds of stroke, cocaine nearly doubled the risk and cannabis raised it by 37%. The elevated risk held true even among adults under 55, who saw a near tripling of stroke risk. In a sobering case of just because you can doesn’t mean you should, a huge study of 100 million people has linked the use of recreational drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, to strokes.
COVID’s summer surge is here but experts say not to panic Original
CDC wastewater data shows COVID-19 activity rising in all 50 states, with the South and West seeing the highest levels. A new FDA-approved drug, Xocova, allows post-exposure prophylaxis for the first time. Older, very young and immunocompromised individuals remain most at risk. Updated vaccines are recommended. A federal health agency is warning that COVID-19 cases are on the rise, part of a not unexpected summer surge.
Innocent texting or infidelity? Americans have different ideas on cheating Original
A new survey found 1 in 7 partnered Americans have feelings for someone else. People have different ideas about what counts as cheating in a romantic relationship. Digital deception is a major concern when it comes to fidelity. A new survey says that 1 in 7 Americans who are married or in a relationship have feelings for someone who isn’t their partner. But it isn’t just whether or not that outside interest turns into a fling that decides whether there’s infidelity, according to the findings.
Innocent texting or infidelity? Americans have different ideas on cheating
A new survey says that 1 in 7 Americans who are married or in a relationship have feelings for someone who isn't their partner. But it isn't just whether or not that outside interest turns into a fling that decides whether there's infidelity, according to the findings. Talker Research took a deep dive into a not-so-simple question: What counts as cheating in a romantic relationship?
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