The Big Business of Loneliness – Vox, May 6, 2019
Loneliness is pervasive and increasing, particularly in Anglo-Saxon countries—a tragedy and a trap for many people. Not surprisingly, companies and entrepreneurs now make it a business to sell an end to social isolation. From co-living apartments to co-working spaces to apps that help facilitate human connection, there is a lot of investment and infrastructure being built around services that help humans bond with other humans. Does it work? Does it create meaningful human interaction?
Raw and Red-Hot (Could inflammation be the root of many chronic conditions?) – Harvard Magazine, May–June 2019 Could inflammation be the cause of myriad chronic conditions? Probably yes.
The New Rules of Middle Age, Written by Women – The Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2019
As a new wave of women steps into middle age, books reimagining female midlife are striking a serious chord. “We’re not going to do our 50s the way everyone’s telling us we’re supposed to,” author Candace Bushnell says.
The Evidence Is Strong: Air Pollution Seems to Cause Dementia – Wired, May 9, 2019
A wave of studies has revealed that air pollution is much worse than we had previously imagined. The evidence is now compelling that air pollution causes dementia.
The Nature Cure – Outside, May 9, 2019
An increasing number of physicians are prescribing time outdoors as the best possible cure for a growing list of ailments. One of the doctors pioneering the movement says: “We are starting to think about nature not just as a place to recreate but also as a social determinant to health.” The biggest challenge: Big healthcare dislikes this free medicine.
A Striking Stat:
The percentage of affluent US travelers who took a wellness trip so far in 2019 was 1 in 5 (19 percent)—up from 1 in 10 (11 percent) in 2018.
Source: SKIFT, US Affluent Traveler Survey 2019
