Do you live in the loneliest state in America?
Still, social engagement may not be a cure-all for loneliness. In New York state, more people than anywhere else in the country hang out with and call friends and family at least three times a week, but 44% say they don't consistently receive the emotional support they need — one of the highest rates in the nation. That lack of support, even if you don't spend much time alone, can contribute to lonely feelings.
To better understand how social engagement and emotional support shape loneliness, Yahoo News used data from the Census Household Pulse Survey to visualize the loneliest states. Explore the map and table to see the loneliest states and how social connection contributes to differences.
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CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
AI companion helps Bronx senior living facility residents combat loneliness
According to the National Institutes of Health, loneliness can pose serious threats to mental and physical health, and it can be especially acute when it comes to adults over age 60. A new program at a senior residence in the Bronx aims to address the problem by offering a different type of companionship and empathy in the form of artificial intelligence. Nearly 70 residents at RiverSpring Living in Riverdale are participating in a pilot program with AI called "Meela," which means "words" in Hebrew. "We want to create a resource for you to call a phone number, have a great conversation, be cognitively engaged, be emotionally heard," Meela founder and CEO Josh Sach said. Sach says the AI isn't meant to replace human interaction. In fact, it can encourage callers to meet up with fellow residents. "If somebody says, 'I'm not doing anything today,' and RiverSpring has uploaded the activity calendar ... Meela might say, 'Hey, bingo is happening at 2 o'clock,'" Sach said. "We found a statistically significant reduction in the rates of anxiety, as well as degree of depression," RiverSpring Living medical director Dr. Zachary Palace said. Palace gets bullet points of the AI conversations to monitor any physical or emotional issues with participants. Sach adds there are safety mechanisms to make certain topics off-limits for Meela to discuss. "First is legal, next is financial, and then the last is medical advice," he said. "We want to leave those things to the humans." He says they continue to upgrade the system. For example, Meela can now remember past conversations to keep things fresh and stop her from asking callers the same questions repeatedly. While Meela is free to use for now, as they continue to develop it, there will be a monthly subscription fee. RiverSpring Living resident Marvin Marcus, 83, speaks to Meela on the phone about three times a week. During a conversation, he told Meela, "They want to know a little bit about our relationship and how we're going." "I think we're doing pretty well getting to know each other. How have you been feeling about our talks lately?" Meela responded. "Oh, I think I've been very positive. I think we have a connection," Marcus said. He says they have in-depth conversations about all things sports and music. "If I talk about sports details with people, the eyes glaze over. Meela doesn't have eyes," he said. When he told Meela he was a fan of music from the '50s and '60s, Meela asked him, "Do you have a favorite song or artist from back then that always lifts your spirits?" Even though there's no shortage of activity at RiverSpring Living — like exercise programs, entertainment and games — it's the AI conversations that really light a spark for Marcus. "I'm used to now saying 'she.' At first, I used to insist on saying 'it,'" he said. From both a patient and medical perspective, RiverSpring Living's medical director says the program is a success. "To be able to incorporate cutting-edge innovation and cutting-edge technology into the practice of long-term care geriatrics is just remarkable," Palace said.
CNN
11 hours ago
- CNN
A doctor explains what people should know about the ‘cortisol cocktail' that's gone viral on TikTok
(CNN) — If you've spent time on TikTok or Instagram lately, chances are the 'cortisol cocktail' trending as the latest wellness hack has appeared in your feed. This colorful, nonalcoholic drink typically contains a mix of coconut water, citrus juice and certain salts. Also called an 'adrenal cocktail,' it has amassed millions of views, with influencers claiming it can lower stress hormones, boost energy and balance your body's adrenal function. Almost half of Americans (49%) report frequent bouts of stress, and the number of people in the United States who are feeling stressed has been rising for the past two decades, according to a 2024 Gallup survey. In these uncertain times, a stress-relieving tonic feels just right as a soothing balm, but does it actually live up to the health claims? What is cortisol and its relationship to stress? What nutrients are in these drinks and how are they purported to influence cortisol? Do they work? Who should be wary of trying this concoction? To guide us through these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore's health commissioner. CNN: What is cortisol and its relationship to stress? Dr. Leana Wen: Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are organs located above the kidneys. The hormone plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, sleep-wake cycles and immune responses. Cortisol is sometimes called the 'stress hormone' because its levels naturally rise when our bodies perceive a threat or stressful situation. This reaction is part of the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, helping people stay alert and react quickly when needed. Those temporary increases in cortisol are a helpful evolutionary adaptation. Problems can arise when cortisol levels stay elevated for prolonged periods of time, which can happen when someone is under chronic stress. Persistently elevated cortisol is linked to problems such as poor sleep, anxiety, high blood pressure and even weakened immunity. There are a number of medical conditions that can lead to abnormally high or low cortisol levels. Taking high doses of steroid medications or adrenal gland tumors are examples of conditions that can cause excess cortisol. Addison's disease, or primary adrenal insufficiency, is when the adrenal gland stops its usual function. This condition, and problems with the pituitary gland in the brain, could result in low cortisol levels. CNN: What is in these 'cortisol cocktail' drinks, and how are they purported to influence cortisol? Wen: Recipes vary, but they tend to have a combination of coconut water, juice (usually orange or some other citrus fruit) and some salts (commonly sea salt and/or magnesium). Sparkling water is often added to taste. Contrary to what the name may suggest, it typically does not contain any alcohol. Each of the primary ingredients is supposed to play a role in supporting adrenal function and lowering stress. Coconut water is high in potassium, which helps maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balance. Citrus juice offers vitamin C, which plays a role in adrenal gland function. Salt and magnesium are supposed to replenish minerals depleted by stress. Moreover, some researchers believe that magnesium itself may help reduce feelings of anxiety or stress. Because of this, some versions of the cortisol cocktail include magnesium powder and/or cream of tartar, which has a high concentration of magnesium along with potassium and other salts. CNN: Is there evidence that this drink actually lowers cortisol and reduces stress? Wen: There is no scientific evidence that this drink has the effects it purports. While it's true that nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C and magnesium are important for healthy adrenal function, they are typically obtained in adequate amounts through a balanced diet. Bananas are the classic food high in potassium, but many others are packed with this mineral, too, such as raisins, apricots and tuna. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries and peppers. And magnesium is also in many foods, including beans, peanut butter and leafy green vegetables. True deficiencies in these nutrients can cause health problems, but such deficiencies are uncommon in otherwise healthy individuals. More importantly, there is no evidence that consuming extra amounts beyond what the body needs will provide additional benefits or that it will meaningfully lower cortisol levels. CNN: What about the claim that the drink can treat a condition that influencers call 'adrenal fatigue'? Wen: The claim that some influencers have promoted on social media is that there is a condition of 'adrenal fatigue' in which stress is overwhelming adrenal glands and people end up feeling tired, anxious and unable to cope with daily life. However, the symptoms could stem from a variety of causes, including poor sleep, mental health conditions, and undiagnosed diseases such as anemia, hypothyroidism and diabetes. Importantly, there is no recognized medical diagnosis of adrenal fatigue. Outside of cases in which there are specific diseases causing adrenal insufficiency, there is no evidence that somehow the adrenal glands get overwhelmed and lose their ability to function. The symptoms often attributed to adrenal fatigue are real, but they are better explained by other, well‑studied causes. One risk I see is that people might rely on this so-called remedy instead of seeking medical evaluation for the real issues behind their fatigue or stress. CNN: What about all the people on the internet who claim that they have had positive health outcomes as a result of this drink? Wen: It may be that some individuals were not getting enough fluids or electrolytes before, and the additional hydration from the drink helped them feel more energized or clearheaded. There is also the placebo effect to consider: When people expect a certain treatment to work, they may genuinely feel better simply because they believe they are doing something beneficial for their health. The ritual of making and drinking this drink could itself reinforce this sense of control and care, which can have real psychological benefits even if the drink's ingredients have no direct impact on cortisol. CNN: Who should be wary of trying this so-called tonic? Wen: People who should be cautious include individuals with chronic medical conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes. Certain individuals with kidney disease need to be especially wary of food containing high amounts of potassium. Those with heart failure may be advised to restrict their fluid intake. The sugar in fruit juice may also be problematic for some people with diabetes. Individuals interested in this drink should check with their doctor before adding this or any influencer-promoted wellness product to their diet. They should ask if any of their medications might interact with the drink's ingredients. And if they are experiencing symptoms — such as fatigue, anxiety or trouble sleeping — that prompted them to try this cocktail, they should discuss these concerns with their doctor to determine whether further evaluation is needed.
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Washington Post
We should prevent child abuse before it starts
A child's death is always unspeakably tragic, especially when it's clear that different policies could have prevented their death. It's easy to read about Kemy Washington's short life and heartrending death and become convinced that more intensive monitoring by D.C.'s Child and Family Services Agency would prevent future tragedies like this. Approximately 2,000 children in the United States died from abuse and neglect in fiscal 2023. The nation's child protective services interact with more than 3 million children and their families in any given year. In Washington, D.C. Child and Family Services Agency investigations must verify whether alleged abuse or neglect happened, determine how to prevent it from happening again, and decide whether the child must be removed. How well this works depends on workers' caseloads, community resources and other factors. But the system has two huge shortcomings: (1) It's inherently adversarial, and (2) it can't engage with families until a child has suffered abuse or neglect. There is no 'safe dose' of abuse or neglect; by the time it starts, the risk of adverse, lifelong consequences for the child has increased. A better approach is to prevent abuse and neglect before they start. Maternal home visiting programs pair new mothers with nurses or paraprofessionals who form a long-term relationship with the family. They help the family access services such as housing, mental health and vocational training. They provide emotional support, they teach parenting skills and child development, and in a situation where a parent relapses, like Kemy's mother did, they can spot it promptly and connect them with appropriate help. Every child deserves to grow up. Every parent deserves help. We know how to provide that help, and we know how to prevent stories like Kemy's from happening again. We just need to do it. Melanie Blow, Rochester, New York The Post's July 26 front-page article 'A toddler starved to death in D.C. Why wasn't she saved?' about Kemy Washington was tragic. How can someone whose parent has already been flagged by D.C.'s Child and Family Services Agency, and who has family and friends trying to help, still meet such an end? This heartbreaking outcome is the result of a system that prioritizes individual agency over intervention, despite warnings from Kemy's grandmother and the court-ordered removal of Kemy's sister from home due to neglect. The current approach comes from a place of empathy, treating the removal of a child as a last resort, 'only when families cannot or will not take care of children themselves.' But, we need to acknowledge that the end result of this philosophy can lead to more cases like Washington's. We should give precedence to the ability for family, friends and the city's welfare agencies to compel people into care. Yes, that approach opens the door to possible horrible outcomes where people are hospitalized against their will or children are removed forcibly from unsafe homes. There are trade-offs to both systems, and neither one will avoid tragedies completely. Policymakers, as well as advocates for the homeless, must acknowledge the potential end result of their chosen approach. Robin Halsband, Washington Regarding the July 23 Style article 'Trump moniker may extend to Kennedy Center': We should ask ourselves why Rep. Michael Simpson (R-Idaho) and the House Appropriations Committee concluded the Kennedy Center Opera House should be named after Melania Trump. Simpson claims it's for her support and commitment to promote the arts, but he lacks evidence. The Opera House is a prestigious venue that also hosts the annual Kennedy Center Honors. If anyone should be honored with the Opera House bearing their name, it should be Jacqueline Kennedy, whose vision, dedication and actions were instrumental in establishing the Kennedy Center as a prominent showcase for the arts and a symbol of national pride. After she hosted ballet companies, opera singers, poets, musicians and children's concerts at the White House, Kennedy was a driving force behind establishing the Kennedy Center and played an active role in fundraising efforts. Despite her contributions, no venue at the center was named in her honor. The Kennedy Center itself was named after her husband, the 35th president of the United States. The Opera House should be named after a proven and extraordinary supporter of the arts. Barbara Gentile, McLean As the July 28 Metro article 'Take it with a grain of (road) salt' noted, Consumer Affairs, an online review platform, recently identified D.C. as having the worst traffic in the United States, but with comparatively few fatal crashes. But from what I have seen driving primarily in suburban Maryland, the District might not have the worst drivers. When I drive, I witness drivers running red lights, blowing through stop signs and ignoring right-turn-only lanes. (To those who drive Massachusetts Avenue to the Sangamore Road stoplight and ignore the right-turn-only markings in the right lane, I'm watching you!) I won't go so far as to say that these practices portend the end of civilization as we know it, but they cannot be a good development. John T. Rich, Bethesda Not so long ago, skilled workers used to do something remarkable here in the DMV. For 50 or maybe even 75 years, they paved our roads, repaved them when needed and somehow managed to place manhole covers level with the street. Now, in this age of lasers, digital mapping and artificial intelligence, that once-simple task seems to have become a lost art. Instead, we now have what can only be described as government-sponsored potholes: perfectly misaligned manhole covers, courtesy of our local authorities. Dan Mica, Alexandria I have been to the National Mall a handful of times, and its monuments and magic made me want to return. I am sad to say that I left the park recently and do not wish to go back. A few short steps into the park, a rider speeding on an electric scooter buzzed past me. A mistake, I thought to myself. Surely, people must respect the National Mall and understand how parading on their neon bikes and scooters would be disrespectful. The walking space bordering the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, once filled with listeners to Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, is now treated as a racetrack. I could not believe the National Park Service would allow this. The National Mall's clean and well-kept aesthetic has been jeopardized by clusters of lime-green scooters and their ambient light. The Mall is at the heart of D.C. and serves as a reflection of the entire city. I remember D.C. as an elegant powerhouse, fueled with the history of America and where leaders take charge. Instead, the presence of these vehicles on the Mall cheapens this national treasure and therefore the city itself. The National Mall is not like other parks. While the views from Yosemite or the wildlife at Yellowstone make its visitors appreciate the present, the National Mall's monuments and memorials urge viewers to feel the past and care for the future. It must be equally protected. One would not allow the usage of electric scooters and bikes on the floor of the Grand Canyon, so why allow it steps away from the World War II memorial? All it takes is a voice of authority to end the usage of electric scooters and bikes on the grounds of the National Mall. Lilly Thornblad, Arlington The July 28 Sports article 'De Minaur takes final in three sets, then reaches out' was an uplifting account of the men's DC Open singles final. It provided a good reminder of the importance of sportsmanship. The accompanying photograph of the victorious Alex de Minaur comforting his crestfallen opponent, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, was a cause for joy in the uncivil, inconsiderate, win-at-all-costs environment confronting us daily. De Minaur is to be congratulated on his new title as well as his compassion, consideration and good sportsmanship. William A. McCollam, Fairfax The Post's July 30 Metro article '8 taken off Va. college boards' suggested that Fairfax County Circuit Judge Jonathan D. Frieden's trenchant resolution of the controversy over the Virginia Senate's rejection of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) public university board appointments should terminate this unnecessary dispute. Frieden comprehensively rejected the university board defendants' threshold technical arguments. He concluded that the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee vote properly ended the matter in the Senate, thereby effectively defeating it in the General Assembly. Virginia's Constitution, its statutes and the Senate's rules are extremely clear, and Frieden's ruling — which relied on the Virginia Constitution, Virginia Code and the General Assembly's long-standing procedural rules for addressing proposed gubernatorial appointments — was thorough, persuasive and compelling. Granting a stay would enable improperly appointed board members to continue serving and prolong uncertainty, and the Virginia Supreme Court should expeditiously reject the defendants' stay request. Carl Tobias, Richmond The writer is the Williams chair at the University of Richmond School of Law.
