Mandy Oaklander | August 07, 2026

So much about health is beyond our control, especially in our later years. But new research we covered this week empowers us to take back the reins, at least somewhat, against one of the most-feared conditions of older age: dementia. The study finds that doing three things in midlife—having normal blood pressure, being diabetes-free, and not smoking—is linked to living 13 years longer free of dementia than people with all three risk factors.

Not every case of dementia is preventable, the researchers caution. But this research provides even more proof that if you take care of your heart, you’ll be taking care of your brain, too.

TODAY’S TOPICS

Tick talk
Hot spots to get health care
Yet another thing you shouldn’t eat

MORNING CHAT

You can now test ticks at home for Lyme-causing bacteria

Every summer, those of us who love being outdoors have to face our fear of ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Now, there’s a way to get some instant peace of mind.

I spoke to Erin Dawicki, who developed LymeAlert, the first at-home test for ticks that can tell you in minutes whether a tick carries the bacterium that causes Lyme. —Alice Park

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Santiago Urquijo—Getty Images

What prompted you to develop LymeAlert?

I’m a physician assistant, and patients would show up to my office after getting bitten by a tick asking me, “Can you test it [for Lyme]?” And I’d have to say, “No, we don’t do that.” My thought, which came literally in the shower, was: Why not test the tick at home so patients and health care providers would know who to test?

How does LymeAlert work?

You remove the tick, place it in the container that comes in the kit, close the container, and then you crush the tick. You add a solution, and then insert a test strip in the slot in the container that will test for the bacteria and give you a positive or negative result.

Is LymeAlert available yet?

No, it’s currently being tested in veterinary field trials and will be available at the end of August, although we are taking preorders now on the website.

PRESENTED BY

Looking for the best way to reclaim your health?

Factor offers chef-crafted, dietitian-approved meals ready to eat in 2 minutes. Choose from 100+ weekly meals, including High Protein, GLP-1 Support, Calorie Smart, and Keto options.

Get 50% off your first Factor box + Free Breakfast for a year *1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while subscription active.

Try Factor Now

TODAY I LEARNED

Community health centers are in high demand

About 10 million more people could lose health coverage in coming years because of H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” in part because of changes to Medicaid. But people without insurance can still seek care at federally qualified health centers, which provide primary care services regardless of insurance status.

About one in seven Americans use these health centers. Demand will likely keep rising, says Allison Dubois, COO of Sun River Health, one of the largest such centers in the country. “We are already seeing more uninsured in 2026 than we did in 2025,” she told me. —Alana Semuels

PRESENTED BY

Wake Up Smarter About AI.

Most people feel behind. But the people that don’t, aren’t smarter. They’re just better informed.

The Future Today is a daily news briefing for people who want clarity.

In one concise newsletter, you’ll get the most important tech news, learn why it matters, and what it signals about what’s coming next.

One email. Five Minutes. Stay ahead of 99% of the world.

Join Free Today →

WHAT WE’RE READING

Canceling plans isn't always selfish—or self-care. Vox's Allie Volpe explores five questions to ask yourself before bailing.
A Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers served at Chipotle and Qdoba has sickened hundreds of people in at least 27 states, reports our colleague Dominique Mosbergen at TIME.
NPR’s Durrie Bouscaren explores how Cambodia became the first Asian nation to reach an ambitious HIV target aimed at saving lives and preventing spread of the virus.

PRESENTED BY

Claim 25% off OS-01 HAIR

There are many products for hair thinning on the market, but they don’t all deliver on their claims. OneSkin’s OS-01 HAIR SCALP SERUM is the only peptide-powered scalp formula scientifically proven to target cellular senescence, a leading driver of age-related thinning, for thicker hair over time.

Claim 25% off OS-01 HAIR

^{Explore the claims at}^oneskin.co