Nurses remained the most trusted profession in the US, with 76% of Americans expressing high or very high confidence in nurses' honesty and ethics in Gallup's annual survey. Overall, public trust in professions remains historically low, reflecting a broader decline in confidence in US institutions.

Nursing homes, hospitals and clinics in Los Angeles County faced a crisis this week as wildfires driven by hurricane-force winds forced closures, evacuations and postponements of procedures. Health care workers cared for displaced residents at temporary shelters that lacked supplies while facing loss themselves.

The projected number of US adults developing dementia annually will nearly double from 514,000 in 2020 to 1 million by 2060, with Black individuals experiencing a particularly pronounced increase, according to research published in Nature Medicine. The study, based on diverse data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, reveals a lifetime dementia risk of 42% after age 55, highlighting the need for policies promoting healthy aging and health equity.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that more than 15 million people in the US were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases from 2011 to 2022, with women nearly twice as likely to be affected as men. The research, using electronic health records from six health care systems, highlights rheumatoid arthritis as the most prevalent condition.

A systematic literature review published in the Journal of Neurotrauma highlights key clinical actions to enhance post-acute care for nonhospitalized traumatic brain injury patients. The study emphasizes the need for follow-up care, early education and mental health screening to improve recovery and reduce chronic disability. The research underscores the importance of clinical practice guidelines to standardize care and address the fragmented and often inadequate treatment currently received by TBI patients.

The American Thoracic Society released updated guidelines for tuberculosis treatment in children and adults, recommending shorter regimens for both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB. The guidelines, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, suggested a four-month regimen for pulmonary TB and a shortened four-month regimen for non-severe TB in children.

Public policies that are not directly aimed at suicide prevention, such as increasing the minimum wage and reducing alcohol consumption, may help lower suicide rates, according to a study in the Annual Review of Public Health. Researchers said these policies improve economic security and well-being and potentially could be more effective than traditional approaches, such as expanding mental health care access. "This research highlights the importance of considering social determinants in suicide prevention," said researcher Michael Lindsey.

A study published in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine found that valproic acid was a safe and effective treatment for hyperactive delirium and agitation in critically ill patients. Conducted at NYU Langone Health, the retrospective cohort study found a 33% reduction in the use of concomitant psychoactive medications by day three of VPA treatment.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the Affordable Care Act's mandate for preventive services coverage, potentially affecting tens of millions who receive health insurance through employers or the ACA marketplace. The case, brought by Texas employers, argues that the panels advising HHS on required services are unconstitutional. Lower courts have partially sided with the challengers.

HHS has declared a public health emergency in California because of the Los Angeles County wildfires, which have burned more than 35,000 acres and caused at least 10 deaths. The declaration allows greater latitude for Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers, and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response is ready to deploy medical supplies and personnel as needed.

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