Bedtime, not screentime; rabies from an organ transplant; obesity medications paying off – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

Nightly screen use is associated with reduced sleep duration and quality, especially affecting individuals with an evening chronotype.
A Michigan resident contracted rabies from an organ transplant, marking the state's first human case since 2009, with no public risk identified.
Expanding access to anti-obesity medications could improve public health and yield a 13% annual return on investment, surpassing average stock market returns.
The findings support calls for increased insurance coverage for obesity medications, particularly benefiting younger, healthier patients.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Bedtime — not screentime

Using electronic screens before bed may be cutting into your sleep. A new study in JAMA Network Open analyzed data from 122,058 adults and found that nightly screen use was linked to shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality. Those with an evening chronotype — night owls — were hit the hardest, losing even more sleep than early risers. Researchers estimate frequent screen users get about 50 minutes less sleep per week, reinforcing concerns that blue light exposure and late-night scrolling could be disrupting circadian rhythms.

Rabies case tied to an organ transplant

A Michigan resident has died from rabies after receiving a transplanted organ in Ohio, marking the state’s first human case since 2009. Health officials confirmed the patient contracted the virus from the organ donor and passed away in January. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple state agencies investigated but found no risk to the general public. Rabies remains rare in the U.S., with fewer than 10 human deaths annually, though thousands receive preventive care. CBS News has more.

Obesity medications paying off

Wider access to anti-obesity medications could yield major public health gains — and a healthy return. A new white paper from USC’s Schaeffer Center projects that treating eligible adults with these drugs would add years of life and delay chronic illnesses like diabetes, while delivering a 13% annual return on investment for society. That’s more than double the average U.S. stock market return this century. With obesity affecting over 40% of American adults, the findings add new weight to calls for expanding insurance coverage — especially for younger, healthier patients who stand to benefit the most.