Could estrogen help protect against Alzheimer's disease?

Plus: emotional check-ins, an alarming Ebola stat, and other health news  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Mandy Oaklander | August 13, 2026   For a long time, hormone replacement therapy got a bad rap. A landmark study in the early 2000s raised concerns about its safety, linking certain types of hormone therapy to an increased risk for breast cancer and dementia. Yet in the decades since, scientists have questioned how broadly some of those findings apply, in part because the study included postmenopausal women who used different hormone regimens than those commonly prescribed around menopause. Now researchers are reevaluating what estrogen might do to the brain. My colleague Alice Park covered a new study today finding that women who had taken estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy had 35% lower odds of exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains compared to women who hadn’t taken hormone therapy. Even though the study doesn’t prove cause and effect, it sheds new light on an important question worth revisiting. TODAY’S TOPICS Try this emotional check-in An alarming Ebola stat Got a health question for us? Awe-inducing eclipse photos     ONE SMALL CHANGE The simple trick that can help you understand your emotions Feeling “bad,” “stressed,” or just plain “off”? Try getting more specific. Pause and name three different emotions you might be experiencing—then add a quick “because” after each one. You might realize you’re anxious because you don’t know what’s coming, resentful because you’re carrying too much, or embarrassed because you’re worried how you’ll look. Those distinctions can help you figure out what to do to feel better. —Angela Haupt, Editor, Health & Wellness     SPONSORED Skincare built by longevity scientists Most skincare treats the symptoms of aging. OS-01 FACE was built by longevity scientists to address the cause. With age, some skin cells stop functioning – accelerating the visible skin decline that most skincare was never designed to address. OneSkin is different. It's skincare with better science and real results. Save 15% on OS-01 FACE *Explore the claims at oneskin.co     BIG NUMBER 2,100+ The number of people who have died in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. The death toll doubled in about three weeks, according to a new analysis by Mercy Corps. —Alice Park, Senior Correspondent SOURCE: MERCY CORPS     SPONSORED Short on cash? Get up to $750, no credit check. Access up to $750* from your upcoming paycheck within minutes for a small fee, or wait 3 days and get it for free. No credit check. No late fees.  Get Started Now *Not all users will qualify. Advances range from $25–$750; average advance is $170. Express transfer fees may apply.     PLEASE ADVISE Ask the health team Have a burning health or wellness question? Wondering how to handle a tricky social situation? Please write to healthmatters@time.com, and we’ll weigh in weekly in the newsletter.     SPONSORED Hair dye fixes gray. It also gives you roots & a painted hairline. Particle works at the root — gradual, natural, dye-free. Hair + beard. 30-day guarantee. 20% off, code BH20. Risk-Free & 20% Off Today.     WHAT WE’RE READING Missed yesterday's total solar eclipse? Jeffrey Kluger at TIME rounded up the most awe-inspiring photos. A new rule bars federal Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors, Rebecca Schneid at TIME reports. For the New York Times, Paul Theroux follows a newly opened long-distance footpath in England while mulling “compulsive walkers” and the benefits of rambling.   EMAIL US: healthmatters@time.com More Newsletters from Click to sign up. THE BRIEF +D.C. BRIEF +FUTURE PROOF +INSIDE TIME +IN THE LOOP +WORTH YOUR TIME + Connect with TIME PRIVACY POLICY   © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved. TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508 Boone, IA 50037-0508, United States Unsubscribe

Should you let your dog lick your face?

Plus: a vaccine shakeup, trauma dumping, and more health news  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Mandy Oaklander | August 12, 2026   When I was a kid, someone told me that there’s nothing as clean as a dog’s mouth. Never once did I question this—we didn’t have Google back then—so I took it as gospel, accepting puppy kisses with glee. Now, whenever my dog’s long pink tongue comes near me, I wonder: who decided that was true? Certainly not an infectious-disease expert. For her new piece out today, Angela Haupt asked several of them, along with veterinarians, whether you should let your dog lick your face. She also got straight answers to eight other common questions about pet and animal hygiene. It was satisfying to learn that I wasn’t the only one who was in-dog-trinated as a child. “I used to hear, ‘Oh, dogs’ mouths are like 10 times cleaner than people’s mouths,’” one vet told Angela. “I don’t think that’s based in science.” TODAY’S TOPICS A vaccine shakeup The downsides of “trauma dumping” We want to hear from you! Reining in ultra-processed foods     MORNING CHAT 60 years of vaccine policy upended In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week calling for a dramatic overhaul of the childhood immunization schedule without new scientific evidence. “It is certainly not the usual mode of proceeding,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University and vaccine expert, told me. I chatted with Schaffner to understand how the U.S. government has historically made vaccine policy, and how the new directive could affect families. —Dominique Mosbergen, Health Correspondent This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Jim Waton/AFP—Getty Images How has the U.S. historically approached vaccine recommendations? Until June 2025, when the system came to a halt, we had followed basically the same process for 60-plus years. What was that process? Vaccines were first reviewed for their effectiveness and safety by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and an FDA vaccine advisory committee before they were licensed for general use. Another committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), then went through a rigorous formal process looking at the best data to come up with recommendations as to who ought to get the vaccine. The meetings of the ACIP were open to the public. People could tune in from home and watch the debate. It was a model of transparency. The ACIP would then make their recommendations to the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who would need to sign off on the recommendations. What is your reaction to the approach that the White House has taken? It’s very concerning that the usual process hasn’t been observed because there are many elements that aren’t based on medical or public-health facts. It could lead to more confusion, and more vaccine skepticism and hesitancy in parents.     SPONSORED Afternoon energy. Minus the afternoon coffee. Pique’s new X·E Fountain energy drink delivers clean, caffeine-free energy without the jitters, crash, or dehydration. Vitamin B Complex, magnesium, and electrolytes help support steady focus, while crisp cucumber-celery-lime makes every sip ridiculously refreshing. Get 15% off for life.     TIME TO TALK How to avoid “trauma dumping” Photo-Illustration by TIME (Source Images: Annet Debar (2), Swan222, Lettha Studio via Canva) The phrase “trauma dumping”—which means unloading overwhelming feelings onto someone else without their consent—can make people afraid to share anything painful or messy. But everyone needs support. Hard conversations can be repetitive, emotional, and uneven, yet still be healthy. What matters is creating room for both people’s needs. Check in before opening up Try asking, “Do you have the bandwidth for something heavy right now?” Then say what would help: “I don’t need advice; I just need you to listen,” or “I’m overwhelmed and not sure what I need yet.” You won’t always remember to ask perfectly, especially in a crisis. That doesn’t make you a bad friend. It simply leaves room to check in and repair afterward. Give your pain more than one place to go No single person can always provide exactly what you need. Different friends, relatives, support groups, or therapists may offer different kinds of care. If you’re the friend listening, remember that boundaries can be loving, too: “I care about you, but I’m running on empty tonight. Can we talk tomorrow?” Strong relationships make space for both the pain and the people helping to shoulder it. —Angela Haupt, Editor, Health & Wellness     SPONSORED Fresh-Roasted Coffee, Without Leaving the House A third-generation LA roaster ships 50+ coffees — single origins, flavored favorites, decafs, even teas — days after roasting. Mix and match Keurig®-compatible boxes for tiered savings up to 34% off. First order? Take an extra 15% off, automatically. Taste It Fresh     PLEASE ADVISE Ask the health team Have a burning health or wellness question? Wondering how to handle a tricky social situation? Please write to healthmatters@time.com, and we’ll weigh in weekly in the newsletter.     SPONSORED 1,000,000 Men Use This. You Probably Know One. Most men don't think about their skin until eye bags, dark spots, and wrinkles show up at once. Particle Face Cream is a groundbreaking men's formula that fights all three, while also restoring firmness and hydrating deeply. No complicated routine. Trusted by over a million men. 30-day money-back guarantee. 20% off with code BH20. Get 20% Off Today     WHAT WE’RE READING The Trump Administration wants food companies to disclose more about their ingredients, Alana Semuels reports for TIME. What is CKM (cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic) syndrome? Daryl Austin at USA Today explains how conditions such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease often develop together. It seems like everyone’s talking about hormone replacement therapy for women—but does everyone need it? Dr. Mara Gordon weighs in at NPR.   EMAIL US: healthmatters@time.com More Newsletters from Click to sign up. THE BRIEF +D.C. BRIEF +FUTURE PROOF +INSIDE TIME +IN THE LOOP +WORTH YOUR TIME + Connect with TIME PRIVACY POLICY   © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved. TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508 Boone, IA 50037-0508, United States Unsubscribe