View in browser

05.09.25

This week, I had a chance to go to Milwaukee to see firsthand how the city is dealing with the lead crisis that has closed a number of their schools. Remember: There is no safe level of exposure when it comes to lead. I have a lot to share about what I saw on the ground, but first, some other health headlines ...

— Sanjay

Irreplaceable scientific samples that led to key health discoveries could be lost with Harvard cuts

An invaluable trove of biodata gathered from generations of Americans by Harvard University researchers may soon be lost due to funding cuts by the Trump administration, a leading nutrition researcher told CNN.

The latest round of cuts will halt funding for the upkeep of dozens of giant freezers filled with DNA, blood, urine, stool and tissue samples used for ongoing research, said Dr. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

The biological samples and data have led to major advances in science, including the discovery of the dangers of trans fats and their subsequent ban from the US food supply; the link between obesity and breast cancer, even in adolescents; and the connection between cigarette smoking and heart disease.

“We are scrambling to try to protect the samples and the data we have,” Willett said. “We can’t last more than a few weeks, a couple of months, depending on which aspect of the study we’re talking about. But we’re on a short timeline now, unless we get some additional funding.”

Deadly fungi are fueling the next superbug crisis. Experts say it will be even harder to beat

In the HBO series “The Last of Us,” a mutant Cordyceps fungus spreads through bites from infected human hosts. (HBO and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)

In the show, the parasite quickly invades a victim’s brain, turning them into a violent, scale-covered predator with tentacles sprouting from the mouth. The real-life Cordyceps infects only insects such as ants, beetles, butterflies, moths and spiders; the rest of the plot is science fiction.

But reality doesn’t require sci-fi zombies: Fungi that maim and kill people are quickly spreading around the world today.

Due to the emerging microbial resistance to all existing fungicidal drugs, in April the World Health Organization listed 19 fungal species as critical, high or medium priority for new drug development. Recent estimates indicate that there are 6.5 million invasive fungal infections and 3.8 million deaths annually — and some of those infections are becoming more difficult to treat.

Cinnamon could interact with some prescription medications, according to a new study

Cinnamon is a popular spice with a long history of use in traditional medicine in many cultures. Today, cinnamon products are sold as dietary supplements to help with a variety of health conditions, including treating diabetes, promoting weight loss and relieving hay fever.

People should be cautious, though, because cinnamon could also affect the metabolism of prescription drugs, according to a new study. The authors warned against overconsumption of cinnamon-containing substances, especially in people who have other health conditions.

“According to the study’s researchers, the list of chronic conditions that should prompt caution before trying cinnamon supplementation includes hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, obesity, HIV/AIDS and depression,” CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen said. “I would add to that list anyone using blood thinner medications — for example, someone who has a history of heart disease and stroke, any medications that are cleared through the liver, and other dietary supplements that may interact with cinnamon, including turmeric, ginseng and gingko biloba.”

WATCH: On Wednesday, Utah became the first state in the US to remove fluoride from its public drinking water. Will others follow suit? CNN's Meg Tirrell reports.

Utah’s ban on fluoride in public drinking water is a simple change that raises complicated new health risks

Dentists in Utah can tell rather quickly whether their patients grew up in the Salt Lake City area or in a different part of the state.

Salt Lake County, neighboring Davis County to the north and nearby Brigham City — home to about half of the state’s population — have been adding fluoride to the public drinking water for decades with local voter approval while other parts of the state generally have not.

“It’s pretty obvious. If I have new patients come into my practice, I can guess probably eight or nine times out of 10 if they’ve grown up in a fluoridated community,” said Dr. Darren Chamberlain, a pediatric dentist who practices a bit farther south in the state. “The reason I know is because, generally, they don’t have cavities.”

But that may soon change. Community fluoridation — considered one of the top public health success stories of the last century — has been banned in Utah. The change worries dentists and public health experts, who are concerned that it will lead to a rise in avoidable oral health issues, especially among young children from low-income families.

Do you resent your partner? Do you dread coming home from work as much as, if not more than, going to work? Those can all be signs of relationship burnout, and it’s possible you’ve got it. Here's what you can do.

But wait, there's more!

• US surpasses 1,000 measles cases in 2025, second worst year since disease was declared eliminated

• Immunotherapy helps certain cancer patients avoid surgery, other invasive treatments: "We hope this is the future"

• Ultraprocessed food linked to early signs of Parkinson’s disease, study says

• Rising food prices in US getting in way of healthy eating, survey of Americans finds

• 1 in 5 adults forget or choose not to wash their hands

WATCH: Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to Milwaukee, where several school buildings have closed due to aging paint that exposed children to lead, a neurotoxin.

Chasing Life

From Dr. Sanjay Gupta — 

This week, I traveled to Milwaukee to investigate the lead crisis that is ongoing in its schools.

As in many other parts of the country, many school buildings there are old. Any structure in America built before 1978 is likely to have used lead-based paint — and that translates to dust and paint chips that have lead in them and can poison kids.

Children in particular are vulnerable to lead poisoning because their developing bodies can more easily absorb it, and younger kids are more likely to play on the ground around dust or paint chips.

There is no safe level of lead exposure. Even trace amounts of the heavy metal can damage a child’s brain, affecting their behavior and cognitive function.

Milwaukee first became aware of its crisis in January, when a student’s blood levels were found to be four times higher than expected, and investigators traced the exposure back to the student’s elementary school bathroom. At least four children have now been found to have high lead levels since the city’s investigation began, and remediation efforts are happening in at least nine schools, with a handful even closing temporarily.

The city has a massive task on its hands. At home, there are steps we can all take to reduce any potential lead exposures.

• Use a wet or damp cloth to clean and dust your home. This can really pick up and minimize dust.
• Eat a diet with plenty of iron, calcium and vitamin C. Foods high in these elements can help reduce lead absorption.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Use certified professionals when doing home repairs. If you DIY, make sure to follow lead safe practices like using a disposable N-100 certified mask and wearing disposable coveralls.

Author and physician Dr. Jen Gunter has earned the title "the Internet’s Ob/gyn" for her work demystifying menopause — and de-bunking some of the misinformation surrounding this stage of life. Dr. Gunter breaks down what’s actually going on in women’s bodies during this stage of life, and how to spot the signs.

CNN Health's The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows up in your

inbox every Friday.

Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign yourself up!

Want to easily manage your newsletter subscriptions? Create your account.