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Wellness Wednesday: How active fatherhood alters brain functioning

A father plays with his son at a park in Amritsar, India, on Father's Day in June 2016.
Narinder Nanu
/
AFP via Getty Images
A father plays with his son at a park in Amritsar, India, on Father's Day in June 2016.

Nearly 7 in 10 Americans support some form of paid-paternal leave, mostly with the idea that it’s better for the newborn and fairer to both parents.

Research shows that the brains of involved fathers also can be affected.

The University of Southern California participated in a study that used magnetic resonance imaging to map how active fatherhood alters brain functioning.

Coming up on Wellness Wednesday, we talk about the science behind the study and why it matters.

Also on this Wellness Wednesday, 136 rural hospitals closed between 2010 and last year. The American Hospital Association cites a variety of causes. Bigger hospitals are willing to help, but it comes at a cost.

A new experimental Alzheimer’s drug called Lecanemab is an exciting development for some, but others are concerned that the side effects may do more harm than good.

Dr. Madhav Thambisetty is a neurologist at the National Institute of Aging, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Guests:

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