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December 26, 2024

In 2024, research funding for female-specific health conditions reached unprecedented levels, sparking groundbreaking advancements in understanding and treating issues like endometriosis and menopause-related symptoms. Technology played a pivotal role in this transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionizing diagnostics for conditions such as breast cancer and osteoporosis, making them faster and more accurate.

At the same time, personalized medicine took center stage, offering treatments tailored to women’s unique hormonal and genetic profiles, recognizing that one-size-fits-all healthcare is insufficient for half the population. Policy changes further accelerated progress, including advancements in paid family leave and federal legislation aimed at addressing long-standing healthcare inequities, particularly for women of color and those living in rural areas.

And let’s not forget innovation: menopause-focused medications emerged to not only help manage symptoms but also to address long-term health risks like heart disease.

These advancements raised the standard of care and set the stage for what’s shaping up to be a transformational 2025. From AI-powered fertility tools to record investments in longevity science, the coming year promises to take women’s health from progress to true transformation.

All this momentum could gain even more traction with new funding from Congress, which has the potential to drive transformative change. In early December, Congress proposed a bold initiative urging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a dedicated institute for women’s health. The plan also calls for expanded oversight, accountability and support to prioritize women’s health research across the agency.

To make this vision a reality, Congress is considering an appropriation of $15.7 billion over five years. This includes $4 billion to establish the new institute, $11.4 billion for a NIH-wide fund to foster interdisciplinary women’s health research and additional funding to enhance and expand career pathways in the field.

In 2023, women's health research made up just 7.9% of the total research grant spending within the NIH's budget. Considering the agency's overall budget of $45 billion in 2022, this highlights a troubling disparity—funding for women's health research has not kept pace with the NIH's broader spending priorities.

But this new funding from Congress has the potential to transform women’s health research, closing long-standing gaps and paving the way for innovative, equitable care. By dedicating resources specifically to women’s health, 2025 could mark the beginning of a groundbreaking era—one where healthcare is smarter, more inclusive and genuinely life-changing for women everywhere.

Meet the Chef Redefining What It Means to Thrive in Midlife

Carla Hall is truly in her fabulous era. Known for her vibrant and down-to-earth personality, she won the hearts of fans on Top Chef and co-hosted The Chew, where her passion for food and life shone through.

But Hall is much more than a talented chef—she’s a powerful advocate for embracing the beauty of midlife and defying societal expectations. As part of QVC’s "50 and Fabulous" campaign, which celebrates women over 50, Hall discussed with Flow Space how she’s rewriting the script on aging gracefully.

For this week’s edition of the newsletter, Hall shared her journey of reinventing her own path, blending her love for food with a deep commitment to self-expression, empowerment and inspiring other women to step into midlife with confidence and joy.

As a part of QVC’s “50 and Fabulous” initiative, how do you feel about the evolving conversation around aging and what is one thing that you learned in this new chapter?

I love talking about my age, and I love empowering people, and I love being able to say that I turned sexty this year. I think when we get to this age, as we age, we have more wisdom. We have more patience. We have more intuition that [we’re] learning to use. So why waste it on the appearance of a number?

You’ve always been a champion of healthy eating and cooking. How has your approach to food and wellness changed as you've gotten older?

From talking to my doctor and other healthcare professionals, I learned that as we age, we don't have enough protein. So, I really try to think about how much protein I'm getting. I also learned, because my mother has Alzheimer's, how much exercise is important.

I carry the gene for late-onset Alzheimer's. My grandmother had it, my mother has it and so, I'm right in line, but I'm not afraid of it. I just love information. I try to be proactive with my health, you know. I absolutely took it for granted when I was younger. Now I'm like, “OK, let me do more functional medicine.”

What advice would you give to women who may be hesitant to embrace new adventures or careers later in life?

I really try to talk people out of having a job that they don't like. At this stage, you know how you work, you know the people you work well with, you understand the lay of the land, so why not use that information to actually have an experience that you enjoy?

I tell people to quit and be happy. It’s scary, but I would rather be in a job making a little bit less and be happy than to hold on to this job that you really don't like. Inevitably, they're going to kick you out. Whether it’s ageism or whatever. Why not have a job that you like?

How do you find flow within your everyday life?

Deep breathing when I get up in the morning. I'm literally inhaling and exhaling three long times and then exhaling. So, that's where my flow starts in the morning. In terms of creativity, I realized that my creativity is best when I'm rested.

So, I'm all about sleep and rest. I love working with my hands. I do these little origami circles. But I make paper quilts, so I make the little circles that are gonna go on quilts. I also love Broadway and community theater. I love seeing creative people showcase their talents.

Shining a Light on Migraines

Migraines are more than just bad headaches—they're a debilitating neurological disease that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including light, noise and smell sensitivity, nausea and vomiting.

For Two Broke Girls actress Kat Dennings, migraines have been a silent struggle since she was 12, often dismissed with advice to "suck it up." It took a decade before she was finally diagnosed, and now, in an exclusive interview with Flow Space, she's speaking out about her journey.

For anyone who suffers from migraines, you know the desperate search for relief. While over-the-counter options like Extra-Strength Tylenol or Advil may provide some alleviation for mild cases, most migraine sufferers require something much stronger.

How We're Finding Flow

SHOPPING the Nike Pro leggings that Entertainment Tonight host Nischelle Turner swears by. What better way to tackle your New Year's resolutions than in style?

CELEBRATING the FDA’s approval of Zepbound, a weight loss drug now authorized to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. This marks the first drug treatment for the disorder, which affects approximately 39 million adults in the U.S., including about one in four women.

PLANNING a “sleepcation” after a fun but tiring holiday season already has us feeling slightly worn out—and we haven't even made it to New Year's Eve yet!

READING a new study published by the Menopause Society, which suggests that non-heterosexual women may experience better sexual functioning during the menopause transition than their heterosexual counterparts.

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Modern Beauty Trends

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Will 2025 Be the Beginning of a Groundbreaking Era for Women's Health?