Jenn Dowd
@drjenndowd.bsky.social
Prof of Demography & Population Health @oxforddemsci.bsky.social | Mortality, Epidemiology, Infections/Immunity, Biosocial science, COVID-19. | Science Communicator 🇺🇸 in 🇬🇧.
Substack: https://jenndowd.substack.com
Substack: https://jenndowd.substack.com
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Jenn Dowd
@drjenndowd.bsky.social
· Mar 19
Data for Health | Jenn Dowd, PhD | Substack
Demystifying data for a longer, healthier life. Click to read Data for Health, by Jenn Dowd, PhD, a Substack publication.
jenndowd.substack.com
Please subscribe to my Substack for data driven takes on health & science: jenndowd.substack.com
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Yes, this is a sub-skeet about vaccines..
Just do it - don't be silly. We all want a full pizza, but half a pizza is better than no pizza.
Also, as I mentioned on a recent podcast - a glass of beer isn't either "empty" or "full" - half a beer is still a beer, and soooo much better than no beer 🍺💉.
Just do it - don't be silly. We all want a full pizza, but half a pizza is better than no pizza.
Also, as I mentioned on a recent podcast - a glass of beer isn't either "empty" or "full" - half a beer is still a beer, and soooo much better than no beer 🍺💉.
Since this keeps coming up.. You're really hungry and head to the Pizza shop - only one in town to serve food, but best damn pizza!
Issue is, they can't serve you a full pizza - only half a one. What do you do: (a) fuck it, no pizza for me! or (b) I'll take half a pizza.
What's it gonna be? 🍕💉
Issue is, they can't serve you a full pizza - only half a one. What do you do: (a) fuck it, no pizza for me! or (b) I'll take half a pizza.
What's it gonna be? 🍕💉
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Yes, this is a sub-skeet about vaccines..
Just do it - don't be silly. We all want a full pizza, but half a pizza is better than no pizza.
Also, as I mentioned on a recent podcast - a glass of beer isn't either "empty" or "full" - half a beer is still a beer, and soooo much better than no beer 🍺💉.
Just do it - don't be silly. We all want a full pizza, but half a pizza is better than no pizza.
Also, as I mentioned on a recent podcast - a glass of beer isn't either "empty" or "full" - half a beer is still a beer, and soooo much better than no beer 🍺💉.
Ugh, I was really hoping for good news coming out of this trial. But it does align with expectations I heard from Alzheimer’s researchers that halting or reversing existing disease is hard even with promising drugs, so intervening earlier is likely key. finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-no... #dementia
Novo Nordisk A/S: Evoke phase 3 trials did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in Alzheimer's disease progression
Bagsværd, Denmark, 24 November 2025 – Novo Nordisk today announced the top-line results from the 2-year primary analysis of evoke and evoke+ phase 3 trials in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer’s disea...
finance.yahoo.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Ugh, I was really hoping for good news coming out of this trial. But it does align with expectations I heard from Alzheimer’s researchers that halting or reversing existing disease is hard even with promising drugs, so intervening earlier is likely key. finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-no... #dementia
Something to be thankful for this week--rising rates of cancer in younger people are mostly not translating into increased cancer mortality, suggesting better detection. jenndowd.substack.com/p/are-cancer... #episky #medsky #cancer
Are cancer rates really increasing in young people?
Thankfully, the news is better than it sounds
jenndowd.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Something to be thankful for this week--rising rates of cancer in younger people are mostly not translating into increased cancer mortality, suggesting better detection. jenndowd.substack.com/p/are-cancer... #episky #medsky #cancer
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Deadline is approaching!!!!
📌 Submit your contribution until 30 November 2025 for #REVES2026 📆 11–13 March 2026|Tokyo, Japan
🔗 www.reves2026.com
#demography
#LifeExpectancy
📌 Submit your contribution until 30 November 2025 for #REVES2026 📆 11–13 March 2026|Tokyo, Japan
🔗 www.reves2026.com
#demography
#LifeExpectancy
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Deadline is approaching!!!!
📌 Submit your contribution until 30 November 2025 for #REVES2026 📆 11–13 March 2026|Tokyo, Japan
🔗 www.reves2026.com
#demography
#LifeExpectancy
📌 Submit your contribution until 30 November 2025 for #REVES2026 📆 11–13 March 2026|Tokyo, Japan
🔗 www.reves2026.com
#demography
#LifeExpectancy
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
So far there is no evidence that this did not occur.
The claim "RFK Jr was not bitten by a zombie" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that RFK Jr was indeed bitten by a zombie.
The claim "RFK Jr was not bitten by a zombie" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that RFK Jr was indeed bitten by a zombie.
November 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
So far there is no evidence that this did not occur.
The claim "RFK Jr was not bitten by a zombie" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that RFK Jr was indeed bitten by a zombie.
The claim "RFK Jr was not bitten by a zombie" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that RFK Jr was indeed bitten by a zombie.
A propos of nothing, I can’t rule out that my childhood vaccines caused my love of causal inference
November 20, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A propos of nothing, I can’t rule out that my childhood vaccines caused my love of causal inference
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
The world’s most studied half a million humans humans … just got measured in yet another clever way … looking forward to diving into the data
We're pleased to announce that our latest release of new and updated UK Biobank data is now available to approved researchers around the world ✅
November 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The world’s most studied half a million humans humans … just got measured in yet another clever way … looking forward to diving into the data
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
give me the quadrivalent mRNA flu vaccine right now. put it in me
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 PM
give me the quadrivalent mRNA flu vaccine right now. put it in me
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Experimental mRNA flu vaccine is more effective than conventional flu shot, but causes more side effects
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
November 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Experimental mRNA flu vaccine is more effective than conventional flu shot, but causes more side effects
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
In a phase 3 trial, participants who received the shot were 29% less likely to be diagnosed with flu than those who received a conventional flu shot.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Our latest blog: @anne-mcmunn.bsky.social, Professor of Social Epidemiology at UCL, sets out the evidence on how unpaid work can affect health and inequality through its effect on employment
Unpaid work – the missing link in the gender gap - Understanding Society
Long read: unpaid work may affect health through its impact on employment Inequality persists, and housework and caring may be crucial factors
www.understandingsociety.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Our latest blog: @anne-mcmunn.bsky.social, Professor of Social Epidemiology at UCL, sets out the evidence on how unpaid work can affect health and inequality through its effect on employment
Wow, you've got to admire the commitment/stubbornness
November 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Wow, you've got to admire the commitment/stubbornness
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Apply now to our next Summer School! 🤝
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Apply now to our next Summer School! 🤝
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Our new paper develops and tests a network-based method for estimating death rates in complex humanitarian emergencies.
Joint w/ @dennisfeehan.bsky.social and team from Geneva-based NGO @impact-initiatives.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aje/advance-...
Joint w/ @dennisfeehan.bsky.social and team from Geneva-based NGO @impact-initiatives.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aje/advance-...
Estimating death rates in complex humanitarian emergencies using the network survival method
Abstract. Reliable estimates of death rates in complex humanitarian emergencies are critical for assessing the severity of a crisis and for effectively all
academic.oup.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Our new paper develops and tests a network-based method for estimating death rates in complex humanitarian emergencies.
Joint w/ @dennisfeehan.bsky.social and team from Geneva-based NGO @impact-initiatives.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aje/advance-...
Joint w/ @dennisfeehan.bsky.social and team from Geneva-based NGO @impact-initiatives.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aje/advance-...
1/ Concerns about low birth rates & below "replacement" fertility have been in the news a lot lately. But what does "replacement fertility" mean exactly?
(Throwback pic to that time I tried replacement fertility all in one go). jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... #demography #fertility
(Throwback pic to that time I tried replacement fertility all in one go). jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... #demography #fertility
November 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
1/ Concerns about low birth rates & below "replacement" fertility have been in the news a lot lately. But what does "replacement fertility" mean exactly?
(Throwback pic to that time I tried replacement fertility all in one go). jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... #demography #fertility
(Throwback pic to that time I tried replacement fertility all in one go). jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... #demography #fertility
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
N-IUSSP: The kinship gap. When just a few years of difference make a difference
www.niussp.org/fertility-an...
#demography
#populationstudies
www.niussp.org/fertility-an...
#demography
#populationstudies
The kinship gap. When just a few years of difference make a difference - N-IUSSP
Rapid decline in a country’s birth and death rates creates a “kinship gap”, leaving people born just years apart with vastly different family support networks. Sha Jiang discusses the ensuing ... Read...
www.niussp.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM
N-IUSSP: The kinship gap. When just a few years of difference make a difference
www.niussp.org/fertility-an...
#demography
#populationstudies
www.niussp.org/fertility-an...
#demography
#populationstudies
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
If you want to channel your frustration with bad excess mortality modelling into some productive science, come join our "One Epidemic, Many Estimates" (1EME) project! Sign-ups are welcome through January/February!
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
November 17, 2025 at 12:09 PM
If you want to channel your frustration with bad excess mortality modelling into some productive science, come join our "One Epidemic, Many Estimates" (1EME) project! Sign-ups are welcome through January/February!
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-His...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
I really did not enjoy Jay Bhattacharya & Matthew Memoli’s screed against pandemic & virology research for the flagship blog of a “free-market think tank." Instead of getting mad, I accepted @jeremyfaust.bsky.social's kind invitation to take a factual & scientific blowtorch to it.
We've got a MASSIVE DEEP-DIVE rebuttal to the NIH leadership’s recent essay. They're arguing for a head-in-the-sand approach to pandemic preparedness.
The great @angierasmussen.bsky.social joins me in an extraordinarily detailed, line-by-line fact check.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
The great @angierasmussen.bsky.social joins me in an extraordinarily detailed, line-by-line fact check.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
A rebuttal to NIH leadership's screed against pandemic preparedness.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen joins Inside Medicine for a tag-team response to a poorly reasoned essay by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and his deputy, Dr. Matthew Memoli.
insidemedicine.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I really did not enjoy Jay Bhattacharya & Matthew Memoli’s screed against pandemic & virology research for the flagship blog of a “free-market think tank." Instead of getting mad, I accepted @jeremyfaust.bsky.social's kind invitation to take a factual & scientific blowtorch to it.
💯💯
Pet peeve: when someone invites you to a meeting but instead of sending a calendar invitation, they just send a zoom link in an email.
If you want profs to actually show up for meetings-- send a calendar invitation!
#AcademicSky #ScienceSky #MedSky #EpiSky
If you want profs to actually show up for meetings-- send a calendar invitation!
#AcademicSky #ScienceSky #MedSky #EpiSky
a netflix ad shows a woman in a blue dress
ALT: a netflix ad shows a woman in a blue dress
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:25 PM
💯💯
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
I have added a link to this post at the end of my post on #scicomm as firefighting makingsciencepublic.com/2025/08/09/f...
From dissemination to firefighting: The new reality of science communication?
Three things happened recently in my Bluesky timeline which made me think about the fate of science communication. In this post I’ll use these brief glimpses into science communication activities, …
makingsciencepublic.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I have added a link to this post at the end of my post on #scicomm as firefighting makingsciencepublic.com/2025/08/09/f...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
New reflections from me about the challenge of countering disinformation when the state itself is distributing it
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
November 15, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New reflections from me about the challenge of countering disinformation when the state itself is distributing it
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/the-erosio...
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
There's a new documentary today called "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator" - but DNA is not a blueprint! See below.
Your genome is not a blueprint. A thread about misleading metaphors in science communication. 🧬🧪 1/n
November 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
There's a new documentary today called "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator" - but DNA is not a blueprint! See below.
After @philipncohen.com's talk, I had #demography on the brain today!
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
What Is "Replacement Fertility" Anyway?
The fine line between population bomb and population extinction
jenndowd.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
After @philipncohen.com's talk, I had #demography on the brain today!
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
jenndowd.substack.com/p/what-is-re... @oxforddemsci.bsky.social @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
These people are about enforcing a specific form of femininity. These tools *can* be used to empower and even free people. But when they're presented in distorted, dishonest ways they are manipulative disinformation. 1/
"Officials in the Trump administration have also been exploring ways for the federal government to direct funding toward teaching more women of reproductive age to accurately identify their fertile windows, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
The MAHA-Fueled Rise of Natural Family Planning
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
These people are about enforcing a specific form of femininity. These tools *can* be used to empower and even free people. But when they're presented in distorted, dishonest ways they are manipulative disinformation. 1/
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
At @pewresearch.org, we are strategizing about how we can share our research in important places.
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
November 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
At @pewresearch.org, we are strategizing about how we can share our research in important places.
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Do you have any recommendations of key podcasts where discussion of our global research on religion (e.g., demographic change, beliefs and practices, religious freedom issues) would be a good fit?
Reposted by Jenn Dowd
Over a dozen ways to decompose life expectancy, all in one (we hope) friendly interface. Please have a look at the LEdecomp R package cran.r-project.org/web/packages... See the function LEdecomp() for access to all of them. If we left something out, please shout! #rstats #demography #mortality
LEdecomp: Decompose Life Expectancy by Age (and Cause)
A set of all-cause and cause-specific life expectancy sensitivity and decomposition methods, including Arriaga (1984) <<a href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2061029" target="_top">doi:10.2307/2061029<...
cran.r-project.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Over a dozen ways to decompose life expectancy, all in one (we hope) friendly interface. Please have a look at the LEdecomp R package cran.r-project.org/web/packages... See the function LEdecomp() for access to all of them. If we left something out, please shout! #rstats #demography #mortality