Sandee LaMotte - Writer, CNN Wellness
Sandee LaMotte
Writer, CNN Wellness
Latest
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The hidden risk to your heart from sleeping in low lightSep 9, 2026Even sleeping in relatively low light may damage the muscle walls of the heart, potentially leading to cardiovascular disease and heart failure, a new study found. -
Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancersSep 4, 2026Alcohol’s role in deaths from numerous cancers has increased over the past three decades, a new study found. It only takes one standard drink a day, every day. -
There could be toxins in your baby’s diaper — and it’s not poopAug 28, 2026Diapers may contain potentially toxic chemicals. A new California bill backed by actor Hilary Swank would require manufacturers to tell caregivers what those are. -
With the snip of a gene, scientists hope to erase high cholesterol for lifeAug 28, 2026Gene editing reduced cholesterol by about 50% in an extremely small sample of patients over a year of follow-up, according to a new research update. -
Another Alzheimer’s blood test gets OK from FDAAug 27, 2026The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared Roche and partner Eli Lilly’s blood test to help identify signs of Alzheimer’s disease in people age 55 and older with cognitive decline. -
Popular cleaning products with germ-killing chemicals may be dangerous to healthAug 19, 2026Chemicals used to kill germs in homes, schools, daycares and offices may carry hidden health risks science is just now beginning to understand. -
Millions of adults in the US should be taking blood pressure-lowering medicationAug 12, 2026Nearly 10 million adults in the United States with untreated high blood pressure would benefit from medication and are not getting it, according to a new study. -
The disinfecting mistake many people make at homeAug 11, 2026If you use a disinfectant wipe or cleaner to tackle everyday spills, experts say you may be cleaning the wrong way — and exposing yourself to unnecessary chemicals. -
FDA seeks to close decadeslong loophole for food additivesAug 10, 2026The US Food and Drug Administration has released a long-awaited plan to close a loophole in food regulation that lets manufacturers put certain chemicals in products without notifying national food regulators. -
4 out of 5 toddler foods are ultraprocessed. Nearly half fail to meet nutrition standardsJul 30, 2026Over 80% of foods marketed to toddlers in the United States are ultraprocessed, while nearly half also fail to meet global nutritional guidelines, a new study found. -
A new blood test may predict Alzheimer’s risk but should be used carefullyJul 15, 2026Blood tests for tau, a key biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease, may predict dementia risk, a new study found. The best way to use the test, however, is unclear. -
PFAS pesticides approved after EPA adopts new toxicity definitionJul 10, 2026The EPA has quietly approved additional PFAS pesticides to spray crops despite scientific concerns over potential toxicity. Critics say industry influence is at play. -
New report finds few sunscreens meet safety standardsJun 24, 2026Get ready for the scorching rays of summer with these updated expert picks on safe and effective sunscreens. -
Startling science: Taking an omega-3 supplement doesn’t boost memory or cognitionJun 19, 2026Taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement did not improve memory, cognitive function or brain cell loss for many people, a surprising new study finds. -
Betcha can’t eat just one: Addiction to ultraprocessed foods is real and increasingJun 17, 2026A growing number of people in the United States are clinically addicted to ultraprocessed foods, studies have shown. Which foods put you most at risk? -
FDA approves new sunscreen ingredient used for years in Europe and AsiaJun 11, 2026The US agency has approved a new sunscreen ingredient used for years in Europe and Asia. The ingredient is safer than some currently in use, experts say.
About
Sandee LaMotte is a writer for CNN Wellness covering health and wellness for over 30 years, with reporting expertise on such topics as sleep, brain health, longevity, the Mediterranean diet, and the health impacts of artificial sweeteners, ultra-processed foods, heavy metals and toxins in consumer products.
LaMotte is a CNN original, part of a small, scrappy team of journalists who believed in Ted Turner’s vision of 24-hour news. Starting as a video editor and producer, over the next 20+ years LaMotte and her teams won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Silver Baton for “Iran: In the Name of God,” three Emmy awards, several New York Film Festivals awards, and many other national and international prizes for long-form and investigative videos.
When she went to work at WebMD, LaMotte fell in love with health journalism and has never looked back. Since coming home to CNN a dozen years ago, she was honored to work with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on a three-part investigative series, “Justice for Rehma,” about spurious legal attacks on the medical diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. The series won a Deadline Club award.
LaMotte frequently writes about, “forever” pesticides, flame retardants, quaternary ammonium compounds, the dangers of micro- and nanoplastics and the toxic chemicals leaching from plastics, including PFAS, bisphenols and phthalates.
