Dementia Watch (Taiwan): A psychiatrist says Taiwan’s dementia rate is about 1.5 times the global average, driven by rapid aging, a high share of mixed Alzheimer’s/vascular cases, and risks tied to “three highs” (blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol), long working hours, and social isolation. NHIA Update (Taiwan): Reimbursement rates are set to rise for pediatric care, childbirth, inpatient nursing, and 90 major surgical procedures, with changes expected as early as Sept. 1. Health Fraud Probe (Taiwan): Taichung prosecutors indicted a woman and a “vaccine broker” over an alleged NT$30 million COVID-19 vaccine procurement scam targeting Tzu Chi, with searches and confiscations reported. Wildfire Risk (Taiwan): A report warns climate change is making Taiwan’s forests more combustible, with dryness and wind playing key roles as severe dry months become more frequent. Food & Nutrition (Taiwan): A nutritionist links hair thinning to diet patterns high in sweets, sugary drinks, fried and processed foods, and highlights nutrients like protein, vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Parasite Alert (Global/Regional): Rat lungworm—first described in 1933—can spread via contaminated produce and undercooked hosts, with Taiwan previously detecting human infections. Agriculture (Taiwan): Yilan’s new cantaloupe cultivar “Peilossu” is reported to boost output and resist downy mildew while keeping sweetness stable through rainy-season stress. Medical Resilience (Taiwan): Han Kuang drills reportedly included large-scale civilian medical preparedness and tested defenses around Taoyuan Airport, underscoring health-system readiness in crises. Scam Warning (Taiwan): Taipei investigators are probing a foreign-based group accused of defrauding a woman of over NT$150 million through a Facebook weight-loss drug scheme.