Global Scans · Lifestyles · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Digital lifestyles are on the rise around the world and AR and VR will likely see us all using wearables, head-mounted displays and smartphones in almost everything we do. And, most of us will be living in cities too with full amenities close by.

• [New] Given that hypertension management includes adherence to medicine and lifestyle changes, behaviour change communication through WhatsApp-mediated reminders could function as cues to action and subsequently promote hypertension management. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Given the high mobile penetration and the opportunities it provides for encouraging lifestyle modification, an app such as WhatsApp, which is a free-to-use and real-time messaging platform, could facilitate patient-clinician interactions. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Agentic shopping could account for roughly 10% to 25% of U.S. e-commerce by 2030 (Bain), which points to a meaningful shift in how digital commerce will work. Google Open Source Blog
• [New] Braze research indicates that by the end of 2026, more than one-third of UK shoppers will turn first to an AI assistant or LLM when shopping, rather than a traditional search engine or brand website. Renascence
• [New] Parents will spend an average of $922 per student on back-to-school shopping in 2026. Practical Ecommerce
• [New] Allied governments committed to democratic values might require additional support when climate disasters strike, for instance when Boko Haram aims to exploit droughts in the Lake Chad region. Default
• [New] Brands increasingly leverage TikTok to drive e-commerce via influencer partnerships, particularly through live shopping events, which could account for up to 20% of all e-commerce by 2026. / USA Enrich Labs
• [New] In the wellness and fitness arena, TikTok will likely continue de-influencing trends as experts push back against harmful fitness ideologies and promote healthier lifestyle choices. Enrich Labs
• [New] A highly structured lifestyle programme of diet, exercise, cardiovascular health monitoring, and brain-training exercises was more effective than self-guided, flexible changes at improving global cognition scores in adults at risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Pharmaphorum
• [New] A large-scale trial has been launched, with $100 million in backing, to explore whether lifestyle changes coupled with GLP-1 agonists or similar incretin therapies can reduce the risk of dementia. Pharmaphorum
• [New] Across the globe, existential opportunities, emancipative values, and liberal democracy have been rising in astonishing unison, promoting a more encompassing trend toward human empowerment. Journal of Democracy
• [New] Investors should monitor upcoming economic events, especially retail sales data and Fed speeches, for signs of shifting consumer behaviour or monetary policy that could impact discretionary spending. Kavout
• [New] By 2026, leading retailers will have deployed sophisticated conversational AI agents that function as genuine shopping assistants rather than simple FAQ responders. AI Conference London
• [New] Discover how AI will transform retail by 2026, revolutionizing personalization and inventory management for a smarter shopping experience. AI Conference London
• [New] Agentic shopping adoption will increase from 19% in 2025 to 46% by the end of 2026 - a massive shift in how much consumers trust machines to shop for them. Airwallex
• [New] US Prime Day 2026 sales will rise between 4% and 7% year-over-year, signaling another year of growth for Amazon's summer shopping event, though in a more complex demand environment than in years past. PMG
• [New] Sephora will implement quiet hours across over 2,700 global locations, creating a calmer, sensory-friendly shopping environment for neurodivergent customers by lowering music and dimming screens. Access Information News
• [New] Growing scientific evidence shows that many risk factors can be reduced through healthier lifestyles, better management of chronic diseases and lower exposure to environmental hazards. UN News
• [New] The continuous shifts in ADIZ incursion rates per month may indicate efforts by the PRC to maintain a level of unpredictability, requiring Taiwan to remain alert and prepared to scramble a response despite its decreased ability to predict PLA behaviour. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• Athleisure is the fastest-growing segment with a 7.01% CAGR projected from 2026-2031, fueled by the blend of luxury fashion and active lifestyles. GlobeNewswire
• The brands that grow in 2026 will be the ones that make shopping feel simple, useful, transparent, and trustworthy - everywhere customers discover them. HostArmada Blog
• At RSAC 2026, CrowdStrike announced new cloud security and data protection capabilities addressing how to prioritize cloud risks based on real attacker behaviour and how to protect sensitive data moving across endpoints, SaaS, cloud, and generative AI tools. AIMultiple

Last updated: 06 August 2026