For decades, Americans have been told moderate alcohol consumption may offer protection against the number one killer, cardiovascular disease, and possibly contribute to longevity. As that assertion was promulgated by countless health advisories, a body of scientific evidence challenging this belief has accumulated making it difficult to continue to rationalize alcohol consumption for health reasons. […]

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury in which a forceful bump, blow or jolt to the head causes the brain to move inside the skull. This can result in headache, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, and sluggishness. In some cases, there may be confusion and memory problems, as well. Symptoms typically appear within

Scientists have shown a pathological link between chronic inflammation and heart disease, cancer and even depression. Now, several large studies have shown an association between chronic inflammation and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute, short-term inflammation is a normal, healthy process within the body that

There is no shortage of advertisements on the Internet promoting supplements that are purported to improve memory. It’s now a $3 billion market. All too often, the claims made for these supplements are unsubstantiated, and the maker of at least one product has been accused by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of false and deceptive

Each of us has more influence over our long-term cognitive health than previously understood. Making healthy lifestyle choices now can reduce your risk of cognitive decline and dementia later—and the more good choices you make, the more that risk decreases. Get started with these seven steps. 1. Treat High Blood Pressure – Nearly one in

Alzheimer’s. It’s not surprising that we hear and read more about the disease today than ever before, because dementia now affects 1 in 10 Americans age 65 and older. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s has made some of us hypervigilant about changes in our own cognitive health. Struggling to recall a person’s name, forgetting an appointment,

When most people hear the word chlamydia, they are likely to think of the sexually transmitted disease caused by chlamydia trachomatis. But two other species of chlamydia bacteria are pathogenic to humans: C. psittaci and C. pneumoniae. Chlamydia pneumoniae (CPn) is a respiratory tract pathogen that causes pneumonia and can be transmitted from person to

Many Americans are drawn to the growing business of direct-to-consumer genetic-testing. One of the more popular services, 23andMe, reports more than 12 million Americans have so far purchased their testing kits. By either swabbing the inside of one’s mouth or providing a saliva sample, users can learn about their ancestry or discover traits related to