For many years, the only way to positively diagnose Alzheimer’s disease was studying the brain after a patient had died. But medical advances like advanced scanning combined with memory tests and family history has made it easier for physicians to diagnose the disease.

Now the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new blood test that will help doctors zero in on the disease earlier.

Many household and personal care products list the chemical compounds phthalates among their ingredients. Phthalates are often referred to as “everywhere chemicals,” because they’re commonly used and continuously leach into the environment.  

American adults love napping. In fact, 80.7 percent of U.S. adults reported napping at least 10 minutes in the past three months, according to a survey conducted by the Sleep Foundation. Results from the same survey also showed that 30.5 percent of Americans nap more than twice a week.  

You probably noticed that as you age, it gets harder and harder to manage your weight. It’s a common complaint among middle-aged adults; in fact, about 44 percent of Americans ages 40 to 59 are considered obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

While there is no cure for dementia, there is good news: Science is advancing our understanding of the risk factors while creating new testing and diagnosis regimes and new treatments.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new test that can help diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia. The blood test, the first of its kind, tests for amyloid plaques, which are associated with the disease in patients aged 55 and older who are already exhibiting symptoms. 

More than cancer, more than heart disease, dementia is on the minds of many Americans over 40. In fact, half of all adults aged 40 and older worry that they’re likely to develop dementia, even though heart disease and cancer are far more prevalent.
While worrisome, dementia isn’t a forgone conclusion. It’s not a natural part of aging, and many physicians and researcher feel that it’s largely preventable. 

But it helps to know more about dementia to begin with. 

Currently, there are about eight million Americans living with psoriasis; unfortunately, the number of cases is rising, according to The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. Experts believe the unhealthy American lifestyle combined with an increased awareness of psoriasis is leading to more diagnoses.

About 25 percent of U.S. adults suffer with seasonal allergies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s millions of Americans living with uncomfortable symptoms like a stuffy or runny nose; itchy, swollen eyes; sneezing; coughing; post-nasal drip and fatigue.

Antidepressants are a class of drugs commonly prescribed to help manage depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and chronic pain. They also can be used for off label purposes such as boosting appetite, improving cognitive function and increasing concentration.

Processed foods have gotten a bad rap over the last decade. Most of the food we buy at the supermarket is processed to some degree. Breads, pastas, frozen vegetables, dairy products and spices — even baby carrots — are processed.