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A new report presented by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care concludes that more than 1/3 of all dementia cases (including Alzheimer’s disease) can be traced to specific sociological, psychological, and physical factors. Since many of these factors are considered to be preventable, the scientific community is celebrating this development as a significant stride forward in the battle against dementia. Some of the primary factors that appear to be an early sign of potential memory loss include low levels of completed education, obesity, smoking, air pollution, and hearing loss.

This study comes at a time when many of the world’s countries are bracing for an exponential growth to their senior citizen populations. If the results of this study lead to widespread change among the general public, the reduction in the number of individuals suffering from dementia could lead to potential economic growth, continued productivity, and a more hopeful population of people heading toward old age. Read more about this report, as well as other developments in the field of memory loss, in this recent article from the Los Angeles Times.

As the number of opioid-related drug overdoses grows throughout the country, an article recently published in The New York Times spotlights one small town in New Hampshire, and the work being done by one man to help slow the epidemic.

Eric Adams, former law enforcement official, now works for the local Drug Task Force as a Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment Coordinator. The title is important because it highlights the shift being made nationwide in the attitudes toward drug offenders by law makers and police officials who are seeing an exponentially high number of opioid and opiate related deaths.  Eric Adams is one of the first people in the United States to have a job title that enforces the idea of addiction and substance abuse as a disease to be treated rather than just a crime to be imprisoned for. By shining a light on Eric Adams’ story, the article details the struggles, progress, and obstacles faced in the continuing fight against illegal drug use in America.

In the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic within the United States, drug makers and independent scientists have begun looking into the development of marijuana-based painkillers as an alternative option for those suffering from chronic pain.

A recent article in Fortune details some of the steps that are currently being taken in the effort to develop alternatives to opioid-based drugs that are often prescribed to patients or purchased illegally on the street. The article outlines studies that show the benefits of marijuana-based recovery methods and how many pro-medical marijuana states have reported fewer opiate related deaths on average.

These statistics, combined with the fact that there are records of marijuana overdose induced deaths, have pushed many health care professionals to start seriously considering cannabis-based drugs as viable options. The current restrictions on the drug by the Federal Government, however, have slowed the research and development phases of these experiments considerably.

The New York Times recently published an article highlighting statistics in 2016 fertility rates in the United States. Most notably, the article points out that a general nationwide decline in fertility rates has officially brought the birth rate percentage to its lowest point in U.S. history.  This decrease in birth rate was reported in all groups of women under the age of 30. There was a 9 percent decline in teenage birthrates from 2015, an trend in this demographic which has been ongoing since 1991. Among women in their 20s, the birth rate declined between 2 and 4 percent. Despite this decline in birth rates among women under the age of 30, however, statistics show that fertility rates have actually increased in women aged 30 and above. Still, the overall decline officially puts the country’s population below replacement level. Interestingly enough this does not mean the country’s population is declining since the ongoing influx of immigrants helps to compensate for this difference.

For a comprehensive rundown of these statistics, including breakdowns by ethnic background, pre-term birth rates, and more, check out the article on The New York Times.

Independence Day in the U.S. is a day that is historically celebrated with parties, barbecued food, and, of course, fireworks. Every year millions of Americans gather to watch, and even curate, often fantastical firework displays with their friends and families. Some shows are often met with wide-eyed awe and fascination – as well as the occasional howl of discontent from the family dog. However, a recent article published in Forbes proves that our pets aren’t the only ones experiencing the downside of this holiday.

In 2016 a total of 1,300 hospitalizations resulted from firework related injuries, and four of those people died. A study in the Journal of Surgical Research notes that teenage boys and young men make up the largest percentage of injuries, and injuries to the hand, wrist, or finger are the most commonly affected areas of the body. And while December and January have significantly above-average numbers of firework-related hospital visits, no other month compares to the month of July, which saw a total of 15,554 accidents between 2006 and 2010.

The New York Times published an article recently which highlights the growing number of immigrants in the United States who are refraining from receiving proper health care out of fear of being interrogated or even potentially deported. The article references a recent national poll conducted by the Migrant Clinicians Network in which two-thirds of provider respondents noted a growing reluctance among their patients to seek care. Many healthcare professionals believe that this downturn in appointments, specifically at clinics that serve immigrant populations, is a direct result of the recent crackdown on illegal immigration by the American government.

Some clinics and providers have started going to extreme lengths to ensure that their patients receive the care they need, such as personally delivering prescriptions to the homes of those too frightened to drive to the pharmacy and deal with the paperwork and insurance related questions. Furthermore, as the article details, the ongoing fear of deportation or interrogation has led many immigrants to experience increased psychological issues, many of which have manifested into physical ailments like dizziness, insomnia, stomach aches, and shortness of breath, thus perpetuating the need for proper medical treatment.

As the Opioid epidemic in the United States grows at terrifying rates, several lawsuits and allegations have been filed against major pharmaceutical distributing companies, according to a recent article published in Fortune. As the crisis spreads, the blame has started shifting away from the individuals consuming these various medications and is now being directed towards the companies who are selling them, oftentimes in startlingly high quantities. Many of these distributors claim to be the “unsung heroes in the American health care system” by offering efficient and reliable access to medication but as more and more people die from drug overdose it has become clear the problem must be stopped at the source. Companies like McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health have all recently faced lawsuits because they are seen as some of the most significant culprits in the ongoing struggle against Opioid addiction.

As discussed in a recent article in The Washington Post, research shows that smoking has remained a comparatively large issue among the lower socioeconomic class communities of America. Though the percentage of Americans who smoke (15%) is at a historical low, it has become more and more apparent that the overall downward trend in smoking rates is occurring primarily among the middle- and upper-class American populations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the smoking rate remains at more than 40 percent among those with a high-school equivalency diploma (a strong predictor of socioeconomic status). Furthermore, rural residents (also more statistically likely to be lower income) are being diagnosed with lung cancer at rates 18 to 20 percent above those who live in urban areas.

This socioeconomic gap seems to have not gone unnoticed by some major tobacco companies, who have started focusing their marketing on poorer, more marginalized communities in an effort to maintain a consumer base. And while many pilot programs have sprung up across the country in an effort to combat this ongoing problem, many researchers fear that without the help of a more targeted, over-arching cigarette cessation program, these gaps will only continue to widen.

Per an alarming new study performed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and funded by the Gates Foundation, more than 10 percent of the world’s population are now obese. This article in The New York Times outlines the main points of the study which, so far, has garnered widespread praise from the scientific community for its informational breadth, depth, and quality.

The study points out, perhaps unsurprisingly, that the United States has seen the biggest increase in obesity rates among its population over the last 35 years. However, the more shocking statistics are being observed in countries which have historically rated very low on the global obesity scale. While countries in Latin America, Africa, and China continue to have comparatively lower percentages of obesity among their populations, they have seen some of the fastest increases in these rates over the last 15 years. As the article explains, about one percent of China’s population was obese in 1980, but in 2015 that number jumped up to five percent. And while the study itself did not delve too deeply into the causes of obesity, the article referenced several medical professionals who point to the growing accessibility of inexpensive and nutrient-poor packaged foods as the primary culprit.

Every year the number of Americans who visit the Emergency Room increases. Concurrently, the number of hospitals that are closing their E.R.s is rising as well. This paradoxical shift has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing longer wait times at the Emergency Room, causing increased anxiety in an already stressful situation. Luckily, this article in The New York Times details some good tips and tricks for navigating the oftentimes overwhelming world that is the Emergency Room. For example, the author explains that if a treating provider has recommended a trip to the E.R., the patient should request for their doctor’s office to call ahead and provide some context for their arrival as well as some important background into their medical history. This will help streamline the process and hopefully cut down on unnecessary paperwork or lengthy expositions.

The writer also posits that another useful strategy in cutting down time spent in the E.R. is to always carry a list of current medications, allergies, and recent medical history in your wallet or purse. Keeping this list on hand and up-to-date will be useful if you’re is forgetful or otherwise unable to convey the necessary details of the medical situation. These are just some of the tips that the article provides for those who may have to find their way to an Emergency Room in the near future. If you have any others, please share your thoughts with us in the comments.