Dr. Denise A. Valenti

Dr. Denise A. Valenti is a residency-trained, low-vision/blind-rehabilitation optometrist who has worked closely with sensory and cognitive impairment and the ability to safely drive as a clinical provider. Dr. Valenti provided direct clinical care for more than 25 years and currently is active in research and consultation related to vision, aging, neuroprocessing, cannabinoids, cognitive function and driving. She has additional education and expertise in the field of age-related neurodegenerative diseases with the emphasis on Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. She had been honored as the Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Foundation’s outstanding young researcher and was selected by the AARP as an exemplary gerontology scientist. Her research has included the study of imaging of retinal neural tissue using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and functional assessment of neural processing in the visual system using Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT). The neurocognitive impact of cannabis is an active area of research as is the treatment potential for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. She is the principal in the development of technology to detect impairment in the retina and lateral geniculate brain nuclei from cannabis consumption, Impairment Measurement: Marijuana and Driving (IMMAD). The company IMMAD provides education, services and technology for the responsible use of cannabis. Dr. Valenti lectures on marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids and cognition both nationally and internationally.

Contact Dr. Denise A. Valenti:

Articles by Dr. Denise A. Valenti

• Optometrist discovers cannabinoids as means to identify use of marijuana

  Wednesday, May 05, 2021

  Unlike for alcohol, there is no breathalyzer or in-the-field measure of performance such as the Standard Field Sobriety Test. Impairment Measurement Marijuana and Driving (IMMAD), based in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a bioscience company working to fill the gap of limited technology to detect impairment to drive with marijuana use. IMMAD is collaborating with the Boston University School of Medicine’s Biomedical Forensics (BMFS) Program to do something about the risk of marijuana impaired drivers contributing to fatal crash rates.

• Study on marijuana, male reproductive health spawns misleading conclusion

  Tuesday, March 12, 2019

  Ever hopeful to report positive aspects related to marijuana use, writers often leave out key points. As an example, a report from a Boston-based publication had the following headline, "Harvard researchers link smoking marijuana with higher sperm concentration.” It further concluded, "Experts say men who smoked marijuana have significantly higher concentrations of sperm than those who have never lit up." The report describes the work with research participants, "…scientists collected 1,143 semen samples from 662 mostly college educated white men." What the media report left out was the description that appeared in the published research, "…This longitudinal study included 662 subfertile men."

• Evidence continues to show that youth e-cigarette use is growing

  Thursday, February 07, 2019

  Yet another survey is demonstrating that teenagers are adopting the use of electronic cigarettes at an alarming rate. One of the latest, released in December 2018, is called "Monitoring the Future." It was administered by the University of Michigan and was given to 14,000 eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders across the United States. Other risk behaviors monitored in the survey, such as opioid use, binge drinking, and conventional cigarette use, either remained level or declined. The use of nicotine vaping products showed the largest and most significant increase in any category since the survey began in 1975.

• Exploring racial disparities for Alzheimer’s, glaucoma

  Monday, January 21, 2019

  Over 15 years ago, one of the nation’s foremost glaucoma specialists provocatively asked in a review paper, "Glaucoma: Ocular Alzheimer's disease?" Animal studies have shown a high rate of the amyloid precursor molecules, which are attributed to Alzheimer’s disease, to also be a factor in induced glaucoma. A recently published research study adds yet another common element for the two diseases. The report in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that there were racial differences in the cerebrospinal fluid concentration of tau protein between African-American and white individuals.

• After national legalization of marijuana, Canadian agency studies human waste for more details

  Thursday, January 03, 2019

  Marijuana became legal in Canada in October 2018. Like many states in the U.S., government officials are struggling with how to manage, measure and understand both legal and illegal use of cannabis. This is where the study of human excrement comes in. Sewage in several municipalities will be studied to gain knowledge of cannabis use. Statistics Canada will use a process referred to as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate cannabis use by the general public in several Canadian municipalities.

• December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

  Friday, December 14, 2018

  It is a message that needs to repeatedly loudly and often: do not drive impaired. The holiday season is a time where there are frequent preventable tragedies due to impaired driving. For that reason, December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. On average, 29 people in the United States die each day in motor vehicle crashes that involve the use of alcohol. Every year, more than 10,000 lives are lost to drunk driving at a cost of $44 billion.

• FDA proposes restrictions on flavored nicotine

  Friday, November 30, 2018

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reported that from 2017 to 2018, there was a 78 percent increase in current e-cigarette use among high school students and a 48 percent increase among middle school students. More than two-thirds of these youth use flavored e-cigarettes. This alarming rise in use has prompted several policy changes that will directly impact youth appeal and youth access to flavored tobacco products. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., has taken action by proposing to prevent youth access to flavored tobacco products.

• Quincy, Massachusetts, officers celebrate Coffee with a Cop Day at familiar locale

  Wednesday, October 31, 2018

  Two traditions, one not-so-new and one new, in one city. Quincy, Massachusetts, is a city steeped in historical tradition, being the home to two presidents. Dunkin’ Donuts coffee has been part of many Quincy folks’ morning routine for 68 years now and Coffee with a Cop Day was first held in Hawthorne, California in 2011. Quincy police officers celebrated their third annual 2018 Coffee with a Cop Day at a Dunkin’ Donuts in the heart of the city, across from City Hall in the President’s Place area of town. The first Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant was opened in Quincy in 1950.

• Red Ribbon Week honors fallen hero, promotes drug prevention

  Wednesday, October 24, 2018

  Oct. 23 marked the start of Red Ribbon Week. This is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention ad awareness program. It was started in 1985 to honor Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Agent Camarena was tortured and murdered by drug traffickers while investigating in Mexico. After his passing, high school friend Henry Lozano worked with former U.S. Rep. Duncan L. Hunter to create Camarena Clubs to recognize and honor the agent.

• JUUL comes under federal scrutiny amid meteoric rise

  Friday, October 19, 2018

  JUUL Labs, whose product is an electronic smoking/vaping system, recently achieved the fastest "decacorn" valuation ever — over $10 billion in the first seven months of its first venture capital round. This is reported to have been four times faster than Facebook and five times faster than Snapchat. This comes at a time when the use of electronic cigarettes for inhaling nicotine and marijuana by teenagers is increasing at an alarming rate. The JUUL product has an appeal to adolescents and teenagers as it can be used without detection.

• Drugs and music: New study shows increased mentions of marijuana in chart-topping hits

  Wednesday, September 26, 2018

  Legal acceptance of adult use marijuana is moving from state to state, with nine states now having laws allowing for the recreational use of marijuana for adults. Along with this are indisputable cultural changes, and a recent study has shown this is reflected in popular music. The study, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, looked at the Billboard Top 40 charts from 1986 and 2016 and screened for mentions of drugs or alcohol.

• Study shows prevalence of e-cigarette cannabis use among US youth

  Friday, September 21, 2018

  The results of a study that estimated the prevalence nationally of marijuana use with electronic cigarettes among middle and high school students in the United States were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics. Close to 9 percent of the more than 20,000 youths between the ages of 9 and 19 in the study reported having used marijuana in vaped form in 2016. This is approximately 1 in every 11 youths.

• Officers build community bonds with summer charity events

  Thursday, September 13, 2018

  As summer was coming to an end, the Arlington, Virginia, Police Department was practicing using its muscle to pull an airplane.The pull, before it was canceled by Hurricane Florence, was to raise money for the local Special Olympics. But last year, the officers from Arlington got soaked to demonstrate precision rather than brute strength. To promote and encourage attendance at a community block party, five officers shed their protective police gear and decked themselves in goggles and floral swim caps. They then performed a synchronized swimming routine. The hilarious event was made available on video.

• Study shows increased disease risk from childhood secondhand smoke exposure

  Friday, September 07, 2018

  Childhood exposure to secondhand smoke has been shown to result in an increased risk of and harm from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was undertaken by a group from the American Cancer Society’s Epidemiology Research Program. The conclusions were made after looking at the association of exposures to secondhand smoke in childhood and as adults to death of all causes, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among 70,900 smoking men and women who never smoked.

• New study shows that e-cigarettes may damage DNA

  Thursday, August 30, 2018

  The attractions and availability of electronic cigarettes have long been known to influence adolescents and teenagers to take up vaping and smoking. Along with an increase in use comes an increased risk of harm to health. A recent study has identified an additional, previously unidentified, threat to health with the use of electronic cigarettes. The study found that the use of electronic cigarettes and inhaling the vapors alters saliva DNA.

• Marijuana breathalyzer technology remains elusive, despite progress

  Monday, August 27, 2018

  Currently, there are no roadside breath tests when marijuana-influenced driving impairment is suspected. Canada recently approved use of a roadside test using saliva, but a sensitive test using breath has yet to be available. Dr. Tara Lovestead, a research chemical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S., described one of the problems with this goal, "Picture cutting a raisin into a trillion parts and trying to detect one of them."

• Trace pharmaceuticals seen in water, food supply across the country

  Tuesday, August 21, 2018

  Drugs of all kinds are in the foods you might eat and the water you drink. Most recently, even private well systems were found to have traces of pharmaceutical products in the water. A 2015 study that assessed rivers near urban areas in the United States for the presence of active pharmaceutical ingredients found 20 percent of the 182 sites sampled had at least 10 of the 46 compounds sampled. The widespread use of opioids has also impacted the water supply, and this has impacted the food we consume. Mussels harvested from the Puget Sound in Washington state have tested positive for trace amounts of oxycodone.

• Research shows regular marijuana use could hinder lung functions

  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

  Two different groups recently published findings related to pulmonary functions and the use of marijuana used either medicinally or recreationally. The conclusions between the two were that use of marijuana to treat breathing abnormalities such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was ineffective and that even with casual, once-a-week use, the consequences of cannabis may include cough and excess phlegm.

• Study: Female reproductive history linked to dementia risk

  Wednesday, August 08, 2018

  The issues related to gender and Alzheimer’s disease were a primary topic at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in Chicago in July. Research discussing a woman’s reproductive history that showed an association to the risk of dementia was presented. Another study along the same lines discussed a relationship between the total months of pregnancy and having Alzheimer’s disease.

• Heads-up: Repeated headers may lead to balance issues for young soccer players

  Tuesday, July 17, 2018

  Changes in balance and gait can be an indication of incipient neurologic disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. But there is evidence that there can be subtle changes in balance, and thus concern about neurologic injury, in young adults who engage in sports that involve blows to the head. A study authored by Dr. John Jeka of the University of Delaware found that soccer players who moved the ball more often by heading it were more likely to have problems with balance than those players who did not.

• New research shows further connection between Alzheimer’s, retinal nerve fibers

  Friday, June 29, 2018

  Researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that nerve fibers in the eye are an early indication of Alzheimer’s disease. The eye, and particularly the retina as an extension of neurologic tissue, can provide information about disease status in the brain. The concept is not new, but the means to capture images with enough optical resolution to visualize the axons and ganglion cells has been evolving over the last two decades.

• Looking both ways at the significant dangers to pedestrians in wheelchairs

  Thursday, June 28, 2018

  A recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimated that close to 6,000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. The report discusses factors contributing to the increasing numbers of fatal pedestrian injuries, including the legalization of marijuana and growth in the use of smartphones as contributors. Those pedestrians using wheelchairs suffer fatal injury when hit by a vehicle at a rate that is close to 40 percent greater than the general population. More than half of fatal injuries to wheelchair users occur in intersections.

• Research finds e-cigarette flavorings are harmful to vascular system

  Wednesday, June 20, 2018

  There is ever-increasing evidence that the harm from electronic cigarettes far exceeds the benefits of their use as an aid to stop smoking nicotine cigarettes. The latest adverse health effects reported are to the delicate tissues of the vascular system from the use of flavorings in e-cigarettes. The new study looked at how nine different flavors impacted vascular endothelial cell function.

• IACP Technology Conference showcases the latest tools for law enforcement

  Thursday, June 07, 2018

  Body armor and the increased use of seat belts have contributed to fewer fatalities among law enforcement professionals. Advances in practice and equipment are contributing to a safer work environment for officers. Learning about new technology during events like the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Technology Conference is key to making sure they are even safer.

• Are cannabinoid products causing preventable blindness?

  Tuesday, June 05, 2018

  Are users of cannabinoids slowly going blind and not knowing it? Cannabidiol has been shown to cause the transient glaucoma symptom of high eye pressure. Cannabidiol-CBD is the nonpsychoactive ingredient found in marijuana and hemp. There needs to be more research related to cannabinoids, including CBD. Not once, but twice, the media and the public have failed to notice research findings that CBD spikes the pressure of eyes in animals.

• Study suggests legal marijuana industry puts profit ahead of safety for the unborn

  Wednesday, May 30, 2018

  Seventy percent of women describing themselves as pregnant were advised to use marijuana as treatment when seeking advice from medicinal-marijuana and adult-use dispensaries in Colorado, according to a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology released this month. Further, more than 30 percent of these women were told marijuana is safe to use during pregnancy. Marijuana is not recommended for use during pregnancy. While the evidence is mixed, there is indication of harm to a developing fetus.

• New study elaborates on sheep toxin link to multiple sclerosis

  Monday, May 21, 2018

  A group from the United Kingdom has identified a link between multiple sclerosis and a toxin frequently found in ovine, more commonly referred to as sheep. The team led by Dr. Sariqa Wagley from the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter found indications of the clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin associated with multiple sclerosis. It was not the first group to express concern that exposure to sheep toxins may contribute to the expression of multiple sclerosis.

• In an FDA first, cannabinoid drug wins preliminary approval

  Thursday, May 03, 2018

  A medication containing cannabidiol, which is derived from marijuana plants, recently received preliminary approval from the Federal Drug Administration. The approval for the product, Epidiolex, was given for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older. This is the first drug that is derived from the cannabis plant to have received preliminary approval by the FDA. Cannabidiol is not psychoactive and does not induce the high that those consuming plant marijuana products strive for.

• Study: Mother’s inflammation can affect neonatal brains

  Wednesday, April 25, 2018

  ​Mothers having suffered an inflammation during pregnancy have children with changes in brain structure and subsequent changes in function. This was the conclusion of ​a recent study by a group of researchers from the Charité University Medicine Berlin in Germany and Oregon Health Sciences University.

• New Alzheimer’s standards will help patients in the long run

  Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  ​Standards on how the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is to be determined in a research setting ​were defined recently. The criteria for research ​emphasizes the biomarkers of disease that can be measured with imaging technology and the biologic measures available through spinal fluid samples. The standards were the collaborative effort of the National Institute on Aging from the National Institutes of Health (NIA-NIH) and the Alzheimer's Association (AA).

• Barbers and beauticians can play a key role in healthcare

  Friday, April 20, 2018

  Research is showing that barbers, hairdressers and cosmetologists in the grooming and beauty industries can be part of an effective team providing health education, health awareness and preventative services. A recent study found that awareness and services can be particularly effective when healthcare professionals are working with the barbers involved.

• Research: E-cigarettes do more harm than good

  Wednesday, April 04, 2018

  Health experts had hoped that moving from chewing tobacco and paper products to vaping systems to deliver nicotine would result in advances in health and safety. The thought was that e-cigarettes would be a bridge to quitting other tobacco products and that the decrease in long-term harm would be significant.

• COPS photo contest highlights connection with community

  Tuesday, March 27, 2018

  ​The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) ​recently announced the winners of its 2018 Community Policing in Action Photo Contest. The contest has been underway since 2015, and each year the COPS program encourages state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to submit images of community policing efforts.

• Marijuana legalization may be linked to greater pedestrian fatality rates

  Wednesday, March 14, 2018

  Taking a walk may have deadly consequences, and the risk appears to be greater in those states that have legal adult use of recreational marijuana. The rate of fatal injury to pedestrians has grown faster than any other vehicle-related deaths for the years of rapid legalization of marijuana. That rate increased 27 percent between 2007 and 2016, while other types of traffic deaths had decreased by 14 percent. While a direct relationship to marijuana use cannot be determined, other sources indicate that the use of marijuana is likely a factor when the driver of a vehicle is using cannabis.

• Life-threatening infection raises concerns about mold in marijuana

  Thursday, March 08, 2018

  A medical marijuana patient in California was found to have a rare life-threatening infection that was traced to her medicinal marijuana. Bryan B Shapiro, M.D., MPH, found Cryptococcal meningitis in the patient and ​reported the case in the British Journal of Medicine. This life-threatening disease is normally only seen in immunocompromised individuals. The individual they diagnosed with the disease was a daily cannabis smoker but had no history of immunodeficiency.

• Study: Arthritis medication may help reduce risk of dementia

  Wednesday, March 07, 2018

  Researchers have discovered that being treated for one age-related disease may actually be protective for another age-related disease. Those having received common treatments for rheumatoid arthritis have been found to have a significantly lower rate of dementia, according to a recent study.

• Mouse model shows promise for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

  Wednesday, February 28, 2018

  More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and treatments are needed for this devastating condition. One strategy researchers have been examining is to shrink the buildup of amyloid beta in the brains of those suffering the disease.

• What can woodpeckers teach us about brain injuries?

  Thursday, February 22, 2018

  In recent years, there have been numerous studies into the long-term harm that repetitive blows to the head have in athletes of all kinds. Markers in the form of tau staining that show neurofibrillary tangle deposits in the brain are considered signs of the injury-induced pathology associated with sports.

• Avoid temptations to maintain a healthy brain

  Tuesday, February 13, 2018

  Sugar, carbs and alcohol are not good for the brain. The biggest season for this trio — winter holidays such as Christmas and New Year's — is behind us. And having just been through the food and alcohol festivities associated with the Super Bowl, it is time to take a closer look at the consequences.

• Pediatric patients and their heroes

  Thursday, February 08, 2018

  No parent should ever have to face the future knowing a child they love and cherish is going to die. But the harsh reality is that countless mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandpops and grandmothers do this every day.

• Studies: Hypertension can increase risk for dementia

  Thursday, January 25, 2018

  ​An adult's brain is going to suffer in the long run if the vascular system is unhealthy. In fact, a recent study found a relationship between blood pressure and the risk of dementia, specific to African-Americans.

• Study: Marijuana use linked to cardiac deaths

  Thursday, January 11, 2018

  With the start of a new year, many people resolve to try new things, be more creative, have adventures and in general act more youthful. For those who wish to experiment with the psychoactive form of marijuana, there are now more and more legal opportunities to do so. Many may be considering smoking, ingesting, ​vaping or ​dabbing marijuana to get high, adding to their adventures.

• Nutrients that help protect against Parkinson’s disease

  Tuesday, January 02, 2018

  Vitamin E and beta carotene may be protective for the development of Parkinson's disease, according to new research. A better understanding of potential for the dietary antioxidants to contribute to reduced rates of Parkinson's disease was the goal of a study led by Fei Yang, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

• States with legalized marijuana need road‑ready officers

  Thursday, November 30, 2017

  The legalization of marijuana has continued to spread across the United States, with 29 states and the District of Columbia allowing marijuana use in some form. Thus, there is a growing need for law enforcement officials to detect impairment to drive with the use of marijuana/cannabis.

• Study: Mother’s acetaminophen use linked to ADHD in child

  Tuesday, November 07, 2017

  A study published recently in Pediatrics reported that long-term use of acetaminophen by a mother during her pregnancy was strongly associated with the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Acetaminophen is also known as paracetamol, and a common brand name is Tylenol.

• Is the marijuana industry forgetting about the disabled?

  Wednesday, November 01, 2017

  If the marijuana industry wants to be taken seriously with hopes of recognition from the federal government, it needs to demonstrate greater compliance to federal standards. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the disabled are a protected disadvantaged category of diversity. Yet the disabled are being left out of the cannabis industry; both as consumers and as business employees, owners and industry partners.

• Parkinson’s research: Wake up and smell the coffee

  Tuesday, October 24, 2017

  Grab a cup of coffee and check out these two recent reports about Parkinson's disease. The good news is that if you can smell the coffee, you are probably doing fine at the moment. The bad news is drinking the coffee is not going to relieve symptoms of existing Parkinson's disease.

• What fruit flies can teach us about human sleep patterns

  Thursday, October 12, 2017

  One of the most prestigious awards for medicine recently went to a group of Americans studying aspects of sleep in fruit flies. The 2017 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to a trio of scientists: Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young.

• Researchers identify genes that predict Alzheimer’s disease

  Monday, October 02, 2017

  Many adults are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease because of their family and genetic history. While one cannot change the genes and risks associated with them, it is possible to mitigate or slow the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Knowing what the risks are can be of benefit in the development of target prevention.

• As legalization spreads, marijuana use rises among college students

  Thursday, September 14, 2017

  Many parents who recently dropped off their college students at dorms and apartments across the country worry about drugs — ​and rightly so. The use of marijuana by college students is increasing, and its use is increasing at a faster pace in those states ​where recreational marijuana use is legal.

• Weathering the weather: How temperature affects vocal cords

  Wednesday, September 06, 2017

  ​Those who sing the national anthem at sporting and state events and contestants for American Idol share something other than their musical talents. The voices and health of singers who entertain an audience outdoors may suffer from weather.

• Researchers link REM sleep to Alzheimer’s disease

  Thursday, August 31, 2017

  Problems related to sleep ​are common among the estimated 4.5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The disruptions in restful sleep often depend on the stage of the dementia, with those early in the disease process often sleeping more than usual and awakening disoriented.

• As football heats up, coaches must watch for dehydration

  Monday, August 21, 2017

  For many communities, the return of athletes to the football practice field is a century-old tradition. In small towns and large cities across the country, the football fields are dotted with players practicing. They are putting their energy and hearts into the effort, hoping for gridiron glory.

• Cannabidiol may help with seizures, but concerns remain

  Friday, August 18, 2017

  Cannabidiol, one of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoids extracted from cannabis plants, has been demonstrated to show efficacy in forms of epilepsy. While initially such reports were only anecdotal, research is evolving to support the initial findings. It remains essential to closely monitor children, adolescents and adults using cannabidiol treatments as there are identified side effects, and further there are side effects that have yet to be explored.

• How violent environments disrupt sleep

  Thursday, August 03, 2017

  Teens experience changes in sleep as part of normal development during puberty. Adapting to the need for more sleep and shifting circadian rhythms can make the normal developmental transition in sleep patterns difficult.

• Court ruling may have huge impact on marijuana and the workplace

  Monday, July 24, 2017

  The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that the use of legally-prescribed marijuana ​is potentially a protected medical activity under the ​Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). This ruling allows the lawsuit of Christina Barbuto, who had been terminated from her job for testing positive for marijuana, to move forward.

• Study connects opioids to heart problems in COPD patients

  Friday, July 14, 2017

  Much has been written about the opioid crisis across the United States. In fact, the FDA recently ​removed an opioid from the market because of its potential for abuse and addiction. ​Doctors have gotten a bad rap for being too quick to write opioid prescriptions, and now a new study gives healthcare providers yet another reason to exercise extreme caution and discretion when writing a new prescription for an opioid.

• Today’s police graduates face huge challenges

  Wednesday, July 05, 2017

  Over the last few months, graduation ceremonies across the U.S. celebrated the newest generation of men and women in blue. These young officers will be added to the ranks of ​an estimated 792,000 brothers and 108,000 sisters across the nation. The newly-sworn officers completed weeks of intense and comprehensive training. Many depended upon the confidence and support of loved ones to make it through. This support will be needed as many of these brave young men and women will be entering law enforcement departments that are understaffed and have limited resources.

• Banning flavored tobacco products is a smart move

  Monday, June 26, 2017

  San Francisco city supervisors have proposed an ordinance that will "prohibit tobacco retailers from selling flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes." If approved, this ban would be the first of its kind in the nation, and the hope is that it will curb the rate at which teenagers and young adults are adopting tobacco. The city board will be voting on the ordinance this week.

• How baseball stadiums with a roof can affect player performance

  Friday, June 23, 2017

  Fatigue and sleep deficits can impact the quality of performance for professional athletes. Common reasons for a disrupted playing schedule are weather-related game delays. Those players that get additional sleep five days in a row have been shown to have better performance. Just one added hour a night over the five days improves visual functioning and cognitive processing. Therefore, seven Major League Baseball stadiums have a physical factor that may be giving the players a competitive edge over the course of the season.

• 47 states now prohibit texting while driving

  Thursday, June 15, 2017

  ​Distracted driving contributed to the deaths of 3,477 people and injured an additional 391,000 in ​crashes reported in 2015 by the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (NHTSA). According to the NHTSA, an estimated 660,000 drivers on our roads use cellphones during daylight hours. While teens make up the largest age group of drivers distracted at the time of a fatal crash, older adults are also included in this risky category of drivers.

• The effect of PTSD on the heart

  Thursday, June 08, 2017

  ​Suffering a traumatic event and having underlying cardiac or systemic risks can result in even greater risk to health and risk of mortality. Roughly 8 percent of the population will suffer a traumatic event in their lifetime, and in any given year 8 million adults ​manifest post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• What causes the yips? It may be a physical issue

  Wednesday, May 31, 2017

  ​They are called the yips. And for those boys of summer within baseball and golf who are afflicted, they can make the season long and stressful. ​Yips are the sudden and often unexplained disruptions to motor skills in athletes. They can be very disruptive, requiring intervention from coaches, therapists and trainers. For some, yips can be career-ending.

• States waking up to spike in marijuana‑related crash fatalities

  Wednesday, May 24, 2017

  Research shows that increasing rates of marijuana use have resulted in an increased rate of car crash fatalities. It is a problem that many proponents for legal adult use of recreational marijuana wish to pretend does not exist. In fact, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a marijuana legalization bill today with concerns about public safety on his mind. Scott is sending the bill back to the state legislature, asking for harsher penalties for those who drive under the influence.

• Tobacco’s disappearing act in baseball

  Wednesday, May 10, 2017

  Every April, America's pastime of baseball returns to ballparks across the country as communities can once again take in the sights of the stadium and cheer on their favorite team. But one thing many fans will not see this season is the use of tobacco among players.

• Medical marijuana conference highlights need for more research

  Tuesday, May 02, 2017

  Across the U.S., ​28 states allow some form of legal marijuana use, eight allow recreational marijuana use and 14 allow use of the cannabinoid, cannabidiol. With several more states pushing legislation to legalize the use of recreational marijuana, there is an ever-increasing need ​to study the health impact of marijuana and the cannabinoids it contains.

• Double amputee veteran inspires as police officer

  Wednesday, April 26, 2017

  Matias Ferreira recently joined more than 40 other military veterans in graduation and acceptance into the ranks of the Suffolk County Police Department in Long Island, New York. In fact, he was voted as the class president. Ferreira stood upright and proud as he accepted this responsibility — on two prosthetic legs.

• Marathon runners may risk kidney damage

  Monday, April 10, 2017

  ​The nation's biggest marathon is coming up next week, luring runners from all over the world to Boston to challenge their body and spirit. And it is quite a challenge ​as a new study supports what other investigations have shown: marathon runners risk serious health consequences with the exertion and loss of fluids that take place over the hours spent running the course.

• Study: Vitamin E, selenium not effective for dementia

  Thursday, April 06, 2017

  A well-balanced diet is good for health, and this applies to people of any age. There are many products that are marketed to add to a deficient diet or to enhance an already good diet. Products that are claimed to help prevent or slow Alzheimer's disease (AD) are part of this market.

• ‘High Five Friday’ program makes a crucial connection

  Friday, March 31, 2017

  My grandfather immigrated to the United States as a not-quite-yet teenager with his near dozen siblings and his only parent, my great grandmother. Like many immigrants, he struggled to learn English and understand a new culture. Shortly after his arrival, he lost his mother. He then left his home and worked his way west. After a stint as a rancher and cowboy in Montana, he joined the thousands of other immigrants from all over the world in working the mineral mines in Butte, Montana.

• Hockey helmets don’t protect the neck — as these players found out

  Wednesday, March 22, 2017

  ​Professional sports often have a high risk for injury, and the potential for serious life-threatening injury does exist. As professional sports have become more intense over the years, so have the efforts to protect players from injury. The equipment has improved in order to protect players from injuries and prevent the potential damage that threatens to end winning seasons and careers.

• Exercise helps women get their groove back after menopause

  Tuesday, March 21, 2017

  For those whose mothers may have flirted, courted and even married under the flash of lights bouncing off a mirrored dance ball — or for their sisters, cousins and aunts who came of age to the flash and pulse of disco music — there is a natural remedy for "getting your groove back" as the less-friendly flash of menopause hits you.

• Critical research begins on veterans and marijuana use

  Thursday, March 02, 2017

  ​Many veterans are suffering from mental disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And an estimated 20 veterans commit suicide each day in the U.S. Research is definitely needed to explore all avenues of treatment and prevention to better improve the quality of the lives for our veterans. After years of delays, the first participants have enrolled in a research study investigating marijuana use and PTSD.

• Photo contest celebrates bond between police, community

  Wednesday, February 15, 2017

  The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) recently announced the 12 winners of its third-annual photo competition. This organization is a branch of the Department of Justice and is responsible for the advancement of community policing in the nation's state, local, territorial and tribal law enforcement agencies by the dissemination of information and grant funding.

• ‘Dripping’ adds new level of risk to e‑cigarettes

  Tuesday, February 14, 2017

  Unlike with regular cigarettes, the nicotine in electronic cigarettes comes in liquid form, and the device electrically heats the solution to vaporize it into an inhalable mist. But some users have found a way to bypass the heating system and drip the liquid directly onto the exposed heating coil.

• The surprising impact of jet lag on athletes

  Wednesday, February 08, 2017

  Now that Super Bowl LI is behind us, the calendar turns to America's national pastime: baseball. MLB players will begin reporting for spring training next week, and the season starts April 2. For many fans, the game can keep them engaged and rooting for their favorite team late into evening. If the players take the excitement into extra innings — sometimes into the early morning hours — it can make for a tired morning at work the next day.

• Bull rider’s suicide highlights the danger of concussions

  Friday, February 03, 2017

  The rodeo community is currently mourning ​the loss of 25-year-old sports bull riding hero Ty Pozzobon, whose suicide is thought to have come about during an extended period of depression and brain dysfunction that occurred after multiple concussive head injuries.

• Opioid addiction taking its toll on newborns

  Monday, January 30, 2017

  Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a diagnosis of postnatal opioid withdrawal in newborns, and it most often occurs when a mother takes opioids during her pregnancy. Opioids — whether prescription medications such as pain pills or street drugs such as heroin — can pass through the placenta during pregnancy and cause serious health consequences for the baby at birth.

• 2 studies provide clarity on concussion recovery

  Friday, January 27, 2017

  ​For a parent with a child suffering a brain injury, the decisions regarding care can be confusing. According to two recently published studies, rest immediately after a sports-related concussive event and physical activity within one week of the event are factors in improved outcome after a pediatric concussion.

• Shaq attacks drugged driving

  Thursday, January 12, 2017

  Since 2010, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal ​has been a spokesperson for Responsibility.Org, a group providing education about responsible use of alcohol and safe driving to teens and young adults. And at a looming height of 7-foot-1, O'Neal commands attention. Now, he and the group have begun to speak out about the rapidly growing problem of drugged driving.

• Study shows decline in rate of Alzheimer’s dementia

  Wednesday, January 04, 2017

  There are now fewer adults being diagnosed with the dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This dip in numbers is attributed to probable changes in lifestyle.

• Marijuana laws increase chance of dangerous mold in homes

  Thursday, December 15, 2016

  Homes are not designed to be used as grow operations for any plants. The result of growing an excess amount of vegetation inside private homes is damage to the walls and other structures with the potential for unhealthy mold.

• Hope remains despite failure of Lilly’s solanezumab

  Tuesday, December 06, 2016

  High expectations and hopes surrounded ​Eli Lilly and Company's drug solanezumab. Solanezumab is a humanized monoclonal IbG1 antibody, and it was targeting an amyloid beta peptide with the goal of slowing the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

• Researchers smell hope in diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

  Wednesday, November 30, 2016

  ​A research group in Boston recently used an olfactometer to determine the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, and they published the results of this study ​in the recent issue of Annals of Neurology. Those in the Alzheimer's disease community have been aware for many years of the ​deficits in olfactory function early in the disease process. The olfactory system is ​also impacted in Parkinson's disease.

• Money matters in marijuana measures

  Wednesday, November 16, 2016

  Voters in four states across the country approved ballot measures Nov. 8 to legalize recreational use of marijuana: California, Maine, Nevada and Massachusetts. Many of those who voted in favor of the proposals in their states are going to have a rude awakening once they come down off their celebratory highs.

• Hope from tragedy: Opioid epidemic leads to more organ donations

  Tuesday, November 08, 2016

  There are more than 119,000 men, women and children on lists waiting for organ transplants, and every day at least 22 of these will die due to lack of organs. Only 3 out every 1,000 deaths have organs suitable for donation, but one death can save up to eight lives.

• Marijuana industry learning a harsh truth about pesticides

  Thursday, November 03, 2016

  Many consider milk to a healthy addition to a diet. There have been entire marketing campaigns — ​Got Milk? — advocating adding cow's milk to the diets of young children, frail elderly and athletes. In recent years, marijuana is also considered by many to be a healthy addition — not to a diet, but as treatment for many diseases.

• Focus on disability employment needs to last all year

  Friday, October 28, 2016

  ​National Disability Employment Awareness Month has been observed during the month of October for more than 70 years. This is an issue that impacts all races, genders and socioeconomic groups on a daily basis year-round, and the recognition is intended as a reflection on the important role disability plays in workforce diversity.

• New product shows more medicinal potential for cannabinoids

  Thursday, October 06, 2016

  When we think of cannabinoids — the ingredients from hemp and marijuana — the most common is the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The other more common cannabinoids are the ​oils containing cannabidiol (CBD). ​Both have gained significant attention for recreational use or medicinal use.

• Connecticut opens marijuana up for research

  Tuesday, October 04, 2016

  Regardless of one's political views, it is difficult to argue against research related to marijuana. Marijuana is being used both for recreation and to treat disease, but more studies investigating harm and benefits are needed. The legislators of the state of Connecticut agree. Since Oct. 1, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection now allows research on marijuana.

• Study connects eye movement to Alzheimer’s disease

  Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  The manner in which the eyes scan during a reading-related task may be an indicator of Alzheimer's disease. This was demonstrated in a recent study in the Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders Journal using a test called the King-Devick.

• More research connects vaping to health hazards

  Thursday, September 22, 2016

  Despite often being considered a healthy alternative to smoking, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are increasingly being connected to health hazards. Now, a study published Sept. 15 in Tobacco Control of the British Medical Journal reports newly identified health hazards for "vaping."

• New laws aim to curb youth smoking rates

  Wednesday, August 31, 2016

  Effective June 9, the legal age to smoke in California was raised from 18 to 21. California followed the lead of Hawaii. The Aloha State had said goodbye to adults under 21 being able to purchase cigarettes in January.

• New concussion tool approved in time for fall sports

  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the marketing of two tests that will help determine an athlete's cognitive status after a brain injury or concussion — just in time for fall sports. The two tests are the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, referred to as ImPACT, and a version for younger athletes called the ImPACT Pediatric.

• Report: Use of feeding tubes in nursing homes declining

  Wednesday, August 24, 2016

  A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates a drastic reduction in the use of feeding tubes in nursing homes in the United States. The report utilized data from the federally mandated Minimum Data Set reporting for nursing homes. Criteria for review were that the patient was admitted to the nursing home with a diagnosis of advanced Alzheimer's disease or advanced dementia and had no feeding tube in place at the time of admission.

• The good, the bad and the ugly of marijuana

  Monday, August 22, 2016

  On Aug. 11, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) ruled that marijuana will remain as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin, ecstasy and others. The DEA holds the position that there are only negatives associated with marijuana. However, we must look at the good, the bad and the ugly for a complete picture when it comes to marijuana.

• Reality bites: Dog attacks and the elderly

  Thursday, August 04, 2016

  Each year there are 4.5 million dog bites (Bites), and animal bites make up 1 percent of all emergency room visits at a cost of over $50 million a year. (Cost) From 2005 to 2015, there were 360 deaths caused by dog attacks in the United States.(years)

• Research confirms connection between boxing and Parkinson’s

  Tuesday, August 02, 2016

  The rope-a-dope boxing strategy is one that is strongly associated with Muhammad Ali and his fight against George Foreman in 1974 (see the video above). His rope-a-dope stance with the body lying against the ropes allows some of the blows to be absorbed by the rope's elasticity, but the blows to the head can still be brutal.

• Medical marijuana’s influence on Medicare drug spending

  Wednesday, July 27, 2016

  Is the use of marijuana as a medical prescription treatment saving the government money? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is one of the largest purchasers of prescription drugs in the U.S. The amount the government spends on prescription medications through Medicare Part D may have come down in states that allow for the use of marijuana as a treatment for several medical diagnoses, according to a recent study.

• Marijuana may help clean out amyloid beta from your brain

  Wednesday, July 13, 2016

  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) considers marijuana a Schedule I narcotic, and as such is considered to have no medical value. Medical research is continuing to show otherwise. The Salk Institute located in La Jolla, California, ​recently reported that a team of scientists have demonstrated that the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — may help remove the "cellular glue" that is part of the damaging pathology in Alzheimer's disease. The results have been published ​in the June issue of Nature.

• As teen smoking dissipates, vaping is on the rise in the US

  Wednesday, July 06, 2016

  The prevalence of cigarette smoking among youth has dropped from 28 percent in 1991 to 11 percent in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These findings were recently released in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Report of 2015.

• Supreme Court ruling hampers efforts to prevent marijuana DUIs

  Wednesday, June 29, 2016

  ​Removing those who drive from the road if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol just got more complicated for law enforcement officers. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 23 that obtaining biologic specimens using a breathalyzer is allowed, but obtaining blood specimens will require a warrant.

• #HeatStrokeKills: Do you know the facts?

  Monday, June 20, 2016

  It is that time of year. Temperatures soar, and so do the deaths of children related to heat stroke. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association wants to get the message out: “Heat Stroke Kills.” The NHTSA reports that a child dies of heat stroke every 10 days in the United States from being left in a car. If you discover a child left in a hot car, do you know what to do?

• Massachusetts learns perils of driving while high

  Friday, June 10, 2016

  If a police officer can smell burning marijuana or can see a driver holding a lit marijuana joint, that's too bad in Massachusetts. According to a ruling from the state's Supreme Judicial Court last fall, neither of those instances gives police the right to pull over the vehicle.

• NFL is right to question brain research

  Wednesday, June 01, 2016

  The game of football places players at risk for concussive head injuries. Those playing the sport professionally have an increased risk of concussion, and repeated injury to the brain can increase the risk for degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and chronic traumatic encephalitis (CTE).

• Dog brain studies provide clues to understanding dementia

  Thursday, May 26, 2016

  ​As man's best friend, dogs contribute to our social well-being throughout our lifespan. However, understanding how our canine companions age is also contributing to our medical well-being. It turns out an aging dog has a natural development of cognitive decline that parallels some of the human dementias associated with aging.

• Marijuana does more harm than good with glaucoma

  Tuesday, May 17, 2016

  Today, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legal medicinal use of marijuana. Among these, 20 allow for the treatment of glaucoma with medicinal marijuana. However, there is no indication that any state requires monitoring of these patients using the accepted standards of medical management — with appropriate diagnosis and follow-up — to accompany the treatment of glaucoma with medical marijuana. This is expected to lead to higher rates of preventable blindness related to untreated and undertreated glaucoma.

• FDA’s expansion over all tobacco products is a win for healthcare

  Thursday, May 12, 2016

  The efforts to stem the tsunami of nicotine product use by youth and young adults have suddenly been given substantial support. Many of the previously unregulated nicotine products now fall under the regulatory body of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

• Studies reveal clear link between marijuana and driving impairment

  Thursday, May 05, 2016

  Marilyn Huestis, Ph.D., recently spoke at the Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit, which was held in Bethesda, Maryland, and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Huestis is an ​internationally renowned expert on human drug testing — in particular the biologic measures in blood, urine and saliva. Her presentation during the conference highlighted research related to marijuana and driving, including evolving concerns related to impairment with consumption of marijuana.

• Benzodiazepine linked to higher risk of overdose death

  Thursday, April 28, 2016

  ​In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the tragic character states, "To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come." However, the sleep of death is what close to 15 million adults risked as they filled their sleep, sedative, anxiolytic or anticonvulsant prescriptions containing benzodiazepine. ​A new study published in the April issue of the American Public Health Association Journal reported an increase in overdose mortality related to benzodiazepine prescriptions between the years 1996 and 2013.

• Study: E-cigarettes may lead more adolescents into smoking

  Wednesday, April 27, 2016

  ​They are referred to as "ENDS," which stands for ​electronic nicotine delivery systems. Healthcare officials have hoped these e-cigarette devices would facilitate "ends" to smoking addiction. Unfortunately, they may be bringing about faster "ends" to optimum health and leading to increased rates of smoke-inhaled tobacco.

• Study: Allergy medications linked to Alzheimer’s disease

  Friday, April 22, 2016

  Allergy season is upon us, and while the use of seasonal allergy products may provide immediate relief, they may also come with long-term consequences. The very medications to stem the tickle in your nose are potentially doing damage to your brain. That's certainly nothing to sneeze at.

• Study: Pesticides in food linked to Parkinson’s disease

  Thursday, April 07, 2016

  ​Consumption of milk is usually considered healthy. For years, slogans like "Drink more milk," "Milk. It does a body good," and "Got Milk?" have promoted the beverage. For those drinking more milk in Hawaii before the 1980s, there were ingredients that were not doing the body any good.

• Researchers find new biomarkers for TBI

  Thursday, March 31, 2016

  Mild head injuries can be just that — mild. On the other hand, a blow to the head can cause serious injury and remain a threat to health after the brain injury appears to have been resolved.

• Historic meeting highlights positive, negative effects of marijuana

  Tuesday, March 29, 2016

  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored "​Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit," which was held March 22-23 in Bethesda, Maryland. This conference was the first meeting of its kind with a such a strong commitment and federal representation.

• Researchers: Major shift needed in approach to Alzheimer’s disease

  Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  Several researchers within the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) expressed their opinion regarding the role of microbes in the development of the disease in the recent issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. These voices cannot be ignored given that 33 professionals contributed, and these experts represent 10 different countries.

• NHTSA aims for safety on St. Patrick’s Day

  Thursday, March 03, 2016

  ​Leprechauns, parades, wearing green, Irish boiled dinners and beer are part of the traditions associated with St. Patrick's Day. And with planning, the holiday can be joyous, boisterous and safe. Those seeking to celebrate can find ​parades in most major cities. The first recorded parade in celebration of St. Patrick's Day ​took place in New York City where Irish soldiers serving in the British army marched in 1762 to celebrate the traditional feast day.

• HUD wants to snuff smoking in public housing

  Tuesday, March 01, 2016

  ​In an effort to prevent smoking-related deaths and the social and economic costs of smoking, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ​has proposed to ban smoking in all public housing within the United States. If the ban is implemented, it would impact more than 700,000 units of housing.

• Studies show marijuana helps Alzheimer’s patients sleep better

  Wednesday, February 17, 2016

  ​Two recent reports regarding Alzheimer's disease may send baby boomers in search of their roach clips, pipes and Mary Jane brownie recipes. ​A small study reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease investigated the consumption of oil containing a low dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Assaf Shelef, M.D., from Abarbanel Mental Health Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, led the team reporting the improvement in behaviors related to dementia, including improvements in sleep patterns.

• Studies highlight dangerous appeal of e-cigs to teens

  Friday, February 12, 2016

  Many consider electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) to be a positive aid in the cessation of conventional tobacco-burning cigarettes. However, a recent meta-analysis study published in the International Journal of Public Health reported no significant difference in the efficacy of using nicotine e-cigs to stop smoking tobacco-burning cigarettes when compared to other therapies or placebo.

• Study: A healthy heart leads to a healthy brain

  Thursday, February 11, 2016

  Healthier hearts and cardiovascular systems are considered to be the primary reasons for declines in dementia over the last 30 years. That's the conclusion of ​new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which reports a decline in dementia among the study participants in the ​Framingham Heart Study that has been underway since 1948.

• Downhill skiing is no time for head games

  Tuesday, February 09, 2016

  Ski season is in full swing, and so is the risk of serious head injury. However, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) reports that due to an ever-increasing use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders, the risk is decreasing. During last year's ski season, the rate of helmet use was at an all-time high, reaching 78 percent. This was up from the previous season's rate of 73 percent.

• More research shows benefits of marijuana in treating Alzheimer’s

  Thursday, January 28, 2016

  ​New research out of Israel shows marijuana can help improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. A low dose of the cannabinoid found in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was found to show significant improvements of several behavioral domains related to the neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease dementia.

• The effect of marijuana on the developing fetal brain

  Wednesday, January 20, 2016

  On the surface, it sounds positive: Prenatal exposure to marijuana results in an improved ability for young children to perceive activity and movement around them. But the ability to detect motion all around you or an enhanced peripheral awareness may be at the expense of central sensitivity.

• Despite study’s conclusion, random acts of joy are good for you

  Thursday, January 07, 2016

  As I walked from my car to the shopping mall entrance, I encountered him — a gentleman who demonstrated a random act of pure joy. He leaped off the curb, clicked his heels in the air in a truly carefree manner with a huge grin on his face.

• Fatal crashes still an issue for young adults — and their parents

  Wednesday, January 06, 2016

  Many parents of teenagers still have difficulty falling asleep until they hear the creak of the house front door as their children slip through. This anxiety and fear for their child's safety may persist long into their child's adult years and the child has left home.

• Food for thought: Eating fish is good for the brain

  Wednesday, December 09, 2015

  ​Fish is often referred to as brain food, and now there is evidence that this is true. A study published recently in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, reported that those who consumed fish as a part of a Mediterranean-style diet had greater volumes of brain tissue than those who did not adhere to a diet rich in fish. The study found that brain differences were similar to adding five years of aging to those who did not have the diet similar to the Mediterranean style.

• Exposure to sunlight may be key to avoiding winter’s seasonal colds

  Thursday, December 03, 2015

  For most of us, the shorter days of winter bring an increased risk of health problems. Now, a group of researchers ​has found a genetic marker throughout the population worldwide that is partially responsible for the seasonal winter increases in health problems.

• Stroke and stress: Women at greater risk

  Wednesday, December 02, 2015

  According to two new studies, females working in high-stress jobs with low levels of control have a greater risk for stroke, and being female is also a risk factor for the stroke diagnosis to be missed by an emergency room provider. As if life was not stressful enough for women.

• Evidence grows in linking loss of smell to dementia

  Monday, November 23, 2015

  ​​A reduced ability to detect odors has been shown to be an indicator of risk for the development of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. ​A recently published study in JAMA Neurology lends further proof to these findings.

• Research closing in on devices to detect ‘high’ driving

  Monday, November 09, 2015

  The ability to detect driver impairment due to marijuana with a simple biologic test similar to the breathalyzers used for alcohol is almost here. The products under investigation are targets for late-night comedians — such as Conan O'Brien spoofing the University of Akron's Cannibuster — but the need is serious.

• Halloween safety: Reflect on it

  Friday, October 23, 2015

  ​During night and dusk hours, what you wear as well as where you wear it can be crucial for visibility to drivers. This is especially important this time of year as drivers need to see the pint-sized Halloween ghouls out and about seeking candy in time to stop.

• Court ruling just made driving in Massachusetts less safe

  Tuesday, September 29, 2015

  If a police officer can smell burning marijuana during a traffic stop or can see the driver holding a lit marijuana joint, that's too bad in the state of Massachusetts. According to a recent ruling from the state's Supreme Justice Court, neither of those instances constitutes a violation of the law.

• High times in higher education

  Thursday, September 24, 2015

  A new study on college drug use concludes that 1 in 17 college students is getting high on marijuana on a regular (daily) basis. There are approximately 4,700 colleges offering either two-year or four-year degrees across the United States. These schools enroll around 20.6 million students every fall.

• A love of fashionable shoes may cause you to fall head over heels

  Wednesday, September 02, 2015

  You've probably heard the phrase, "The bigger they come, the harder they fall." It turns out the old saying could easily be applied to high-heeled shoes. With the increasing fashion trend of higher and higher heels, there is a corresponding increase in injury related to tripping and falling when wearing them. A new study shows the rate of injury doubled between the years of 2002 and 2012, with women between the ages of 20 and 29 having the highest rate of injury.

• Study identifies key factors that influence Alzheimer’s disease

  Tuesday, August 25, 2015

  ​Using a large meta-analysis study of the literature related to Alzheimer's disease, scientists identified four medical treatments and four dietary habits that may contribute to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. The research, led by Jin-Tai Yu, M.D., Ph.D. of the Department of Neurology of University of California San Francisco, was reported in the Aug. 20 issue of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

• The importance of vaccines during National Immunization Awareness Month

  Monday, August 17, 2015

  August is National Immunization Awareness Month, with the last week of the month emphasizing the need to vaccinate infants and children. The campaign to increase awareness is an opportunity to remind parents of the importance of childhood immunizations as they prepare for their children to enter daycare or school.

• Surf’s up, but stay safe from head injuries

  Friday, August 07, 2015

  Hitting the beach is a traditional summer activity. For many this also means hitting the waves with a surfboard. Surfing gained greater recognition in the United States during the 1960s with music and popular films. There are an estimated 2.2 million surfers in the United States. Worldwide, there are now close to 37 million athletes who surf. As with all sports, there is a risk of injury. When injury does occur, the head and neck are areas of vulnerability.

• ‘Where’s Baby?’: Looking before you lock your car

  Monday, August 03, 2015

  Cars are the No. 1 killer of infants and children. Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for children. However, heatstroke is the No. 2 killer, and having been left in a car is often the cause. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Early Childhood Development division, in partnership with other federal agencies, instituted a campaign in 2012 to prevent such deaths. The "Where's Baby?" campaign reminds parents to always look twice before locking their vehicle.

• The connection between lifestyle and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s

  Thursday, July 30, 2015

  A recent study took a close look at the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and the biomarkers used to determine a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that despite having a history of lifelong cognitive stimulation and activity, the biomarkers of disease were still evident.

• Inconsistent drugged driving laws show need for marijuana research

  Thursday, July 23, 2015

  There is limited research on marijuana impairment related to driving, but it differs significantly than the impairments caused by alcohol. The uncertainty surrounding this issue has resulted in laws throughout the United States that vary in determining what constitutes driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and what the penalty is for doing so.

• The connection between cataracts and Alzheimer’s disease

  Wednesday, June 10, 2015

  Cataracts do more to health than alter visual acuity. A cataract that is blocking all the natural light from entering the eye may be creating dysfunctions to the body's natural biologic rhythms, with potential long-term health consequences.

• Eating pizza doesn’t have to be unhealthy

  Tuesday, June 09, 2015

  Brick oven, wood-fired, coal-fired, thick crust, thin crust, deep crust, cheese, white sauce, red sauce, pepperoni, sausage, pineapple, basil or mushroom. There is no doubt that pizza comes in many forms and can satisfy the multitude of tastes across the United States.

• Study: THC has no effect on Alzheimer’s symptoms

  Thursday, May 28, 2015

  They did not get buzzed, but they also did not get better. The results of a study looking at marijuana-related treatment and Alzheimer's disease was recently published in Neurology. The study used an oral cannabinoid containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active ingredient in marijuana, in a formulation of a controlled dose. However, researchers found no improvement in the test subjects' behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

• Weed candy is sending more children to the hospital

  Thursday, May 21, 2015

  They look, smell and taste like our favorite candies, but marijuana candy edibles can be a real danger to children. The sweet confections are often packaged to appear like the popular treats with which toddlers and children are familiar. This appearance is not an accident — the marijuana candy products are designed to attract and entice the consumer. But when children ingest marijuana, the results can be serious ​and even life-threatening.

• Home brewing brings flavor and health benefits to beer

  Wednesday, May 20, 2015

  National Homebrew Day was created by the American Homebrewer's Association (AHA) as an annual event and declared before the U.S. Congress in 1988. The day is now referred to as AHA Big Brew and is held the first Saturday in May. In 2014, there were 437 events in 14 different countries and in 49 U.S. states. It is estimated that 17,550 gallons of brew were produced.

• As warm weather arrives, so do motorcycle fatalities

  Wednesday, May 13, 2015

  The arrival of May brings more moderate weather, and with it an increase in the number of motorcycle riders sharing the roads and highways. Not surprisingly, the warmer months of May through September feature the highest rates of motorcycle fatalities, with the peak occurring in August.

• Fore eyes: Glasses can protect golfers from devastating injury

  Thursday, May 07, 2015

  Shouting the warning term "Fore!" in advance of a golf stroke is standard practice and part of the game. The need for such a warning is clear, but how the term originated is not. Two common explanations have been put forth.

• Mets pitcher chooses safety over style

  Wednesday, April 22, 2015

  At first glance, it might appear that New York Mets pitcher Alex Torres is wearing a holdover cap from the long, snowy days of winter — the warming ear flaps folded up and over, then wrapped across the brim. Torres takes the mound with a redesign of the protective headgear he started wearing last season as part of the San Diego Padres.

• Is snus a safer form of tobacco? FDA not convinced

  Thursday, April 16, 2015

  It's not quite like snuff, not quite like smokeless tobacco and quite different from cigarettes. It's called snus, a pulverized moist form of tobacco containing nicotine that is held under the upper lip. The primary advantage over more common smokeless tobacco forms is that less saliva is generated and thus less need to spit.

• The impact of Alzheimer’s disease on women

  Wednesday, April 08, 2015

  In a role that won her this year's Oscar for best actress, Julianne Moore plays Alice Howland, a college professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in "Still Alice." The Alzheimer's Association praises the film and describes it as "a movie that gives us a rare window into the experience of living with Alzheimer's disease — a glimpse of the inside looking out."

• Eat right, feel right and think right

  Wednesday, April 01, 2015

  Paying attention to what you eat reaps dividends in maintaining healthy brain function as you age. A study of what foods are beneficial and which ones are to be avoided was recently published in Alzheimer's and Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

• Putting a cherry on top of your health

  Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Top it off with a cherry or two — or 10. Don't worry, they're healthy. But not the sugary sweet cherries often shot through with additional bright pink color. Not the ones that sit atop an ice cream sundae or are dropped into an alcoholic beverage.

• NFL’s new concussion rule continues focus on player health

  Wednesday, March 25, 2015

  The National Football League (NFL) adopted a new policy Tuesday that is intended to further protect players from the consequences of continued play when suffering a head injury. The ruling allows for input from athletic trainers in spotting signs of concussion or disorientation, and it enables them to stop play so that the athlete can have further evaluation.

• Studies offer mixed reviews of coffee’s effect on MS

  Thursday, March 19, 2015

  New research shows that consumption of caffeine in the form of coffee was found to be protective against the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The results of the study, undertaken by Ellen Mowry, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting from April 18-25 in Washington, D.C.

• Study: Skin biopsies may reveal neurodegenerative diseases

  Tuesday, March 10, 2015

  The American Academy of Neurology has released preliminary information regarding a study that will be presented at their upcoming meeting in April. This study was led by Ildefonsa Rodriguez-Leyva, M.D., from Central Hospital at the University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and demonstrates that skin tissue taken in biopsies could detect increased levels of the abnormal proteins associated with the neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

• Head injuries prove bull riders need to ‘cowboy up’ and wear helmets

  Thursday, March 05, 2015

  Bull riding is considered to be the most dangerous of any organized sport, and rodeo athletes get injured and die at a rate higher than any other professional sport. Concussions account for 11 percent of the injuries, and a combination of neck, face and head represent 30 percent of the injuries.

• Physical impairment from measles is a preventable tragedy

  Wednesday, February 18, 2015

  Babies were born blind. Babies were born deaf. Babies suffered irreparable brain damage. That is what happened during the measles pandemic from 1962-65 in the United States when their mothers contracted German measles, also known as Rubella, during pregnancy.

• Veterans, active military at risk for serious sleep disorders

  Tuesday, February 10, 2015

  There is a high rate of sleep-related disorders among veterans and active-duty military. Returning military personnel experience sleep dysfunction secondary to physical injury as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is not out of the ordinary for abnormal sleep patterns to persist long after deployment has ended.

• New study echoes dementia dangers of allergy, sleep pills

  Wednesday, February 04, 2015

  ​The Alzheimer's Association provides information about dementia to caregivers and families. The physicians associated with the group recommend that those with dementia avoid over-the-counter medications that have ​diphenhydramine as the active ingredient.

• DUI fatalities increase as Colorado campaigns against ‘driving high’

  Tuesday, February 03, 2015

  The Colorado Highway Patrol had set an ambitious goal for 2014: to reduce the rate of driving under the influence (DUI) highway fatalities and crashes by 10 percent. They did not succeed. In fact, the DUI fatality rate increased by 6 percent, and the rate of DUI citations increased by 23 percent compared to 2013.

• Studies: Long hours, shift work can be detrimental to health

  Tuesday, January 20, 2015

  "Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'. Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin' ..." Dolly Parton's popular song "9 to 5" from 1980 lamented the difficulties and stress associated with having a traditional workday. But, an eight-hour day of working 9-to-5 really is not that bad — especially for your health.

• Concerns about ‘driving high’ growing in Washington state

  Thursday, January 08, 2015

  ​Many citizens in the state of Washington are taking advantage of the right to use cannabis recreationally. But during a recent survey, the majority of those asked had failed to take seriously the responsibility that comes with the legal ability to use cannabis.

• Eat, drink and be cautious this holiday season

  Friday, December 12, 2014

  The winter holiday season is often accompanied by food and drink, including a greater variety and quantity of alcoholic beverages. Holiday drinks may have pretty colors or look as if blended with ice cream, which makes them appealing to young children. Little ones often imitate the adults, and a quick sip of an unattended beverage can go unnoticed.​

• Don’t despair: A slice of health is baked into that holiday pie

  Thursday, December 04, 2014

  Apple, pecan or pumpkin pie — forget the guilt. As we move through the holiday season, it is hard not to indulge in our favorites and then feel the regret. But the apple, pecan and pumpkin in the pie all have health benefits.

• Nobel Prize winners map path forward for Alzheimer’s research

  Tuesday, November 04, 2014

  The Nobel Peace Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2014 was awarded to John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser. The honor calls attention to ​their study of the brain cells that are damaged in Alzheimer's disease.

• Breast cancer risk in women increases with waistline

  Tuesday, October 14, 2014

  ​The measurement was simple for this research: a woman's waistline. A recent study has found that the bigger women get around their waist as they age, the greater was the risk for breast cancer.

• Myth or reality? The dreaded ‘freshman 15’

  Friday, September 26, 2014

  ​Just after parents waved goodbye to their newly enrolled college students this fall, it began. The now-independent students had their first meals in the dormitory cafeteria, and the "freshman 15" weight gain started.

• Drugs for anxiety, sleep linked to Alzheimer’s disease

  Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Drugs used to modify behavior in young or middle-aged adults may have serious consequences in later life. Recent research has demonstrated that extended use of benzodiazepine drugs — commonly used for the management of anxiety and sleep dysfunction — increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

• A fad turned addiction: Smokeless tobacco and its effect on athletes

  Thursday, August 28, 2014

  ​For former professional pitcher Curt Schilling, the lesson of smokeless tobacco was learned too late. Schilling has been diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma in his mouth, and he attributes the cause to smokeless tobacco products he used throughout his professional playing career.

• Studies: First responders at higher risk for developing ALS

  Wednesday, August 27, 2014

  ALS has been all over the news in recent weeks thanks to the latest social media craze. While many recognize that athletes may be more vulnerable to developing ALS — in particular those who had ​active careers playing football or soccer — less is known about other physically-demanding jobs and the risk for ALS.

• Fall is on the way ... and so are seasonal allergies

  Wednesday, August 27, 2014

  It is estimated that ​approximately 40 million Americans have an indoor/outdoor nasal allergy more commonly called hay fever. For many of these sufferers, trees, grass, weed pollen and mold spores can be triggers for hay fever symptoms. And there are ​more allergens in the air in the fall, with ragweed and molds accounting for much of the increase.

• Is regular exercise the best treatment for ADHD?

  Monday, August 18, 2014

  As summer winds to a close, the long days of playing, running, swimming and biking cease and are replaced by hours of sitting at a desk, eyes ahead. For some children this is problematic, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is common among children of school age.

• Latest Alzheimer’s research shows it’s time to get moving

  Thursday, August 14, 2014

  ​Move it, use it, and you are less likely to lose it. Physical activity — even in small amounts — is a factor in slowing the process of the cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease. This has been found to hold true even for those genetically at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

• NFL’s new high-tech gear will provide more info about injuries

  Tuesday, August 12, 2014

  ​The National Football League ​has partnered with Zebra Technologies for the 2014 season to monitor movement of players using real-time location systems in shoulder pads. The shoulder pads have radio frequency identification transmitter chips that communicate with receivers that have been installed throughout the stadiums.

• Why medical professionals must learn about marijuana shops

  Tuesday, August 05, 2014

  Given that half the country has access to medically-endorsed marijuana use, it is important for those in the healthcare field to have some knowledge of where their patients are purchasing product.

• Latest Alzheimer’s research passes the smell test

  Thursday, July 31, 2014

  ​Researchers have recognized that reductions in the ability to detect odors is an early sign of neurodegenerative disease. Several studies supporting the use of olfactory system reductions as a means to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the early stages were presented at this year's Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) held last week in Copenhagen, Denmark.

• The amazing health benefits of chocolate

  Thursday, July 17, 2014

  Research has shown health benefits in the regular consumption of chocolate. However, it depends on the chocolate. The sugary, fat-imbibed cocoa confection most often consumed is far different than the cacao bean drink used for medicinal purposes in ancient cultures. But if the sugar is limited and the milk omitted, a dose of dark chocolate can be considered healthy.

• Cannabis, cognition and confusion in research

  Thursday, July 17, 2014

  Of the 22 states in the United States that allow for the medical use of marijuana, 13 specify Alzheimer's disease (AD) as one of the approved conditions. ​Some studies report benefits to AD patients, but ​other research is inconclusive.

• Don’t get bitten: Protect yourself from Lyme disease

  Monday, July 14, 2014

  It's summer, and that means spending more time outdoors. While having fun in the sun, it's important to take the right safety precautions for your health. According to the National Institutes of Health, "tick-borne diseases are found in many areas across the country, and they're on the rise."

• Cognitive decline in veterans: Journal offers open-access issue

  Wednesday, June 25, 2014

  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 23.2 million living veterans have served in the United States armed services in times of both war and peace. As these men and women who served their country advance in age, there is concern about the known increased risk of potential cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease that exceeds that of the general population.

• Spit kit? Saliva testing for marijuana use on the horizon

  Tuesday, June 17, 2014

  Regular and heavy recreational use of cannabis has been strongly linked with addictive behaviors and motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers in the United States don't have a reliable means of testing for drug impairment. But that may be changing soon with new research and legislation.

• Numbing the pain: More retired players join lawsuit against NFL

  Thursday, June 12, 2014

  NFL offensive lineman Artis Hicks recently added his name to the 750 players joined together in lawsuits against the NFL, claiming the league provided players with illegal prescription pills, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis. The lawsuit contends that the NFL intentionally put players' health at risk in order to keep them on the field.

• Recent measles outbreaks show need for vaccinations

  Thursday, June 05, 2014

  Outbreaks of measles — concentrated primarily in Ohio and California — in recent months indicate that there is still need for vigilance in protecting against infectious diseases. At least 18 states have reported particularly high rates of measles in recent weeks.

• Can young blood rejuvenate old bodies?

  Wednesday, May 28, 2014

  ​Blood transfusions have long been recognized for saving lives, but recently several studies report that blood may also be the key to regaining youth. Researchers report that blood obtained from healthy young adults has the potential to rejuvenate adults suffering from age-related degenerative processes, including cognitive decline.

• Seasonal allergies: Cough up the dough

  Monday, May 12, 2014

  ​Spring has sprung, and that means so have seasonal allergies for many folks. An inappropriate immune response to a harmless substance, seasonal allergies generally create quality-of-life concerns without creating major illness.

• The addictive eye drops that kill

  Wednesday, May 07, 2014

  A new drug in Russia and Italy is called th​e "seven-monther," because that is how long it takes to kill you. Now this addictive drug is making its way to the United States. The drug is tropicamide, which is commonly used in an eye drop preparation for the dilation of the pupils during eye examinations.

• Returning soldiers: Veterans in higher education

  Thursday, April 24, 2014

  For many veterans, pursuing a college education is not simply continuing where high school may have left off. These returning soldiers may still be recovering from traumas incurred during service.

• Are cognitive screenings worth the trouble?

  Wednesday, April 16, 2014

  Alzheimer's disease is now the ​sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 5 million Americans now living with the disease. With the increasing rate of costs associated with Alzheimer's disease, research is directed at early identification strategies that are of value economically, medically and socially.

• New marijuana drug showing promise in treatment of MS

  Thursday, April 10, 2014

  All 21 states that have approval for medical marijuana have listed multiple sclerosis (MS) as an ​appropriate diagnosis for the use of medical marijuana. The issue has been finding the appropriate method to deliver the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to treat spasticity, tremor and balance in those with MS.

• Legal or not, marijuana cannot be ignored by healthcare providers

  Thursday, April 03, 2014

  Regardless of a healthcare professional's position on medicinal cannabis or interest in prescribing its use, providers are expected by patients and the public to have the background necessary to provide guidance regarding the use of cannabis.

• Orange is the new track: Preventing hockey injuries with a dash of paint

  Tuesday, March 25, 2014

  ​The ​Look-Up Line, a 40-inch-wide neon orange stripe surrounding the playing ice perimeter in hockey was the inspiration of Thomas E. Smith. His hope is that it gives a brief visual warning to hockey players, much like a warning track in baseball.

• Modern prosthetics improving amputees’ daily lives

  Tuesday, March 18, 2014

  Whether the amputation is related to disease or injury, and whether the victim is civilian or military, the goal of treatment and rehabilitation is to function as close to normal as possible. And recent advances in the development of prosthetic limbs are making this goal a reality.

• How veterinarians ensure the health of Iditarod dogs

  Friday, March 07, 2014

  The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race takes a physical toll on the sled dogs, so veterinarians are on hand to ensure the health of the animals. Each year there are more than 40 licensed veterinarians who perform more than 10,000 checkpoint examinations during the race.

• ICDs help aging hearts maintain the beat

  Wednesday, February 19, 2014

  For aging baby boomers, the rhythms of life are naturally and constantly changing. This includes the tempo of music, a tapping keyboard and the pop of engine pistons. But one rhythm change that is not only unnatural, but also deadly is sudden cardiac arrest.

• Are advanced imaging technologies worth the risks?

  Tuesday, February 11, 2014

  Noninvasive diagnostic technologies can lead to earlier and more precise diagnosis of pathology, but they also come with an increased cost and sometimes with a danger of exposure to ionizing radiation. With more than 85 million scans performed yearly in the United States, do the benefits outweigh the risks?

• Broncos’ Welker using his head in picking new helmet

  Monday, January 27, 2014

  The NFL's conference championships are over, and the Super Bowl opponents are set — the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. The TV networks, radio broadcasts, Internet blogs and newspaper columns had plenty to say about Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker.

• A long day’s night: Winter can affect the body’s natural sleep habits

  Thursday, January 23, 2014

  We are deep into winter and past the longest nights of the season. But with long nights come short days, and seemingly endless nights for some. Dec. 21 was the shortest day of year for the northern hemisphere. Despite the lack of sunlight, humans ​do not require additional hours of sleep to correspond to the additional hours in the night during the winter. But it is normal for the changes in weather and season to slightly influence activities and sleep habits.

• Why shoveling snow can lead to heart tragedies

  Thursday, January 16, 2014

  ​The first major snowstorm of 2014 was especially brutal, impacting much of the East Coast and Midwest. The National Weather Service had predicted the impending Arctic blast would be life-threatening. They were right. Particularly vulnerable during cold weather are those with cardiovascular problems.

• Strong to the finish: Impact of lutein and zeaxanthin on cognitive functions

  Tuesday, January 07, 2014

  ​Staying strong to the finish; that is a goal for all of us. Staying strong for nine innings and routinely sending a baseball into the stands is a goal few attain. But it is possible. There is ever increasing evidence that a healthy lifestyle, including a diet rich in fruits and vegetables enhances visual performance, stabilizes cognitive function and prolongs tissue vitality — particularly keeping neural cells such as those in the retina of the eye healthy.

• Holiday lights: Using the horizontal gaze nystagmus test

  Friday, December 13, 2013

  ​Bright lights abound in city and country landscapes for the holiday season. Colored lights that adorn homes, those cheerful illuminated "happy holiday" marquees surround shopping malls, and traffic lights flanked by silver bells nested in green boughs are joyful sights. But a set of lights that may not feel so welcoming are those flashing red and blue lights that can seemingly appear out of nowhere. With the holidays come festivities that include alcohol and the potential for revelers drinking in excess.

• Media distort reality of latest treatment for blindness

  Tuesday, December 10, 2013

  We all want heroes and dramatic rescues, and we want the day to be saved. A happy ending is preferred, and perhaps this is at the expense of unbiased observations from the media and the limited availability of neutral reporting on medical advances. Such is the case with how the media has handled the information regarding retinal prosthetic devices.

• Feast or fire: Caution for Thanksgiving kitchen blazes

  Friday, November 22, 2013

  The risk of a kitchen fire triples on Thanksgiving Day, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. From 2009-11, there were an average of 1,300 cooking-related fires causing injury each Thanksgiving Day. As part of an active campaign to educate holiday celebrants about fire safety when cooking, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has some simple advice.

• ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise brings archery into focus

  Monday, November 18, 2013

  Jennifer Lawrence, who plays heroine Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games" movie series, was described as the "real deal" by sports engineer and Olympic archery commentator George Tekmitchov. But it was not the usual reference describing the sincerity of personality in a Hollywood Oscar-winning actress. He was attesting to her skill with a bow and arrow.

• Infant study highlights need for early identification of autism

  Wednesday, November 13, 2013

  A diminished ability to socially interact with eye contact is recognized as a diagnostic marker for autism. A study published Nov. 6 in Nature reported that social engagement using eye contact starts at birth for all infants, but can start to decline as early as two months of age in children later identified with autism.

• Healthy brains impacting organ donation — but why?

  Tuesday, November 12, 2013

  Brain death occurs when there is a total and irreversible loss of all the brain's functions. Organ donation most commonly occurs when there is a brain death. Dr. Andreas Kramer and colleagues at the University of Calgary, Alberta, recently published a study investigating changes in the availability of donated organ tissue over the last decade. The rate of organ donation is in decline despite significant efforts to educate the public.

• Technology leading to growth of crossbow hunting

  Tuesday, November 05, 2013

  Crossbows are increasing in popularity for use in legal game hunting across the United States. This has invigorated a lagging industry by attracting younger, technology-savvy hunters into a traditional sport. But the use of crossbows for hunting is not without controversy.

• Seeking an early diagnosis for dementia

  Thursday, October 31, 2013

  ​Screening for Alzheimer's disease has been shown to have ​minimal impact on the progression and severity of disease, yet the vast majority of those in the United States and across Europe ​express a desire to know the risks for the disease. Current screening tools only exist in the presence of symptoms; nothing yet exists to predict disease prior to the functional expression of the disease in the form of cognitive dysfunctions.

• Apples provide upgrade to your operating system

  Friday, October 11, 2013

  Getting the recommended apple a day to keep the doctor away is easy. The more than 100 different species of apples grown in the United States are in ​abundance throughout the country in September and October. No matter how the apples are eaten, the fruit flesh and skin offer significant benefits to health.

• Is Parkinson’s disease in the future for Jesse Pinkman of ‘Breaking Bad’?

  Tuesday, October 08, 2013

  ​AMC's television series "Breaking Bad" depicted diverse characters on both sides of the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. The popular series, which ended its six-year run with a series finale Sept. 29, was known for its raw, graphic and violent depiction of the culture and science behind the making and distribution of illicit drugs.

• Misdiagnosis of epilepsy in children is common, but preventable

  Thursday, October 03, 2013

  A study in 2000 found as many as 20 to 40 percent of epileptics may have been misdiagnosed. In the research, 31 of 74 adult men diagnosed with epilepsy were found to have alternative diagnosis, and this included 13 of 36 men who had been receiving anticonvulsant medications.

• Raise a glass of beer — to your health

  Monday, September 16, 2013

  Despite the name, Oktoberfest traditional fall beer celebrations begin in September and extend into October. The biggest Oktoberfest beer bash is held in Munich and is considered to be the world's largest fair. This year — the 180th year the Oktoberfest has been held — will host more than 6 million people from around the world.

• Brew on this: Latest research on coffee’s connection to Alzheimer’s

  Thursday, June 27, 2013

  As I stared into my morning cup of black coffee, trying to percolate into alertness, I received an email from a colleague alerting me to a recently published article about acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for Alzheimer's disease act upon the cholinergic system, inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.

• King-Devick Test: An effective concussion screening for athletes?

  Monday, April 22, 2013

  An estimated 160 players suffered a head injury during regular-season play in the National Football League last season. Head injury is not unique to the American sport of football, but the concern about concussion and head injury in professional football, youth leagues, high school and college teams has caused the sport to be front and center in the controversy regarding concussion and long-term effects of such head injury.