Health Buzz: Diet and Exercise Protect Brain and Other Health News

Mediterranean Diet and Exercise May Ward Off Alzheimer's Disease

Exercise, along with a Mediterranean-style diet full of fruits and veggies, could help stave off cognitive decline, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers tracked the exercise and eating habits of 1,880 adults between 1992 and 2006, noting how strictly participants stuck to a Mediterranean diet and exercise routine. People who closely followed the diet reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 40 percent, and those who exercised most reduced their risk by 33 percent, compared to adults who didn't follow the diet or who did not exercise, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a study released earlier this year, the same team found the Mediterranean diet alone lowered the risk of Alzheimer's.

Find out how to follow the Mediterranean pattern of healthful eating, which includes many plant-based, minimally processed foods. U.S. News's Katherine Hobson has detailed the Mediterranean diet's benefits along with other diets that promote health. And learn these 10 things you should know about Alzheimer's disease.

Difficult Medical Choice? 3 Steps to Making the Right Decision

Americans have become accustomed to sitting in the driver's seat when it comes to making important medical decisions. And many doctors are happy to leave a number of choices in their patients' hands. Yet some medical experts argue that our healthcare system can go even further than it has toward letting the patient call virtually all the shots, U.S. News's Deborah Kotz reports. When facing surgery or another tough medical choice, patients need information to guide their decision. Kotz offers 3 tips on how to make informed medical decisions.

When you're facing the toughest of decisions, you need to consider your goals, the medical uncertainties, and the trade-offs, says one expert. Think about what you want most, and communicate that to your doctor. Is it the longest life possible, the best life possible, or something in between? In most cases, there isn't one perfect decision, and that can make choosing a course agonizing, he says.

Read about one woman's tough choice on breast cancer treatment. And consider 5 ways to size up a health risk for help gauging your benefit from a suggested technology or procedure.

Going Back to School With Swine Flu: How Parents Can Prepare

Last spring, the federal government ordered schools to close if they had a student ill with the new H1N1 flu. Flu experts expect there will be many more H1N1 flu cases this September and October, before the usual annual flu season even begins. School-age children are much more likely to get the new flu than are adults, because they have no immunity, U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute reports. To help parents prepare for the swine flu threat when school starts, Shute gives an overview of new flu guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have a child under age 5 or a family member with a chronic medical condition like asthma, check with your doctor now about how best to care for them during this flu pandemic, the guidelines suggest. Pregnant women also appear to be extra vulnerable, so if you're pregnant, now's the time to ask your doctor for a swine flu game plan, Shute reports. Read more.

Learn why swine flu hits pregnant women harder and whether or not they should line up to get vaccinated in the fall. Here are 14 things you should know about swine flu and 5 ways to prepare your family.

Other Popular Articles From USNews.com

• Battling Diabetes With Diet and Exercise
• 10 Cities Where Coronary Bypass Surgery Outpaces Angioplasty
• 10 Reasons Not to Skimp on Sleep
• 5 Risks Linked to Diabetes Medications
• 7 Steps Newly Diagnosed Diabetics Should Take
• 6 Ways to Reduce Inflammation Without Taking a Statin
• Need Care? Scan the Rankings: Best Nursing Homes, Best Health Plans, and Best Hospitals.