Health Buzz: Swine Flu Targets Young People and Other Health News

Does Swine Flu Target Young People?

The H1N1 influenza virus referred to as swine flu has so far shown a pattern of causing particularly severe illness in young people, the Washington Post reported Sunday; its preference for infecting youths is behavior of a flu pandemic rather than a seasonal flu. Of the 5,000 confirmed and more than 100,000 probable cases of swine flu, the average age of infected people is 15; two thirds are younger than 18. Of the 65 deaths worldwide that are attributed to swine flu, half have been healthy people with no medical conditions. And of the 173 hospitalized patients with swine flu in the United States, more than half have been between the ages of 5 and 24. Youths may be particularly at risk because they lack immunity to any H1N1 virus strains, many of which have been around for years. Past exposure to the various H1N1 flu strains may have shielded older groups a bit from this virus, according to the Washington Post.

Learn how swine flu could become a pandemic. U.S. News's Dr. Bernadine Healy has proposed 3 major actions the government needs to take now that could shape what happens if and when the new strain of flu returns in the fall. And explore whether alternative remedies can help ward off swine flu. Here are 14 things you should know about swine flu and 5 ways to prepare your family.

A New Way to Predict Alzheimer's?

An index to predict Alzheimer's disease is being developed by researchers at the University of California-San Francisco. They scored 3,375 older people on a list of risk factors for developing dementia, which include things such as age, low body mass index (BMI), and enlarged portions of the brain known as ventricles. The people studied earned 1 or 2 points for each measure that applies to them, resulting in a score of zero to 15. Fifty-six percent of people who earned a high score on the index—defined as 8 or more points—developed dementia within six years. Twenty-three percent of those who had moderate scores—4 to 7 points—developed dementia within that time. And 4 percent of those who had low scores—3 points or fewer—ended up with dementia within six years.

Deborah Barnes, who leads the team that developed the index, says that she hopes it can one day be boiled down into a shorter checklist that can be completed in five to 10 minutes in a doctor's office. Because the risk factors are predictive of dementia but are not necessarily causal, Barnes notes, "changing these things would not necessarily mean that you would lower your risk of dementia."

U.S. News's January Payne writes about how to improve your index score later in life by building muscle mass, for example, or staying fit to ward off diabetes and hypertension, which can lead to white matter disease, another risk factor for developing dementia.

Consider these 10 things you should know about Alzheimer's disease. Here is one family's story of dealing with the illness. Discover how one man keeps busy to ward off Alzheimer's, and learn ways to keep your brain fit. 

10-Week Workout: 6 Ways to Motivate Yourself up off the Couch

A few weeks ago, U.S. News brought you an easy-to-follow 10-week workout routine. The program's goal is to lay the groundwork for a sustainable fitness habit for grown-ups. The routine was designed by Vonda Wright, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and directs PRIMA, the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes. Its four components address flexibility, aerobic fitness, load-carrying exercise, and equilibrium and balance.

To keep you on track, last week U.S. News's Katherine Hobson wrote tips to keep you motivated that include how to make your exercise routine less routine and how to make it more fun. Can't find time for the gym? Hobson suggests making going to work out easy by trying it at home. Have a friend join you, she adds, for motivational support.

Consider Smart Fitness for Grown-ups, a 10-week workout routine, and how to make your workout quick and sweaty. And learn why even young people should improve their balance.

—Megan Johnson

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