Spouse's Dementia Could Be Catching
Having a spouse with dementia may increase your risk of developing the condition, suggests a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers followed 1,221 couples ages 65 and older—all of whom were deemed dementia-free at the study's start—for more than 12 years, and found that people whose spouse had dementia were six times more likely to develop it, HealthDay reports. A total of 30 couples developed dementia over the course of the study. Lead author Maria Norton of Utah State University says future research should examine how much caregiver stress or shared environment contribute to the link, HealthDay reports. [Read more: If Your Spouse Gets Alzheimer's, You Might, Too.]
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Tainted Tylenol: 'Oops, Sorry' Isn't Enough to Protect Children's Health
The massive recall of children's Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl has parents fuming, and for good reason, U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute writes. There's not a parent I know who doesn't keep all these medicines on hand for soothing symptoms of childhood colds, flu, and allergies. They're usually among the first things that pediatricians recommend, too, especially since over-the-counter children's cold remedies have been banned as unsafe for children under age 2, and are discouraged for use with older kids, because there's no proof they relieve cold symptoms, and have been implicated in injuries and deaths to children.
The Food and Drug Administration on April 20 inspected the McNeil Consumer Healthcare factory in Fort Washington, Pa., that made the Johnson & Johnson products, and inspectors said they found many problems with quality control, including raw materials tainted with bacteria. The finished products tested negative for bacteria, FDA officials said, and shouldn't have put children at risk. But since this is the fifth recall of McNeil Consumer Healthcare products since last fall, including a huge recall in January of Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and other products that smelled moldy and sickened some people, it's hard not to be worried, and mad. [Read more: Tainted Tylenol: 'Oops, Sorry' Isn't Enough to Protect Children's Health.]
More Evidence Suggests the Pill Saps Sex Drive
A new study supports a link between hormonal birth control and sexual problems in women, HealthDay reports. The study of 1,086 women compared contraception type to sexual functioning. Researchers found that hormonal contraception (as opposed to nonhormonal contraception, such as condoms) was associated with lower desire and poor arousal. Past evidence has suggested that birth control pills may lead to a reduction in the desire-generating sex hormone testosterone, HealthDay reports.
Suppressed libido is a known side effect of the pill, U.S. News has reported. Many women find themselves stalled by sluggish sex drives, though the pill isn't always the culprit. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder, the medical term, is recognized as the most prevalent sexual complaint among females. It can affect young and old alike, stemming from a complicated stew of factors from partner problems to medical issues, like depression (and some of its treatments) and waning hormones. For some women, especially those who are aging, low testosterone is the trouble. [Read more: Coping With 5 Common Sex Problems.]
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