A Potential Blood Test for Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers from Saarland University and Siemens Healthcare report that a new blood test can accurately discriminate between healthy people and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s hoped the non-invasive and relatively cheap test could one day help with diagnosis. The research is published in the open access journal Genome Biology [2].

Alzheimer's disease

Link Between Blood Type and Heart Disease Risk Questionable

A new study published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology found that people with blood type A, B, or AB — 66% of the American population — had a higher risk for coronary heart disease compared to those with blood type O [1].

Normal artery vs narrowing of artery

Red Cross Blood Supply at Emergency Levels

The Red Cross recently announced that its blood supply has reached emergency levels [1]. Donations are down more than 10% across the country, resulting in 50,000 fewer pints of blood than expected last month.

Red Cross: Emergency need for blood

Q&A: What are Nitrates in Food and Why Should I Worry About Them?

Question: I’ve heard that nitrates in food are dangerous and that I should avoid them. What are nitrates, why are they a problem, and what foods contain them?

Bacon

To Lower Diabetes Risk, Get a Good Night’s Sleep

We are all familiar with the negative consequences of getting too little sleep, but they may be more serious than just feeling a bit groggy. A new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine has shown that sleep restriction, along with a disruption of one’s internal body clock, can raise the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes [1]. This could explain the increased rates of these conditions in shift workers and others who work at night.

Good nights sleep