Resources & Information

Medical News Today
June 26, 2025
About 200 million people around the world are living with the vision loss condition age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Of the two types of AMD, most people have dry AMD. Past research shows there are several risk factors for AMD, including nonmodifiable factors such as genetics, and modifiable ones like eating a healthy diet. A new study has found that a combination of genetics and drinking instant coffee may increase a person’s risk of developing dry AMD.

NPR
June 23, 2025
This story was published on June 19, 2025, and has been updated.

Summer is in full swing and from the Midwest to the East Coast, extreme heat and humidity levels will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, according to the National Weather Service. So if you’re planning to be outside, whether it’s for fun or for work, take measures to stay cool and protect yourself against heat-related illness, says Ashley Ward, director of Duke University’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub.

Medical Express
June 10, 2025
Dementia before age 80 is potentially preventable through early intervention on common vascular risk factors, according to research led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Findings suggest that up to 44% of dementia cases could be attributed to vascular risk factors, specifically hypertension, diabetes, or smoking.

As dementia rates continue to rise globally, efforts to prevent or delay onset remain constrained by an incomplete understanding of its origins. Hypertension, diabetes, and smoking are commonly implicated risk factors, likely acting through arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

STATNews
May 31, 2025
The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s new Covid-19 vaccine late Friday, though it placed restrictions on its use that the company’s existing Covid shot, Spikevax, does not currently face. The new vaccine, which will be marketed under the name mNexspike, will not immediately replace Spikevax. A statement from the company said both vaccines will be available on the market for the time being.

As it did earlier this month with Novavax’s Covid vaccine, the FDA said the new Moderna shot is licensed for use only in people aged 65 and older and people aged 12 to 64 who have at least one medical condition that puts them at increased risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Such conditions include diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD, and obesity.

NBC News
May 29, 2025
A new Covid variant that’s gaining momentum globally has landed in the U.S. The World Health Organization announced last week that it was monitoring the variant, NB.1.8.1, following a rise in cases in several parts of the world, including Europe, Southeast Asia and North and South America. The variant appears to be more transmissible than the dominant strain worldwide, LP.8.1, meaning it has the potential to drive up cases this summer. But it does not seem to be much better than LP.8.1 at evading protection from vaccines or a prior infection. And the WHO has found no evidence that it leads to more severe illness, so the agency has determined that it doesn’t pose an added health risk.

Medical News Today
May 28, 2025
A person can self-advocate by gaining knowledge about their healthcare rights and taking action to improve the level of care they receive. Learning to self-advocate can help people understand their rights and actively participate in and receive better care. Some people face challenges and barriers when seeking healthcare, such as discrimination or feeling that doctors dismiss their concerns. This article offers tips for self-advocating at the doctor’s office and discusses a person’s rights. It also discusses a person’s options when they feel a doctor is not listening to their healthcare concerns and offers support and resources.