Medical Minutes with WISH-TV

More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.By 20-50, that number is expected to more than double.

Now, researchers are working to identify some risk factors for this mysterious disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is both devastating and deadly. In fact, it’s the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.

One of the biggest problems doctors face is that symptoms typically don’t appear until the disease has progressed.

That’s why researchers are trying to better identify those at risk for Alzheimer’s. A recent study found people who develop infections like herpes simplex virus type one or cytomegalovirus in mid and late life are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Other research found people who had viral encephalitis, which is essentially inflammation of the brain caused by a virus, were at least 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than those who didn’t have the condition.

Some of the latest research also suggests other possible risk factors include having a head injury, experiencing hearing loss, heart disease, untreated depression, and living in social isolation.

Recognizing these risk factors could help doctors spot the disease earlier – which is key to a better outcome.

Researchers say age is the single most important risk factor when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease. The likelihood of developing it doubles every five years after you reach age 65. However, about one in 20 people have early onset and are younger than 65.

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There’s no denying that social media plays a large role in the lives of today’s teenagers. Studies show they’re online nearly nine hours a day, and half report visiting a social media site at least daily. While social media platforms can help kids stay connected with family and friends, they can also be harmful.

Now, the American Psychological Association has released new guidelines for teens’ social media use.

A 2019 study found adolescents who spent more than three hours a day using social media had a higher risk for mental health problems.

Now, the American Psychological Association has new guidelines for parents. Experts suggest monitoring all social media use for kids ages 10-14. Experts also urge parents to consider enforcing time limits. One study found limiting screen time to about an hour a day helped anxious teens and young adults feel better about their appearance.

Parents might want to disable their teen’s location sharing and restrict private messaging, commenting, live-streaming, and in-app purchases. The APA says watch for signs of problematic use, like poor sleeping habits, deceptive behaviors, or an inability to carry out daily routines.

Experts say it’s also a good idea to talk to your teen about how to think critically when using social media.

For example, parents can encourage teems to fact-check the information they come across and discuss any questions they have.

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Dr. Jerome Adams, the WISH-TV medical expert and a former U.S. surgeon general, talked Tuesday on News 8 about World Mental Health Day.He said he’d give Indiana a grade of D+ for its mental health treatment.

An anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health, Adams said that “there’s no way you can give us a passing grade when you consider that one-fifth of Hoosiers had a mental health issue last year and two-thirds of them were unable to get the help that they needed.”

However, he noted a positive development for Hoosiers.

“We’ve got promising news in light of the lieutenant governor’s Mental Health Roundtable, which I’m a part of and which the Colts’ Kalen Jackson supports. Many other leaders around the state are a part of that roundtable. We’ve got the Legislature passing SB (Senate Bill) 1 to expand access to mental health services, and we now have 988, which is a new crisis hotline that families can use to call for help instead of calling 911 for police.”

In Marion County, statistics show, nearly 26,000 people who needed mental health treatment in 2022 did not get it. Is Adams surprised by the number?

“I’m not surprised unfortunately because we’ve been seeing this building over the years.

“I do want to highlight the the case of Herman Whitfield III, who, as you all know, was covered on WISH-TV earlier this year, died after police responded to his parents’ home when they called 911 during a mental health crisis he was having.

“The good news ... is that we do have some positive wins with 988 instead of calling 911. People can call 988 for a crisis. We’re going to have more treatment because of SB 1, Senate Bill 1, passed by the Legislature, and we’ve got focus around this. I love the Colts’ Kicking the Stigma campaign that they have really trying to help normalize mental health, and normalizing the idea of asking for treatment when you need it.”

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While some kids may tolerate shots just fine, others will be anxious and fearful. So, what can parents do to ease the fear and anxiety? In this episode, I speak with Jenna Yarnell, certified child life specialist at IU Health. Yarnell provides four key tips to prepare your child for vaccination. She also explains why transparency is key.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the risk of an outdoor COVID-19 infection could be as high as 10%. But reports are circulating the actual number is much lower. In fact, it could be as little as 0.1%. In this episode of Medical Minutes, I speak with Dr. Cole Beeler, infectious disease expert at IU Health. Beeler says the federal agency's estimation is grossly misleading and he's just not buying it.

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