More Evidence Bolsters the Oral Herpes and Alzheimer’s Link

That cold sore on your lip might be painful and unsightly, but it could also be a harbinger of debilitating brain aging.

The oral herpes virus appears to be linked with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the common infection might play a role in the disease, a new study published in the journal Cell Reports says.

Her...

Health Advocates Are Unhappy with FDA Guidance on Lead Levels in Baby Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) released the first-ever guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods this week. However, many health and safety advocates say they are not satisfied with the guidance.

Under the FDA's new guidelines, baby food manufacturers should have no more than 10 parts per billion of lead in baby yogur...

FDA Calls for Better Accuracy of Pulse Oximeters in People of Color

Pulse oximeters -- those tiny devices that measure blood oxygen levels with a quick clip to your finger -- may soon get a major upgrade to ensure they work just as well for people of all skin tones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidelines on Jan. 6 proposing that manufacturers conduct larger, more inclusive st...

Fluoride May Be Linked to Decreased IQ, Says "Limited Data," Hard-to-Interpret Study

Fluoride exposure appears to slightly decrease IQ scores in children, a new federal meta-analysis has concluded -- but not at the low levels recommended for U.S. drinking water.

Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced IQ scores at levels of less than 4 milligrams per liter, but not at less than 1.5 mg/L, according to the ana...

First U.S. Death From Bird Flu Reported in Louisiana

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu in December of last year, marking the first known U.S. death from the virus.

The patient who, "was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions," state health officials announced in a statement, tested positive for the virus and developed seve...

Blood Test May Help Predict How Long Immunity Lasts

It’s long been a mystery why folks need a flu vaccine every year, even though immunizations they got in childhood continue to protect them from measles and mumps.

Researchers now think they know why vaccine effectiveness varies -- and they’ve even come up with a blood test to check a vaccine’s durability.

“Our...