Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by progressive brain deterioration and leads to dementia, affects about 300,000 Canadians and 500,000 Americans under the age of 65.  

Recent study has shown that Alzheimer's affect women more adversely as compared to men. Michael S. Rafii, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Memory Disorders Clinic and an attending neurologist at the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer Disease Research Center at the University of California, San Diego said that there are evidence that AD affects women differently than men.

Recent research has revealed that presence of a common genetic variation in young heart attack survivors increases their risk to die or have a serious heart problem while taking the blood thinner Plavix. Research team added that this drug was less effective for these people and also raised the risk of blood clots for those carrying the genetic change that had heart stents implanted.

The allegations against Wyeth for using paid ghost writers are under investigation. It was alleged that the medicine company had paid ghostwriters to write favorable articles for its hormone replacement medications. Publisher Elsevier is investigating the allegations.

The Editor's Choice article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Elsevier discussed the Women's Health Initiative, a major study that was abandoned after researchers detected a higher risk for breast cancer among women taking Wyeth's hormone-replacement therapy Prempro.

Experts opine that in spite of the reports about its limitations, colonoscopy is still among the best ways to save lives from colorectal cancer. It has also been found that it is better at detecting cancer on the left side of the colon.

The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region is in urgent need for blood donors. The society is inviting donors to replenish the blood supplies. The urgency has arisen due to cancellation of Blood Donation Camps as a result of bad weather.

The Red Cross has requested donors who had to cancel blood donation due to bad weather to re schedule their blood donation appointments. Students have been requested donate blood at a local drive on a holiday break.

Young heart patients with a gene variation may be exposed to more heart problems if administered anti clotting drug Plavix.

The medicine is along with a low dose aspirin is prescribed heart attack patients in order to prevent blood vessels from clogging or else to patients who receive an artery opening stent.

It has been found that some patients respond well to the treatment whereas others do not. Though the reasons for the variance are still unclear, the doctors feel that it could be linked to genetics.