Thousands arrived at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven last Sunday, Sept. 30, to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease. The New Haven walk, along with numerous other walks throughout Connecticut, marked the close of Alzheimer’s disease Awareness month.

Walkers were encouraged to plant artificial flowers in the sand, with the color of each flower corresponding to the walker’s relationship to Alzheimer’s disease.

The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to “eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.”

The Alzheimer’s walks began in 1989 when nine chapters around the United States raised $149,000 for the cause. Last year, 650 walks took place, raising over $4.5 million dollars. Numbers were expected to improve for the 2012 walk season.

The New Haven event opened at 9 a.m. for team and participant registration. Starbucks, in addition to other local organizations, donated refreshments. Raffle tickets were also sold for a variety of themed prize baskets. However, despite the excitement seen in the faces of walker’s and Alzheimer’s Association volunteers alike, no one could forget why they were all there: to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Through the building of the “Promise Garden,” a staple for the Alzheimer’s walk, it was clear that many participants had different reasons for being there. To build the “Promise Garden,” walkers were encouraged to plant artificial flowers in the sand, with the color of each flower corresponding to the walker’s relationship to Alzheimer’s disease. Blue flowers indicated that the walker was living with the disease. Orange flowers represented those who were caregivers to a person with Alzheimer’s. Purple stood for those who had lost someone to the illness, and yellow symbolized those there to give their support to the cause. Their promise? To find a cure.

Brittany Langer, a participant in New Haven’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease, planted her purple flower in the sand near the waterfront. Langer, 21, is a native to the southern Connecticut area and an active volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association. “Both of my grandmothers had it,” she explains, “and they both lost their battle.”

She explained the debilitating disease not only affects the people suffering with it, but their families as well. This experience drove her to get involved with the Connecticut chapter headquartered in Hartford.

As a volunteer, Langer gained valuable experience in planning and advertising the event. “People think that it magically all comes together, but in reality we have to make a lot of sponsorship phone calls. We have to recruit team members, and get people to register team captains and put out flyers.”

The New Haven Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease raised nearly $185,000 dollars in donations, but the association expects that number to keep growing. “People can keep donating until November 30,” Langer stated. She hopes the next two months will bring the New Haven Walk over its goal of $202,000 dollars.

Although the New Haven event has passed, there are still opportunities for those interested to lend their support for the cause. The Southport Racquet Club will be hosting a 5k race on Nov. 3, with all of the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. More information can be obtained at www.southportracquetclub.com.

Nearly 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer ’s disease. It is the “sixth-leading cause of death,” and cannot be “prevented, cured, or even slowed.” As seen in the “Promise Garden,” not all people affected by the disease suffer from it. Many have lost a family member, or currently care for those affected. The aim of The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is to end the suffering. The organization encourages people to get involved, as volunteers, like Langer, are the backbone of this effort.

“I wanted to be active in an organization that would be working to find a cure. That was the Alzheimer’s Association,” she said.

For more information about events and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.alz.org.

Marijuana use in the nation is on the rise: 17.4 million Americans were recorded using marijuana in 2010, up from 14.4 million users in 2007.

What is more shocking is that the rise in numbers is all thanks to college-aged users.

According to a study held by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations, the percentage of college students who smoke jumped from 19.5 percent to 21.5 percent in only two years.

Every day, the number of college students engaging in marijuana consumption grows.

The problem with this? Marijuana, otherwise known as pot or weed, affects all aspects of a person’s life. Substance abuse leads to problems with schoolwork and health, and could eventually lead to changes in personality and an increase in risky, out-of-character behavior.

The main “ingredient” in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When weed is smoked, THC activates the receptors in the brain, which trigger the drug’s effect; mainly releasing dopamine into the system, which causes the “relaxing” side effect of marijuana.

Other side effects include uneasiness, anxiety and restlessness, coupled with paranoia and forgetfulness.

One of the most common side effects of marijuana is memory loss.

Students throughout the UNH campus, for example, have reported noticing slight memory problems. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that after years of marijuana use, the drug “messed up [his] memory a little bit.”

Students who smoke pot are less likely to spend time studying and concentrating on classes, and have been found to have difficulty concentrating, recalling facts and making good decisions.

The numbers are rising; there is no doubt about that. But why do so many students use marijuana if they are aware of the side effects and know that it is illegal?

“It’s relaxing,” a number of students replied with. “Classes are stressful, and weed helps me relax.”

Most students at UNH see no problem with marijuana usage. “It’s just a way to have fun.”

However, here at the University of New Haven, marijuana abuse is not a serious problem.

“Considering the amount of students here on campus, the ratio of kids caught smoking is surprisingly low,” Officer Crawford said.

However, if you are caught, the stakes are high. Students who get caught smoking are referred to the Dean’s office.

Students caught selling or growing the weed? You will be expelled, arrested and will have to go to court.

Due to the severe drought that has affected the Midwest, food costs are expected to rise for the next nine months.

The drought, which is the worst in decades, has already destroyed more than half of the United States’ corn crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already declared 1,600 counties in 32 states as natural disaster areas, after the drought has affected millions of acres of pastures and croplands.

According to the World Bank, global food prices have already jumped 10 percent from June to July, and the price of corn and wheat has already risen by 25 percent. While the drought is not only dire for the farmers, increased prices on corn, wheat and soybeans also mean that the budgets of American citizens will be pushed to their limits.

While the World Bank does not believe that people will riot as they did in 2008 when food prices spiked, it does not mean that citizens will not be struggling.

According to Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JP Morgan Chase & Co., disposable incomes may be trimmed by 0.3 percent. Since the consumer sentiment has still not returned to pre-recession level, consumers are not going to take this news well.

There has already been a 13 percent increase in gasoline prices, and the next item to rise is going to be food prices.

Despite the fact that these increases will not affect total inflation levels, fuel and food prices account for approximately 24 percent of the consumer-price index, according to the Labor Department.

This is because unlike other products that the consumer buys less frequently, citizens make regular stops at the grocery store and gas stations.

“Even though it may not have a big impact on headline inflation, it can affect inflationary expectations,” Feroli said.

In addition, The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell for the sixth straight week on Aug. 19, which shows that Americans have a negative outlook when it comes to their finances.

“Consumers don’t have a lot of cushion,” said Omair Sharif, a U.S. economist at RBS Securities Inc. in Stamford, Conn. Unemployment and weak job growth have left little prospect for higher wages, which will likely “stagnate,” he said.

While it is clear that harder times are ahead when it comes to trips to the grocery store, it is going to take awhile until the prices actually show up at the checkout. The agricultural commodities increases will not show up for a while because food companies buy raw materials months in advance. The increased food prices will be an extra expenditure for a while, but economists believe that not everything is going to be bad.

“Rising food prices are obviously something to keep an eye on, but they’re not likely to change the outlook on inflation or on growth,” said Kevin Cummins, an economist at UBS Securities LLC in Stamford, Conn. “The direct impact from higher food prices will be marginal.”

It is clear that economic times are hitting Americans hard, and any additional spending is added stress when it comes to making a budget.

According to Feroli, the impact on inflation will subside in the second half of next year unless there is another drought.

“I wouldn’t expect food inflation to persist.”

One hopes that the higher food prices will not be too much of a burden to American citizens and that next year there will be more rain to prevent another drought like this from occurring.

It is clear that it is not the 1950s anymore.

Poodle skirts are out of style, televisions do not need antennas, and almost everyone has an iPhone.

Most importantly, society has a completely different view of cigarettes. For years, it has not been acceptable to smoke in certain places such as parks, restaurants, and hospitals. People have become aware that cigarettes are not “cool” or simply harmless.

In fact, there are hundreds of advertisements and projects that encourage citizens to quit the dangerous habit.

Recently, a huge breakthrough in the anti-cigarette movement has occurred.

Ohio higher education officials have voted unanimously to urge the state’s college campuses to put a ban on all tobacco use, both indoors and outdoors.

In addition, the vote also encourages a ban on selling and advertising tobacco. Even though the State Health Department favors the bans, the decision is ultimately up to each institution’s board of trustees.

Supporters expect that the rest of the nation will follow in Ohio’s footsteps since Ohio State University is one of the nation’s largest universities.

Currently, Miami University is the only public Ohio university that bans smoking on campus along with several private colleges.

Of course, the movement has stirred a debate. Many consider smoking to be a personal choice or habit, such as reading or scrapbooking.

The question on their minds is, would smokers be stripped of certain rights as Americans? Or is second-hand smoke stripping people’s right to be healthy?

Healthy eating and regular exercise improves mind function, chronic illnesses, and various other health issues. But have you ever

The study also found that women who had diabetes while pregnant may have children who have “greater deficits in language comprehension and production and adaptive communication.” (AP Photo)

stopped to consider how your health is affecting others? New research suggests that women who were obese during pregnancy were more likely to have autistic children.

The study conducted by UC Davis MIND Institute is the first of its kind. Researchers at the university studied approximately 1,000 California children, ages two to five and gained information from their mother’s medical records. They found that women who were obese during pregnancy were 67% more likely to give birth to an autistic child than those who were average weight. It was also found that obese mothers also faced double the risk of having children with other developmental delays such as ADHD, dyslexia, and physical disabilities.

This link is rationalized by the theory that if someone is 35lbs or more overweight, they are more likely to be at risk for inflammation and elevated levels of blood sugar. These two components may reach the fetus and damage the developing brain and organs.

The study also found that women who had diabetes while pregnant may have children who have “greater deficits in language comprehension and production and adaptive communication.”

“Over a third of U.S. women in their childbearing years are obese and nearly one-tenth have gestational or type 2 diabetes during pregnancy,” reported Paula Krakowaik, an epidemiologist at University of California. “Our finding that these material conditions may be linked with neurodevelopmental problems in children raises concerns and therefore may have serious public-health implications.”

Other factors have been linked to autism in previous studies such as genetics, a mother’s health history, and certain medications. While obesity is not the only cause to autism in children, it is a growing threat that needs to be taken into consideration by all pregnant mothers.

While the study is still in its early stages, Yale University researchers say that they may have found a link between cell phone usage and behavioral problems in children, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The study used pregnant mice and exposed them to radiation from an active cell phone. The offspring that were born were typically more anxious and had poorer memory compared to infant mice whose mothers were not exposed to radiation.

These researchers believe that cell phones could be having the same effect on children, which would account for the higher rates of behavioral problems in society. Senior researcher Hugh Taylor said, “We have shown that behavioral problems in mice that resemble ADHD are caused by cell phone exposure in the womb. The rise in behavioral disorders in human children may be in part due to fetal cellular telephone irradiation exposure.”

The experimental group consisted of 33 pregnant mice that were exposed to radiation from a silenced, but active cell phone. The cell phone was on an active call for 17 of the 19 days of the pregnancy. The control group on the other hand, was kept in a cage where there was a cell phone that was turned off.

Another researcher involved in the study, Tamir Aldad, says that further research still needs to be conducted, to see if the findings can be generalized to human pregnancies as well. Rodents pregnancies only last for 19 days, and the offspring are born with less-developed brains. “Cell phones were used in this study to mimic potential human exposure but future research will instead use standard electromagnetic field generators to more precisely define the level of exposure,” said Aldad in a statement.

Researchers say that limiting cell phone usage during pregnancy is warranted, however, they warn against applying the findings and assuming that they are applicable to humans. “This paper does not show any link between radiofrequency exposure and ADHD. The rate of ADHD problems has been steady for more than 20 years, so mobile phones are an unlikely cause. Taking animal studies and extrapolating directly to humans requires much more care. The exposure of the animals was very great, and the researchers’ tests of animal memory should not be directly equated to human attention; different species can react differently,” said Professor Eric Taylor, a child psychiatrist from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

Other researchers argue that motor activity in mice is not the same as the complex ADHD behavior found in humans. Still, the researchers from the Yale study hope that their findings may provide a better understanding of how these behavioral problems can develop.

“The rise in behavioral disorders in developed countries may be, at least in part, due to a contribution from fetal cellular telephone radiation exposure,” the researchers wrote. “Further testing is warranted in humans and non-human primates to determine if the risks are similar and to establish safe exposure limits during pregnancy.”

Representatives from Coca-Cola and Pepsi stated in a press release that they have lowered levels of a chemical found in caramel coloring to comply with a California law, but insisted the drinks pose no health risks and recipes will not be changed. This move allows both companies to avoid having to label products with a cancer warning due to what the state of California has ruled are high levels of 4-methylimidazole (MEI), of which is shown to cause cancer in lab rodent subjects. The chemical forms as a by-product of a heating process to create caramelization when ammonia or ammonia sulfite is used.

Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi have said their popular and highly secretive soda recipes will not be altered but that caramel suppliers have been asked to reduce 4-MEI levels in California, a change that will eventually spread across the United States.

“We are NOT changing our recipe or our formula,” Coca-Cola Company spokesman Ben Sheidler stated in his public statement. “What we did do is direct our caramel suppliers to make a manufacturing process modification in order to reduce the level of 4-MEI in our caramel so as to meet the requirement set by the state of California’s Proposition 65.”

For its part, PepsiCo said its beverages “are and always will be safe for consumption.” And that “Consumers will notice no difference in our products and have no reason at all for any health concerns. There is no scientific evidence that 4-MEI in foods and beverages are a threat to human health,” it added.

California state voters passed Proposition 65 in 1986, and the law aims to protect state residents from “chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.” A California court has since ruled in December 2011 that 4-MEI could be listed as a known carcinogen under Prop 65. The state of California set a 29-microgram benchmark for 4-MEI in products. Anything that may expose consumers to a daily level higher than that must carry a warning label.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a recent sampling of Coke and Pepsi drink cans in the Washington area showed levels ranging between 103 and 153 micrograms of 4-MEI. But beverage industry leaders, including the American Beverage Association (ABA), argued the evidence of a cancer link is limited to one study in mice and is not recognized by major US, European, and Canadian health agencies. The ABA also added that a person would need to drink massive amounts of cola to reach a risk level similar to the dosing in mice — 2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years — that served as the basis for California’s decision. “The science simply does not show that 4-MEI in foods or beverages are a threat to human health,” the ABA said.

CSPI has petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration to ban ammonia-sulfite caramel coloring, which is the type used in many common products including cola, soy sauce, coffee, bread, molasses, gravy, and some beers. Jacobson applauded the move to cut levels in California, and urged more action on a global scale. “The question is, when will Coke and Pepsi make these changes around the world, not just in California?” Jacobson said. Sheidler said Coca-Cola would begin enacting the same changes to beverages nationwide and globally “in order to streamline and simplify our supply chain, manufacturing and distribution systems,” though no timeline has been set.

As the holiday season winds down, many students are left with the remnants of December – unwanted pounds and a sweet tooth that won’t seem to go away.  The days of feasting on reindeer sugar cookies and mom’s holiday comfort meals are now over and students are rushing to the Beckerman Recreation Center to keep New Year resolutions and shed those holiday pounds.

A New Year is a time for a new start; here are some tips to shed that extra weight.  First, ditch the monotony of the treadmill.  Sure, the treadmill is a great source of cardio, but don’t get trapped into the same daily routine.  Trick your body a little bit.  Rather than running at the same pace for 30 minutes, change it up.

Try jogging to start and then burst into 30-60 second sprints, followed by a brief cool down – then repeat.  This will rev up your heart rate and speed up weight loss.  And hey, if you’re feeling brave enough, why not set the treadmill on an incline and run uphill.  Add some weight-bearing activity in between cardio sessions, and you’ll forget all about those reindeer cookies in no time!

And let’s not forget about nutrition either.  Physical activity and proper nutrition come hand in hand, and both are essential to stay fit.  Instead of scouring vending machines for snacks, students can eat snacks like Greek yogurt, raw almonds, fresh fruit, or healthy snack bars.

Eating healthy on campus can be very simple for students, if they know where to look.  The Rec Center sells healthy smoothies featuring fresh fruits, which are a great pre or post-workout snack.  Students can also purchase fresh fruit cups, protein bars, hard-boiled eggs, and even sandwiches at the Rec Center.

Healthy snacking options can be found all around campus.  The bookstore sells delicious KIND bars and trail mixes.  Jazzman’s Café sells salads with grilled chicken or other meats, sandwiches, protein bars, fruit smoothies, fresh fruit, soups, and even sushi!  Jazzman’s features a fantastic salad bar where students can choose which ingredients go into their salads; an assortment of proteins, vegetables and cheeses are available.

So next time you’re in a rush, skip the vending machines and try one of these healthy alternatives instead.  You’ll feel fit and energized right away!

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A professor at American University in Cairo says that the discovery of prostate cancer in a 2,200 year old mummy indicates that the cancer was caused by genetics and not environment.

“Living conditions in ancient times were very different; there were no pollutants or modified foods, which leads us to believe that the disease is not necessarily only linked to industrial factors,” Salima Ikram, an AUC professor who studied the mummy for two years in Portugal, reports to the Huffington Post.  This is based on the major question that cancer researchers ask – genetics or environment?

This is the second oldest known case of prostate cancer; the oldest case was a 2,700 year old skeleton of a king in Russia.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A crude new method of making methamphetamine poses a risk even to Americans who never get anywhere near the drug: It is filling hospitals with thousands of uninsured burn patients requiring millions of dollars in advanced treatment — a burden so costly that it’s contributing to the closure of some burn units.

So-called shake-and-bake meth is produced by combining raw, unstable ingredients in a 2-liter soda bottle. But if the person mixing the noxious brew makes the slightest error, such as removing the cap too soon or accidentally perforating the plastic, the concoction can explode, searing flesh and causing permanent disfigurement, blindness or even death.

An Associated Press survey of key hospitals in the nation’s most active meth states showed that up to a third of patients in some burn units were hurt while making meth, and most were uninsured. The average treatment costs $6,000 per day. And the average meth patient’s hospital stay costs $130,000 — 60 percent more than other burn patients, according to a study by doctors at a burn center in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The influx of patients is overwhelming hospitals and becoming a major factor in the closure of some burn wards. At least seven burn units across the nation have shut down over the past six years, partly due to consolidation but also because of the cost of treating uninsured patients, many of whom are connected to methamphetamine.

Burn experts agree the annual cost to taxpayers is well into the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars, although it is impossible to determine a more accurate number because so many meth users lie about the cause of their burns.

Larger meth labs have been bursting into flame for years, usually in basements, backyard sheds or other private spaces. But those were fires that people could usually escape. Using the shake-and-bake method, drugmakers typically hold the flammable concoction up close, causing burns from the waist to the face.

“You’re holding a flame-thrower in your hands,” said Jason Grellner of the Franklin County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Also known as the “one-pot” approach, the method is popular because it uses less pseudoephedrine — a common component in some cold and allergy pills. It also yields meth in minutes rather than hours, and it’s cheaper and easier to conceal. Meth cooks can carry all the ingredients in a backpack and mix them in a bathroom stall or the seat of a car.

The improvised system first emerged several years ago, partly in response to attempts by many states to limit or forbid over-the-counter access to pseudoephedrine. Since then, the shake-and-bake recipe has spread to become the method of choice.

By 2010, about 80 percent of labs busted by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration were using shake-and-bake recipes, said Pat Johnakin, a DEA agent specializing in meth.

So instead of a large lab that supplies many users, there are now more people making meth for their personal use. The consequences are showing up in emergency rooms and burn wards.

“From what we see on the medical side, that’s the primary reason the numbers seem to be going up: greater numbers of producers making smaller batches,” said Dr. Michael Smock, director of the burn unit at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

It’s impossible to know precisely how many people are burned while making shake-and-bake meth. Some avoid medical treatment, and no one keeps exact track of those who go to the hospital. But many burn centers in the nation’s most active meth-producing states report sharp spikes in the number of patients linked to meth. And experts say the trend goes well beyond those facilities.

The director of the burn center at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, the state that led the nation in meth lab seizures in 2010, said meth injuries are doubly damaging because patients often suffer thermal burn from the explosion, as well as chemical burns. And the medical challenge is compounded by patients’ addictions.

“You’re not judgmental in this kind of work, but you see it day after day,” said Vanderbilt’s Dr. Jeffrey Guy. “We’ve had patients say, ‘I’m going out for a smoke,’ and they come back all jacked up. It’s clear they went out and did meth again.”

Few people burned by meth will admit it.

“We get a lot of people who have strange stories,” said Dr. David Greenhalgh, past president of the American Burn Association and director of the burn center at the University of California, Davis. “They’ll say they were working on the carburetor at 2 or 3 in the morning and things blew up. So we don’t know for sure, but 25 to 35 percent of our patients are meth-positive when we check them.”

Guy cited a similar percentage at Vanderbilt, which operates the largest burn unit in Tennessee. He said the lies can come with a big price because the chemicals used in meth-making are often as dangerous as the burns themselves.

He recalled the case of a woman who arrived with facial burns that she said were caused by a toaster. As a result, she didn’t tell doctors that meth-making chemicals got into her eyes, delaying treatment.

“Now she’s probably going to be blind because she wasn’t honest about it,” Guy said.

In Indiana, about three-quarters of meth busts now involve shake-and-bake. And injuries are rising sharply, mostly because of burns, said Niki Crawford of the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Team.

Indiana had 89 meth-related injuries during the 10-year period ending in 2009. The state has had 70 in the last 23 months, mostly from shake-and-bake labs, Crawford said.

What’s more, meth-related burns often sear some of the body’s most sensitive areas — the face and hands.

“I don’t think a lot of these patients will be able to re-enter society, said Dr. Lucy Wibbenmeyer of the burn center at the University of Iowa. “They’ll need rehab therapy, occupational therapy, which is very expensive.”

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that people burned while making meth typically have longer hospital stays and more expensive bills than other burn patients — bills that are frequently absorbed by the hospital since a vast majority of the meth-makers lack insurance.

Medicaid provides reimbursement for many patients lacking private insurance, but experts say it amounts to pennies on the dollar.

Doctors at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., performed a five-year study of meth patients in the early 2000s, then a follow-up study in 2009-2010. Their investigation concurred with the Iowa findings. The Kalamazoo study also found that meth burn victims were more likely to suffer damage to the lungs and windpipe, spent more time on ventilators and needed surgery more often.

That report also found that only about 10 percent of meth patients had private insurance coverage, compared with 59 percent of other patients. And in many cases, their injuries leave them unable to work.