Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive degenerative conditions which affects millions of people. We have all seen articles and videos about early diagnosis and how important it is. However, getting it diagnosed as early as we hope is much more different in reality.

A new report published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry highlights a concerning trend, it takes an average of three-and-a-half years for a person to be diagnosed with dementia after their first symptoms appear. The study, which looked at data from over 30,000 people, is the first major effort to measure this delay.

Getting a timely diagnosis is extremely important. It gives people with dementia access to treatments and support earlier, which can potentially slow down the worsening of their symptoms. With new medications now available that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in its early stages, an accurate and timely diagnosis is more crucial than ever.

Does Diagnosis Varies Among Different Groups?

The study found that the time it takes to get a diagnosis is not the same for everyone. For people with early-onset dementia (which affects younger people), the delay is even longer, averaging just over four years. The research also linked a longer time to diagnosis to:

• Being younger when symptoms first appear.
• Having a specific type of dementia called frontotemporal dementia.
• In one of the studies, Black patients were also found to wait longer for a diagnosis.

What Are The Reasons for Delay in Diagnosis?

Researchers have identified several key reasons why people wait so long to get a dementia diagnosis:

Mistaking symptoms for normal aging

Early signs of dementia, like forgetfulness or confusion, are often dismissed as a natural part of growing older. This common misunderstanding prevents many people from seeking a medical evaluation, leading to significant delays in getting a proper diagnosis.

Fear and stigma

The social stigma surrounding dementia causes many people to feel afraid or embarrassed. This fear can discourage individuals and their families from seeking help, leading them to avoid conversations with doctors and prolonging the time to diagnosis.

Issues with the healthcare system

Problems within the healthcare system, such as inefficient doctor referral networks, language barriers, and a lack of staff at memory clinics, also contribute to diagnostic delays. These systemic challenges make it harder for patients to get the timely care they need.

How Is Dementia Diagnosed?

After the initial evaluation, doctors may use a variety of specialized tests to confirm a dementia diagnosis and identify its type.

Cognitive and Neurological Tests

These are used to assess a person's thinking and physical abilities, including memory, problem-solving skills, and language. Imaging tests like CT, MRI, and PET scans are used to look for physical changes in the brain, such as tumors or strokes, and to observe brain activity. Psychiatric evaluation could also be done to

Evaluations and Other Tests

Psychiatric evaluations could help doctors determine whether a different mental health condition is contributing to these symptoms. In rare cases doctors could also recommend genetic testing for family history.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Tests and Blood Test

A spinal tap can be performed to collect CSF, which is then tested for specific proteins that may indicate Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. Although they are not standard tests yet, blood tests have been created to measure levels of beta-amyloid which are associated with Alzheimer’s.

To address this challenge, the study’s authors suggest a plan of action on several fronts. First, they recommend launching public awareness campaigns to help people better understand the early signs of dementia and to reduce the stigma associated with the condition. This would hopefully encourage people to seek medical help sooner.

Second, they emphasize the need for better training for doctors and other healthcare professionals so they can more easily recognize the symptoms of dementia and refer patients for specialized care more quickly. Finally, they stress the importance of providing better access to early intervention and support for people with dementia and their families, ensuring they get the help they need as soon as possible.

As the rainy season begins across West and Central Africa, an estimated 80,000 children are now at high risk of contracting cholera, according to the United Nations. The warning, issued on Wednesday by Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, highlighted active cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Nigeria, with potential for cross-border transmission to neighboring nations.

Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water, has long plagued regions lacking basic sanitation and safe drinking water. The current threat underscores deep-rooted challenges around water infrastructure and hygiene, worsened by seasonal rainfall and poor access to medical treatment.

“The risk is particularly high among children, who are already vulnerable due to malnutrition and limited access to healthcare,” Haq said at the UN's daily briefing.

Citing UNICEF, he added that several countries, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Togo, are already grappling with ongoing cholera epidemics, while others such as Niger, Liberia, Benin, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon remain under active surveillance due to their vulnerability.

To help contain the spread, UNICEF has been supplying critical health, water, hygiene, and sanitation resources to affected communities and treatment centers.

“Efforts include support for vaccination drives and urging families to adopt improved hygiene practices,” Haq noted. But despite ongoing efforts, UNICEF says it urgently needs $20 million to scale up emergency response over the next three months, including risk communication and community engagement.

What Is Cholera?

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes cholera as a global public health threat closely tied to poverty and underdevelopment. The disease, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated food or water and leads to rapid, severe dehydration due to acute watery diarrhea. Without treatment, it can be fatal within hours.

Most individuals infected with cholera experience mild to moderate symptoms and can be treated with oral rehydration solutions (ORS). However, severe cases require immediate intravenous fluids and antibiotics. The WHO emphasizes that prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial in lowering the case fatality rate to below 1%.

Though often underestimated, cholera remains endemic in many low-income countries, particularly during natural disasters, conflicts, or population displacement.

In 2023 alone, over 535,000 cases and 4,000 deaths were reported from 45 countries, a figure believed to be much lower than the actual burden due to weak surveillance and stigma around reporting.

Prevention Hinges on Water, Sanitation, and Community Action

Experts stress that cholera control is not only a medical issue but also a matter of basic infrastructure and education. Long-term prevention requires universal access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion. During outbreaks, rapid WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions—such as chlorinated water supplies, soap distribution, and hygiene education—can significantly reduce transmission.

Oral cholera vaccines (OCVs), including WHO-approved options like Euvichol-Plus and Dukoral, provide added protection in outbreak-prone areas. Due to global vaccine shortages, a one-dose regimen is now being used in emergency campaigns.

Community engagement remains central to cholera prevention. From spreading awareness about handwashing and safe food handling to modifying funeral practices for victims, involving local populations in response efforts can save lives and halt further spread.

The Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), led by WHO, continues to coordinate international efforts to eliminate cholera by supporting national response plans, advancing surveillance tools, and developing treatment kits that can serve 100 patients per unit.

As West and Central Africa brace for worsening conditions during the rainy season, the international community’s attention turns to not just halting the current outbreaks, but building resilient systems that can prevent such crises in the future.

Influenza can look like a run-of-the-mill childhood illness, but in an occasional patient it can cause a life-threatening illness known as acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). This isn't a normal fever or headache—it's a catastrophic neurologic emergency characterized by out-of-control brain swelling and an incessant immune attack.

A new JAMA review illuminates 41 pediatric cases of ANE in the U.S. from late 2023 through spring 2025. In nearly all cases, the patients had previously been healthy before developing acute and severe flu-like symptoms. Of these cases, 27% ended in death, and 63% of survivors had moderate to severe neurologic disability three months after the illness.

What Is Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy (ANE)?

ANE occurs when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive during an influenza infection. Dr. Thomas LaRocca, co-senior author of the study and pediatric critical care specialist at Stanford, describes it as “similar to the sepsis response” in which the immune system causes damage to the brain instead of fighting infection.

Typically, after a few days of flu symptoms—fever, congestion, vomiting—kids suddenly develop neurologic signs like seizures, altered mental status, or coma. In all 41 cases, children suffered significant brain swelling. 95% had fevers, while 68% experienced seizures.

ANE resembles the worst-case scenario of flu complications—fast, deadly, and difficult to treat once it spreads.

Pandemic-Level Numbers During Two Severe Flu Seasons

While ANE is rare historically, researchers identified 41 confirmed cases across 23 U.S. pediatric hospitals over two flu seasons, an unusually high incidence tied to aggressive influenza activity in 2023–2025.

The majority of children were 5 years old, previously healthy, and almost all infections were associated with influenza A (39 of 41), with only two cases attributed to influenza B. Disturbingly, only six children had been vaccinated against the flu that year—fewer than 16%, versus about 55% national pediatric vaccination coverage.

This stark gap raises a critical warning: even though ANE is rare, it’s heavily preventable through vaccination.

Why Timing and Early Treatment Is Important?

ANE progresses quickly. Nearly half of the fatal cases occurred within eight days of hospitalization; survivors spent an average of 22 days in hospital, with 11 days in ICU.

Treatment must start fast. As Dr. Keith Van Haren, pediatric neurologist at Stanford and co-author, stresses: early intensive care—combining steroids to calm the immune system and plasma exchange (replacement of a child’s plasma with donor plasma)—can significantly improve chances.

Despite ANE’s reputation as nearly always fatal, about 70% of survivors regained some mobility: 19 could sit, 16 could stand, and 13 could walk independently within three months—even after severe brain swelling.

Dr. LaRocca and Van Haren also point out that intensive neurocritical care, careful immunotherapy, and early support increase recovery odds even when the diagnosis appears grim.

ANE represents just one extreme of flu’s neurological impact. During the 2024–25 season, 13% of pediatric flu deaths involved encephalopathy or encephalitis (IAE), with ANE being the most severe subtype. Historically, the average rate has been around 9% of child flu deaths—ranging from 0% in the mild 2020–21 season to 14% in 2011–12.

These statistics remind us that while ANE is rare, brain complications from flu are not negligible—and they disproportionately affect young children under 5.

Why Vaccination Is The Best Prevention For Kids?

Both experts and study authors emphatically agree: prevention is better than cure.

“Vaccinate,” Van Haren said plainly. Not only does the flu shot reduce typical risks like respiratory failure—but it also prevents extreme complications like ANE. For children who survive one episode of ANE, vaccination becomes even more critical to avoid recurrence.

Given that only a small fraction of affected children had been vaccinated, these deaths and disabilities were arguably avoidable.

What Parents Should Watch For?

Here’s what families and healthcare providers should know:

• Monitor flu symptoms closely—especially in kids who develop neurological signs like confusion or seizures.
• Act early, don’t wait for symptoms to escalate. Ensure transfer to hospitals equipped for neurocritical care and plasma exchange.
• Remember that ANE progresses fast—every hour counts.
• If your child survives, rehabilitation is possible. Many children regain functional abilities despite initial severe outcomes.
• Don't let hope fade early; survival is real when aggressive care is delivered promptly.

The unusual spike in ANE during the 2023–2025 flu seasons serves as a wake-up call to both the medical community and families: even previously healthy children are vulnerable. While ANE remains a rare complication, early recognition and intervention can dramatically alter its course.

More broadly, this work underscores the hidden dangers of influenza—and why simple preventive steps matter so much.

Flu-Linked brain swelling in children is rare but when it does strike, it can be fatal or leave lifelong disability. Vaccination, vigilant symptom awareness, and rapid access to advanced care are key to prevention and survival. In cases where the immune system spirals out of control, timely and aggressive treatments like steroids and plasma exchange can make the difference between recovery and tragedy.

Your heart might be keeping a secret from you—and it’s not a good one. According to new research led by Northwestern Medicine and published in JAMA Cardiology, many American adults have hearts that are biologically older than the number on their driver's license.

This isn't just a metaphor for feeling worn out or tired. It’s a real, measurable difference in cardiovascular health, and the implications are serious. Using a new “heart age” calculator based on American Heart Association data, researchers found that the average American’s heart is several years older than their actual age. For many, especially men, people of color, and those with lower income or education levels, the gap is even wider—sometimes by over a decade. So, how do you know how old your heart really is? More importantly, what can you do about it?

What Is “Heart Age” and Why It Is Important?

Heart age is a simplified way to express your cardiovascular risk. Traditional risk assessments—like the American Heart Association’s PREVENT equations—typically offer percentages: your doctor might say you have a 10% risk of a heart attack over the next 10 years. But these statistics can feel abstract and hard to act on.

Dr. Sadiya Khan, professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at Northwestern University and senior author of the study, believes translating that risk into an “age” makes it more relatable. Telling someone their heart is 60 when they’re only 45? That hits differently.

“The exciting thing about this tool is that there are a lot of things people can do,” Khan said in a statement. “The hope is that this empowers people to optimise their heart health for healthier aging and longer health spans.”

Alarming Trends Across Demographics

The researchers analyzed health data from over 14,000 U.S. adults aged 30 to 79 who had no prior history of cardiovascular disease. They used a publicly available, free online tool to assess heart age based on several inputs: blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, diabetes, medications, and more. The results weren’t pretty:

• Women had an average heart age of 55.4, despite having an average chronological age of just 51.3.
• Men fared even worse, with an average heart age of 56.7 versus an actual age of 49.7.
• The disparities grew starker across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic lines:
• Black men had hearts that were, on average, 8.5 years older than their chronological age.
• Hispanic men followed closely at 7.9 years.
• Black women had heart ages 6.2 years older than their actual age.

People with only a high school education or less were especially at risk, with nearly a third having hearts that were 10 years older than their birth certificates would suggest.

“This helps to highlight the need for more urgent action,” Khan said. “Identifying individuals who have an ‘older’ heart age can help prompt action to prioritise prevention in at-risk individuals.”

Why Your Heart Might Be Aging Faster Than You Are?

It boils down to a few key lifestyle and health factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, and unmanaged diabetes.

These factors quietly and persistently damage the cardiovascular system. Over time, this wear and tear increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure—sometimes without obvious symptoms until it’s too late.

Khan and her team hope the heart age calculator will help make this silent damage more visible—and more actionable.

Can You Prevent Your Heart From Ageing?

Even if your heart is older than it should be, that’s not the end of the story. Cardiovascular aging isn’t fixed. In many cases, it can be slowed—or even reversed—with the right interventions. According to the researchers, key lifestyle changes that can bring your heart age closer to your real age (or even make it younger) include:

• Quitting smoking
• Improving diet (less sodium, more fruits and vegetables)
• Increasing physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week)
• Managing high blood pressure and cholesterol with medications when needed
• Monitoring and treating diabetes effectively

But Dr Khan emphasizes that these actions aren’t just for those already diagnosed with heart disease. Younger adults, too, can benefit from understanding and addressing their heart age early—well before symptoms appear.

A Simple Online Tool With Major Potential

The free, public-facing heart age calculator developed by Khan’s team is already online and available to anyone. It takes just a few minutes and requires basic information like your age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and smoking status.

The idea is to encourage a shift from reactive to proactive care giving people a clearer sense of urgency before a heart event forces the issue.

“We hope this tool helps doctors and patients discuss risk for heart disease more effectively,” said Khan. “The important thing is that we have very good options available in our toolbox to help slow that aging down if we can identify it.”

Although this study focuses on the U.S., the implications are global. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. A tool like this, paired with access to routine health screenings and education, could help people across countries and cultures make better decisions about their long-term health.

In resource-limited settings where percentage-based risk assessments may not be widely understood, expressing risk through the lens of “heart age” could be a game-changer in preventive medicine.

Your heart might be working harder and aging faster than you realize but the power to slow—or even reverse—that process is in your hands. This new heart age calculator doesn’t just offer a number.