Health

BOSTON — The secret might be hidden in our blood. Boston researchers in a new study have found that a blood test can predict Alzheimer’s disease progression years before symptoms or brain scan changes. The Mass General Brigham scientists discovered that a blood test of plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) can detect the earliest signals of Alzheimer’s disease in cognitively healthy adults. ...

Q. Years ago, when my younger sister was 2, she stepped on a fire ant mound. My mother rushed her to the hospital. The doctor there told my mother to get meat tenderizer and make a paste and cover her stings. It was among the best advice I have ever heard a doctor give.

Q. My poor daughter has been suffering ever since menopause. Her muscles are weak, and she feels tired, but she can’t sleep, and she has brain fog. I’m glad her doctor will be testing her hormone levels. If her testosterone is low, he is likely to prescribe this hormone.

Q. I am an 81-year-old woman in excellent health. The only thing that might be worrisome is my LDL cholesterol of 181. I understand that is way over the acceptable level. I have no other risk factors for heart disease.

As they gain popularity, weight loss medications will be the focus of a Spokane talk by obesity expert Dr. Ellen Schur.

Q. I read in your column about nicotine patches helping with memory. I have been trying them, and I do feel sharper. I’m not sure if this effect is real or placebo. That said, my question is how long should I use the patches to get the maximum benefit? Will my brain fog return if I stop? Is this a lifetime commitment?