Sleep Myths

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV… making news this week…
Indications that Alzheimer’s may contribute to more deaths in America than previously thought
Evidence that specialized programs aimed at getting toddlers to read may not work
And a new financial analysis that shows that America’s childhood vaccination program is an economic winner.
First up after reviewing 2 aging studies, experts have concluded that Alzheimer’s is a culprit in about half a million American deaths every year.

The finding published in Neurology comes from a analysis concerning almost 2600 seniors who died between the mid-1990’s and 2013.

The new estimate is 5 to 6 times higher than previously thought and elevates Alzheimer’s to the top echelons of killer illnesses alongside heart disease and cancer.
On the toddler front a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology questions the idea that specialized educational material can get toddlers reading.

For 7 months one-half of a group of 117 healthy children between 10 and 18 months old were exposed to a daily package of DVDs, flashcards, and flipbooks all intended to quickly teach infants how to read.

The experts found that the multi-media effort did not boost word comprehension or recognition.
Finally… word that the nation’s current childhood vaccine program is set to reap some enormous economic benefits down the road.
A new analysis published in Pediatrics estimates that by inoculating some 4 million infants born in 2009 against classic preventable diseases, the nation stands to prevent 42,000 early deaths and 20 million cases of disease.
Experts say this will translate into a savings of $13.5 billion in direct costs