When you're outside this spring and summer, prevent tick bites and reduce your risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by following these tips: 

More cases of Lyme disease are reported than any other vector-borne disease in the United States. There were 29,959 confirmed cases and 8509 probable cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2009; most of these cases are reported from the Northeast and upper Midwest. See more on Lyme disease statistics.Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. 

People become infected with the Lyme disease bacteria when they are bitten by an infected blacklegged tick.As we start spending more time outdoors during spring and into summer, we have to be aware of the risk of tick bites. Gardening, camping, hiking, and just playing outdoors are all great spring and summertime activities, but make tick protection part of your outdoor plans as well.Immature ticks (larvae and nymphs) are so small that they can be difficult to see. However, all stages of ticks need to feed on blood to continue on to the next stages—therefore these tiny ticks can be an important threat.

Ticks also feed on mammals and birds, which play a role in maintaining ticks and maintaining the Lyme disease bacteria. Ticks (including species other than the blacklegged ticks) can also transmit diseases other than Lyme disease, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, erlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Colorado tick fever, and Powassan encephalitis.Visit the the Centers for Disease Control for the full article and how you can reduce your risk of tick borne disease: http://www.cdc.gov/features/lymedisease/?s_cid=tw_cdc522

More than 5 million Americans and 26 million people worldwide are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, the most common form of dementia.

The first new guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease in nearly 30 years establish earlier stages of the mind-robbing disease, paving the way for spotting and possibly treating the devastating affects of the condition much sooner than they are now.

The change reflects a modern view that Alzheimer's is a spectrum of mental decline, with damage that can start many years before the symptoms appear.  The new guidelines describe three phases: early brain changes, mild cognitive impairment and finally, full-blown Alzheimer's.

At this time the guidelines do not advise doctors to change how they evaluate and treat patients.  Despite the advancements in brain scans, blood and spinal fluid tests that claim to show early signs of Alzheimer's, the guidelines indicate that they are not ready for prime time and should remain as tools for research only.

The new guidelines were published April 19th, 2011 in 'Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Click the link for the full story: 
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/19/new-guidelines-define-pre-alzheimers-disease/