Public Health

Arlington, Va. – October 14, 2026 -- People living with ALS can now build an insurance appeal letter for free, step by step, using the new Undeniable Kit from The ALS Association. The kit anchors We Are Undeniable, a national campaign to help families contest denials of prescribed medications, equipment and care.

The kit is modeled on appeals won by the Association's pro bono legal team. The campaign also offers guidance on what to expect at each stage of an appeal, pro bono attorneys for complex cases, and a way for families to report their denials.

NEWPORT BEACH – October 14, 2026 -- In a JAMA Psychiatry study of 187,341 adults aged 50 and older, 6.7% of participants diagnosed with ADHD developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared with 3.4% of those without ADHD.

ADHD diagnosis carried a 4.6-fold higher hazard after adjustment

After statistical adjustment, the researchers linked an ADHD diagnosis to a 4.6-fold higher hazard of cognitive impairment. The study was led by Bauer-Negrini and colleagues and published on October 7, 2026.

Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder of Amen Clinics, says the findings reinforce his long-held view that mental health is brain health. He argues that ADHD is a brain-based condition, not just a problem of attention, behavior or motivation.

Provo – – October 13, 2026 -- More than half of U.S. adults (55%) gamble at least monthly, and roughly 1 in 8 gamble every day, according to a new national survey from the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University. Monthly participation is higher among men (63%) than women (48%).

Young adults bet to make money, not just for fun

About 4 in 10 respondents name making money as a primary reason they gamble. Among adults ages 18 to 29, money edges out entertainment, 53% to 50%. Adults 30 and older lean the other way, with 51% citing entertainment and 37% citing financial gain.

The report, "Gambling With Our Future," draws on a survey of 2,548 U.S. adults. It covers 16 activities, from lottery tickets and charity raffles to mobile sports betting, prediction markets and high-risk financial trading treated as a wager.

Charlotte – October 13, 2026 -- Women are being urged to discuss their personal blood clot risk with a healthcare professional this World Thrombosis Day, October 13, as a global campaign focuses on how that risk shifts across a woman's life.

One in four deaths worldwide stems from thrombosis-related conditions

One in four people worldwide die from conditions caused by thrombosis, yet blood clots remain among the most overlooked and misunderstood serious health threats. Thousands of partners are joining the campaign to raise awareness of warning signs, risk factors and the importance of timely care. The movement is led by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), whose community includes more than 21,000 thrombosis professionals, advocates and partners.

Cincinnati – October 12, 2026 -- Flu, COVID-19, RSV and other routine vaccines are available now at Kroger Family of Pharmacies, with both walk-in and scheduled appointments. Most patients with health insurance can get vaccinated at no out-of-pocket cost.

Appointments can be booked online at Kroger.com/vaccine. Savings are loaded automatically to customers' loyalty accounts at Kroger pharmacy locations.

Who should get which vaccine

Leading medical organizations continue to recommend annual flu vaccination for anyone aged six months and older. They also recommend a COVID-19 vaccine for adults 18 and older.

RSV vaccines are encouraged for adults 75 and older, as well as for adults ages 50 to 74 with certain chronic conditions. Customers with questions about routine vaccine eligibility can talk to a Kroger pharmacist.

Syracuse – October 09, 2026 -- If dizziness or balance problems have you scheduled for a vestibular evaluation, the process typically involves a symptom review, eye movement tests, balance exercises and head-position checks, according to audiologist Dr. Nicole Anzalone of Syracuse Hearing Solutions.

Anzalone's insights appear in an article published by HelloNation. It explains that vestibular testing gives healthcare providers measurable information about how the inner ear and related systems function. That helps narrow down the possible causes of symptoms, which can vary widely.

The inner ear works with your eyes, brain, muscles and joints to keep you balanced

The vestibular system sits within the inner ear. When it does not function normally, symptoms can include unsteadiness, difficulty walking or vertigo.

Roxbury – October 07, 2026 -- CVS Health has opened a new pharmacy-focused store at 32 Warren Street in Roxbury, part of a national rollout of nearly 20 smaller, pharmacy-only locations launching in select communities in 2026.

The Roxbury store ditches the traditional front-of-store layout for a compact, 3,000-square-foot footprint.

Unlike CVS's typical full-service stores, the new format carries a customized selection of over-the-counter products rather than a full retail aisle lineup. Patients who need items not stocked in-store can order them for free home delivery instead.

The location adds a medication disposal bin and a needle collection site for community use.

Residents can safely dispose of unneeded, unwanted or expired medications, as well as used sharps, directly at the pharmacy.

Chicago – October 7, 2026 -- On Sunday, October 11, 2026, 263 runners will take on the Chicago Marathon's 26.2-mile course as part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's (AFSP) "Race for Hope" team, turning their mileage into fundraising for mental health research and education.

Team Has Raised Nearly $4.6 Million Since 2010

More than 1,800 participants have run under the Race for Hope banner since the team joined the Chicago Marathon in 2010, collectively raising close to $4.6 million for AFSP. This year's 263-member team is aiming to add nearly $1 million more to that total.

Runners Wear Jerseys With Personal Stories on the Back

Each team member races in a custom jersey featuring the Race for Hope logo on the front and a personal message on the back -- often naming a loved one lost to suicide or reflecting on their own mental health struggles.

Wichita Falls – October 07, 2026 -- Many people with disabilities avoid taking a job because they believe any paycheck will instantly cut off their Social Security benefits, but that assumption is often wrong. David Toogood, an expert on empowering people with disabilities at Work Services Corporation in Wichita Falls, Texas, says Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) both allow work under specific rules rather than cutting people off the moment they earn income.

SSDI includes a trial work period before benefits change.

New York – October 07, 2026 -- Bracha Banayan, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and founder of telehealth practice Hello Dose, has released a new book titled "Why Are You Still Hungry?" aimed at people using or considering GLP-1 weight-loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide. The paperback is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and BookBaby, while the eBook can be found on Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and BookBaby's Bookshop.

The book explains the biology behind stubborn weight gain.

Banayan breaks down factors such as insulin resistance, the body's weight "set point" and "food noise" -- the persistent, intrusive thoughts about food many patients report. She describes in plain language how GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist drugs act on both the gut and the brain.