(From The DNA Store)
b5’s Science and Health channel correspondents are coming together to bring you our Top 5 lists for Christmas and holidays … each of us with different slant!
Here at Genetics and Health we have some light hearted and some slightly more serious topics …
Straight in at Number 1 and your New Year’s resolution
….. if you’ve got a family history of health problems or are worried  - get yourself regularly checked out  - your good health is your number one priority. Only you can look after yourself!
Now for the light hearted list:

By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DEvery Sunday morning we have a family ritual: 8-9 in the morning it’s “Meet the Press”, 9-9:30—the Chris Matthews Show. And while the TV is blaring and we OD on politics, we walk on the treadmill or step on the elliptical, do abdominals and pushups, do Yoga and lift weights—in short: we indulge our political and fitness addictions simultaneously, and feel self-righteous and quite superior to the flabby unwashed masses.

It’s World Diabetes Day and here is my support for the day, although it’s not quite genetics based but it’s topical for me.  One of my favorite fathers at my boys’ school is a diabetic and is having a really tough time with circulation problems.  Today he let me know he will probably lose a toe … maybe more.  He’s only in his late 30s and is a fit, healthy, happy guy.

(Source: Canadian Medicine)

  Research results released in recent days have indicated there may be a relationship between cold sores and Alzheimer’s.  Elaine, at Genetics and Health, discusses the Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV-1) virus  involved and these latest findings in her post, Cold sore virus may be linked to Alzheimer’s.
She also relates the connection between HSV-1 and ApoE4 gene and their connection with Alzheimer’s…how researchers suspect the presence of the ApoE4 gene may work to make HSV-1 more active.
Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes)

Elaine at Genetics and Health, in her post, UK embarks on largest ever Alzheimer’s gene study, has recommended Alzheimer’s Notes “for even more amazing information, support, comments and latest advances in the field of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Thanks, Elaine, for your support of Alzheimer’s Notes.  We try to provide information and encouragement, along with resources for the Alzheimer’s patient and caregiver.  Since I’ve been caregiver for my mom and aunt, and Liz works with the elderly, hopefully we realize how much this is needed. 

Author M. Kushner explains: A medical study that advised using caffeine to help fight Parkinson's disease has become quite a hot topic. Yet, I look at caffeine as a two edged sword, a risky thing to use regardless of any contribution it might make. It may come as a shock to you that, as I discuss in my book, "The Truth About Caffeine", large amounts of caffeine use removes some of your dopamine neurons. And, even if a person consumes it moderately, sooner or later, he will increase his dosages

Author M. Kushner explains: Once a medical study was published on the application of caffeine for treating Parkinson's disease, it stirred up a lot of controversy. However, in my opinion, caffeine cannot help without causing harm. Over doing caffeine takes away your dopamine, as I illustrate in my book titled, anequot;The Truth About Caffeineanequot;. An individual will continue to want bigger quantities of caffeine, no matter what amount he started consuming.

Author Ken Glauser explains: Sadly sometimes children are faced with medical problems usually associated with adults and adult behavior, While the age difference between children and adults can be substantial, the negative impacts can be as severe with a child as it is with an adult. Sometimes the childanersquo;s negative impacts can be more dramatic and harmful than the adults.

By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DSome of the health advice we come across in the media and the internet is so outrageous it borders on quackery; no, it is quackery. If it wasn’t so dangerous it would be hilarious. So I thought we should all share in the hilarity. But before we proceed, a disclaimer: the following is based on actual Q and A, but the author took  literary license to highlight their innaneness (there, I finally got to use this word). So here goes:HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?