Latest news with #SaraMurphy
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Tips to take care of your brain for Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month and people hoping to spread that awareness said there are things you can do to take charge of your brain health. Brain changes that cause Alzheimer's can begin 20 years or more before symptoms appear. Work to start on Rockdale Road next week Doing things like exercising, eating right, getting good quality sleep, and controlling blood pressure can improve brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. While age and family history are factors, these can naturally help you to reduce your risk. Millcreek man says over $1000 was stolen from EBT account 'It's not just the individual with the diagnosis, but it's the over 480 thousand caregivers here in the state of Pennsylvania that are providing that care. It's the family members that are in that circle of care who need that information and support. We want people to know they're not alone,' said Sara Murphy, vice president of programs and services for the Alzheimer's Association Greater PA Chapter. Early detection of cognitive diseases is crucial. The Alzheimer's Association also has a help line that anyone can call to get support at 1-800-272-3900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local experts react to FDA approval of blood test biomarker for early Alzheimer's detection
Earlier this month, the FDA approved another biomarker to help millions of patients and families affected by Alzheimer's disease: a blood test that detects amyloid plaques, a hallmark of the disease. Channel 11 spoke with those fighting for a cure here in the Pittsburgh area. Sara Murphy, vice president for programs and services for the Greater Pennsylvania chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, said while there's still work to be done, this FDA clearance is a huge step for early detection. 'Hearing the news, it really marked another milestone,' Murphy said. 'Early detection is really, really important for peace of mind, but also, so they can access and be eligible for some of these newly approved treatments.' More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association, and experts believe those numbers could skyrocket to around 12.7 million by the year 2050. They believe this test, which comes in the form of a blood draw, could be a game changer for millions, as the test is less invasive than other methods, including PET scan imaging or a spinal tap. 'This will detect the earliest signs of amyloid plaques in the blood for adult patients age 55-plus that are exhibiting signs and symptoms of the disease,' Murphy said. The Alzheimer's Association said while there is still no stand-alone test for diagnosing the disease, blood tests are more common than other methods and easily accessible in a specialized setting, so it's important to talk to your doctor about what treatment options are available. 'Once that person has had a conversation with their provider about some of the warning signs and symptoms, that is now another choice in the toolbox to be able to be aware that they can have this,' Murphy said. More discussion about blood biomarker tests will likely take place this summer at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in July. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Investigation exposes painful new fallout from record-breaking disasters: 'It's a double-edged sword'
When extreme weather hits, such as a hurricane, the effects can be devastating. Lives and homes can be lost. Food and clean water can be difficult to find. But, as an investigation from NC Newsline shows, there's another, often-overlooked loss that can come from these storms: child care. In her report, journalist Sara Murphy looked at how Hurricane Helene impacted child care across western North Carolina. The Category 4 storm pummeled the southeast last year, resulting in at least 250 fatalities, making it the deadliest storm in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Six months after the storm hit, the effects are still being felt, especially for those who use or operate child care centers. More than 55 centers were damaged in the storm, and 10 of those remained closed as of March. "It's a double-edged sword because the providers have to get back to work or they can't pay their bills," Alissa Rhodes, a mother and child care provider, told NC Newsline. "But then at the same time, they need to take care of themselves." And for those providers that have reopened, the child care experience may have changed, as they are now figuring out how to best help children deal with the trauma they experienced in the storm. "I've spoken to many early childhood educators who tell me, we can no longer play rain sounds during nap time, because that's not a safe, comforting sound for children anymore," Murphy said in an interview about her article. Anything that plays a role in the future of children is obviously important, but what could make this more vital is the increasing frequency with which these types of extreme weather events are occurring. As more heat-trapping gases are trapped in our atmosphere, not only does the planet warm, but events such as hurricanes, droughts, and tornadoes occur more frequently and with more severity. According to a Stanford University survey, roughly 60% of parents and early childhood caregivers said they had gone through at least one extreme weather event since 2022. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture," climate researcher Ben Clarke said. Murphy details the funding issues that have faced early childhood education in western North Carolina for years before Helene, a problem that has only become worse since the storm. Experts believe this should be one of the top priorities for state and federal aid after an extreme storm. "Having early care and education as part of a recovery strategy is … one of the first things that I think really should happen," Bradford Wiles, an early childhood development specialist at Kansas State University, told NC Newsline. "That alleviates not only the stress and difficulty of trying to parent in that time, but really frees up the adults to help their entire community recover." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Journalist Sara Murphy on the damage Helene did to western NC's inadequate child care system
Journalist Sara Murphy (Courtesy photo) The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina six months ago was, in many communities, enormous. Few aspects of normal life escaped being upended, and one very important such area was child care. As journalist Sara Murphy detailed in a recent report published by NC Newsline and the national news site, the Hechinger Report, six months after the storm, many young children and their families are still struggling with the disaster's consequences. At least 55 early child care centers were damaged in the storm, and several remain shut or are operating out of a temporary location. And the ramifications for kids, parents and the region's economy continue to take a toll. Click here to listen to the full interview with veteran journalist Sara Murphy.
