FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A bill that would allow families in a U.S. government assistance program to buy whatever brand of baby formula they can find is on the way to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.The bill, which is meant to help families in the WIC program obtain baby formula in the midst of a nationwide shortage, was passed by the Senate on Thursday and by the House on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.Families in WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) receive vouchers that they redeem for specific foods, but the vouchers are typically limited to one brand of infant formula. The bill will allow them to buy any brand of formula that is available."Now, millions of parents will have an easier time finding the...

FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Dementia risk factors appear to shift with age, and experts say knowing that could help people make lifestyle changes to reduce their chances of developing the disease."Dementia is a complicated disease and risk prediction scores need to be tailored to the individual," said Emer McGrath of the National University of Ireland Galway, lead author of a new study. "Our findings support the use of age-specific risk prediction scores for dementia instead of a one-size-fits-all approach."For the study, the researchers analyzed data collected from nearly 4,900 Americans enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study. The participants were followed from roughly age 55 to 80, and were tracked from age 65 to see who developed dementia.Participants who had diabetes...

FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For many women, having it all may mean forgoing a decent night's sleep.Women in the United States are less likely to get a good night's sleep and more likely to report daytime sleepiness than men, a new survey shows. The online poll of more than 2,000 U.S. adults found that women are 1.5 times more likely than men to rarely or never wake up feeling well-rested — 32% versus 21%. Also, sleepiness affects the daily activities of 81% of women, compared with 74% of men. The survey, commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), was conducted from Feb. 17 to 24. "There's an incredible amount of pressure that some women feel — the need to work, manage a household and raise children, all with a smile. Sometimes, we need to put away...

FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- If you've had a root canal, you can expect your tooth to survive for about 11 years, researchers say.For a time, root canals can maintain teeth affected by cavities or other problems, but the tooth eventually becomes brittle and dies. To learn more about just how long that process might take, researchers analyzed data on more than 46,000 patients who had root canals at 99 community dental practices across the United States.The findings "provide real-world data on a wider range of patients, not just those receiving care in large health systems or those who are insured," said study first author Dr. Thankam Thyvalikakath. She is director of dental informatics at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Dentistry, in Indianapolis....