Researchers have been tracking week-by-week changes in people’s motivation to exercise. And they say those don’t-feel-like-it weeks can really hurt the capacity to stick with the program.

Older people often don’t visit the doctor alone. Someone comes with them – almost always a family member – to help the patient understand the medical issues and keep track of the doctor’s recommendations.

African-Americans have a higher risk of kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, which contributes to a higher risk of heart disease. Dr. Griffin Rodgers, who is director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, says that people with a family history should be more concerned.  He says it’s a good idea to review who in the family had what condition.

Beta-amyloid protein builds up in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients and experts consider it a likely marker of the disease.

But researchers at the University of California, Berkeley also have noticed something else. Susan Landau and William Jagust looked at brain images of older people with normal thinking ability, and at their reports of activities such as how much reading and writing they did at different ages.

New data show that compared to normal weight children, obese children have lower vitamin D levels. Prediabetes is a condition in which someone is thought to be at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Lighting up has never seemed so uncool. Data shows that fewer and fewer middle and high school students are exposed to smoke on the road. But 1 in every 5 non-smoking youths is still exposed to second hand smoke in the car.

The good things about having a caring mom may last a long time. Researchers say middle-aged people who recalled having a nurturing mother also reported having signs of better health.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Today, 3 million high school students smoke. And 1 in 3 young adults, ages 18 to 26, smokes.

Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin: “Three out of four teen smokers will continue to smoke well into adulthood.” (5 seconds)

The hippocampus section of our brains is important for memory, learning and stress hormones. New research on 7- to 10-year-olds shows a direct connection between parental nurturing and growth of the hippocampus. Children and parents were videotaped during mildly stressful tasks that required support.

Shoveling snow can be hard work – especially for a weak heart. But studies indicate something more than just doing hard work might be the reason.

A study indicates that the more vitamin D you have, the less likely you’ll be to have a stroke. Data from 21,000 people, ages 45 and older, who took a food frequency questionnaire, examined vitamin D and stroke risk.

Nutritionist Janet de Jesus isn’t big on short-term diets. She prefers plans to make long term lifestyle changes.

Screening tests can find some kinds of cancer early when treatment is more effective. But a look at national survey data for 2010 indicates a good deal of missed opportunities.

Growing old can slow a person down, but not in everything. A study that looked at thinking ability indicates older people can stay as sharp in some areas as younger ones if they push themselves.