The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an official health alert advisory on Tuesday warning about reports of fake Botox injections that have landed some patients in the hospital.

Along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state and local health officials, the CDC said it is investigating a total of 22 cases across 11 states starting in Nov. 2023 through March 2024.

Cases have so far been reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York City, Tennessee, Texas and Washington — all affecting women between 25 and 59 years of age. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX?

The women have experienced "adverse effects" after being injected with "counterfeit botulinum toxin," the alert said.

The injections were all given by "unlicensed or untrained individuals" or in "non-health care settings, such as homes or spas."

The women's reported symptoms included blurred vision, drooping eyelids, dry mouth, fatigue, slurred speech, generalized weakness and shortness of breath.

Of the 22 cases, 11 women were hospitalized. 

None of the instances met the "case definition for botulism," the CDC noted.

No deaths have been reported.

Botulism is a "serious and sometimes fatal" illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC.

Initial symptoms usually include muscle weakness around the eyes, face, mouth and throat — which could also spread to the neck, arms, torso and legs. 

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Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty moving the eyes.

It is possible for people to experience some of these symptoms without having botulism.

Dr. Anne Truitt, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California, said that doctors or clinicians injecting Botox or other injectables should ensure that the products come from a reputable source.  

"Injecting an unknown product at unknown concentrations into your body is really dangerous and potentially fatal," she told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that fake Botox has been an issue since the early 2000s.

"Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe — which ends up having serious consequences," he told Fox News Digital.

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"It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone's home or a poorly regulated med spa."

Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected, he said.

"The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria," he said.

There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, Lehrman warned. 

"Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection, to permanent deformity, to serious wound formation."

"​​Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings," the CDC stated. 

There has been a large increase in the number of people offering these services who are not board-certified in the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology or ENT, according to Lehrman. 

"I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option," he said. 

"I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety."

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In most cases, when administered properly, Botox injections are safe, according to experts.

"Botox has been well-tested and researched for many years," Truitt told Fox News Digital. "Used appropriately, it is safe and one of the best tools to reduce the effects of aging."

"Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare," the CDC said in its statement.

To ensure safety, Truitt said it's important to go to a licensed provider, and to avoid "Botox parties" and "pop-up" med spas.

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"The bottom line is that if it sounds too good to be true, then chances are it probably isn't true — or safe," she added.

Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials.

Fox News Digital reached out to Abbvie (manufacturer of Botox) and the FDA requesting additional comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

A chemotherapy alternative called immunotherapy is showing promise in treating cancer — and a new artificial intelligence tool could help ensure that patients have the best possible experience.

Immunotherapy, first approved in 2011, uses the cancer patient’s own immune system to target and fight cancer. 

While it doesn’t work for everyone, for the 15% to 20% who do see results, it can be life-saving.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Like any medication, immunotherapy has the potential for adverse side effects — which can be severe for some. 

Studies show that some 10% to 15% of patients develop "significant toxicities."

Headquartered in Chicago, GE HealthCare — working in tandem with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville, Tennessee — has created an AI model that's designed to help remove some of the uncertainties surrounding immunotherapy.

Over the five years it’s been in development, the AI model was trained on thousands of patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) to recognize patterns in how they responded to immunotherapy, focusing on safety and effectiveness.

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"The model predicts which patients are likely to derive the benefit from immunotherapy versus those patients who may not," said Jan Wolber, global digital product leader at GE HealthCare’s pharmaceutical diagnostics segment, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

"It also predicts which patients have a likelihood of developing one or more significant toxicities."

When pulling data from the patient’s health record, the model looks at demographic information, preexisting diagnoses, lifestyle habits (such as smoking), medication history and more.

"All of these data are already being collected by the patient’s oncologist, or they’re filling out a form in the waiting room ahead of time," said Travis Osterman, a medical oncologist and associate chief medical information officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

(Osterman is working with Wolber on the development of the AI model.)

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"We're not asking for additional blood samples or complex imaging. These are all data points that we're already collecting — vital signs, diagnoses, lab values, those sorts of things."

In a study, the AI model showed 70% to 80% accuracy in predicting patients’ responses to immunotherapies, according to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Clinical Cancer Informatics.

"While the models are not perfect, this is actually a very good result," Wolber said. "We can implement those models with very little additional effort because there are no additional measurements required in the clinic."

This type of technology is "a natural progression of what we've been doing in medicine for a very long time," Osterman said.

"The only difference is, instead of surveying patients, we're taking the entirety of the medical record and looking for risk factors that contribute to an outcome," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

With immunotherapy, there is generally a lower response rate than with chemotherapy, Osterman noted — but some patients have "incredible responses" and ultimately become cancer-free.

"I would be horrified to know that one of my patients that I didn't give immunotherapy to could have been one of the tremendous responders," he told Fox News Digital. 

Conversely, Osterman noted that in rare cases, immunotherapy can have some serious side effects.

"I would say about half of patients don't have any side effects, but for those who do, some of them are really life-altering," he said. 

"We don't want to miss anyone, but we also don't want to harm anyone."

At the core of the AI project, Osterman said, is the ability to "put all the information into the exam room," so the oncologist can counsel the patient about the risks and benefits of this particular therapy and make the best, most informed decision about their care. 

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in the AI model’s development but commented on its potential.

"AI models are emerging that are helping to manage responses to cancer treatments," he told Fox News Digital. 

"These can allow for more treatment options and be more predictive of outcome."

AI models like this one are an example of "the essential future of personalized medicine," Siegel said, "where each patient is approached differently and their cancer is analyzed and treated with precision using genetic and protein analysis."

As long as physicians and scientists remain in charge — "not a computer or robot" — Siegel said that "there is no downside."

The AI model does carry some degree of limitations, the experts acknowledged.

"The models obviously do not return 100% accuracy," Wolber told Fox News Digital. "So there are some so-called false positives or false negatives." 

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The tool is not a "black box" that will provide a surefire answer, he noted. Rather, it's a tool that provides data points to the clinician and informs them as they make patient management decisions.

Osterman pointed out that the AI model uses a "relatively small dataset."

"We would love to be able to refine our predictions by learning on bigger data sets," he said.

The team is currently looking for partnerships that will enable them to test the AI model in new settings and achieve even higher accuracy in its predictions. 

Another challenge, Osterman said, is the need to integrate these AI recommendations into the workflow.

"This is pretty new for us as a health care community, and I think we're all going to be wrestling with that question," he said. 

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Looking ahead, once the AI model has achieved the necessary regulatory approvals, GE HealthCare plans to make the technology available for widespread use by clinicians — perhaps even expanding to other care areas, such as neurology or cardiology.

There is also the potential to incorporate it into drug development.

"One of the things that drug makers struggle with is that some of the agents that may be really useful for some patients could be really toxic for others," Osterman said.

"If they were able to pick which patients could go into a trial and exclude patients with the highest risk of toxicity, that could mean the difference between that drug being made available or not."

He added, "If this means that we're able to help tailor that precision risk to patients, I'm in favor of that."

Ultimately, Osterman said, "it's a really exciting time to be in medicine … I think we're going to look back and regard this as the golden age of AI recommendations. I think they're probably here to stay."

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that it is investigating reports of "a few botulism-like illnesses in several states resulting from botulinum toxin injections (commonly called ‘Botox’) administered in non-medical settings," the agency said in a statement.

"We are coordinating a multi-state outbreak investigation," the agency added. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS BOTOX?

Illnesses have been reported to the Tennessee and Illinois health departments, which are working with the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the investigation, the CDC noted.

In Tennessee, four patients sought medical care after experiencing "botulism-like signs and symptoms" after receiving Botox injections for cosmetic purposes, according to an online statement from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Two of the patients were hospitalized.

"Joint investigations have identified concerns about use of counterfeit products or products with unclear origin administered in non-medical settings such as homes or cosmetic spas," the statement said.

The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a similar statement after two patients reported receiving potentially counterfeit Botox injections in LaSalle County.

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The two individuals reported symptoms that included blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and hoarse voice, the statement said.

The patients, both of whom were hospitalized, received the injections from a licensed nurse who was "performing work outside her authority."

Additional cases have been reported in Kentucky, Washington and Colorado.

"The sources of these botulinum toxin products are unknown or unverified at this time," the CDC stated. 

"Questions about product regulation and product investigation should be directed to the FDA."

Botulism is a "serious and sometimes fatal" illness that occurs when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves, according to the CDC.

Initial symptoms usually include muscle weakness around the eyes, face, mouth and throat, which could also spread to the neck, arms, torso and legs.

Other symptoms can include blurred or double vision, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and difficulty moving the eyes.

"What’s particularly concerning are the respiratory problems that some are experiencing," Dr. Salar Hazany, a certified dermatologist and reconstructive surgeon at Scar Healing Institute in Beverly Hills, told Fox News Digital.

"If the wrong patient begins having trouble with their breathing, it could be fatal."

Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, noted that fake Botox has been an issue since the early 2000s.

"Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe, which ends up having serious consequences," he told Fox News Digital.

"It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone's home or a poorly regulated med spa."

CALIFORNIA PLASTIC SURGERY 'ADDICT’ DISSOLVES FILLER TO ‘EMBRACE BEAUTY’ AFTER SPENDING $50K ON PROCEDURES

Botox is made from a specific type of Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces paralysis in the muscles where it is injected, he said.

"The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria," he said.

There are strict safety criteria for the use and storage of Botox, and serious risks come with the injection of fraudulent or poorly managed products, Lehrman warned. 

"Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection, to permanent deformity, to serious wound formation."

"​​Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings," the CDC stated. 

There has been a large increase in the number of people offering these services who are not board-certified in the fields of plastic surgery, dermatology or ENT, according to Lehrman. 

PLASTIC SURGERY DEATHS HAVE SPIKED AMONG US PATIENTS WHO TRAVELED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: CDC REPORT

"I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option," he said. 

"I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety."

In most cases, Botox injections are safe, according to experts.

"Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare," the CDC said in its statement.

Millions of injections are performed each year by licensed medical providers and have been shown to be safe when done in the correct manner, Lehrman added.

"Those considering Botox should research the background of the provider and make sure that the practice has not racked up a number of complaints," added Hazany.  

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"Do not go to an unlicensed provider. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Anyone who experiences botulism-like symptoms following an injection should seek medical attention, according to health officials.

Fox News Digital reached out to Abbvie (manufacturer of Botox), the FDA, the Tennessee Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health requesting comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

The notion that twins do everything together has met a new standard.

Identical twin brothers Pablo and Julio Delcid, 21, underwent matching heart surgeries on the exact same day following their diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.

The duo, of Dover, New Jersey, had been alerted to their risk of Marfan syndrome because a majority of their family members also have it, the twins told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.

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"We're a family of five. I have two older sisters who have it," Julio Delcid said. "My older brother doesn't have it as much ... But I also have other family members who have it, too — pretty much through my whole family on my mom’s side."

"It's very genetic," Pablo Delcid added. "When we were younger and were first diagnosed with it, nobody knew what it was." 

He added, "Nobody knew they even had it until tests kept coming in, and they were like, ‘Yeah, it's pretty genetic. Everyone should get tested.'"

Fox News Digital spoke with Dr. Benjamin Van Boxtel, surgical director at the Atlantic Aortic Center at Morristown Medical Center, in a separate interview about the condition; he performed the twins’ surgeries.

The cardiovascular surgeon said that while Marfan syndrome is mostly genetic, it can also occur at random. It's a defect of the gene that creates connective tissues in the human body, he said.

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"Because it's a broad defect in these connective tissues, it can affect many different parts of the body," he said. "So, this could be anywhere from the eyes to the spine and … the heart."

"The most dangerous symptom you could develop with Marfan syndrome is a dilation of the aorta, specifically in the root," he added.

Van Boxtel said the aortic root in Marfan syndrome can become dilated or enlarged, which can cause an "immediately fatal" tear or rupture.

"Or it can cause something called an aortic dissection, which is also potentially very fatal, and becomes a surgical emergency," he said. "That's unfortunately how a lot of people who have Marfan syndrome pass away."

Many of those people don't even know they have the syndrome, Van Boxtel noted.

A valve-sparing root procedure performed before a dilated aorta dissects can be a life-saving operation.

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Marfan syndrome can be difficult to spot, according to Van Boxtel, as it's often marked by common symptoms such as chest pain, poor vision — or being tall and having long limbs.

"When you have an aneurysm [from a] dilated aorta, it's generally asymptomatic, meaning you feel absolutely nothing," he said. "You feel completely fine … Aneurysm disease is silent, it's asymptomatic — which can be really dangerous."

Pablo Delcid, for his part, said there’s "not much you can feel when you're growing into the condition."

He added, "What we didn't know was that our bodies were changing … obviously with height, vision, the length of our arms, feet, legs, even with our chest."

The twins’ mother, Betulia Miranda, had an emergency procedure on Oct. 8, 2023, after experiencing an aortic dissection, which the boys described as "excruciating" for her.

After their mother's surgery was a success, the twins decided to seek preventative surgery performed by Dr. Van Boxtel – but their one request was that they do it together.

"Of course they’re like, ‘Can we go at the same time?’" the doctor said with a laugh.

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Van Boxtel, a father of twins himself, said the double surgery was like "nothing I've ever done before." 

He said, "I've done this procedure hundreds of times. But to do it back-to-back on twin brothers — it was an experience, that's for sure."

It was decided that Pablo Delcid would go first, since he was born five minutes before his brother, followed by Julio Delcid several hours later.

"We always do everything together," Pablo Delcid said. "We live together, go through everything together … We didn't think we could get the operation done together, but everything [was] successful."

The twins agreed that they felt "safer" knowing they were going through the procedure together.

"You kind of feel like you're not going to lose that person," Julio Delcid said. "They're sticking with you, side by side."

Pablo Delcid added, "It’s like your gut’s telling you, ‘All right, if I make it, he's going to make it.’"

On surgery day, Jan. 5, 2024, Van Boxtel and his team distinguished the twins from one another using color-coded ankle bracelets.

The surgeon emphasized the rarity of double heart surgery on twins, especially at such a young age of 21. "This is like the ultimate twin study," he said. 

Van Boxtel said it was "freaky" when he realized that the brothers' hearts were also identical.

"I knew they could be different on the inside, but it ended up that they were the exact same," he said.

Julio Delcid said he was "shocked" that a surgeon like Van Boxtel could take on both surgeries back to back.

"He did the best he could," he said. "He successfully saved our aortic valves, replacing the aneurysm … We were very appreciative."

Marfan syndrome affects about one in 5,000 people, according to Van Boxtel, and impacts men and women equally.

"About 75% of those cases are genetic," he said. "But about 25% of Marfan cases are actually not inherited. They're not from a parent. They're a spontaneous mutation."

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Along with a dilated aortic root (enlarged aorta) or narrow dissection (tear in an artery), patients also run the risk of having a leaky valve, which can lead to heart failure symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and inability to perform normal exertional activity, Van Boxtel said. 

Since Marfan syndrome is often hard to spot on the surface, the Delcid twins emphasized the importance of getting tested, especially for those within the Latin and Hispanic communities.

"It's pretty lethal," Pablo Delcid said. "We almost lost our mother, and that was a traumatic experience."

People with symptoms or with a family history of Marfan syndrome should educate themselves on how best to prevent an aneurysm and connect with a cardiology team, Julio Delcid reiterated.

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"It’s just very important to take the time and the opportunity to get the best treatment that they could possibly get, because if they wait, consequences will happen later," he said.

"Don't fear anything. Just take the time to get yourself checked out and get the help that you need to live a better life."

With the stresses of heart surgery behind them, the twins said they're looking forward to getting outside, playing sports and exercising more than they could before.

"Both their valves were saved," Van Boxtel said. "They weren't leaking at the end. All the things that we look for in a very successful repair they had, and they're going to go on and live normal, healthy lives."

He said he hoped that "these valves last a really, really long time, if not the rest of their lives. They're much better off now than they were walking around with aneurysms."

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Van Boxtel thanked his team for handling the complex, same-day operations on young men with their "whole lives ahead of them."

The Marfan Foundation has various resources for patients at all stages of the condition, the doctor noted.

"I can't underscore how important it is for patients with aneurysms to be seen by a surgeon or a team who is comfortable performing that," he said.

"It's a very, very serious problem … but there's prevention available, and if you get it at the right time, it can be very successful."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

America needs nurses — and some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train them. 

To shorten the process, these programs cut training time from up to four years down to one.

"I really do think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities," said Elizabeth Mann, assistant clinical professor at the University of New England, in an interview with Fox News. She's based in Maine. 

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Prospective students must have a previous bachelor's degree and need to complete eight prerequisite courses. 

This is dramatically shorter than the typical two- to four-year nursing program. 

"I think the ability to get a second degree in something like a bachelor's in nursing is very appealing to many people," UNE Nursing School's interim director Donna Hyde told Fox News.

"They don't have to have a health care background. We will get them there."

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The new fast-track nursing program at the University of New England is slated to begin in May. 

The goal is to help students get into the workforce sooner, but they’ll have to put in some serious training as well, experts say.

"There's nothing cut back. They do the same amount of clinical hours, so we allow time for that," said Hyde. 

"Their schedule may have to be a little more flexible to include consideration of weekends."

There's a projected shortage of over 78,000 registered nurses next year, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis. 

NURSING PROGRAMS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP AMID A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF NURSES

The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia.

"As different states are looking at their own options to increase their nursing workforce, this is one of those options," Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the Oregon-based president of the American Nurses Association, told Fox News. 

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The shortened 12-month program not only appeals to students, but will also benefit local health care facilities, Mann said.

Hyde noted that she speaks to many of the nurse administrators at local health care partners, and "they obviously see the need for more nurses sooner rather than later."

Some have expressed doubt that students can be ready in just a year, Mann pointed out.

​​"They may interpret it as [offering] a lesser quality [of training] or that we are pushing students through, and I do want to emphasize that is truly not the case," she said.

Up to 40 students are expected to start the program in May at the University of New England.

Once students complete the program, they will have to pass a national exam — just like a traditional four-year student — to officially become a nurse. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

Given Williams’ reported history of alcoholism, experts are speaking out about the potential link between her alcohol abuse and current cognitive issues.

Thursday’s announcement of Williams’ diagnosis came ahead of a new Lifetime documentary — titled "Where Is Wendy Williams?" — that will premiere on Saturday, as her representative aims to "correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health."

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Williams entered a facility in April 2023 to allegedly treat "cognitive issues" reportedly due to alcohol abuse, as her family communicates with her through a court-appointed legal guardian.

"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)," Williams’ care team stated in a press release.

"Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life."

Fox News Digital reached out to Williams' team requesting additional comment. 

Dr. Suzette Glasner, PhD, a psychologist in Los Angeles, California, has not treated or examined Williams but said heavy drinking and alcoholism can cause damage to both white and gray matter in the brain, and over time can lead to deteriorating cognitive functioning, including dementia.

"These neurocognitive impacts are a result of a combination of alcohol’s direct neurotoxic effects, depletion of nutrients in the body, impacts on liver functioning and disruption of communication between nerve cells in the brain," said Glasner, who works with Pelago, a digital health company focused on substance use management.

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When heavy and chronic alcohol use leads to brain damage, an individual can experience problems with their attention, memory and reasoning, the expert told Fox News Digital.

"In many cases, individuals who misuse or are addicted to alcohol and drugs struggle with overlapping chronic medical and psychiatric conditions, and this can make it very challenging to determine the etiology or cause of neurocognitive symptoms such as those observed in Wendy Williams," Glasner said.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment are common in Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder Williams has spoken about battling over the years.

"Those symptoms often improve with treatment; however, like other chronic diseases, alcohol or drug use can complicate or interfere with treatment response, making improvements less likely," noted Glasner. 

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Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., a geriatric and dementia expert in San Francisco, also has not treated Williams but said that substance misuse has been previously linked to cognitive decline. She also noted that the extent of its impact isn’t clear.

"Not enough research has been conducted on the matter to give us precise data," she told Fox News Digital.  

"What has been noted is that alcohol abuse — as well as taking a number of other medications — does increase the risk of developing dementia." 

Brain damage and neurocognitive impacts can occur with heavy drinking in individuals with moderate or severe alcohol use disorders, Grasner said — "so there is a wide variation between individuals in the quantity of alcohol that leads to these neurotoxic effects."

"The specific reasons that some individuals develop alcohol-related dementia whereas others do not are not well understood, so we don't currently have guidelines specifying that if you drink a certain amount, you are likely to experience cognitive impairments," she added. 

Women are generally more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol on the brain and body, Glasner noted, which means the onset can occur at a younger age than it would in men.

"Expert evaluation of the contribution of substance use and other underlying medical conditions such as Grave’s Disease to cognitive symptoms would be very important for Williams to ensure that she receives the right treatments at the right time," Glasner recommended.

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"Often involving a family very closely to evaluate the symptoms and the timing of their emergence relative to alcohol or other substance use can be helpful as part of determining an accurate diagnosis and plan of care," she added.

Abstinence from alcohol is a crucial part of treatment for alcohol-related neurological deficits, noted Glasner.

If the condition is caught in time, abstaining from alcohol can at least partially, if not fully, reverse the symptoms, according to the expert.

While symptoms of FTD can vary depending on what part of the brain is affected, most people with the condition experience some common symptoms, as listed on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. 

Behavior or personality changes are often the most obvious indicators. These may include public outbursts or socially inappropriate actions.

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People with FTD also tend to have impaired judgment, a lack of empathy and lower self-awareness, Johns Hopkins states. 

This type of dementia is also marked by a reduced ability to understand or formulate language.

People may struggle to remember the names of objects, string words into sentences or even recall the meanings of words they used to know. 

The condition can also lead to agitation, irritability and drastic mood swings.

There is no treatment for FTD other than managing symptoms and educating family members and caregivers, according to Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute in New Jersey.

Some aphasia symptoms can be managed with speech therapy.

"Treatment focuses a great deal on family education," said Reena Gottesman, M.D., a behavioral neurologist at the Center for Brain Loss and Memory Health at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute, in a press release.

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Approximately 50,000-60,000 people may have FTD, per data from the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit group based in Chicago.

Recently, actor Bruce Willis’ FTD diagnosis brought new attention to the rare condition.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be common, but it’s also sometimes hard to spot.

ADHD is usually first diagnosed in childhood and is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms of ADHD in kids can include trouble paying attention, difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors and displaying periods of hyperactivity.

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But how these symptoms show up in boys versus girls, and eventually in men versus women, can make a big difference in diagnosis.

Sabrina Nasta, a licensed mental health counselor with Grow Therapy in Orange Park, Florida, told Fox News Digital that ADHD can show up in three different ways: through inattention, hyperactivity and a combination of the two.

In women, ADHD most commonly manifests as inattention, which includes an inability to pay attention, distractibility and lack of compliance, according to Nasta.

In men, ADHD occurs in a hyperactive way, causing issues with sitting still or wanting to be constantly "doing something," said the expert.

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McCall Letterle, head of U.S. commercial operations for ADHD assessment company Qbtech, also commented on these differences in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

Athough many of the symptoms, including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, are the same, it’s how the symptoms "manifest themselves" that causes a variation between males and females, the Atlanta-based expert noted.

A struggle with discipline seems to be a commonality of ADHD in men and women based on their lifestyle and age, Nasta added.

In young boys, for example, ADHD shows up as "unnecessary" hyperactive energy; they "don’t have the capacity to not do anything," the expert said.

In girls, the same inattentiveness may arise, but it's most likely internalized.

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"They may be sitting in the classroom, they may be sitting still, but they're not paying attention," Nasta said.

"It's tough because for a girl, it looks like they're rebelling or being disobedient, [but] for a boy, [it seems that] they're just being ridiculous and hyper."

The differences in ADHD presentation have led to a "massive amount of underdiagnosed women," according to Letterle.

"This [disorder] was first researched in males, and the criteria developed around symptoms most commonly seen in boys," she told Fox News Digital. 

"These are also the most overtly obvious symptoms — like hyperactivity, inability to sit still, disruption and difficulty focusing, often in the classroom — that lead to associated behavioral issues," Letterle added.

While some women do experience these hyperactive symptoms, they are not the most prevalent symptoms and they look different when they do occur, according to Letterle.

"Women tend to exhibit symptoms that are more internalized," she said. 

"For instance, their inattention is much harder to recognize than boys, as it can be displayed as daydreaming or inward distraction."

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Letterle pointed out the "external fallout" of these ADHD symptoms in girls — which results in "high rates of anxiety" due to missed information at school.

In many cases, girls have to work twice as hard to retain information and meet academic standards as their peers, and they experience low levels of confidence stemming from these difficulties, she added.

"That is subjectively a lot harder to identify than distracted boys, who are poking the individual next to them as they struggle to maintain focus."

These variants lead to a "massive difference in diagnostic rates" between young girls and boys, Letterle said.

Boys are often diagnosed and treated faster than girls because their symptoms are easier to identify, she added.

One of the best ways to cope with ADHD is to educate yourself, or your child, on the best way to function in different environments, said Nasta.

Some of the strategies she recommended include practicing mindfulness and self-awareness, and coming up with the best game plan in any given situation.

Stress management is another great coping tool, especially for boys, added Nasta.

For kids, stress management can mean participating in leisure activities or hobbies like playing video games or hanging out with friends.

"It's about allowing them to let that energy go in a more supportive way," Nasta said.

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ADHD in boys and girls can be difficult for caretakers — parents, guardians and even teachers — to identify when they lack the "appropriate tools" to make "more accurate referrals," Letterle noted.

To overcome that challenge, Nasta encouraged caretakers to "listen more."

"If you’re really paying attention and your kid’s trying, this could be a neurological or neurodevelopmental concern versus them just struggling with emotions," she said.

It might be helpful for parents to "be more curious" and ask their children questions about their feelings when they are overwhelmed, Nasta suggested.

"What do you experience when you're overwhelmed? Are you able to focus or pay attention to your teacher? Do you notice what your thoughts are doing?" she listed as example questions.

"If it sounds really concerning and intrusive, I would say that's the point of … seeing a professional."

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Early ADHD intervention is "critical for reducing suicide rates, job instability and substance abuse in those left untreated," Letterle said.

"The diagnostic process has been left largely to subjective rating scales, creating a desperate need for clinicians to start adopting a more data-driven approach to symptom measurement," she added.

"Objective data compares performance in the three core symptom areas against age- and sex-matched controls without ADHD — meaning women are compared to other women to improve the ability to accurately identify their diagnosis," the expert said.

While the term "ADHD" is often tossed around to describe when someone is feeling unfocused, Nasta listed a few warning signs that could point to an actual diagnosis.

The expert said to monitor daily responsibilities such as hygiene, finances, academics and even basic social skills such as listening and communication.

"If you notice impairments and deficits in any of those, I would say that would be the time to talk to somebody," she advised.

For people who are unsure of their symptoms, Letterle recommended seeking out a provider who uses objective data in a comprehensive evaluation.

"[This] would help to better ensure not only a more accurate diagnosis, but also one that helps eliminate the bias that often leads to high rates of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in women," she said.

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Some drugs may seem like they were named by throwing darts at the alphabet – but the process of drug naming is actually very intentional.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Dave Latshaw, CEO of the AI health care company BioPhy, revealed how medicines are labeled.

The Philadelphia-based doctor, formerly the AI drug development lead at Johnson & Johnson, said that he, too, at first questioned, "How do they even come up with these [names]?"

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Naming drugs can be viewed as a "staged process," based on drug advancement, which begins with the chemical name, Latshaw said.

"If you're talking about a small molecule, which is the most prevalent type of drug in development, that's usually a combination of chemical-type names that you've probably seen mashed into a single line," he said.

"If it's a biologic molecule, its chemical name is typically whatever sequence it happens to be, so that’s the actual chemical composition of the drug itself."

Once a drug program is picked up by a company, Latshaw said, it is given an "internal code name."

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That code is generally "less complicated" than the chemical name.

"And it usually reflects something about the name of the company and potentially what number in the pipeline it is," he said.

For example, the rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis drug Humira, which is developed by AbbVie (formerly Abbott), is referred to by its drug code, "ABT-D2E7."

As the drug progresses, it is given a more formal yet generic name for its introduction to the public, Latshaw said.

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These evolved names are chosen through collaboration among a few different organizations, including the United States Adopted Names Council (USAN), which is part of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Since the 1960s, the USAN program has assigned generic names to all active drug ingredients in the U.S., in partnership with the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), according to the AMA Journal of Ethics.

"With few exceptions – [such as] prophylactic vaccines and mixtures not named by the USAN Council – a drug cannot be marketed in the United States without a USAN," the publication wrote.

A drug’s generic name involves nomenclature that "tells you what the drug is," Latshaw said, but in words rather than chemical structure.

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The doctor used the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra as an example, noting its formal name of Sildenafil.

The generic name uses a prefix and a suffix – the suffix, or "stem," identifies the drug family, and the prefix serves as the drug’s "unique identifier."

"You have the suffix that is supposed to tell you what type of drug it is, and then they try to make the prefix as different as possible, relative to the other drugs within that family, so there's minimal confusion when it comes to prescriptions … to minimize error," Latshaw told Fox News Digital.

The prefix is most likely one or two syllables, according to the AMA.

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Once the drug is fully developed and ready for consumers, its brand name is used for commercial marketing, such as Humira or Viagra.

Humira’s generic name is "adalimumab," with the "-mab" suffix identifying that the type of molecule in the drug is a monoclonal antibody.

The AMA offered the cancer drug "imatinib" as another example on its website, noting how the stem "-tinib" refers to the drug’s function as a tyrosine kinase (TYK) inhibitor.

Latshaw shared that involved parties "do an incredible amount of research" when coming up with brand names to best differentiate them.

The USAN Council is "aware of the importance of coining names that will not be confused with other drug names, compromise patient safety, or mislead health care professionals and patients about the action or use of a new drug substance," as stated in the AMA Journal of Ethics.

"Once you know this information, if you start seeing the names of drugs referenced, at least you can sort of understand it … and know there’s a relationship there," Latshaw said.

"If somebody's talking about a particular drug that might be beneficial to them, that might help them understand, at least at face value, that there are other alternatives … within the same drug family that they might consider or at least bring up with their doctor."

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Fox News Digital publishes a wide range of pieces all week long to keep you in the know about the latest health and wellness topics — from medical research to health care innovations to stories of personal medical triumph.

As you wind down your weekend, check out some top stories of the week in Health that you may have missed, or have been meaning to check out. 

These are just a few of what's new, of course: There are many more to see at http://www.foxnews/health.

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Dive into this selection here — and let us know your thoughts or recommendations for our next roundup in the comments section below.

Some patients who had a certain medical procedure decades ago were found to contract Alzheimer’s disease later in life, researchers from University of College London discovered. 

Fox News Digital spoke with the study authors and other dementia experts to learn more. Click here to get the story.

PherDal is the first at-home sterile insemination kit to help people get pregnant in the comfort of their own home. 

Fox News Digital spoke to Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche about how PherDal has already helped bring 34 babies into the world as fertility experts shared opinions on the solution. Click here to get the story.

A new ovarian cancer drug has been given the fast track for FDA approval. RC88, made by RemeGen, is one of several antibody drug conjugates that have shown promise in treating cancer. 

Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, weighed in on the experimental therapy. Click here to get the story.

People who played instruments or sang could have stronger memory and cognitive function, researchers found. 

The findings were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.Click here to get the story.

Twenty-nine U.S. citizens have died after having cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic between 2009 and 2018, a Jan. 25 report from the CDC said.

Industry representatives and plastic surgeons weighed in on the potential risks and shared safety tips. Click here to get the story.

Kids and teens who drink high-caffeine energy drinks could be more prone to mental health disorders like ADHD, anxiety and depression, new research has shown. 

A psychologist and a dietitian offered input on the dangers these drinks could pose for youth. Click here to get the story.

For the 22nd year in a row, Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics poll found that nurses hold the top spot as the most trusted profession, with 78% of Americans who took part stating that they adhere to "very high" or "high" standards for honesty and ethics. 

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Medical experts shared their theories. Click here to get the story.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

For a growing number of people, "medical tourism" can be dangerous — even fatal.

Twenty-nine U.S. citizens have died after they had cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic between 2009 and 2018, according to a Jan. 25 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More alarming is that the deaths have spiked in recent years. Between 2009 and 2018, there were an average of 4.1 deaths per year. Between 2019 and 2022, that average rose to 13 per year — peaking at 17 deaths in 2020.

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The deaths were linked to "fat or venous thromboembolism," which is when a blood clot forms in a vein, the CDC reported.

Most of the patients had risk factors for the condition, such as obesity, diabetes, tobacco use and multiple surgical procedures being performed at once.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic has recorded cosmetic surgery-associated deaths among U.S. citizens since 2009. 

The embassy contacted the CDC upon noticing the uptick in deaths — which sparked an investigation.

All but one of the deaths involved women, the report stated. The average age of the patients at the time of death was 40.

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For the 24 deaths that occurred between 2019 and 2020, liposuction was performed on all of the patients, usually along with other procedures, including gluteal fat transfer, abdominoplasty and breast augmentation.

Fat embolism was the cause of death in 55% of the cases and pulmonary venous thromboembolism was the determining cause in 35% of the cases, the report said.

Josef Hadeed, M.D., chair of the Patient Safety Committee for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), who was not involved in the CDC investigation, noted that the CDC’s report highlights the dangers associated with destination procedures.

"Too often, patients will travel to other countries as the procedures are cheaper there," Hadeed, who is also a plastic surgeon with practices in Beverly Hills, California, and Miami, Florida, told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

"However, there are a lot of risks associated with traveling to other countries for cosmetic procedures."

He added, "All surgery carries risk, but there are excessive deaths outlined in the report, most of which were presumably avoidable."

When it comes to the price of surgery, Hadeed advised patients that "you get what you pay for. Just because something is cheaper doesn't mean it is better for you."

He also said, "The most important issue in plastic surgery is patient safety."

Jonathan Kaplan, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon who practices at Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery in San Francisco, who was also not involved in the report, said the CDC’s latest findings are "sad but true."

"There are risks with any surgery, but in the U.S., you have a better sense of whether doctors are board-certified in the specialty they’re practicing in," he told Fox News Digital in an email.

"There is also the added risk of going to a facility in a foreign country that has no quality assurance or safety protocols as required by law in the U.S.," Kaplan added.

International travel automatically puts patients at a higher risk for thromboembolic events, where they can develop potentially fatal blood clots, Hadeed said.

Another consideration is that those having surgery outside the U.S. won’t be able to get any assistance from the doctor if any complications arise, Kaplan warned.

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"Then you’ll have to find a doctor locally who will charge you an exorbitant amount to fix the problem and you’ll end up spending more than what you saved initially," he said.

While all surgeries carry some element of risk, the "Brazilian Butt Lift" (BBL) has been associated with the highest risk of death in plastic surgery, which is corroborated by the report, noted Hadeed. 

"While I cannot specifically comment on what led to the deaths in the Dominican Republic, I can say that using an ultrasound is essential while performing a Brazilian Butt Lift," he told Fox News Digital. 

When the fat is injected into one of the blood vessels within the gluteal muscle, it can enter the bloodstream and make its way to the blood vessels of the lungs, blocking off circulation and leading to immediate death — which constitutes a fat embolism, the doctor said.

ASK A DOC: 'WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE GETTING A BREAST LIFT?'

This can be prevented by using an ultrasound, he noted, which allows the plastic surgeon to visualize the gluteal muscle and ensure that the fat is placed above, and not within, the muscle. 

"This has already become state law in Florida as of 2023," said Hadeed.

While Hadeed said it’s "better" to look for plastic surgeons within the U.S., if patients do decide to travel outside the country, they should carefully research a provider.

It is critical to find a plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Hadeed emphasized. 

The surgeon — as well as the entire surgical team, including the anesthesiologists, nurses and surgical techs — should be adequately trained in the specific procedures, the doctor added.

"It is equally important to ensure that the facility in which the procedure is being performed is fully accredited to the same standards that are found in the United States and has the proper safety measures in place," said Hadeed.

"Also remember that longer flights increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, and it is advised to wait several days after travel before undergoing a surgical procedure, which can add to the cost of the travel when you factor in additional days of staying in a hotel," he pointed out.

When asked for his advice on international surgery, Kaplan said simply, "Don’t do it."

"The money you save is not worth it if you have a complication, which is a very real possibility," he said. 

"And remember, complications don’t have to be major — they can be minor, but still a nuisance if you don’t have a doctor locally to take care of it," he went on. "And even the smallest complication will be much more expensive to take care of in the U.S. if your original surgery was outside the country."

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For those who are considering having an elective surgical procedure outside the U.S., the CDC recommends discussing the risks with a doctor here first.

The agency also emphasized the importance of surgeons conducting proper preoperative exams and only performing one procedure for each operation.

The study did have some limitations, the CDC acknowledged.

"No reliable statistics on the number of U.S. citizens who receive cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic each year are available, precluding calculation of the risk for perioperative death," the report stated.

Also, the data only included deaths that were reported to the U.S. Embassy — which means the actual number could be higher.

The mortality count also does not include deaths resulting from post-surgical infections, the CDC noted.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC requesting comment on the report.

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