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Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader identified improving tax collection at state-owned electricity distribution companies (EDE) as one of his administration’s biggest challenges. Speaking at a press conference at the National Palace, he highlighted that while many citizens receive subsidies for electricity, others do not, and addressing the EDE’s financial deficit remains critical despite investments in power infrastructure.

Abinader also noted significant progress in electricity generation, forecasting a 15% surplus by the end of his term, with substantial growth in renewable energy capacity.

On another front, the president acknowledged the complexity of the country’s mental health issues, describing them as part of a broader, universal problem. He expressed personal impact over a recent violent attack in Santo Domingo’s Naco neighborhood, where a close associate of First Lady Raquel Arbaje was killed. In response, Public Health Minister Víctor Atallah announced plans to tender construction of two new mental health centers in Espaillat and Azua, along with a pilot program to provide psychological services in hospital emergency rooms.

Colorectal cancer rates have soared among younger Americans, new research has found — and there might not always be obvious symptoms.

The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is one in 24 for men and one in 26 for women, according to the American Cancer Society.

It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth in women, but is the second most common cause when the numbers for men and women are combined.

ACTOR WITH COLORECTAL CANCER SHARES SIMPLE SIGN THAT HE IGNORED: ‘I HAD NO IDEA’

While there may be no symptoms of CRC before diagnosis, especially in the early stages, the following signs and symptoms should not be overlooked, experts say.

According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, some symptoms of the disease can be similar to other causes, like hemorrhoids, infection or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

But a change in bowel habits — including diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools or feeling like your bowels are full even after a movement — can be a sign of CRC.

COLORECTAL CANCER DIAGNOSES SOAR AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS FOR ONE KEY REASON

Fight Colorectal Cancer, a leading patient advocacy group, noted on its website how bowel movements can change due to diet, infections, medications and other medical issues.

A change in bowel movement schedule or stool appearance could also signal CRC.

Fight CRC recommends calling a doctor if your stool is consistently abnormal, if you have sudden urges to pass stool but can’t control it, if the stool is black, clay-colored, red or white, or if there is mucus or pus in the stool.

Skinny, thin or pencil-like stool may also indicate an obstruction in the colon, like a tumor, but can also be caused by other harmless, temporary conditions.

Persistent discomfort in the abdomen is another CRC symptom, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance reported on its site.

This can include feelings of pain, nausea, cramping, bloating or feeling unusually full, even after not eating much.

Severe, "knife-in-my-stomach type" abdominal pains warrant a visit to the emergency room, Fight CRC instructed — but even mild pains shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Blood in the stool, toilet or when wiping with toilet paper can be a major sign of colorectal cancer.

Fight CRC stressed that any amount of rectal bleeding is not normal and should be brought to a doctor’s attention for proper diagnosis.

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Since blood in the stool is a common symptom, Fight CRC instructed paying attention to where the blood is found, how often it occurs and whether bowel movements are painful.

Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be caused by cancer and should be brought to the attention of a doctor, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Weight loss is the result of cancer cells "consuming the body’s energy" as they multiply, Fight CRC explained, as the immune system expends more energy to fight and destroy cancer cells.

This can also lead to feeling fatigue, weakness or shortness of breath.

These symptoms may also be a sign of anemia, which can develop from bleeding somewhere inside the body, like from a cancerous tumor.

Weight loss can also be caused by a tumor blocking the colon or intestinal tract, which prevents proper nutrient absorption.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Paul Oberstein, M.D., medical oncologist at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, commented that the most concerning symptoms are those that are persistent or recurrent.

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"These include pain in the abdomen, changes in bowel habits (including thin, pencil-like stools), diarrhea or new constipation, though these symptoms are very general and are usually only concerning if they are sustained," he said.

Alarming symptoms that warrant prompt medical attention include any sign of rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, unintentional weight loss, or new fatigue that is accompanied by evidence of anemia or low blood counts, according to the doctor. 

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Monday dismissed a claim by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Linden has been shuttered. “They’re repeating this as if it is true but it is not true,” Dr Anthony told Demerara Waves Online News. “It’s just annoying. You go up ...

Researchers have uncovered a new factor that could contribute to Alzheimer’s disease development.

A study by Harvard Medical School has identified low lithium levels in the brain as a possible trigger for the common dementia.

Lithium is known to have many functions in the brain, including balancing mood-regulating chemicals, protecting neurons and managing emotional processing. It has also been used to treat bipolar disorder and depression.

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Now, new findings show that the metal could be a "missing link" in Alzheimer’s risk, according to a Harvard press release.

The researchers tested lithium’s effects in mice, as well as human brain tissue and blood samples.

The human brain samples were obtained in partnership with the Rush Memory and Aging Project in Chicago, which maintains post-mortem brain tissue from thousands of donors. 

The samples represented the full spectrum of cognitive health, ranging from no sign of disease to mild cognitive impairment to advanced Alzheimer’s, the release stated.

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They discovered that lithium levels became lower as signs of the disease increased, showing as "greatly diminished" in advanced Alzheimer’s patients.

As toxic amyloid plaques build up in the brain — a hallmark of Alzheimer's — they begin to attach to lithium, keeping it from performing its protective functions.

When the mice were fed a "lithium-restricted diet," their brains' lithium levels decreased, causing accelerated aging, formation of amyloid-beta plaques, greater inflammation, memory loss and cognitive decline.

"Lithium turns out to be like other nutrients we get from the environment, such as iron and vitamin C," said senior author Bruce Yankner, professor of genetics and neurology in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, in the release.

"It’s the first time anyone’s shown that lithium exists at a natural level that’s biologically meaningful without giving it as a drug."

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The researchers also discovered a new type of lithium compound — lithium orotate — that did not bind to amyloid. When mice drank water containing this compound, it helped to restore memory and reverse brain damage, even for those who had advanced signs of disease.

The findings were published in the journal Nature.

"What impresses me the most about lithium is the widespread effect it has on the various manifestations of Alzheimer’s," said Yanker. "I really have not seen anything quite like it in all my years of working on this disease."

"The idea that lithium deficiency could be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease is new and suggests a different therapeutic approach."

While the study did suggest that the amount of lithium in the brain could be related to amyloid beta buildup, it did have some obvious limitations, according to Ozama Ismail, Ph.D., director of scientific programs for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago.

"Animal models do not directly replicate Alzheimer’s in humans; rather, they can provide some insights into the biology of disease progression and development," Ismail, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

"The mouse models have been modified to accumulate amyloid beta, a hallmark protein that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s."

While studies in mouse models are a "vital early step" in therapeutic research, Ismail emphasized that much more research is needed to understand the health effects of lithium levels in the brain.

"Understanding if lithium can be therapeutic for Alzheimer's requires large clinical trials in representative populations," he said.

Much like other major diseases, it is likely that Alzheimer's treatment will require multiple approaches combining medication and lifestyle changes, Ismail predicted.

The researchers agreed that more research in human clinical trials is needed.

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"You have to be careful about extrapolating from mouse models, and you never know until you try it in a controlled human clinical trial," Yankner noted. "But so far, the results are very encouraging."

If future studies confirm these findings, the scientists say that routine blood tests could potentially screen for lithium levels and identify people at risk.

In the meantime, Yankner cautioned against people taking lithium compounds "on their own."

"My hope is that lithium will do something more fundamental than anti-amyloid or anti-tau therapies, not just lessening but reversing cognitive decline and improving patients’ lives," he said.

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

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Ludwig Family Foundation, the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and the Aging Mind Foundation.

Presidential candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton on Sunday assured residents of Linden that the electricity subsidy would not be scrapped. “We saying to you that wouldn’t happen under us. We want to see Linden progress,” he told about 2,000 attendees at a campaign rally held outside the old Palm Tree ...

James van der Beek has revealed the first warning sign of his colon cancer — and it’s one that did not seem alarming at the time.

The "Dawson’s Creek" actor, 48, who announced his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, recently told Healthline that "there wasn’t any red flag or something glaring."

"I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge," he said. "I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea."

COLORECTAL CANCER DIAGNOSES SOAR AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS FOR ONE KEY REASON

The one symptom that he did experience was a change in bowel movements, which the actor chalked up to an effect of his coffee consumption.

"Before my diagnosis, I didn’t know much about colorectal cancer," van der Beek said. "I didn’t even realize the screening age [had] dropped to 45; I thought it was still 50."

He ultimately underwent a colonoscopy, which revealed that the actor had stage 3 colon cancer.

Professor Eitan Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., an oncologist and founder of The Suzanne Levy-Gertner Oncogenetics Unit at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel, confirmed that changes in bowel habits is the primary red flag that should raise the suspicion of colorectal cancer.

Others include fatigue as a result of anemia, blood in stool, weight loss, loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort, Friedman, who has not treated van der Beek, told Fox News Digital.

Dr. Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine — and co-founder and chief medical officer at Geneoscopy — noted that van der Beek’s experience of having no "glaring" signs is common.

"Many colorectal cancers develop silently, without obvious symptoms," Barnell, who also did not treat the actor, told Fox News Digital. "By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced."

Symptoms are "especially worrisome" for those 45 and older who have at least one first-degree relative with colon cancer or other GI malignancies, and those with active inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, added Friedman, who is also an advisory board member at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath test to detect early-stage cancer signals.

The overall chance of an average-risk person getting colorectal cancer over a lifetime is 4% to 5%, according to Friedman.

"Colonoscopy at age 45 onwards, at five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to lead to early detection of polyps that have the potential to become malignant, and to allow for their removal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation," he said. 

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Unfortunately, Barnell noted, "screening compliance in the U.S. remains below national targets, and gaps are widest in rural, low-income and minority communities."

To help close those gaps, she called for greater access to "accurate, noninvasive screening technologies," along with efforts to increase public awareness.

"Most people don’t like talking about bowel habits, but paying attention to changes can save your life," Barnell said. "Screening gives us the chance to find problems early — often before you feel sick — and that can make all the difference."

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

Fox News Digital reached out to van der Beek’s representative for comment.

Santo Domingo, DR— Luz Herrera, former president of the Dominican Society of Pediatrics, described the increase in vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, such as whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, and meningococcal disease in non-neonatal children, as a “setback” and a “poor prognosis.”

According to the Ministry of Public Health’s epidemiological bulletin for week 30, the country recorded 53 cases of diphtheria and one death; 21 cases of whooping cough and two deaths; and 13 cases of meningococcal disease, with six deaths.

Additionally, 17 cases of tetanus were reported, representing a 15% increase compared to the same week in 2024.

“It seems that the vaccination rate has decreased, and vaccine-preventable diseases have increased. That’s the answer I give to that. There’s a decrease in guidance and education for people. This means a setback for the health system,” Herrera said.

Vaccination schedule

Herrera explained that the national immunization schedule establishes that the first vaccine for newborns is BCG (against tuberculosis) and hepatitis B.

At two months, the rotavirus vaccine (which prevents severe diarrhea), IPV (against polio), and pneumococcal vaccine are administered.

The pentavalent vaccine, which prevents diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, is then administered at two, four, and six months of age, along with the pneumococcal vaccine.

At twelve months, children should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and the MMR vaccine, which prevents measles, rubella, and mumps. At the same age, another pneumococcal booster shot is given.

At age four, the infant receives a second polio booster and again the pentavalent vaccine.

“These diseases are more common in children under five. Anti-vaccine movements have increased, and because of this, authorities are neglecting them, so these numbers are only going to increase,” Herrera said.

He added that children receive a third booster shot of the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine between the ages of nine and fourteen.

In the case of pregnant women, Herrera indicated that they are also given a dose of the pentavalent vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine in the first months of pregnancy.

Given the increase in these cases, the specialist recommended completing the Ministry of Public Health’s vaccination schedule, continuing to educate parents about the importance of vaccines, and ensuring that health centers continue administering them, as they prevent mortality and morbidity (the onset of diseases).

What are these diseases?

Diphtheria

It is a severe bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. It is prevented with the DPT vaccine, included in the national immunization schedule. Its symptoms include sore throat, hoarseness, swollen glands, runny nose, fever, and fatigue.

Whooping cough

Also known as pertussis or whooping cough, it is a highly contagious respiratory illness. It primarily affects young children with severe coughing attacks that make breathing difficult. Its initial symptoms resemble a cold, but the cough becomes more intense and distinctive.

Meningococcal disease

It is a severe bacterial infection that can cause meningitis (affecting the brain and spinal cord) or sepsis. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, and sometimes a rash.

Tetanus

It is a severe disease that affects the nervous system. It is acquired through contaminated wounds and, although it is not contagious between people, it is preventable with vaccination. Its symptoms include muscle stiffness and painful spasms.

“Research shows fasting for a certain number of hours each day or eating just one meal a couple of days a week may have health benefits”

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