The Northern Charitable Foundation

New Studies Highlight the Association Between Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Dementia Risk Factors

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Northern Charitable Foundation - social isolation increases the risk of dementia

The link between dementia and loneliness has been generally known, but not necessarily its extent. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, multiple researchers and organizations have performed studies examining the link between loneliness, social isolation, and dementia more closely.  Each study looked at a different angle of the dementia-loneliness-social isolation triangle, but they reached … Read more

Hereditary Cancers Don’t Only Affect Women: BRCA2 Mutation Can Also Affect Ashkenazi Men

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Northern Charitable Foundation - genetic cancers in men

With the discovery of the BRCA gene in December 1995, researchers have been able to gain valuable insights and a better understanding of the role it plays in terms of the development of cancer. We inherit two copies of the BRCA gene in every one of our cells, one from our father and one from … Read more

Genes and Mutations: Understanding BRC1 and BRC2

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Alex and Rosa Dembitzer - Northern Charitable Foundation - understanding BRCA gene mutations

All women are at risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime. There are various risk factors that can increase the likelihood, one of them being genetic susceptibility. Genes are segments of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), and DNA makes up chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, receiving half of each pair from the mother and … Read more

8 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Reduce the Chances or Severity of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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One in every five Americans aged 65 or above suffers from cognitive impairment, while one in every seven is diagnosed with dementia. That number is projected to triple by 2050. Alzheimer’s, the leading cause of dementia, affects approximately 6.5 million Americans. Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is a “general term … Read more

Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer

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Northern Charitable Foundation: Racial disparities in breast cancer

Studies have shown several disparities in the way breast cancer affects Black women, as opposed to non-Black women. The question that has followed these findings is: are the disparities due to the biology and genetic makeup of different races, or due to socioeconomic factors, such as access to healthcare, education, and more? Researchers are now … Read more

Healthy Habits That Lower Dementia Risk

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Rosa and Alex Dembitzer - Northern Charitable Foundation - Healthy Habits Lower Risk of Dementia

Research suggests that, unless there is a significant medical breakthrough that will lower dementia risk, there will be nearly 1.1 million people living with dementia by 2058.  Dementia is a term used to describe the loss of cognitive function like thought, memory, and reasoning – all required for a person to function in daily life. … Read more

The Signs of Ovarian Cancer: Know What to Look For

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Dembitzer - Northern Charitable Foundation - the sings of ovarian cancer

Cancer, a word everyone is familiar with, is a term for diseases that can affect any part of the body. These diseases are caused by the rapid, abnormal growth of cells that have the potential to extend beyond their normal boundaries into other parts of the body and organs. When diagnosed and treated in the … Read more

Promising Cancer Research Found in New RNA-based Cancer Drug

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The world’s first RNA-based cancer drug has revealed promising results according to a peer-reviewed study in the scientific journal Advanced Materials. Overall, the report states that this new drug, tested on mice, has the potential to boost the effectiveness of both chemotherapy and immunotherapy – or, in this case, the combined treatments called chemo-immunotherapy.  The … Read more

What Is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and How Does It Relate To The BRCA Gene Mutation?

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Northern Charitable Foundation - Rosa and Alex Dembitzer - Breast cancer information

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer which spreads and grows rapidly in the body. Approximately 10-15% of all breast cancers are TNCB, named triple-negative for its negative testing of three molecular components – estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor (HER2). This cancer is more likely to return than other … Read more

Ovarian Cancer – Background, Who’s at Risk, and Prevention

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Northern Charitable Foundation - ovarian cancer awareness

Every day, there are millions of women around the world who are at risk of getting ovarian cancer – many don’t know they are at risk, while a small percentage are unaware that they already have it. However, in the past few years, science has continued to lead the way through medical research and advancements … Read more