It's the latest in a series of close calls involving batteries

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Delta Flight 1334 diverted after a passenger's backpack battery ignited mid-flight.

• No injuries reported; crew swiftly contained the fire.

• Incident underscores rising concerns over lithium-ion battery safety on aircraft.

Delta Air Lines Flight 1334, in route from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, was forced to make an emergency landing in Fort Myers on Monday after a lithium-ion battery in a passenger's backpack ignited mid-flight. The incident prompted immediate action from the flight crew.

Delta issued a statement to the media, saying that flight attendants extinguished the fire quickly but declared an emergency out of an abundance of caution.

According to communications between the cockpit and air traffic control, the device was inside a backpack when it began to smoke.

Ok, so the backpack has been contained. We think it was a lithium battery that caused the smoke and the fire. Its in a containment bag. No smoke in the cabin at this point. No active fire. Its in the lavatory. Were planning on taxiing clear of the runway, the pilot told the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Troubling trend

Since 2015, lithium-ion battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat have become increasingly common on commercial aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has documented over 500 such events, with a notable rise in recent years. Below is a selection of significant incidents:

Notable Lithium-Ion Battery Incidents on Commercial Aircraft (20152025)

Strict rules

In response to the increasing frequency of these incidents, airlines and regulatory bodies worldwide are implementing stricter measures. For instance, Southwest Airlines recently announced a policy requiring passengers to keep portable chargers visible during flights to allow for quick intervention in case of overheating.

The FAA continues to advise passengers to carry lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage and to avoid placing them in checked baggage. They also recommend that passengers inform flight crews immediately if they notice any signs of battery malfunction, such as overheating or smoke.

UCLA researchers say its more than just risk factors

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• UCLA Health researchers mapped four distinct pathways leading to Alzheimers disease using electronic health records.
  

• The findings suggest that tracking diagnostic sequences predicts Alzheimers risk better than analyzing isolated conditions.
  

• The study, validated with a nationally representative cohort, could transform early detection, personalized prevention, and intervention strategies.

Who is most at risk of developing Alzheimers disease? If doctors knew the definitive answer, it might lead to earlier treatment and diagnosis. Researchers at UCLA may have uncovered some helpful clues.

Writing in the journal eBioMedicine, the researchers at UCLA Health said they have identified four unique diagnostic pathways that can lead to Alzheimer's disease, offering a more nuanced understanding of how the neurodegenerative condition develops over time.

By analyzing electronic health records from nearly 25,000 patients, the study sheds light on how specific sequences of medical conditions not just individual risk factors can influence a persons likelihood of developing Alzheimers. The research marks a significant departure from traditional approaches that focus on isolated risk conditions.

Instead, UCLA scientists mapped the step-by-step clinical trajectories that precede an Alzheimers diagnosis, offering new tools for early detection and prevention.

Patterns, not just risk factors

We found that multi-step trajectories can indicate greater risk factors for Alzheimers disease than single conditions, said first author Mingzhou Fu, a medical informatics pre-doctoral student at UCLA. Understanding these pathways could fundamentally change how we approach early detection and prevention.

The study identified four primary diagnostic trajectories:

1. Mental Health Pathway Psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety that eventually lead to cognitive decline

2. Encephalopathy Pathway Disorders involving brain dysfunction that worsen progressively

3. Mild Cognitive Impairment Pathway A gradual decline in memory and cognitive functions, often preceding Alzheimer's
   

4. Vascular Disease Pathway Cardiovascular conditions like hypertension that heighten the risk of dementia
   

Each pathway was linked with distinct demographic and clinical features, suggesting that different subgroups of the population may be predisposed to different disease routes.

Chronology of conditions

The researchers found that 26% of all diagnostic sequences showed a consistent, directional order. For instance, patients with hypertension frequently developed depressive episodes before being diagnosed with Alzheimers. These patterns, according to the team, may be key to identifying at-risk patients earlier in their disease progression.

Recognizing these sequential patterns rather than focusing on diagnoses in isolation may help clinicians improve Alzheimers disease diagnosis, said Dr. Timothy Chang, the studys senior author and assistant professor of Neurology at UCLA Health.

The team validated their findings using the All of Us Research Program, a diverse and nationally representative database. The confirmation of these patterns across a wide population enhances the studys relevance and applicability to clinical practice nationwide.

The study concluded that the innovative use of longitudinal electronic health data signals a promising shift in Alzheimers research, moving toward predictive and personalized care models that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

Researchers explain why lactose intolerance could be haunting your sleep

• A survey of over 1,000 students reveals a clear link between lactose intolerance, digestive upset, and more frequent nightmares.
  

• Only around 5.5% believe food affects their dreams, but sweets and dairy are the top perceived triggers.
  

• Feeling gassy or in stomach discomfort at night seems to mess with sleep quality and increase the chances of disturbing dreams.
  

If youve ever blamed late-night pizza or cheese for a weird dream, youre not alone.

Researchers at Universit de Montral and MacEwan University dug into whether food especially dairy can really affect sleep and dreams.

They surveyed 1,082 students, asking about their eating habits, overall health, sleep patterns, dream recall, and any food intolerances or allergies to determine if there's a genuine link between dairy and bad dreams.

Nightmare severity is robustly associated with lactose intolerance and other food allergies, researcher Dr. Tore Nielsen said in a news release.

These new findings imply that changing eating habits for people with some food sensitivities could alleviate nightmares. They could also explain why people so often blame dairy for bad dreams!

The study

Participants, mainly undergrads around age 20, completed an online questionnaire between January and April2023. It covered:

• Personal info (age, gender, health conditions)

• Diet habits (evening eating, snacks, food choices)

• Any intolerances (lactose, gluten) or allergies

• Sleep quality (using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)

• Nightmare frequency and severity (using a trimmed-down Nightmare Disorder Index)

They also asked if students thought certain foods or late meals affected their sleep or dreams. Statistical analyses looked for connections between food, physical symptoms, sleep quality, and dream experiences.

The results

Heres a look at what the researchers found:

• Many feel food affects their sleep. About 40% believed that eating late or certain foods influenced their sleep; 25% thought it made sleep worse. But only 5.5% said food affected their dreams directly.

• Dairy and sweets get the blame. Among those few, most blamed desserts/sweets (31%) and dairy (22%) for weird dreams or nightmares.

• Lactose intolerance stands out. The strongest link emerged for students with lactose intolerance: they reported more GI symptoms (like gas or stomach pain), poorer sleep quality, and more frequent or intense nightmares. Statistical models showed GI discomfort acted as a bridge between lactose intolerance and nightmares meaning the digestive issues likely trigger sleep disturbances and, in turn, bad dreams. Other food issues like general food allergies or gluten intolerance also connected to dream concerns, but the link was strongest for lactose intolerance.

• Overall eating habits matter. Healthier eating patterns like less evening snacking and using hunger cues were tied to better dream recall. Less healthy habits late meals, disregarding hunger signals, and experiencing GI symptoms were linked to more nightmares and negative dream content.

Nightmares are worse for lactose intolerant people who suffer severe gastrointestinal symptoms and whose sleep is disrupted, said Nielsen. This makes sense, because we know that other bodily sensations can affect dreaming.

"Nightmares can be very disruptive, especially if they occur often, because they tend to awaken people from sleep in a dysphoric state. They might also produce sleep avoidance behaviors. Both symptoms can rob you of restful sleep.

What this means

If you suffer from lactose intolerance and find yourself waking up stressed after a disturbing dream, dairy late at night could be a culprit and not because of superstition, but because night-time stomach discomfort interferes with restful sleep.

For some, simply adjusting evening meals like avoiding dairy before bed might lead to calmer sleep and fewer nightmares.

We need to study more people of different ages, from different walks of life, and with different dietary habits to determine if our results are truly generalizable to the larger population, said Nielsen.

Experimental studies are also needed to determine if people can truly detect the effects of specific foods on dreams. We would like to run a study in which we ask people to ingest cheese products versus some control food before sleep to see if this alters their sleep or dreams.

What our guts reveal about life in a pandemic

• Digestive issues like IBS and functional dyspepsia rose among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  

• Researchers surveyed over 160,000 people from May 2020 to May 2022 using standardized gutbrain disorder criteria.
  

• The study found an 11% increase in Rome IV digestive disorders, linked to pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes.
  

A team at CedarsSinai set out to investigate whether digestive disorders became more common during COVID-19.

Despite most attention being on respiratory symptoms, anecdotal reports hinted that stress, quarantine, and illness might also affect gut health.

With the study, the researchers measured trends over time using clinical definitions and large-scale survey data to confirm if digestive issues truly surged during the pandemic.

Using data from a national online study, we found that rates of digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation rose significantly, researcher Christopher V. Almario, M.D., MSHPM, said in a news release.

These findings underscore the significant toll the pandemic has taken on digestive health.

The study

This was a longitudinal, national survey that tracked U.S. adults from May 2020 to May 2022. More than 160,000 participants completed periodic questionnaires based on the Rome IV criteria a gold standard for diagnosing gutbrain interaction disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, and others.

The Rome IV tool identifies symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, discomfort, and altered bowel habits.

Participants answered the same questions repeatedly over two years, enabling researchers to measure prevalence trends and correlate changes with stages of the pandemic.

The findings

Overall, the researchers learned that digestive disorders have been on the rise since the pandemic IBS specifically.

In May 2020, rates of IBS were at about 6% among U.S. adults. That figure nearly doubled to 11% by May 2022.

The incidence of chronic idiopathic constipation had a slight increase from 6.0% in 2020 to 6.4% in 2022.

The researchers explained that pandemic-related stress is likely a key driver: isolation, health fears, loss of routine, and shifts in diet/exercise.

Its important to note that this study didnt look at infection status, so the rise appears more tied to societal stress than direct effects of COVID infection.

What It Means for You

Based on these findings, if you've been experiencing ongoing gut issues like bloating, irregular bowels, or discomfort it's worth talking to your health care provider.

Standard treatments for functional gut disorders (e.g., dietary changes, stress management, medications) are still relevant and mental health support may play a key role.

This research calls for a renewed focus on gastrointestinal health in the post-pandemic era, researcher Brennan Spiegel, M.D., MSHS, said in the news release.

Health care providers must be vigilant in recognizing and addressing the long-term effects of the pandemic on digestive health.

Brownsville, Texas, is the safest city for drivers

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

If youre hoping to keep your car free from dents and dings, you might want to steer clear of Boston. A new study has named Massachusetts capital as the city where drivers are most likely to get into an accident.

According to fresh data from Allstate, Bostonians can expect to drive an average of just 3.1 years between crashes, significantly below the national average of 10.5 years and far behind the nations safest city. The findings place Boston at the top of the list for fender benders and other roadway mishaps.

Northeast leads

Boston isnt alone in its dubious distinction. The northeast corridor, in particular, is a hotspot for collisions. Here's the rundown from worst to not-quite-so-bad:

1. Boston, MA
2. Washington, DC
3. Baltimore, MD
4. Worcester, MA
5. Springfield, MA
6. Glendale, CA
7. Los Angeles, CA
8. Oakland, CA
9. Providence, RI
10. Philadelphia, PA

2. West coast not immune

The West Coast isnt entirely off the hook. California cities Glendale, Los Angeles, and Oakland also rank among the nations worst for accident frequency, though Allstate notes these urban centers have seen marginal improvements compared to the previous 2025 study.

Where drivers behave

At the other end of the spectrum, drivers in Brownsville, Texas, enjoy the longest accident-free stretches in the country, averaging an impressive 14.2 years between crashes.

1. Brownsville, TX
2. Boise, ID
3. Fort Collins, CO
4. Cary, NC
5. Laredo, TX
6. Olathe, KS
7. Scottsdale, AZ
8. Port St. Lucie, FL
9. Madison, WI
10. Eugene, OR

While regional traffic, road conditions, and driver behavior all contribute to these numbers, the stark differences across the map suggest that geography still plays a major role in your chances of keeping your bumper intact.

So if youre planning a road tripor considering a movechoose wisely. Your car (and your insurance premium) may thank you.