RadioMD News... I'm John Byrd.

The loss of Y chromosomes in men has been linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Y chromosomes contain genetic information that is not fully understood yet, but their loss has also been tied to a higher cancer risk and shorter lifespans.

The U.S. smoking rate is falling fast, according to a new government report. The largest one-year decline in 2 decades has dropped the number of smokers to just 15% of the population. Concurrently, e-cigarette use has stalled as health concerns about their safety have mounted as well.

And... health-care may get a bit more 'Star Trek' soon. Researchers say they've developed a small, wearable health monitor they're likening to a 'Star Trek' tricorder. The flexible patch can be worn on the chest and tracks vitals in the human body and other important health information. It then communicates all that wirelessly to a laptop, smartphone or smartwatch. "Beam me up, Scotty!"

For RadioMD News, this is John Byrd. Hear health talk interviews with top experts at RadioMD dot com.