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Alyssa Gonzales

Articles by Alyssa Gonzales

Protect Your Familia Against Cancer with Generaciones Resources



The Zero Breast Cancer (ZBC) organization created Generations, a campaign to give background relevant information to young adults about how endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impact on health across generations.   ZBC has now adapted Generations educational tools into Spanish with Generaciones.  “At Zero Breast Cancer, we believe that language should not be a [challenge] when it comes to accessing important health information,” according to ZBC. “Our goal is to educate young adults and other community members about the multi-generational impact of [endocrine disrupting chemicals] and inspire simple actions that we can take to reduce exposure.”  Let’s dive further into these bilingual resources and why they’re important.   Protecting Future ...

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8 Big Reasons Liver Cancer Hurts Latinos



Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer. Understanding the reasons why this is happening can reveal how to address this suffering and prevent liver cancer among Latinos, which can improve health for the broader population.  “Understanding the causes of Latino liver cancer rates in South Texas and across the nation is critical. We must develop interventions and identify high-risk individuals who may be screened and treated with the best available care,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.   So, why does liver cancer hurt Latinos in particular?   1. Aflatoxin Exposure  Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on ...

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Join the VIVA-MIND Study of an Oral Drug for Alzheimer’s!



Researchers at The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio are recruiting participants for the VIVA-MIND study to learn whether a new drug therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can help people experiencing mild memory problems.  Volunteers ages 50 to 89 with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or probable mild Alzheimer’s may ask about eligibility for VIVA-MIND, said Dr. Sudha Seshadri, professor of neurology and director of the Glenn Biggs Institute.  Half of volunteers will be given the new drug therapy, an oral pill called varoglutamstat. The other half will receive a placebo pill that looks just like the study drug.  “The first people who will benefit from a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment are those who are ...

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The State of Liver Cancer in Latinos


Liver Disease From Alcohol cancer

We know many types of cancer deeply and affect U.S. Latinos.   Liver cancer is a particular problem.   In fact, Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among certain groups, according to the CDC.  Let’s examine the data and unpack this rising crisis for Latinos.   What is Liver Cancer?   The liver has many important jobs in the body. It plays a role in digestion, supporting healthy blood flow, breaking down needed nutrients, and more.  Liver cancer can start at any part of the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).   “Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has 2 lobes and fills the ...

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Nearly 10,000 People Spoke Up to Limit Sugar, Alcohol in New Dietary Guidelines for Americans



A few years ago, scientists advised federal leaders to adjust the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to lower added sugar intake from 10% to 6% of daily calories and reduce men’s daily alcohol intake from two to one drink a day.  That advice was not taken.   Now those scientists – the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee – are asking for public comment as they again prepare to recommend changes to the dietary guidelines.   This is an opportunity to speak up for nutrition!  Submit a model comment created by Salud America! to urge lower added sugar and alcohol intake in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans!  The comment period opened Jan. 19, 2023, and closed on Oct. 1, 2024.  October 2024 UPDATE: 266 Salud America members submitted our model comment ...

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The Need for Mental Health Resources for Latino Youth



Young Latinos face many challenges when it comes to mental health support and resources.   The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has highlighted ongoing projects and resources that contribute to decreasing the issues that plague the Latino youth mental health crisis.   “Evidence indicates that Hispanic and Latino youth have pressing mental health needs and are not receiving adequate mental health care,” according to Dr. Joshua A. Gordon, NIMH director, in a blog.   Let’s explore the Latino youth mental health crisis and what resources can help.   Latino Youth Mental Health  The COVID-19 pandemic affected youth from minority communities and worsened the health differences experienced by these communities.  Factors like not being treated fairly, ...

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UT Health San Antonio Researchers Striving to Learn More About Latino Dementia Risk



Researchers at UT Health San Antonio are launching a five-year, $15.5-million study to investigate why the region’s older Mexican Americans experience a high rate of dementia.   The project, the San Antonio Mind and Heart Study, is led by UT Health San Antonio’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases with funding from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging.  Let’s dive deeper Latinos, dementia, and the goals of this study.   A Continuation of Important Data  The new dementia study is an is an extension of the San Antonio Heart Study, conducted at UT Health San Antonio between 1979 and 2006 led Dr. Helen P. Hazuda.    Researchers, led by Dr. Claudia L. Satizabal, associate professor of population health ...

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How Many Latinos Graduate College?



About half of Latinos who enroll in a four-year college do not end up graduating, according to a new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education!  Latinos’ college graduation rate (52%) also is lower than their White peers (65%).   How can we increase Latino college graduation rates?   Let’s dive into to the numbers and explore how to close the Latino education gap, and better support Latino students.    Latino College Graduation by the Numbers  28% of Latino adults (age 25 and older) currently have an associate degree or higher, compared to 48% of White adults.  To better understand that gap, the new analysis from ¡Excelencia in Education! highlights 4 measures that track degree completion:  1. Graduation Rate: Total percentage of students who graduated within ...

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Connect with Breast Cancer Researchers with ShareForCures



The Susan G. Komen Foundation is working to discover cures for breast cancer faster with ShareForCures.   ShareForCures is a breast cancer research registry that connects researchers with information from people who have or had breast cancer.  “The goal of ShareForCures is to focus on research that will have the most significant impact for people affected by breast cancer,” according to the registry website.   Here’s how you or someone you know can participate in ShareForCures!  Join ShareForCures  Individuals interested in participating in the registry can start by creating a free MyKomen + Health account and complete the ShareForCures registration.  Participants are asked to complete informed consent and medical release forms.  “Information that could ...

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