Nancy Shute

Even people with good memories can have a hard time remembering the past accurately. That may be because the brain is constantly editing memories, updating them with current information. This may make good evolutionary sense. But it also means that some of your cherished memories may be wrong.

Billions of dollars are spent each year on mammograms to screen for breast cancer. If American women are screened less frequently, the cost savings might be used to better tailor the care for women at an increased risk of cancer.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls and boys when they are 11 or 12. The idea is to get preteens vaccinated so that if they do become sexually active as teens, they will be protected against a virus that can cause cervical cancer.

Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of diabetes. But it looks like muscle-strengthening exercises help, too, according to the Nurses Health Studies. Even supposedly lighter forms of exercise like yoga and stretching reduced women's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

More and more women are getting diabetes while pregnant, which can be risky for both mother and child. But the condition can be successfully treated, which is why a panel that sets standards for preventive care has called for all pregnant women to be screened.

Older people who took a few weeks of classes to train their brains reported doing slightly better at activities of daily living a decade later compared with people who hadn't been trained. But the perceived difference might be explained by the expectation that training would help.

Hot air balloon tours are popular with tourists and people looking for the thrill of a lifetime. But accidents can cause injuries and death, a study finds. Leg and ankle fractures were among the most common serious injuries. Most of the problems happen when balloons land badly.

Scientists aren't entirely sure if moderate alcohol consumption is good for your heart. But they're very clear on the risks of drinking. And it turns out that moderate alcohol use is a lot stingier than most of us think, public health officials say.

Alcohol uses causes a lot of health problems, and most of the trouble strikes drinkers who aren't alcoholics. Something as simple as a five-question screening test and a brief chat about cutting back can help people change course. But more than 80 percent of adults say they've never discussed alcohol use with a health professional.

Frostbite isn't on most people's health worry lists. But this week it's a concern for millions of people who live in places that don't usually contend with serious risk of cold injuries. Extremities can be affected by frostbite even when bundled up.

Vitamin E has gotten a bad rap because of studies finding it increases risk of death. But people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease might be able to fend off symptoms for a while, a study finds. That could mean more a little more time to live independently, and less burden on caregivers.

Teenagers would sooner die than ask about birth control or other sexual health issues at a doctor visit. But if pediatricians bring the subject up, teenagers are happy they had the chance to talk, a study finds. But one-third of doctors aren't taking the lead.