Better blood tests for Alzheimer's

😊Happy Monday, New Jersey!

🌦️Weather: High 86, mostly cloudy, then a chance of thunderstorms

👀What’s on tap today:

• Better blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease

• Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat

• Southwest Airlines dropping open boarding system

Up first…

Blood tests for Alzheimer's may be coming to your doctor's office

New research suggests certain blood tests could help doctors diagnose Alzheimer's disease faster and more accurately. Confirming if someone's memory problems really are caused by Alzheimer's requires a brain scan or spinal tap to spot one culprit, sticky amyloid protein. Labs are offering tests to find clues in blood instead but they're not yet widely used because it's hard for doctors to tell which ones really work. A Swedish study found a certain test helped improve diagnosis without more costly follow-up procedures. Sunday's findings, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, mark a step toward more use of blood testing.

Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat

At least two people have died and more than two dozen were hospitalized in an outbreak of listeria food poisoning linked to meat sliced at grocery store deli counters, federal health officials said Friday.

At least 28 people in a dozen states have gotten sick, though the largest number, seven, were in New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The people who died were from Illinois and New Jersey. Samples were collected from May 29 to July 5 and so far, all of the people known to be part of the outbreak have been hospitalized.

Many of the people in the outbreak reported eating meats that were sliced at grocery store deli counters. So far, there's no information showing that people are getting sick from prepackaged deli meats, the CDC said. People most commonly reported eating deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst and ham, officials said. CDC doesn't have enough information to say which deli meats are the source of the outbreak.

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for people older than 65, those with weakened immune systems and pregnant people, who can have miscarriages. This outbreak includes people aged 32 to 94, with a median age of 75.

Southwest Airlines to drop its open-boarding system and start assigning seats

Southwest Airlines said Thursday that it plans to drop the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers to seats, just like all the other big airlines.

The airline said it has been studying seating options, running tests and surveying customers. Southwest discovered that preferences have changed over the years and the vast majority of travelers now want to know where they are sitting before they get to the airport.

Southwest’s unusual boarding process started as a fast way to load passengers and limit the time that planes and crews spend sitting idly on the ground, not making money. It helped the airline operate more efficiently and even squeeze a few more flights into the daily schedule. It was one reason that Southwest alone among U.S. airlines remained profitable every year until the coronavirus pandemic.

Here’s how it works: Instead of being assigned a seat when they buy a ticket, Southwest customers check in exactly 24 hours before departure to secure their spots in boarding lines. In the beginning, the first 30 to check in were put in the coveted “A” boarding group, guaranteeing them a window or aisle seat. Dawdlers landed in “B,” which was still OK, or “C,” which would often result in a middle seat.

The system became less democratic over time as Southwest let people pay extra to guarantee a spot near the front of the line. Despite that, many Southwest loyalists still love open seating. The airline thinks they will adapt.

The airline said surveys showed that 80% of its customers — and 86% of “potential” customers — want an assigned seat.

Have a grandchild heading to college?

Current and prospective New Jersey college students who still need to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the September 15, 2024 deadline for State financial aid can now access one-on-one support from financial aid professionals. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is hosting free online consultations through August to help more New Jersey students complete this crucial federal application to access any available financial aid.

Many students and families continue to face hurdles while attempting to submit a financial aid application during the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle as a result of federal changes to the application and platform. To help boost FAFSA completion rates, the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of $50 million in total funding enabling organizations throughout the country to grow their capacity to support FAFSA completion at the State and local level.

HESAA received an award in the amount of $100,000 to offer hundreds of hours of personalized online support from contracted financial aid experts. During an individual one-hour virtual session, a student can expect a financial aid specialist to walk them through the FAFSA process or address any specific questions the student may have about the form or process.

“Through these additional free FAFSA consultations, we are offering another avenue of support to the students and families who still need to complete a financial aid application for the upcoming school year,” said Executive Director Margo Chaly, Esq. “As the State financial aid deadline of September 15 quickly approaches, HESAA is here to help New Jersey students complete their financial aid application over the summer to ensure as many residents as possible can access the generous financial aid our state offers. We are grateful for this opportunity to further expand our FAFSA supports on behalf of New Jersey families.”  

New Jersey students can sign up for a specific day and time here to attend. This includes students who already submitted their FAFSA but need assistance with correcting any errors or providing any additional information requested by the U.S. Department of Education to complete the student’s application.

Upcoming events

July 29 & 30 – Italian Festival & Wine Tasting (Oceanport, Monmouth County)
July 30 – The Wildwoods Love Waddler’s Baby Waddle Contest (Wildwood, Cape May County)
July 30 & 31 – Manasquan Fireman’s Fair (Manasquan, Monmouth County)
July 30 & 31 – Keyport Fireman’s Fair (Keyport, Monmouth County)
July 31 – Wildwoods Baby Parade (Wildwood, Cape May County)
August 2 – Green Market (Smithville, Atlantic County)
August 7 – National Lighthouse Day (North Wildwood, Cape May County)

Today in history

• In 1836, the newly-completed Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in Paris.

• In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA.

• On July 29, 1967, an accidental rocket launch on the deck of the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 service members. 

• In 1981, Britain’s Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a glittering ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. (They divorced in 1996.) 

Today’s birthdays

 🎉🎂 Happy 78th Birthday, Andrea Feehan! 🎂🎉

Wishing you a day filled with joy, laughter, and all the things you love. May your special day be as wonderful as you are! 🎈💖 Here's to many more happy and healthy years ahead in Brick! 🥂🌟 Enjoy your celebration! 🎁🎉🎈

A few other notable people sharing a birthday today with Andrea include style guru Tim Gunn is 71; Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 71; Singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 71; Country singer Martina McBride is 58, and Actor Wil Wheaton is 52.

Thought for today

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