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Autism advocates worried about growing stigma Advocates and doctors in the autism community are worried about growing stigma. The renewed fears are front and centre in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s unproven remarks this week that taking Tylenol during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of autism for the child. Mercedes Palermo’s six-year daughter Camila has autism. Palermo said she is worried about the ripple effect Trump’s comments will have going forward. “What’s shocking the most is this coming from somebody with such global influence,” Palermo said. “When a person is in such a high position like that, it spreads and spreading harmful myths, it magnifies stigma on a global level” The World Health Organization issued a statement Wednesday looking to address the claims saying, “There is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) during pregnancy.” Developmental pediatrician Dr. Melanie Penner says there is nothing simple about autism and urges caution when looking for quick conclusions. “We do not have an easy answer for the question of what causes autism,” Penner said. “[When we are trying] to explain to families the extraordinary complexity of this, it can make easy answers very tempting. And that’s why we have revisited old myths about autism over and over again.” Read more about what Health Canada is urging here, as well as Global News’ full report to hear more from families about what they wish people understood about autistic children. 
105 sick in salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios An updated report from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows more people are getting sick from salmonella that has been linked to pistachios and products that contain pistachios. New data now shows 105 people have fallen ill the current outbreak. British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick have all reported cases. Sixteen people have been hospitalized. The agency is asking people to check if they have any of the recalled products in their homes. The advice is to throw them out and contact the location where they were purchased. People should also contact their health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms of salmonella which includes chills, fever, nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Most people get well on their own within a week. But some people including seniors, young children, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness that requires hospitalization. Read more about the affected products. 
— THE TOPIC — The link between alcohol consumption and dementia A new study exploring the relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk is warning that there is no safe limit of drinks when it comes to potential risks.  A study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine on Tuesday found that any amount of alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk of dementia.
The report notes that it is in contrast to previous research, which has suggested that moderate and light drinking might have a protective effect on dementia as opposed to no consumption. "Our findings challenge the common belief that low levels of alcohol are beneficial for brain health. Genetic evidence offers no support for a protective effect – in fact, it suggests the opposite," said Anya Topiwala, senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, who led the study. "Even light or moderate drinking may increase the risk of dementia, indicating that reducing alcohol consumption across the population could play a significant role in dementia prevention." Increasing the amount of alcohol consumption by three times can lead to a 15 per cent higher risk of developing dementia. For example, if a person increases their weekly drinks from one to three, that increases their dementia risk by 15 per cent, the study said. For anyone predisposed to developing an alcohol dependency, even a twofold increase in alcohol consumption would lead to a 16 per cent increase in dementia risk. | 
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