(May 22, 2009 - Insidermedicine) From Atlanta - According to the CDC, alcohol consumption during pregnancy is still quite common. The average annual percentage of women who drank during pregnancy has remained stable at around 12%, while 2% still report binge drinking. The national prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome is about 0.5 to 2.0 cases per 1,000 births, while other related disorders occur about three times as often.

From the UK - According to research in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, low vitamin D levels may slow cognition in men. In a study of over 3,100 men aged 40 to 79, researchers found that the lowest levels of vitamin D were associated with slower information processing speeds. However, the study found no significant association between vitamin D levels and memory.

And finally, back to Atlanta - According to research in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, older adults may have a pre-existing immunity to H1N1 swine flu. Of the cases reported to the CDC, 64% have been in 5 to 24 year olds and just 1% have been in people over age 65. It is suggested that older adults may have some degree of immunity, possibly from years of immunization.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.