Teen dies from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ just days after young girl succumbs to same rare infection

A North Carolina teenager has died from a rare and often fatal infection caused by an amoeba found in warm freshwater, state health officials said.

In a GoFundMe set up by the teen’s mother, she shared that his first symptom was "severe headaches."

"I never imagined that something like this could be so serious," she said.

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The illness is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba (one-celled living organism) that inhabits ponds, lakes and rivers.

"We extend our condolences to the family, friends and community impacted by this loss," the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement obtained by news outlets.

The teen’s death was reported just days after an 8-year-old girl in Louisiana succumbed to the infection.

"While these infections are very rare, this is an important reminder that this amoeba is present in our state and across the U.S.," State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., said in a prior statement. "There are steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection while swimming during the warmer months."

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Naegleria fowleri — commonly referred to as a "brain-eating amoeba" — causes a life-threatening brain infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

The amoeba is most active in the months that the water temperature stays elevated.

"It's typically this time of year when it's very hot outside, when there hasn't been a lot of rain … and the lakes and ponds get pretty stagnant and get very warm, and that's a great breeding ground for these type of natural inhabitants of those waters," Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern and Children's Health in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital.

The infection can occur when water containing the amoeba is forced up the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain. This can occur when someone jumps or dives into the water or participates in water sports.

"Once that happens, it's nearly a lethal disease," Kahn warned. "The mortality rate is close to 100%."

Naegleria fowleri does not cause illness via swallowing.

The initial symptoms of PAM usually begin about five days after exposure, but they can be noticed sooner.

Early signs usually include headache, nausea, fever and/or vomiting, the CDC’s website states.

As the infection progresses, people may experience confusion, slurred speech, stiff neck, disorientation, hallucinations, seizures and coma.

"The initial symptoms are actually quite nonspecific — they don't point to one disease or another — but they can progress very rapidly," Kahn noted.

Diagnosis involves testing cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap; specialized laboratory testing may be needed.

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Symptoms usually begin about five days after exposure, although they can appear anywhere from one to 12 days later. Once symptoms start, the disease progresses rapidly.

Most people die within one to 18 days after symptoms begin, typically around five days, per the CDC.

To prevent potentially fatal infections, Kahn recommends either avoiding the types of waters where the amoeba is likelier to be found, or taking added precautions.

"If you are swimming in those waters, wear a nose clip, don't put your head underwater, those types of things," he said.

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Drinking contaminated water does not present a risk, and the infection does not spread from one person to another.

Because the amoeba is found in soil, the CDC also recommends avoiding stirring up the sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers.

When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial and anti-amoebic medications, including amphotericin B, azithromycin, rifampin and miltefosine.

"There has been a cocktail of antibiotics and antimicrobials that have been tried over the years — but with a very, very small number of cases every year, it's tough to draw any conclusions from that," Kahn said.

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"In the cases we've seen, we typically throw a lot of these antibiotics as a therapeutic modality, but by the time the [amoeba] enters the brain and starts to basically erode the brain tissue, it's too late."

Those who experience sudden headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting — especially if they have recently been swimming in warm freshwater — should seek immediate medical attention, the CDC recommends.

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7 new dementia risk factors revealed — including one millions struggle with

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a major update to its guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

The second edition of the original 2019 report was updated to "reflect the latest evidence and advances in dementia risk reduction."

The following seven additional health conditions and exposures were added to the list.

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These new risk factors joined the previously existing 12, which are listed below.

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Dr. Daniel Amen, physician and founder of Amen Clinics in California, has his own formula for reducing Alzheimer’s risk factors, following an acronym called BRIGHT MINDS.

This stands for blood flow, retirement and aging, inflammation, genetics, head trauma, toxins, mental health, immunity and infections, neurohormones, diabesity (co-occurrence of obesity and type 2 diabetes) and sleep. The WHO’s updated guidelines offer similar advice.

Amen spoke with Fox News Digital about the new additions to the WHO's list of risk factors.

The WHO does not recommend menopausal hormone therapy specifically to prevent dementia in postmenopausal women 65 and older. For younger women, it says there is not enough evidence to determine whether MHT affects dementia risk.

Amen agreed that there is not enough evidence to support using MHT specifically to prevent dementia. He said hormonal changes during menopause may affect mood and memory, although the relationship between MHT and dementia risk remains uncertain.

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"For women, as they go through menopause, lower progesterone makes them anxious, and [with] lower estrogen, they start to have memory problems," he said. "Hormone replacement early on is helpful, and that's what we see on the brain imaging work that we do."

Experts note that while menopause-related hormonal changes can be associated with mood and cognitive symptoms, these effects can vary widely.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in or near the brain bursts, according to the American Stroke Association.

Conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels can also affect brain health and are associated with a higher risk of dementia, according to Amen.

That can include conditions such as heart disease, heart rhythm problems, stroke and transient ischemic attacks. Erectile dysfunction can also be associated with underlying vascular disease, he said.

"And 40% of 40-year-olds have erectile dysfunction, 70% of 70-year-olds. So, if I'm an older person, I'm thinking if I get my brain right, my love life could be better, too," Amen added.

Amen surmised that the WHO is "late to the party" on emphasizing the importance of head trauma as a dementia risk factor. TBI can range from a mild concussion to a severe brain injury.

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"One of the big lessons from the brain imaging work we do is that mild traumatic brain injury ruins people's lives," he said. "They end up seeing psychiatrists because they have temper problems or ... depression or anxiety, and it's really from a snowmobiling accident in [their] 30s."

Amen added that failing to protect the brain — which he described as "very soft" and about the consistency of "soft butter" — is "not the smart thing to do."

A significant portion of the brain is dedicated to vision, according to Amen.

"So, if your vision becomes troubled, your brain's troubled," he said.

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Amen said vision impairment may place additional demands on the brain. While the condition has been linked with cognitive decline, the WHO says there is insufficient evidence to recommend vision treatment specifically for dementia prevention.

Sleep appears to support the brain’s waste-clearance processes, Amen noted.

Sleep challenges affect tens of millions of Americans. In 2024, 30.5% of U.S. adults reported getting less than seven hours of shuteye per day, according to the CDC.

For those with sleep problems such as sleep apnea, it can cause changes in the brain that resemble the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, the expert said.

Research suggests that sleep may help the brain clear beta-amyloid, although the relationship between sleep and dementia remains complex and is still being studied.

Inflammation and infections can affect brain health. Untreated HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can affect the central nervous system and is associated with HIV-related cognitive impairment.

Amen said he has scanned "hundreds of people" with HIV, stating that the virus is "clearly a risk factor."

Untreated HIV is known to affect the central nervous system and is associated with HIV-related cognitive impairment. Effective antiretroviral therapy has greatly reduced the incidence of severe HIV-associated dementia.

Exposure to any toxins, from alcohol and marijuana to lead, mercury or air pollution, could be detrimental to brain health, according to Amen.

The WHO recommends reducing exposure to household and outdoor air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter. Research has linked long-term exposure to air pollution with a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia, although the WHO characterizes the evidence as low to very low certainty.

Dementia risk rises sharply with age. A recent U.S. analysis estimated that about one in five people had developed dementia by age 85, with risk increasing further at older ages.

While those with a genetic predisposition to the disease have a higher risk, Amen noted that certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk for anyone.

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"We should be on a dementia prevention program our whole lives," the doctor said. "It’s not something to start when you're 65."

Amen urged everyone to ask themselves the question: "Is what I’m doing good or bad for my brain?"

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"Social activity is one of the prevention strategies. New learning is a prevention strategy," he added. "So always working on being connected with other people and then just making better decisions."

"If you love and care for your brain, you're going to love your life a whole bunch more."

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Popular artificial sweetener linked to potentially dangerous heart risk

People who consume greater amounts of a popular artificial sweetener could face a greater risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests.

The research, which was presented at the ESC Cardiology Congress in Germany this week, showed that higher levels of xylitol in the blood were associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly used as a low-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is often used in higher amounts to sweeten foods, drinks, chewing gum and dental care products.

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The researchers followed two large study cohorts of more than 17,700 Canadian and British participants.

Over a six-year follow-up, people in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging with the highest xylitol levels had a 57% higher risk of death, myocardial infarction or stroke related to cardiovascular events compared to those with the lowest levels.

Over 30 years, participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk group with the highest xylitol levels had an 18% greater risk of MACE.

Both cohorts showed evidence of a dose-dependent association, in which higher blood xylitol concentrations corresponded to higher rates of cardiovascular events.

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These higher risks persisted even after the researchers adjusted for other factors like age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes and lipid levels.

The study follows previous research that showed xylitol can enhance the ability of platelets to form clots, according to Dr. Marco Witkowski, the study presenter from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

"Artificial sweeteners are consumed by people who think they are healthier than sugar, and they are generally regarded as safe by regulatory agencies," the doctor said in a statement.

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"Our long-term findings in the general population highlight how little we know about the cardiovascular safety of xylitol and indicate that further studies are warranted, especially as the amount of xylitol in products continues to increase."

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The study was observational and does not prove that xylitol causes cardiovascular events, as the researchers noted that more studies are needed to confirm the findings.

The report also does not establish whether high levels of xylitol in the blood necessarily reflect dietary consumption, as the sugar alcohol can also be produced naturally in the body as part of glucose metabolism.

"These disturbing findings with [a] plausible mechanism of xylitol increasing cardiovascular risk should be taken very seriously," Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and public health campaigner based in London, told Fox News Digital.

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"As a practicing cardiologist, I see many patients suffering from anxiety and palpitations that resolve as soon as they stop taking artificial sweeteners."

Malhotra, who was not involved in the study, noted that one of the most important dietary changes to reduce cardiovascular risk is to "unsweeten your sweet tooth."

"That’s why I advise all my patients to avoid all processed sugars and artificial sweeteners for six weeks to break the addiction," he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to several food and beverage trade groups for comment.

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Dietitian reveals simple eating strategy for better sleep — and one habit to avoid

How you eat can influence how you sleep, according to experts.

Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, certified diabetes care specialist and author of "The Sleepdemic Solution," says certain foods can make, or break, a good night’s sleep.

"There are a number of foods that can help support sleep, and sometimes it's even a combination," she told Fox News Digital.

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Keeping blood sugar steady throughout the day may help prevent afternoon energy crashes and support more restorative sleep at night, Palinski-Wade said.

Waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to fall back asleep may not always be insomnia, she suggested, but could be linked to fluctuations in glucose levels.

Combining lean proteins, slow-digesting carbohydrates and healthy fats in meals and snacks can help stabilize those levels — what Palinski-Wade called the "No. 1 way" to improve overall sleep.

Some small studies suggest tart cherry juice may support sleep, and the expert named tart cherries — or 100% tart cherry juice — as her top choice. 

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"Tart cherries [are] one of the foods that have the highest amount of melatonin naturally, but they also have compounds that help to really extend that melatonin in our bodies and our body's ability to use it," she said.

Still, research linking tart cherry consumption to modest improvements in sleep duration or quality is limited and mixed; a 2025 systematic review reached a similar conclusion.

For those who suffer from insomnia, Palinski-Wade recommends ingesting 4 to 6 ounces of 100% tart cherry juice, or about a quarter cup of dried tart cherries.

"It's a really, really great tool to improve your sleep – and it's really tasty, too," she said.

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Foods and drinks that may help reduce inflammation can also support sleep, the dietitian said.

"When we have more antioxidants in the body, more anti-inflammatory compounds, we're really helping our body to achieve that more restful state," Palinski-Wade said.

Foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds — including nuts and seeds, olive oil and avocados — also provide healthy fats and other nutrients that may support sleep.

On the other hand, Palinski-Wade warned that caffeine intake can negatively impact sleep quality.

"So many of us have a poor night's sleep and the next day we reach for caffeine to give us a burst of energy," she said. "And there's nothing wrong with a little bit of caffeine, but you have to look at how much you're having and how close to bedtime."

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"And it's a stimulant, so it's harder to fall asleep," Palinski-Wade warned. "If you have foods or beverages with a large amount of caffeine, and you're having them in the afternoon or toward the evening, that is going to make it very hard to get restorative, restful sleep in the evening."

For those who do drink caffeine, it is best to stop about 10 hours before bedtime, the expert advised.

The "sweet spot" for daily caffeine intake is 300 milligrams or less, she said. Any more than that becomes a "stressor to our body." A cup of coffee, traditionally 8 ounces, is about 100 milligrams.

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The FDA says up to 400 milligrams daily is not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, although individual tolerance can vary depending on factors such as medications, health conditions and sensitivity to caffeine.

"We start to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, and that not only makes our body store fat versus burn it, but it also increases inflammation," Palinski-Wade noted. 

"So now you have the stimulant, you have this inflammation, and all those things go against quality sleep."

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Why Dolly Parton’s death can feel like losing someone you knew personally

The death of Dolly Parton has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans around the world, many of whom have shared that they feel like they’ve lost someone they knew personally.

Grief experts say it’s possible to experience genuine feelings of loss even if there wasn’t a personal relationship — particularly when the public figure has become woven into people’s memories and routines over a long period of time.

Psychologists refer to this type of loss as parasocial grief, according to licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Dara Houp.

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"When a celebrity shares their personal life – childhood experiences, hardships and victories – our brains register these bits of information through the same emotional and neural pathways utilized for our real-life friendships and a genuine attachment is developed," Houp, with Pathways Psychological Services in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

When that perceived relationship comes to an end, people may experience the parasocial grief, she said.

Desiree Taranto, a licensed mental health counselor and clinical director at Empower Your Mind Therapy in New York City, said the widespread reaction also reflects "collective grief," a shared emotional response when a loss resonates across a community.

"Parton’s music, movies, philanthropy and public persona became part of many people’s family traditions, memories and difficult life moments," she told Fox News Digital.

"I honestly didn’t know I could react that way over someone I don’t even personally know," one user wrote in a grief support group on Reddit. "[Dolly] was a ray of sunshine in this dark world nowadays, and I just can’t help but cry and get so emotional about it."

Another user shared that "as each day passes, losing Dolly seems to hurt more instead of less. I have found myself crying and feeling this deep sadness that I just can’t shake."

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"I never met Dolly, and I know she didn’t know me, but I loved her for most of my life. That love was real, and so this grief feels real too."

Someone else in a different group referred to the feelings of sadness as "post-Parton depression."

"I don't know why I am taking Dolly Parton's death so hard," one user wrote. "I never met her… She didn't know me. But for some reason, I can't stop crying."

"I think the reason it's hard is because she was a light and just a wonderful human," someone else shared. "She is exactly who Jesus wanted us to be."

The emotions people experience when grieving a celebrity can feel as real as those felt after losing someone they knew personally, Houp said.

"Perceived relational intimacy, not whether we actually know an individual, is largely what determines the intensity of grief," she said. "The emotional connection your brain developed runs along the same neural pathways as real-life bonds."

It’s also possible that the deaths of certain celebrities — particularly those associated with childhood, family traditions or major life moments — are more likely to trigger an intense grief response, the expert noted.

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"When a celebrity’s life is connected to a personal milestone — such as a break-up or the birth of a child — their death permanently disrupts a living connection to who, what or where you used to be," Houp said. "Losing a celebrity can feel like losing a piece of your own history."

A song may be tied to someone who has died, a family memory or a difficult period when Parton’s work brought comfort, Taranto noted, making the loss feel connected to a person’s own life story.

Over decades in the public eye, Parton gave fans a window into her life, allowing them to form a sense of who she was, Houp said.

"For many who followed Dolly’s life, she represented resilience and ambition, authenticity and bold self-expression, and a rare, unconditional kindness," she said.

"We identified with the goodness we saw in Dolly and felt encouraged by her ability to overcome hardship – thereby furthering our sense of connection to her."

Taranto offered advice for those feeling the grief following Parton’s death.

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"Accept your feelings and know that it is okay to mourn someone you never met," she said. "Do not judge yourself or feel embarrassed because that person’s work, values or advocacy touched your life personally."

It can also help to reach out to others who are also grieving the loss.

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"Be there for each other and allow others to be there for you," Taranto advised. "Tell stories, listen to her music, watch her movies or journal about what she meant to you."

"Remember the positive impact she made in the world and the ways she used her platform for good. Shared grief can help us process a loss because it reminds us that we are not alone in it."

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Drug institute warns that Trump-shaped ecstasy pills contain potentially fatal ingredient

A respected drug treatment and mental health center in the Netherlands issued a warning against taking ecstasy pills that are shaped like President Donald Trump’s head, saying they could be fatal.

The Trimbos Institute warned in a "red alert" that the pills contain a high concentration of PMMA, also known as para-methoxymethamfetamine, which is similar to ecstasy’s active ingredient MDMA, but is slower acting.

The slow onset could encourage users to take more and potentially overdose.

The institute shared a photo of two of the pills, of which one was green on the front and one was yellow and they were red and blue on the back.

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The pills had a likeness of Trump’s face on the front and the name "Trump" and letter "NL" on the back.

"Absolutely do not use these pills," the institute urged.

In 2018, Indiana State police seized orange Trump-shaped ecstasy pills in an operation targeting small-time drug traffickers.

Those pills also had Trump’s face on the front and "great again" written on the back, an apparent reference to his Make America Great Again slogan.

In 2017, German police also seized thousands of Trump-shaped ecstasy pills, which also appeared to be orange, that had an estimated street value of nearly $46,000.

There have yet to be any reports of overdoses or deaths due to the drug, Spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press.

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"We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood," she said.

The clinic said that the pills had recently been handed in to some of their centers where they test drugs before people take them.

While ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, hundreds of thousands of people use the drug every year, according to the government.

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‘Quiet quitting’ in marriage: The subtle signs a spouse has emotionally checked out

"Quiet quitting," a workplace term for doing only the minimum required, has also been used to describe a pattern in some marriages.

In relationships, the informal term refers to spouses who remain together while reducing their emotional effort, communication or involvement in the relationship.

Couples may continue managing day-to-day responsibilities, such as household tasks and parenting, even as one partner becomes emotionally and physically disengaged, relationship experts say.

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Discussion of the term has gained traction on social media, with users sharing videos and posts about remaining in a marriage while feeling checked out.

Licensed marriage and family therapist Lisa Brookes Kift, of Marin Therapy and Counseling in California, told Fox News Digital that a noticeable absence of friction can be an early warning sign.

"It’s a myth that an absence of arguing in a relationship automatically means the relationship is healthy," Kift said. "Many are conflict-avoidant and rather than address their feelings, opt to sweep them under the rug, which over the long term erodes the foundation of emotional safety."

Kift said a person’s attachment style — patterns of seeking closeness and support in relationships — can influence how they respond to marital distress.

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"An avoidant style may be more able to stay in their own lane — on their own island — to ride it out, because they are most comfortable resourcing in themselves," she said.

Those with a more secure attachment style are less likely to stay in that dynamic, as they may be more inclined to give a partner the benefit of the doubt and believe problems can be worked through, the expert noted.

These patterns can be shaped, in part, by early experiences involving trust, worthiness and whether a person’s emotional needs were met, according to Kift.

"What did they learn about whether their needs would be met? Whether the most important people to them could be trusted? That they were lovable for who they were and not what they did?" Kift asked.

When adult relationships appear to repeat those early disappointments, partners can lose hope, she added.

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"I’ve seen quite a few people in my therapy practice who have taken this stance, where there have been failed attempts to get emotional and other needs met, leading to hopelessness," Kift said.

Kift identified several early signs that a partner may be becoming emotionally disengaged.

Left unaddressed, the relationship could shift into what journalist Monica Corcoran Harel described on Oprah’s podcast as "parallel play" — a reference to toddlers playing side by side without meaningfully engaging with one another.

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Repairing a marriage requires both partners to re-engage, Kift said, which can be difficult once one spouse has become deeply emotionally detached.

"If one has fully checked out, they will not be open to repair," she said, adding that hypervigilance — remaining on guard for hurt or disappointment — can make it difficult for a person to recognize positive changes in their partner.

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For couples willing to work on the relationship, Kift suggests starting with a conversation that feels safe and communicates care.

As one example, she suggested saying: "I know it may not have looked like it, but you and our marriage are very important to me. Can we find a time to sit down and talk?"

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