Steph Whiteside

Alzheimer's disease affects more than five million Americans, but the disease is still a mystery to scientists and doctors. There’s no cure. But some patients and caregivers hope to change that by joining clinical trials for new drugs. 

At the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Tom Ala is part of a clinical trial for a drug that holds promise in slowing Alzheimer’s. It's a nationwide trial involving hundreds of patients.

Sending a child to overnight camp can be nerve-wracking for any parent. It’s even scarier if they have a child with a chronic illness. But a camp in Illinois offers a safe option for kids who have Type 1 diabetes.

Bill Sullivan's new book, "Please To Meet Me," explores the way genes and environment shape our lives. Sullivan, a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, talked with Side Effects' Stephanie Whiteside about the book and what he found out while researching it.

As the school year begins, parents are checking off things they need to do, including making sure their children get required vaccines.

But some parents are opting out, and last year that led to the worst measles outbreak the U.S. has seen in more than two decades. Now, doctors and nurses are working to get more children vaccinated. 

As officials look for ways to stem the opioid epidemic, a lot of effort has been put into limiting narcotic prescriptions. But new research suggests underlying social issues -- like incarceration and poverty -- are linked to overdose deaths. 

Since February, patients in Illinois have been able to swap their opioid prescriptions for marijuana. And many are doing just that.