Air Pollution and Alzheimer’s Disease
NEW STUDIES HIGHLIGHT CORRELATION
Recent studies have found that exposure to air pollution may worsen the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), by accelerating the buildup of plaques and toxic material in the brain. According to research from the University of Pennsylvania, for the first time, post-mortem tissue from people with AD revealed that “those who lived in areas with higher concentrations of fine particulate 
matter in the air even just one year had more severe accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles – hallmarks of Alzheimer’s pathology – compared to those with less exposure.” And another study, published earlier this month, followed 28 million US seniors for 18 years and reached a similar conclusion. The research focused on how breathing in tiny particles of pollution (i.e. from cars, wildfires, and factories) relates to the risk of developing cognitive decline related to AD. They found that individuals who were exposed to more of these particles had a higher risk of developing the disease. In sum, scientists were previously acting under the assumption that polluted air may affect your heart and blood vessels – which is what ultimately caused cognitive decline. The PLOS study, however, suggests that the link between air pollution and Alzheimer’s may be direct, and not a result of heart issues. This study does not conclude that air pollution causes AD – just that there is a correlation.
Scam Alert
FACEBOOK SCAM: THE ACCOUNT TAKEOVER THREAT
A Facebook scam reported by several EverSafe members, and by many others according to news reports and online forums, is a powerful lesson about the importance of protecting your Facebook and other online accounts with two-factor authentication or passkeys. With two-factor authentication (2FA), you add an extra Facebook settings photo illustrationlayer of security to your accounts by requiring two forms of identification, such as your email address and a mobile phone number, or a mobile device app. Using a passkey is even more secure. 2FA and passkeys generally prevent brute-force attacks on your Facebook account, in which hackers enter your username and then cycle through thousands of different password attempts until they gain access and take control.
One Facebook scam, in which hackers gain control of people’s accounts, shows why a secondary security layer for your account is so important. Once a Facebook account is compromised, scammers post as you, claiming you are selling discounted, expensive items, such as a car, on behalf of an older or recently deceased relative. The hacker instructs your friends to send a private message if they are interested in buying the item. The scammer will try to get a friend to send a deposit, even though they haven’t yet seen the item that’s for sale.
Scams like this have been reported in many states, with unsuspecting Facebook friends losing thousands of dollars.
- In Georgia, a man said at least three of his Facebook friends had given money to an imposter who was controlling his profile. The hacker appeared to be helping an uncle sell some high-priced items, including vehicles and a hot tub.
- In New Jersey, a bad actor who took over a Facebook account staged a fake estate sale and collected deposit money from the real account owner’s friends.
- In Colorado, an account-takeover hacker posted that they were selling various items because they had placed a parent in assisted living and needed money to pay for their care.
- In New York, a scammer posted the account owner’s late father’s supposed possessions, including tractors and four-wheelers. Premium concert seats were posted too.
The lesson for all Facebook users is to beware of a “friend” who suddenly offers multiple items for sale, especially for reasons that appear designed to appeal to your emotions.
When our members, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast, discovered that their accounts had been hacked, they tried to change their passwords. But the hacker was one step ahead of them. The bad actor had enabled two-factor authentication on our members’ accounts, which they had not enabled themselves. That enabled the intruder to control their accounts because they used their own phone number for 2FA. So, when the real account owners tried to change their passwords, they were unable to receive authentication codes because the system was sending them to the hacker.
Protecting Your Facebook Account From Takeover
If your account is taken over, reports suggest it can take weeks for Facebook to help you regain control. So, the best path forward is to add protection to your account.
- Start with a strong password, preferably generated by a password manager. According to the passphrase generation site Use a Passphrase, a seemingly complex password like ‘MyDogBell@!’ can be brute-force discovered by a scammer in about 3 hours.
- Set up two-factor authentication. With 2FA, after you enter your username and password, a code is texted to your mobile device. You then must enter that code to access your account. 2FA can be set up in the Facebook Meta Accounts Center.
- Even better, if you access Facebook from a device that supports fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, or a device passcode, you can set up a passkey.
Yes, an additional layer of Facebook account security is less convenient than basic username-and-password access. However, if you want to minimize the chances of being the victim of an account takeover scam, it’s well worth it.
Tax Filing Season
AVOID REFUND DELAYS IN 2026
Receiving a tax refund this year could take longer than expected if bank account information used for direct deposit is not provided or is off by even one digit. If you receive an IRS Notice CP53E, it indicates your tax refund is frozen because direct deposit information is missing or incorrect in your 2025 return. You must update your Man at computer doing taxesbanking details via your IRS Online Account within 30 days to avoid a 6-week delay. If you do not act, the IRS will send a paper check, which can take several weeks. This process is part of a new initiative to phase out paper checks so that more refunds can be sent electronically. If direct deposit information is incorrect and the bank rejects it, a refund will be frozen while the IRS seeks clarification from the taxpayer. The IRS has also indicated that delays will happen if a return contains math-errors, missing documents, or issues involving tax credits that require additional review. Refunds may also be held if the IRS suspects fraud or identity theft, or if the taxpayer owes certain debts. To avoid delays, the IRS recommends using direct deposit, but double-check routing and bank account numbers for accuracy, ensure Social Security numbers and names match official records, and respond quickly to official IRS letters. Taxpayers with questions can also contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) for assistance.
Government/Legislative Update
SLAM THE SCAM DAY
National Slam the Scam Day is held annually on the Thursday of National Consumer Protection Week, which is March 5, 2026. The day is an initiative by the Social Security Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to raise awareness of government imposter scams. It aims to help consumers identify and report scams in which fraudsters impersonate officials in an effort to steal funds, whether via cash transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. The Slam the Scam webpage is replete with useful information for families and clients.
Olympics 2026
OLDER ATHLETES BREAK RECORDS AGAIN
Earlier this month in Milan, Rich Ruohonen became the oldest American ever to compete in a Winter Olympics medal event. Ruohonen, 54, broke a previous record held by Joseph Savage, who was 52 when he competed in figure skating at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. After decades trying to qualify, Ruohonen achieved his Olympic dream when he subbed for Team Casper against Switzerland. And at 41 years old, Team USA bobsledder Elena Meyers Taylor became the oldest woman to take home an Olympic sliding gold medal by winning the women’s monobob, a women’s-only, single-person bobsleigh event introduced to the Winter Olympics in 2022. This historic victory marked her fifth Olympic Games and made her the most decorated female bobsledder in history. Defying age expectations, older Team USA athletes continue to make us proud by relentlessly pursuing their Olympic dreams.
