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Four people died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning during the weekend in cars where a tailpipe was blocked after a major snowstorm. The Associated Press (AP) wrote about the deaths, which were in the Boston area and in Meriden, CT. Two children were hospitalized in Boston after a similar incident. They are expected to recover, AP said. Parts of New England and New York received 2 to 3 feet of snow February 8 through 9. In all, the storm was blamed for at least 15 deaths in the Northeast and Canada, AP reported. They included heart attacks while shoveling snow, at least one of them fatal. A New York man died after his tractor drove off an embankment while he was plowing snow, AP said. Boston police warned that people should clear the snow around the tailpipe of a car before starting the engine. Otherwise, deadly fumes back up into the car.

About 8% of stroke survivors have thought about suicide or thought they’d be better off dead, a survey suggests. Researchers said the percentage of those pondering suicide after stroke was higher than for people who had heart attacks, cancer or other health problems. The study was based on a large national health survey taken during the years 2005 through 2010. It included a total of 17,000 people. In all, 678 reported having a stroke at some time in the past. People were asked: “Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself?” About 6% of heart attack survivors, 5% of people with diabetes and 4% of people with cancer reported such thoughts. A stroke damages the brain.

The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will nearly triple in the next 40 years, a new report predicts. The study estimates that there will be 13.8 million people with the disease by 2050. Nearly 5 million Americans are affected now. The U.S. government and the Alzheimer’s Association funded the study. A future study will estimate the health care costs. The Alzheimer’s Association predicts they will rise to more than $2 trillion. The new study is based on information from 10,802 Chicago residents. All were ages 65 or older when the study began. Researchers kept track of them up to 18 years. They were assessed for dementia every 3 years. The estimates also include data from the 2010 census. Much of the increase in Alzheimer’s is tied to the aging of the huge baby boomer generation. The census estimated that the population of people 65 and older will more than double by 2050.