Weekly Health Quiz: An Expose on Silver Fillings, Brain Aging, and the Microplastics Crisis

1 By weight, how much mercury is usually found in dental amalgam fillings?

• 10%
• 25%
• 35%
• 50%
  

  Dental amalgam fillings are about 50% mercury by weight. Researchers found adults with amalgam fillings carried significantly higher blood mercury levels than people without them. Learn more.

2 Why is linoleic acid (LA) harmful to the skin?

• Skin cells use it to block all sunlight
• Oxidation creates toxic byproducts during sun exposure
  

  Linoleic acid (LA) can oxidize in skin cell membranes during sun exposure, forming toxic byproducts like 4-HNE that may damage DNA and speed skin aging. Learn more.

• Melanin production stops as soon as LA is eaten
• Pores close tightly and trap moisture inside

3 How can mercury from fillings spread throughout the body?

• It stays locked inside the filling forever
• It leaves only when the tooth is removed
• It turns harmless once mixed with saliva
• It releases as vapor during chewing or heat exposure
  

  Chewing, grinding, and hot foods can release mercury vapor, which may enter the blood and travel into organs, tissues, the brain, and placenta. Learn more.

4 Which factor does not accelerate brain aging?

• Chronic stress
• Pollution
• Meditation
  

  Brain aging can speed up when stress, pollution, and metabolic strain build up. A steady meditation routine may help lower stress instead. Learn more.

• Plant-based diets

5 Which statement is not true about cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome?

• It links heart, kidney, and metabolic dysfunction
• It affects only a small number of U.S. adults
  

  Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one CKM risk factor, so it is not rare. Early action may help protect heart, kidney, and metabolic health. Learn more.

• Early metabolic changes may help reverse many cases
• Poor diet and chronic stress can drive related problems

6 What does isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) cause people to do?

• Act out dreams while asleep
  

  Isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) can cause shouting or movements during dreams and may be an early warning sign of Parkinson’s or Lewy body dementia. Learn more.

• Stop dreaming completely at night
• Sleep longer without waking up
• Forget dreams after waking

7 Which of these may be a sign of low vitamin D?

• Slower nail growth
• Stronger appetite
• Frequent illness
  

  Low vitamin D is linked to frequent illness, fatigue, poor bone strength, and low mood because vitamin D supports immunity and overall health. Learn more.

• Sharper night vision

8 How does a cysteine-rich diet help with gut health?

• It blocks all immune activity in the gut
• It removes the need for intestinal bacteria
• It stops digestion so the gut can rest
• It activates stem cells that repair the gut lining
  

  Cysteine helps trigger repair signals between intestinal and immune cells, supporting stem cells that rebuild the gut lining after damage. Learn more.

9 If someone has dexterity issues, what can be used instead of floss?

• Cotton swabs
• Soft plaque removers
  

  Soft plaque removers can clean between teeth with one hand, making them easier to use when regular flossing is difficult. Learn more.

• Whitening strips
• Tongue scrapers

10 How much glycine does the body use daily for collagen alone?

• About 3 grams
• Around 6 grams
• Nearly 9 grams
• Roughly 12 grams
  

  The body uses about 12 grams of glycine daily for collagen, while normal production and diet may leave a gap of around 10 grams. Learn more.

11 What molecule helps heat therapy relax and widen arteries?

• Nitric oxide
  

  Heat exposure increases blood flow and shear stress, which triggers nitric oxide release. Nitric oxide helps arteries relax and widen, supporting lower blood pressure. Learn more.

• Cortisol
• Glucose
• Histamine

12 What type of fiber helps lower cholesterol?

• Soluble fiber
  

  Soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in the gut, helping reduce absorption into the bloodstream and supporting healthier low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Learn more.

• Insoluble fiber
• Synthetic fiber
• Muscle fiber

13 What matters most for reducing stress with exercise?

• Training as hard as possible each time
• Losing weight before stress can improve
• Staying consistent with regular activity
  

  Stress reduction builds gradually through repeated workouts, which teach the body to handle stress more efficiently and recover faster. Learn more.

• Avoiding recovery between workouts

14 What makes cognitive disability different from dementia?

• Cognitive disability always means permanent memory loss
• Cognitive disability is an earlier sign of brain stress
  

  Cognitive disability can mean early problems with focus, memory, or decisions, while dementia is a more advanced form of brain decline. Learn more.

• Dementia only affects focus during stressful events
• Dementia improves quickly without lifestyle changes

15 Why is blue light from screens harmful?

• Night vision becomes too strong after screen use
• Screens block all light from reaching the eyes
• Melatonin drops and sleep timing gets disrupted
  

  Blue light can lower melatonin and disrupt circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep and shifting normal sleep patterns. Learn more.

• Daytime brightness makes screens harder to read

16 Which biodegradable plastics are being studied as greener options?

• Polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
• Polyamide (PA) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)
• Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA)
  

  Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) can break down under certain conditions, though they are not perfect substitutes yet. Learn more.

17 Which of these may help calm sleep pressure?

• Aspirin
  

  Small doses of aspirin may lower free fatty acids and serotonin, which can help reduce drowsiness and support steadier energy during the day. Learn more.

• Melatonin
• Caffeine
• Antihistamines

18 What’s an easy way to test your balance?

• Count how many steps are taken each day
• Stand on one leg for 10 seconds
  

  Standing on one leg for 10 seconds or doing the timed up and go test can reveal balance problems that may need training or further evaluation. Learn more.

• Stretch the legs while sitting in a chair
• Walk faster than usual for one minute

19 What well-known drug was C15:0 compared with for effects on AMPK?

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Metformin
  

  C15:0 was compared with metformin, a common blood sugar medication that engages adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Learn more.

• Penicillin

20 At what age does thyroid function gradually decline and anti-cortisol hormones drop more quickly?

• Before puberty
• Around age 50
• After age 25
• After age 35
  

  After age 35, thyroid function may gradually decline while anti-cortisol hormones drop faster, raising the risk of cortisol and estrogen excess. Learn more.

21 Which at-home method may help reduce mouth breathing during sleep?

• Mouth taping
  

  Mouth taping uses gentle medical tape over the lips to encourage nasal breathing during sleep and may help with snoring or mouth breathing. Learn more.

• Hot tea before bed
• Throat lozenges
• Extra pillows