BOSTON -- As the scales continue to tip in the wrong direction nationwide, a landmark program aimed at reversing childhood obesity is helping 41 new communities. One of the cities is Fitchburg, Mass., where more than 80 percent of the residents are overweight or obese.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, each city will receive up to $360,000 over four years to pay for programs to increase opportunities for physical activity, and make healthy foods more available.

"They're looking at zoning issues around fast food restaurants, developing farmers markets, creating gardens where families and kids can have a hand in growing foods and vegetables," said Sarah Strunk, director of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities.

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Alzheimer's Research

A new study suggests people with a certain gene variation may have less of a chance of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to people who do not have that generic variation.

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine said the CTEP gene has been associated with increasing life span and lowering your heart risk. But this is the first time a study has clearly shown a reduced risk for memory decline and dementia.

The study tracked 523 older adults. They tested their memory, attention, and reaction time. It found patients with the gene were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, and showed a 51 percent slower decline in memory.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Sports Injury Treatment

Another report released in JAMA Tuesday suggests an increasingly popular treatment for treating Achilles tendon disorder may not be as effective as doctors had hoped.

Last year NewsCenter 5 reported on local research into platelet rich plasma therapy to treat injured tendons. It's commonly used among professional athletes. Doctors take the patient's own blood, and put it through a machine to separate the platelets. A small amount is then injected into the injured site to jump-start the healing process and make the tendon stronger.

But a new study from the Netherlands found PRP therapy does not work better than placebo for treating Achilles tendon disorder.