All Whites legend Steve Sumner is facing the greatest battle of his life.

In a landmark finding, researchers said it was possible the "seeds" of dementia could be transferred from the brain tissue of one person to another.

A Tauranga girl, born with a rare birthmark, has set her sights on a conference where she can meet professionals specialising in her condition.

New Zealand scientist Jilly Evans will have you believe it was luck that made her one of the world's leading researchers in the development of therapies for cancer and arthritis.

A 4-year-old boy has died of flu in what experts are warning is one of the most intense seasons in recent years.

Triathlons push athletes' bodies to the limit, especially competing internationally. Add the chance of suffering an epileptic seizure and the task seems almost impossible.

Angela Kingi was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) when she was 29 years old.

They saved his baby's life - and now he's running a marathon to thank them.

The first drug that slows down Alzheimer's disease could be available within three years after trials showed it prevented mental decline by a third.

A virus that caused vomiting and diarrhoea in Asia last winter appears to be spreading globally, threatening larger outbreaks of gastro infections that are the bane of luxury cruise liners.

Finding out what nasty bugs are in your system could soon be done much faster thanks to a Mars Bar-sized device capable of quickly decoding your genetic make-up.

Singer Avril Lavigne fought back tears as she recalled her recent battle with Lyme disease in a new TV interview.

A young inmate who died after two weeks on life support likely carried the superbug which killed him into the hospital from prison.

Scientists are close to developing a vaccine to prevent against chlamydia.

A Kiwi professor has developed a new treatment which may be the answer to helping those diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer.

The United States admits it may have accidentally sent live anthrax to research laboratories in Australia.

Having a healthy baby is a top concern for parents-to-be. One couple went through pregnancy knowing their baby was likely to have a rare genetic condition.

Thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer have been given new hope of a cure after scientists discovered the genetic cause behind 90 per cent of tumours.

HIV stigma is a plague that continues to follow the gay community, more than 30 years after the AIDS crisis emerged, writes Lee Suckling.

A new documentary reveals the struggle behind a debilitating and ultimately fatal rare disease that overwhelmingly strikes young boys.

The 28-year-old fashion designer is said to be battling a debilitating bacterial illness caused by tick bites and causes pain in the sufferer's skin and joints.

A breakthrough by New Zealand scientists could lead to a vaccine to treat a ghastly disease which mostly affects the poorest in the world.

Luca Enna, 4, knows that when his best friend - who has a blood condition - gets hurt on the playground, he must tell a teacher fast.

Hamish Bockett-Smith is about to spend 12 weeks in Singapore in an attempt to halt the steady destruction multiple sclerosis is inflicting on his body.

A former Iowa state politician faces up to 10 years in jail after having intercourse with his wife, who suffered from a severe case of Alzheimer's disease.

"Even more epidemic than Alzheimer's itself is the fear of Alzheimer's." So in an attempt to offer some perspective, experts tell you what to look out for.