Landmark Cancer “Basket Study”

Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have announced results from the first published “basket study”, a new form of clinical trial design that explores responses to drugs based on the specific mutations in patients’ tumors rather than where their cancers originated. Published in August 2015 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the early… Continue reading Landmark Cancer “Basket Study”

Diabetes and Fall Risk

As you age, your chances of experiencing a fall increase.  In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that one-third of people over the age of 65 experience a fall every year in the U.S.  And recent studies have shown that you become even more of a fall risk if you’re over 65 and have… Continue reading Diabetes and Fall Risk

New Sepsis-Treatment Guidelines Can Help Save Patients

  University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed guidelines that will help health care facilities comply with tough new regulations on treating sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. It occurs in more than 230,000 U.S. patients every year, with most initially… Continue reading New Sepsis-Treatment Guidelines Can Help Save Patients

Is Hospice Use Alone a Good Indicator of Quality of End-of-Life Care?

Hospice use is commonly accepted as an indicator of quality of end-of-life care. However, when researchers in the U.S. studied variations in patterns of hospice use between states, they found troubling trends. They discuss the variations in the timing and duration of hospice enrollment and their implications in an article published in August 2015 in… Continue reading Is Hospice Use Alone a Good Indicator of Quality of End-of-Life Care?

“Fruits and Vegetables” Isn’t One Thing

How many times have you heard someone say, “Eat your fruits and vegetables”, as if it is one single category of food? Even the government has fruits and vegetables sharing a single level on their 4-level Food Guide Pyramid. But are they really that similar, and seemingly interchangeable? The answer? It depends. How you serve… Continue reading “Fruits and Vegetables” Isn’t One Thing

3 Signs Your Feet Need Help

Everybody’s feet ache from time to time. But according to podiatric surgeon Trevor Prior, of Homerton University, London, the following symptoms are signals that your feet need some serious attention: 1. Your shoes hurt. Many foot problems are related to inappropriately fitting shoes. A Homerton University Hospital study demonstrates that 90% of patients & 90%… Continue reading 3 Signs Your Feet Need Help

Adverse Effects of Common Drugs for Hair Loss and Prostate Enlargement

Twenty-five percent of men currently taking Finasteride or Dutasteride, popularly known as Proscar and Avodart, for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement (BPH), appear not to benefit from taking these medications and may experience adverse effects. Those prescribed Propecia or Avodart for male pattern hair loss (known as alopecia) are also at risk for adverse… Continue reading Adverse Effects of Common Drugs for Hair Loss and Prostate Enlargement

Patients Can Be Emotional Burden to Doctors

The greater a patient’s emotional need, the more likely he or she is to view their doctors as devoid of emotion, according to a new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. At the same time, the study said, those patients expect their doctors to be able to absorb their emotions and experiences.  The… Continue reading Patients Can Be Emotional Burden to Doctors

9 Modifiable Risk Factors May Contribute to Two-Thirds of Alzheimer’s Cases

Nine potentially modifiable risk factors may contribute to up to two thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases worldwide, suggests an analysis of the available evidence, published online in August 2015 the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. A release from the publisher notes that the analysis indicates the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease development and just how… Continue reading 9 Modifiable Risk Factors May Contribute to Two-Thirds of Alzheimer’s Cases

Managing Kidney Illness

People with kidney disease can continue to live productive lives. But you’ll probably have to make some diet and lifestyle changes to help you live a healthier and even longer life. Here, from the experts at NIH Senior Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health, are some steps you can take: Lifestyle Changes… Continue reading Managing Kidney Illness

How to Heal a Broken Heart

The scars of a broken heart can leave us severely wounded. Who hasn’t experienced or witnessed this happen to a relative or close friend? But a recent study by the University of Arizona and Northwestern University shows there is an effective path to recovery. Researchers demonstrated that the trial group that spent time assessing their… Continue reading How to Heal a Broken Heart

The Role of Free Radicals in Aging

When scientists from the Buck Institute bred mice that produced excess free radicals that damaged the mitochondria in their skin, they expected to see accelerated aging across the mouse lifespan – additional proof of the free radical theory of aging.  Instead, they saw a surprising benefit in young animals: accelerated wound healing due to increased… Continue reading The Role of Free Radicals in Aging

Winning the Vaccination Debate

Instead of arguing with someone who doesn’t believe in vaccinations, it’s better to focus on reminding them of their child’s well-being, a study shows. The researchers report their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The widespread fear that vaccines causes autism began in 1998, when The Lancet medical journal published a… Continue reading Winning the Vaccination Debate

The Perils of Junk Food in Diets for Older Adults

The consumption of “junk food” has continued to increase over the last 20 years, including in anti-aging diets for older adults. In the beginning, the selection of junk food was found in a small area of the grocery store. Now, you’re presented with it in almost every corner, even at the checkout counter, which makes… Continue reading The Perils of Junk Food in Diets for Older Adults

Not-for-Profit Hospitals May Not Trump For-Profits for Uncompensated Care

While not-for-profit hospitals receive substantial tax benefits, some do not provide free or subsidized care for a higher percentage of patients living in poverty than their for-profit counterparts, according to a study done by the University of California San Francisco in August 2015 and published August 3, in Health Affairs. A release from the university… Continue reading Not-for-Profit Hospitals May Not Trump For-Profits for Uncompensated Care

Solve the Medical Riddle: One Side of Her Face Suddenly Drooped and She Couldn’t Smile or Close Her Eye, Fourth Week

Editor’s note: Welcome to our ThirdAge feature that gives you a chance to play medical sleuth as we share the details of what happened when a patient presented with a problem that stumped the physician at first. The first week of this riddle, the patient reported her symptoms to her PCP. The doctor gave her… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: One Side of Her Face Suddenly Drooped and She Couldn’t Smile or Close Her Eye, Fourth Week

Alzheimer’s Patients & Caregivers Prefer Support over Research for Cure

More than $100 million in federal funding was spent last year toward searching for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, if given the choice, most people with dementia and those caring for them would like to see the money go elsewhere, according to a recent study led by University at Buffalo researcher Davina Porock and… Continue reading Alzheimer’s Patients & Caregivers Prefer Support over Research for Cure

How To Hunt Your Way To Financial Well-Being


As dazzling as a high rate of return sounds to every investor, people need to understand what they’re “hunting” with before chasing certain financial goals, says prominent speaker and financial advisor Jeff Brummett. “A middle-class investor is probably better aiming for a ‘reasonable rate of return,’ which includes consistent, steady growth over a longer period… Continue reading How To Hunt Your Way To Financial Well-Being