We all know we’re supposed to eat plenty of vegetables, but we don’t always do it, even though consuming veggies has myriad health benefits, including lowering the risk of heart disease. With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Million Hearts Campaign, which is aimed at reducing the… Continue reading 7 Ways to Eat More Vegetables
Author: Jane Farrell
Study: Personalized Therapy May Combat Alzheimer’s
A personalized, multi-pronged approach involving diet and lifestyle changes may be effective in combating Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders, according to researchers from UCLA. The investigators cautioned that because the study was so small – there were only 10 participants – further research is needed. But nine of the subjects showed improvement in their memories… Continue reading Study: Personalized Therapy May Combat Alzheimer’s
Looking Toward Changes in Breast-Cancer Detection
Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration are studying the next generation of screening and diagnostic devices, some of which borrow from the world of entertainment. Soon, three-dimensional (3D) images in actual 3D might help your doctor find hidden tumors and better diagnose cancers, thanks to the regulatory work being done by a team at… Continue reading Looking Toward Changes in Breast-Cancer Detection
10 Skin Care Ingredient No No’s
As the body’s largest organ, skin is the most important immune defense barrier as well as your largest organ for eliminating waste. Every day we use products that we think are safe but not all products are. Ever since 1938, when the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry such products can be marketed without… Continue reading 10 Skin Care Ingredient No No’s
Americans Have Colonoscopies Too Often
Colonoscopies are a very valuable procedure to screen for the presence of colorectal cancer. However, healthy Americans who do undergo this sometimes uncomfortable examination often have repeat screenings long before they actually should, according to Gina Kruse, M.D. of Massachusetts General Hospital in the US and colleagues. The team advises that endoscopists stick to the… Continue reading Americans Have Colonoscopies Too Often
The Neurobiological Basis of Human-Pet Relationships
People who have pets often refer to themselves as “pet parents,” but how closely does the relationship between people and their non-human companions mirror the parent-child relationship? A study done by a group of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers looked at young mothers who also had dogs but here at ThirdAge we’re betting that a… Continue reading The Neurobiological Basis of Human-Pet Relationships
Immune System Affects Cognitive Decline
Scientists have discovered that cognitive decline over the years may be connected to a weakening immune system. The study, by researchers from the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel, breaks new ground in the understanding of a connection between the brain and the immune system. Until recently, scientists believed that the barrier between blood and brain prevents… Continue reading Immune System Affects Cognitive Decline
Dairy is Good for Your Metabolic Health
Research done at CHU de Québec Research Center and Laval University in Canada found that dairy consumption may also have beneficial effects on metabolic health and can reduce risk of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study was published in September 2014 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. A… Continue reading Dairy is Good for Your Metabolic Health
A Novel Therapy for Sepsis
A University of Tokyo research group has discovered that pentatraxin 3 (PTX3), a protein that helps the innate immune system target invaders such as bacteria and viruses, can reduce mortality of mice suffering from sepsis. This discovery may lead to a therapy for sepsis, a major cause of death in developed countries that is fatal… Continue reading A Novel Therapy for Sepsis
Easy Bruising: Common as You Get Older
By Mayo Clinic Staff Yet another bruise. What caused that dark, unsightly mark on your leg? You don’t recall bumping into anything. Lately, however, you seem to be bruising frequently. Is this cause for concern? Easy bruising is common with age. Although most bruises are harmless and go away without treatment, easy bruising can sometimes… Continue reading Easy Bruising: Common as You Get Older
Walking Patterns and Balance Problems
Researchers have learned how to precisely predict the way a foot falls from one step to the next – and that could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of balance problems. The investigators, from The Ohio State University, made the discovery based on watching people walk naturally on a treadmill. From that, they developed a… Continue reading Walking Patterns and Balance Problems
Nature Group Walks Improve Mental Health
Group nature walks are linked with significantly lower depression, less perceived stress, and enhanced mental health and well-being, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan with partners from De Montfort University, James Hutton Institute, and Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom. The findings appear in September 2014 ina special issue of… Continue reading Nature Group Walks Improve Mental Health
Reducing Wait Time in Doctors’ Offices
Using a pain clinic as a testing ground, researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown that a management process first popularized by Toyota in Japan can substantially reduce patient wait times in doctors’ offices and possibly improve the teaching of interns and residents. In a report on the pilot study, published online in September 2014, in… Continue reading Reducing Wait Time in Doctors’ Offices
Making The Decision about Breast Implants
Should I get breast implants? Are there alternatives? Will they need to be replaced? No matter what your reason – medical or cosmetic – for getting breast implants, the subject can be confusing and even emotionally taxing. Here, experts from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tell you what you need to know both… Continue reading Making The Decision about Breast Implants
A “Flute” That Helps COPD Patients
A hand-held respiratory device may offer COPD patients improvement in their symptoms, according to a new study from the University of Buffalo. The research analyzed the effect of the device, the Lung Flute, on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The illness, usually caused by smoking, is the third leading cause of death in… Continue reading A “Flute” That Helps COPD Patients
Solve the Medical Riddle: She Constantly Feels as Though She’s Swaying and Rocking, Second 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. Last week, the patient reported her symptoms and the doctor proceeded with the examination. That was step #1,… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: She Constantly Feels as Though She’s Swaying and Rocking, Second Week
The Plus Side of Population Aging
Here at ThirdAge, we’re delighted to spread some good news about the the fact that the population in the U.S. and other developed countries is increasingly older than in the past. Most academic discussions of this trend so far have focused on the potential problems it creates, including challenges to pension systems, economic growth, and… Continue reading The Plus Side of Population Aging
Need to Know: Pink Eye
Although pink eye, or conjunctivitis, affects some very delicate areas of your eye, it’s one of the most treatable eye conditions. Here, the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shares what you need to know about pink eye: its symptoms, how to prevent it, and when you should seek treatment. WHAT IS PINK EYE? An… Continue reading Need to Know: Pink Eye