An innovative laboratory culture system has succeeded, for the first time, in reproducing the full course of events underlying the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Using the system they developed, investigators from the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) now provide the first clear evidence supporting the hypothesis that deposition of beta-amyloid… Continue reading “Alzheimer’s-in-a-Dish” Confirms Amyloid Hypothesis
Author: Jane Farrell
CDC: The Facts About Ebola
Editor’s note: Americans have become increasingly concerned about the possibility of an outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in this country following the death of Thomas Eric Duncan on October 8th 2014 in Dallas and the CDC confirmation on October 12th that a nurse who had cared for Duncan has tested positive for the deadly disease.… Continue reading CDC: The Facts About Ebola
The One Essential Element You Need to Age Well
There’s no denying the powerful benefits of water. The wonders it can do for your overall health and well-being have been well studied and demonstrated—water is essential for survival, which is why it’s so important for aging well. Water is crucial as we age because it does a lot more than quench thirst. Water is… Continue reading The One Essential Element You Need to Age Well
A Major Effort Needed to Fight Sepsis
Sepsis – a blood infection that can lead to organ failure and death – is just as important a research subject as heart disease or pneumonia, according to health experts from the University of Michigan Medical School. Although sepsis isn’t as well-known as heart disease, the experts say, it now affects more hospital patients, and… Continue reading A Major Effort Needed to Fight Sepsis
A New Therapy to Help with “Complicated Grief”
Targeted therapy may help millions of older women afflicted with a kind of grief that could lead to suicide. “Complicated grief,” as it’s known, affects an estimated 4 million women in the U.S. Beginning after the loss of a spouse or a close relationship, the condition can lead to an increased risk of suicide. Symptoms… Continue reading A New Therapy to Help with “Complicated Grief”
The “Fat Suit” Study: The Larger Your Friends, the Larger Your Appetite
A study reported by the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab found that people are more likely to eat more and choose unhealthy foods when someone who is overweight is at the table or nearby. These findings support a theory that when eating with or near an overweight person, you may be less likely to… Continue reading The “Fat Suit” Study: The Larger Your Friends, the Larger Your Appetite
New Melanoma Combo Therapy Improves Survival Rate
A researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has helped develop a combination drug therapy that shows promise in extending the lives of people with metastatic melanoma. The new therapy also accomplishes this result without the side effect of a secondary skin cancer seen in some patients prescribed only one… Continue reading New Melanoma Combo Therapy Improves Survival Rate
The Best Ways to Avoid Falls
Many things can cause a fall. Your eyesight, hearing, and reflexes might not be as sharp as they were when you were younger. Diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance. Some medicines can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy, making you more likely to… Continue reading The Best Ways to Avoid Falls
A Drug that May Stop Osteoporosis
A previously overlooked group of cells may be crucial to the process of bone loss in post-menopausal women, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins. The investigators said that the discovery makes the cells, known as preosteoclasts, a likelier subject for further research. It also sheds lights on the success of an osteoporosis drug that’s in… Continue reading A Drug that May Stop Osteoporosis
Solve the Medical Riddle: She Constantly Feels as Though She’s Swaying and Rocking, Third 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 and the doctor proceeded with the… Continue reading Solve the Medical Riddle: She Constantly Feels as Though She’s Swaying and Rocking, Third Week
Turmeric Boosts Brain Stem Cell Regeneration
A bioactive compound found in turmeric promotes stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the brain, according to research published in September 2014 in the open access journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy The findings suggest aromatic turmerone could be a future drug candidate for treating neurological disorders, such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. A release… Continue reading Turmeric Boosts Brain Stem Cell Regeneration
Are You Using an Unsafe Product?
Editor’s note: It can be frustrating, and even dangerous, to run across a health product that either doesn’t work or is downright hazardous. Here, the experts from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tell you how to report these products. You’ll be doing a good deed for yourself, and, in all likelihood, for many… Continue reading Are You Using an Unsafe Product?
An Over-The-Counter Remedy Could Eventually Fight TB
An over-the-counter remedy can help reduce age-related lung inflammation, according to a new study. Researchers from The Ohio State University found that ibuprofen helped the immune cells of older mice fight tuberculosis bacteria just as effectively as the immune cells of younger mice. The ibuprofen didn’t have any effect on the immune response of younger… Continue reading An Over-The-Counter Remedy Could Eventually Fight TB
Blood Test to Predict Cancer Risk
A new research report published in the October 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal may make the early detection of cancer as easy as a simple blood test. This test, called the “lymphocyte genome sensitivity” (LGS) test, could not only detect some cancers earlier than ever before, but it may eliminate the need for some… Continue reading Blood Test to Predict Cancer Risk
CMS Medicare Quality Improvement Initiatives
On October 6th 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced two initiatives to improve the quality of post-acute care. First, the expansion and strengthening of the agency’s widely-used Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes will improve consumer information about individual nursing homes’ quality. Second, proposed new conditions of participation for… Continue reading CMS Medicare Quality Improvement Initiatives
What’s So Funny? That Depends on Your Age
Mean jokes on TV sitcoms aren’t funny to older people, according to a researcher from the University of Akron. The study, co-authored by Jennifer Tehan Stanley, assistant professor of psychology, looked at the responses of young, middle-aged and older adults to different forms of humor. Younger and middle-aged adults were more inclined to laugh at… Continue reading What’s So Funny? That Depends on Your Age
Acupuncture Doesn’t Improve Chronic Knee Pain
Among patients older than 50 years with moderate to severe chronic knee pain, neither laser nor needle acupuncture provided greater benefit on pain or function compared to sham laser acupuncture, according to a study in the October 1st 2014 issue of JAMA. A release from the publishers notes that chronic knee pain affects many people… Continue reading Acupuncture Doesn’t Improve Chronic Knee Pain
Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend
Helping someone with depression can be a challenge. If someone in your life has depression, you may feel helpless and wonder what to do. Learn how to offer support and understanding and how to help your loved one get the resources to cope with depression. Here’s what you can do. Learn The Signs and Symptoms… Continue reading Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend