Author: Jane Farrell

Can I Prevent Dementia?

A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors can be controlled while others cannot. For example, a person is not able to control their age, which is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Another uncontrollable risk factor is a person’s genes. Genes… Continue reading Can I Prevent Dementia?

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Grow Easy-Care, Colorful Mandevillas

Bold color, tropical beauty, and easy-care mandevillas make excellent additions to patios, decks, and gardens. Train them onto a trellis, allow them to cascade from a hanging basket, or combine them with other plants. Enjoy summer-long blossoms and the butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators that stop by for a visit. Once divided into two different… Continue reading Grow Easy-Care, Colorful Mandevillas

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A New View of Traumatic Brain Injury

People with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may continue to improve or decline years after their injury, making it a more chronic illness, according to a study published in the June 21, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our results dispute the notion that TBI is a one-time… Continue reading A New View of Traumatic Brain Injury

Enjoy Fireworks Season Safely

Fireworks produce loud, explosive noises that can reach dangerous decibel levels, often exceeding 150 decibels (dB). To put this into perspective, normal conversation typically measures around 60 dB, while prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dB can lead to permanent hearing loss. “Fireworks’ high decibel levels pose a significant risk, especially for children, individuals with… Continue reading Enjoy Fireworks Season Safely

Maternal Mental Health And Its Effect on Children

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 40% to 50% of people experience adversity during childhood, which can increase the risk for physical and emotional challenges when they grow up. Studies show that parents who faced difficult situations in their childhood may pass on some of those risks to their children.… Continue reading Maternal Mental Health And Its Effect on Children

Brain Health and Multivitamins

A new Harvard study, COSMOS 2, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has shown that taking a multivitamin for one year was associated with improved memory and cognition equivalent to reversing age-related memory loss by three years. The randomized clinical trial, which included 3,500 participants aged 60 and over, was the second COSMOS… Continue reading Brain Health and Multivitamins

Planting And Enjoying A Hummingbird Garden

Whether you are making some late additions to your gardens or planning for the future, include some hummingbird-favorite plants. Select plants and create combinations to attract and support them with a season-long supply of nectar. Hummingbirds consume an average of two to three times their weight in nectar each day. Providing feeders and an abundance… Continue reading Planting And Enjoying A Hummingbird Garden

Some Foods May Extend Life of ALS Patients

People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who eat more foods high in certain omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil, walnuts, canola oil and pumpkin seeds may have a slower physical decline from the disease and may have a slightly extended survival. The study, which looked at the survival of people with ALS over the course… Continue reading Some Foods May Extend Life of ALS Patients

A New Hope for Breast Cancer Survivors

Most women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer today can expect to become long term cancer survivors, according to a study published in June in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). finds a study The findings, by a group of British and Canadian researchers, show that the average risk of dying from breast cancer in the… Continue reading A New Hope for Breast Cancer Survivors

Anemia And Low-Dose Aspirin

Recent follow-up analysis of data from an international clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that daily low-dose aspirin increases the risk of anemia in people aged 65 years and older by approximately 20%. Given these findings, older adults on low-dose aspirin and their care providers may want to consider periodic… Continue reading Anemia And Low-Dose Aspirin

Equalizing Health Care

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects almost half of all people in the U.S. and can lead to serious health issues, including heart attack, stroke and kidney problems. Monitoring your blood pressure levels regularly is a key part of managing it, and the American Heart Association (AHA), with support from Elevance Health Foundation, is working… Continue reading Equalizing Health Care

The Guilty Way We Pay

“Will you be paying with cash or card?” It’s a question that’s been asked of consumers for decades. And despite the increasing popularity of digital payment methods, cash and card remain the most popular choices worldwide. In 2021, 65 percent of all point-of-sale transactions globally were made using cash or card, according to Fidelity National… Continue reading The Guilty Way We Pay

Make Gardening with Kids Enjoyable

Gardening is good for the mind, body, and spirit. It is also good for the youngsters in our lives. Research shows gardening helps relieve stress, improve focus, positively impacts mood and psychological well-being, builds a sense of confidence, and more. Look for creative ways to get children involved in gardening. Tap into other interests or… Continue reading Make Gardening with Kids Enjoyable

Exercise and Chronic Conditions

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For most older adults, physical activities like… Continue reading Exercise and Chronic Conditions