A new PET imaging radiotracer could help researchers understand neurodegenerative disease and the aging brain. The study was featured in the October 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. A release from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging explains that past studies have shown a reduced density of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine… Continue reading New Nuclear Medicine Tracer Will Help Study the Aging Brain
Category: Senior Health
Aging is part of the cycle of life. Senior living can be full of health, growth, and well-being. Learn more about senior health and key health issues here.
Mediterranean Diet Can Be a Sight-Saver
European researchers have found that people who adhere to a Mediterranean diet can cut their risk of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 41 percent. It’s been known that poor diet plays a part in the development of AMD, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. But this newest research expands on previous studies… Continue reading Mediterranean Diet Can Be a Sight-Saver
New Geriatrics Research Offers Roadmap to “Revolutionary Change” for Person-Centered Care
Published on October 3rd 2018 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), two new research articles and a corresponding commentary from preeminent geriatrics leaders describe ways to make person-centered care–a novel approach to health that puts personal values and preferences at the forefront of decision-making–more actionable for older people. With our national health… Continue reading New Geriatrics Research Offers Roadmap to “Revolutionary Change” for Person-Centered Care
When it Comes to Age Spots, Be “Berry” Careful
When it comes to eliminating “liver spots,” those unsightly skin blemishes that multiply with age, the oil and nutrients derived from berries, including lingonberries, seem to be all the rage. But I advise patients to exercise caution when it comes to treatment fads claiming to “lighten” or rid the skin of liver spots, also called… Continue reading When it Comes to Age Spots, Be “Berry” Careful
Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Found to Have No Effect on Healthy Life Span in Older People
How to Prevent Falls in The Home
Each year in the U.S. one in four people over 65 experiences a fall. It’s a common problem and can lead to a loss of independence, hospitalization, lack of confidence, and in some cases death. Avoiding falls in the first place is a vital aspect of living independently. Here’s how to prevent accidents in the… Continue reading How to Prevent Falls in The Home
Exercising in The Real World
Bringing exercise into a community-based setting for older adults is safe, expanding the concept from exercise in a clinical setting. A lack of exercise in old age can lead to lower independence and quality of life and increased risk for falls and chronic disease. The most recent discovery built on the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence… Continue reading Exercising in The Real World
When One Good Ear Isn’t Enough
Millions of Americans have single-sided hearing loss, and another 60,000 acquire the condition each year. These individuals experience either total hearing loss or diminished hearing in one ear, while maintaining normal hearing in the other. Because they still have one “good” ear, many people with single-sided hearing loss simply ignore the issue. However, putting off… Continue reading When One Good Ear Isn’t Enough
Heat-Related Dangers in Older Adults: What You Need to Know
As we age, our ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become a serious problem. Older people are at significant increased risk of heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months. Hyperthermia can include heat stroke, heat edema (swelling in your ankles and feet when you get hot), heat syncope (sudden dizziness… Continue reading Heat-Related Dangers in Older Adults: What You Need to Know
Simple Treatment May Minimize Hearing Loss Triggered by Loud Noises
It’s well known that exposure to extremely loud noises — whether it’s an explosion, a firecracker or even a concert — can lead to permanent hearing loss. But knowing how to treat noise-induced hearing loss, which affects about 15 percent of Americans, has largely remained a mystery. That may eventually change, thanks to new research… Continue reading Simple Treatment May Minimize Hearing Loss Triggered by Loud Noises
A Better Diet May Mean Better Hearing
Researchers have discovered that a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of acquired hearing loss for women. Previous studies have looked at how specific nutrients affect risk, but the relation of overall diet and risk of developing hearing loss was unclear. In a new study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined the… Continue reading A Better Diet May Mean Better Hearing
5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids
Repeatedly responding to “What’d you say?” can often be the norm during conversations with aging parents. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids. Despite age being the strongest predictor of hearing loss among adults, fewer than one in three adults… Continue reading 5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids
Music Activates Regions of the Brain Spared by Alzheimer’s Disease
Ever get chills listening to a particularly moving piece of music? You can thank the salience network of the brain for that emotional joint. Surprisingly, this region also remains an island of remembrance that is spared from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Utah Health are looking to this region of… Continue reading Music Activates Regions of the Brain Spared by Alzheimer’s Disease
Why We Owe Barbara Bush a Big Thank You for Our Health
Former first lady Barbara Bush died Tuesday evening, April 17, 2018. The mother of six was only the second woman in history to be a wife and mother of a U.S. president. She was 92-years-old. She was a major advocate for early and adult literacy, a passion that was fueled by tirelessly helping one of her… Continue reading Why We Owe Barbara Bush a Big Thank You for Our Health
What Happens When You Ignore Hearing Loss
Hearing plays a crucial role in all aspects of our lives—when we talk to friends and loved ones, listen to music, watch TV, interact with colleagues, or just walk down the street listening to the everyday sounds that surround us. But if you have hearing loss, hearing these things can become a challenge. Around 466… Continue reading What Happens When You Ignore Hearing Loss
Walking Speed While Carrying a Tray or Counting Backwards May Help Diagnose a Reversible Form of Dementia
There’s a cause of dementia that can sometimes be reversed, but it’s often not diagnosed because the symptoms are so similar to those of other disorders. Now researchers say a simple walking test may be able to accurately diagnose the disease, according to a study published in the February 21st 2018 online issue of Neurology®,… Continue reading Walking Speed While Carrying a Tray or Counting Backwards May Help Diagnose a Reversible Form of Dementia
Comparing Hospice Care at Home, at Assisted Living Facilities, and at Nursing Homes
Use of hospice has exploded over the past decades with approximately half of those who die while enrolled in Medicare receiving hospice care. A February 2018 study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute compares the quality of hospice services provided for patients living at home, in assisted living facility,… Continue reading Comparing Hospice Care at Home, at Assisted Living Facilities, and at Nursing Homes
If You Fall…
It can happen to anyone. One minute you’re on your feet; the next you’re on the ground. Falls are the leading cause of all non-fatal injuries and the most common reason for visits to the emergency room. One in five falls results in a significant injury, such as broken wrists, hips, legs or ankles or… Continue reading If You Fall…