African-American Cancer Survivors and Discrimination

Cancer and its treatment can accelerate the rate of aging because they both destabilize and damage biological systems in the body. New research published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that African American cancer survivors who reported high levels of discrimination exhibited greater aging and frailty than… Continue reading African-American Cancer Survivors and Discrimination

Treating More than Just The Heart Is Critical for Geriatric Patients

Geriatric conditions such as frailty and cognitive impairments may inadvertently worsen when older patients are treated in cardiac intensive care units – even as they receive excellent care for their heart attack, heart failure, valvular heart disease or pulmonary embolism, according to experts. The findings were contained in a new scientific statement from the American… Continue reading Treating More than Just The Heart Is Critical for Geriatric Patients

Poor Dental Health Linked to Frailty in Older Men

Poor oral health in older men appears to be linked to frailty, according to British researchers. Frailty is the medical term for becoming more vulnerable to declining health or the inability to perform the activities of daily living. Frailty is a major healthcare challenge for older adults and caregivers. Someone who is frail can be… Continue reading Poor Dental Health Linked to Frailty in Older Men

Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions

Many older adults are admitted to hospice for only a short amount of time, even though they have been experiencing symptoms months before the end of life, researchers say. The Yale-led study highlights the need for earlier hospice admission or other strategies to address such cases. The study was published on September 12 in the… Continue reading Study: A Need to Rethink Hospice Admissions

A Better Test for Surgery Success

A simple arm test that employs a novel wearable technology can rapidly and accurately identify physiological frailty in older adults before they undergo surgery, according to study results published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in advance of print publication. Older adults undergo 35.3 percent of inpatient procedures and 32.1 percent… Continue reading A Better Test for Surgery Success

In Older Adults, Frailty and Depression Can Affect Spouses

Frailty, a condition that affects 10 percent of people aged 65 and older, can make older adults more prone to disability, falls, hospitalization, and a shorter lifespan. In April 2016, research published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society examined the effects of frailty and depression on married couples. A research summary released… Continue reading In Older Adults, Frailty and Depression Can Affect Spouses

Evaluating Frailty in Seniors

Fifteen percent of older Americans living at home or in assisted living settings are frail, a diminished state that makes people more vulnerable to falls, chronic disease and disability. Another 45 percent are “pre-frail,” or at heightened risk of becoming physically diminished. A study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found frailty… Continue reading Evaluating Frailty in Seniors

Stress Hormone Linked to Frailty

Low levels of cortisol in the morning and high levels in the evening are associated with declining grip strength and walking speed, which are indications of frailty in older adults. That is the finding of research done at Helmholtz Zentrum München in Neuherberg in Germany and published in the March 2014 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.