Some veterans in Ohio receive free dental care

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:59:47 GMT

Retired service members in a town in Ohio were recently invited to receive free dental care in honor of Veterans Day.

Bob Muster is a

Same day dental care in Detroit

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:24 GMT

Individuals in Michigan looking for a dental care provider who offers dentures might be ...

Dental health could be connected to overall wellbeing in seniors

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:00:29 GMT

Dentists and physicians who specialize in treating the elderly will discuss the consequences of poor

Dental care important for elderly

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 21:00:28 GMT

Older people who do not perform the necessary upkeep on their teeth run the risk of negatively affecting their dental health.

However those who do administer r...

Dentist ensures seniors good dental health

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:13 GMT

One San Antonio team of specialists is trying to provide specialized dental care to older members of the community.
...

Dental care for the less mobile

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:00:25 GMT

Some people have difficulty leaving the home due to disability or other physical limitations comma and they can let their dental care slide.

While locally it ...

Dental care costs covered by fundraising

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:18 GMT

One group of Wisconsin dentists were determined to cover dental care costs for the underprivlidged and managed to raise $1 million to put towards this cause.

Ac...

Scientist to study link between dental health and cognitive impairment

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:00:21 GMT

The National Institutes of Health have given a fouryear $1.3 million grant to Dr Bei Wu a researcher at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study how denta...

Dental care for senior citizens

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 17:00:10 GMT

A dentist from Maine has begun a multipart feature on a website where he advises senior citizens about how to maintain optimal

Keeping up with dental health through the years

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:00:25 GMT

Some people think that it is inevitable to lose your teeth as you age but this is not necessarily true according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

In fact a lifetime of good

Connecticut seniors struggling with dental care costs receive help

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:00:51 GMT

After they retire and lose access to dental insurance from their employer some senior citizens may be more reluctant to visit a dentist.

However dental professi...

Dentures require some adjustment

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:00:35 GMT

Dentures can be a great help to those who have suffered tooth loss but they can also expect to face a period of adjustment when getting used to their new teeth.

Denture accessory protects dental health and comfort

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:01:49 GMT

Millions of Americans wear dentures and many of these may welcome a way to potentially improve the comfort of this appliance while also protecting

Study Fluoridated water boosts seniors dental health

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:00:35 GMT

Older adults get the most dental health benefit from fluoridated water a study has found.

Research reported in the Fall 2007 Journal of Public Health Dentistry...

Good dental hygiene benefits elderly

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:00:17 GMT

Residents of nursing homes who follow a good dental hygiene routine may enjoy additional benefits to their health according to research published in the Journal of the ...

Boomers urged to protect dental health

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:00:35 GMT

Although there has been a growing body of research that links oral health with a persons overall wellbeing many people are still unaware of this connection.

D...

Expert Adjusting to dentures takes time

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:00:28 GMT

People who have lost their teeth whether due to decay injury or gum disease may welcome dentures as a way to help them talk laugh and eat naturally again.

Abnormal Sleep Patterns in Older Men Spell Trouble

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:01:02 GMT

A new study suggests that older men with abnormal sleeping patterns may face a higher risk of death. The findings arent conclusive and they dont indicate why unusual sleep patterns could be unhealthy. Still theyre food for thought esp...

Parental Insomnia Can Harm Adolescent Children

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:00:42 GMT

Adolescent children of parents who suffer from chronic insomnia have a higher risk not only for insomnia themselves but also for suicidal behavior and for using drugs that induce sleep. If parents have insomnia healthcare workers or teac...

New Class of Drugs May Fight Alzheimers

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:00:30 GMT

A class of drugs called gammasecretase modulators shows potential for treating Alzheimers disease a new study suggests. A hallmark of Alzheimers is socalled amyloid plaque which develops tangles in the brain. The gammasecretase modul...

Adding Light Eases Behavioral Problems of Dementia

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:00:26 GMT

Relatively simple adjustments in lighting may ease some of the behavioral problems associated with dementia new research suggests. Use of melatonin a hormone which seems to play a role in the sleepwake cycle also helped patients sleep ...

Hispanic Workers Dying at Higher Rates Than Others

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 16:00:32 GMT

Hispanic workers face a greater risk of dying from workrelated injuries with one in three deaths occurring in the construction industry U.S. health officials said Thursday. Between 1992 and 2006 11303 Hispanic workers died from workre...

Red Wine Compound Helps Heart May Slow Aging

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 10:00:30 GMT

Resveratrol a compound found in grapes red wine pomegranates and certain other foods may protect the heart and slow the effects of aging a new study suggests. Tests in mice revealed that low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of ca...

Racial Disparities Widespread in Kidney Patient Outcomes

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 14:00:32 GMT

A range of biological social and health carerelated factors are responsible for the ethnic and racial disparities in results for U.S. patients with kidney disease according to two new studies. Previous research has shown that black and ...

Green Tea Antioxidant May Help Prevent Alzheimers

Fri, 30 May 2008 16:00:29 GMT

An antioxidant found in green tea appears to prevent the development of amyloid fibrils a toxic protein associated with Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease a new study finds. Amyloid plaque is commonly seen in the brains of Alzheimers pa...

Health Tip Diet for People With Alzheimers

Fri, 30 May 2008 10:00:27 GMT

Caring for a person with Alzheimers disease often includes helping with all daily activities including eating. Here are suggestions to help make mealtime easier courtesy of the Alzheimers Association:

Set aside at least...

Active Social Life Helps Keep Aging Mind Sharp

Thu, 29 May 2008 18:00:30 GMT

People who keep up active social lives as they age may be doing their brain a favor a new study finds. Being socially active may increase feelings of selfworth and emotional validation that could end up helping maintain memory researche...

Ibuprofen No Better at Reducing Alzheimers Risk

Wed, 28 May 2008 18:00:31 GMT

The painkillers called nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs NSAIDs appear to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers disease but no one medication in the class works better than the others a new analysis finds. Data from the study t...

Study IDs Gene for LateOnset Alzheimers

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:00:29 GMT

A gene that plays a role in Alzheimers disease in two large families in which many siblings suffer from the neurodegenerative condition has been identified by U.S. researchers. Identification of this gene TRPC4AP on chromosome 20 ope...

Sensors for dentures could help lessen speech problems

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:00:16 GMT

Dentures can be a bane for some wearers affecting a persons speech and eating habits.

In a bid to tackle the problem scientists in Grenoble France have developed dentures fitted with sensors to reveal the tongues movement during speech...

Antipsychotics Dangerous for Elderly With Dementia

Mon, 26 May 2008 18:00:14 GMT

Elderly people with dementia who are given antipsychotics even for a very short period of time are more likely to end up in the hospital or even die new research shows. However the problems underlying the need for such medications beha...

Drowsy Drivers Make Holiday Weekend Among the Most Dangerous

Sat, 24 May 2008 10:00:16 GMT

Drowsy driving is one of the reasons why the Memorial Day weekend is one of the deadliest times on American roads according to the National Sleep Foundation NSF. Too many Americans are too tired to drive. In fact according to NSFs re...

Health Tip Talk to Loved Ones About Your Alzheimers

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:00:26 GMT

Being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease is difficult to accept and it can be uncomfortable to share these feelings with your loved ones. Here are some suggestions courtesy of the Alzheimers Association:

Offer a basic ex...

Vulnerability to Shingles May Hinge on Family

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:00:30 GMT

People with a family history of shingles may have increased susceptibility to the disease say researchers at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Shingles also known as herpes zoster causes nerve pain that occurs when the ...

Surgical Outcomes Depend on a Host of Variables

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:00:30 GMT

New studies show that numerous factors such as the number of operations done by a surgeon or at a hospital affect patient outcomes for various surgical procedures. The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the Digestive Diseases ...

ICU Docs Less Likely to Discuss EndofLife Issues With Blacks

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:00:30 GMT

Intensive care unit ICU doctors are less comfortable discussing prognoses and endoflife issues and do it less frequently with black patients and their families than with white patients and their families say U.S. researchers. They anal...

More Dialysis Not Better in Acute Kidney Injury

Tue, 20 May 2008 16:00:27 GMT

Intensive kidney dialysis for patients with acute kidney injury does not reduce death improve kidney function or reduce the rate of organ failure a new study finds. Acute kidney injury is a complication often seen in critically ill patie...

Dental care advice for seniors

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:00:22 GMT

As people get older it becomes increasingly important for them to take extra steps to preserve good dental health.

There are a number of measures seniors can take in order to hold on to their teeth until a ripe old age the Albuquerque Jour...

Low Vitamin D Tied to Depression in Older Adults

Fri, 16 May 2008 20:00:18 GMT

Low levels of vitamin D and high levels of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands may increase the risk of depression in older adults according to a new report. The Dutch study published in the May issue of Archives of General P...

Vitamin D Use Linked to Lower Mortality in Kidney Patients

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:00:25 GMT
Taking activated vitamin D may cut the risk of death for people with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease by about one quarter a new study suggests. During a twoyear study of more than 1400 patients those being treated with calcit...

Stroke Patients at High Risk for Falls

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:00:29 GMT
Stroke patients have a high risk of falling after they leave the hospital a New Zealand study shows. The University of Auckland researchers added that prevention programs may help lower that risk. People who have had a stroke f...

Mini dental implants improve dentures

Thu, 15 May 2008 18:00:27 GMT
A new technology known as miniimplants could provide a simpler and less expensive way to achieve the same effects as traditional dental implants it has been claimed.

Dr Jack DeGrado of the Stamford Dental Group told the Stamford Times th...

CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine for Those Over 60

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:00:34 GMT
All adults aged 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles a condition that can cause debilitating chronic pain the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Thursday. This new recommendation replaces the agen...

Death Gap Widens Between Educated and Those Not

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:29 GMT
Being welleducated can lengthen your life span according to new study. The research published in the May 14 issue of PLoS ONE shows that the gap in overall death rates between Americans with less than a high school education and ...

Celebrex Naproxen Wont Prevent Mental Decline

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:00:24 GMT
Contrary to prior studies a new trial shows that daily use of two popular painrelieving drugs Celebrex and naproxen does not prevent cognitive decline in people with a family history of Alzheimers disease. In fact naproxen which goes...

Electrode Placement Key to Brain Stimulation for Parkinsons Patients

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:00:24 GMT
A few millimeters can make a huge difference for Parkinsons patients treated with electrodes surgically implanted in the brain a new study finds. Implanting electrodes to stimulate the subthalamic nucleus a part of the brain potentially...

Decoding Muscle Stem Cell Development

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:23 GMT
Muscle stem cells cant grow into mature muscle cells if there arent enough nutrients according to a study that offers new insight into how developing muscle cells sense and respond to nutrient levels. The research part of ongoing invest...

Demanding Jobs May Pay Cognitive Dividends in Retirement

Fri, 9 May 2008 20:00:19 GMT
Having an intellectually demanding job that nurtures thinking abilities may result in better cognitive abilities during retirement regardless of intelligence education level or age a Duke University Medical Center study suggests. Our so...

Group B Strep Down Among Newborns Up Among Adults

Fri, 9 May 2008 16:00:25 GMT
Instances of Group B streptococcus a major cause of serious infections have dropped by about 25 percent among weekold infants but rose by almost 50 percent among most adults during a recent sixyear period according to a new study. Gr...

Flavonoids May Help Treat Alzheimers

Fri, 9 May 2008 16:00:25 GMT
Flavonoids compounds found in many fruits and vegetables may be able to battle the ravages of Alzheimers disease a new study suggests. In experiments with mice two flavonoids called luteolin and diosmin reduced levels of betaamyloid ...

Health Tip Coping With Alzheimers

Fri, 9 May 2008 10:00:34 GMT
Its important for a person diagnosed with Alzheimers disease to continue to perform the daily tasks of life as best as the person can. The Alzheimers Association offers these suggestions:

Save challenging tasks for th...

Study Offers Clues to Link Between Arrhythmia Sudden Death

Thu, 8 May 2008 18:00:27 GMT
New information about the molecular mechanisms that cause cardiac arrhythmia irregular heartbeat and how it triggers sudden cardiac death has been uncovered by Rhode Island Hospital researchers. They said their findings could lead to the ...

Health Tip Discussing Death With Children

Thu, 8 May 2008 10:01:01 GMT
Death may be difficult to comprehend at any age but it can be particularly confusing and scary to young children. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions when talking to children about death:

Keep yo...

Quarter of Disabled Seniors Use Risky Medications

Wed, 7 May 2008 18:00:28 GMT
Senior citizens with disabilities are twice as likely as their nondisabled counterparts to being taking at least one prescription drug deemed inappropriate for people 65 or older according to new research. The study based on 2004 data re...

Electronic Pillbox Helps Seniors Stick to Drug Regimens

Wed, 7 May 2008 18:00:28 GMT
Older adults following a medication regimen are less likely to miss doses when reminded by an electronic pillbox that both beeps at the appointed drugtaking time and announces the number of pills to take and how to take them new research reveals.

Several Therapies Show Promise for Vascular Depression

Wed, 7 May 2008 10:00:32 GMT
New treatments for a type of depression in the elderly related to blood vessels called vascular depression are under development and researchers have discovered why some patients with this condition fail to respond to current medications. ...

Health Tip Good Shoes Can Prevent Falls

Wed, 7 May 2008 10:00:32 GMT
The shoes you wear can play a big part in how steady you are on your feet which is a big concern for many seniors. Here are guidelines for choosing safe shoes and other ways to help reduce the risk of falls courtesy of the American Acad...

Kidney Trouble ShortLived in Most Liver Transplant Patients

Tue, 6 May 2008 18:00:20 GMT
Few patients who have shortterm kidney dysfunction while awaiting a liver transplant develop severe kidney problems once they have their transplant says a U.S. study. An increasing number of patients have kidney dysfunction while awaiting...

Ibuprofen Linked to Reduced Alzheimers Risk

Mon, 5 May 2008 18:00:24 GMT
People who use the painkiller ibuprofen regularly for five years may be less likely to develop Alzheimers disease as they age a new study suggests. And more generally people using the class of drugs known as nonsteroidal antiinflammator...

Sleep Troubles Vary Between Alzheimers Patients Caregivers

Fri, 2 May 2008 20:00:18 GMT
Theres a significant difference in sleep disturbances experienced by Alzheimers disease patients and the sleep woes of their caregivers new research shows. A team from the University of Washington in Seattle found that poor sleep in ei...

Health Tip Activities for People With Alzheimers

Fri, 2 May 2008 10:00:30 GMT
People with Alzheimers disease should be kept busy both mentally and physically. This can be a challenge. The National Institute on Aging says building on current skills generally works better than trying to learn something new. The agenc...

Alzheimers Disease Risk Factors May Be GenderSpecific

Thu, 1 May 2008 10:00:36 GMT
Depression in women and stroke in men are critical factors in the development of Alzheimers disease French researchers report. They analyzed data from almost 7000 people over the age of 65 in three French cities. None of them had dementi...

Bioartificial Kidney Cuts Death Risk Improves Outcomes

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:00:45 GMT
Another successful clinical trial suggests that a bioartificial kidney to save the lives of people with acute renal failure will be available within a few years. This latest study found that shortterm replacement of renal cell function usi...

Experimental Drug Eases Symptoms of Mild Alzheimers

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:38 GMT
Patients with mild Alzheimers disease who took 800 milligrams of the drug tarenflurbil twice a day had less decline in functional ability than those who took a placebo according to a British phase II trial. The findings support phase III ...

Viscosity Enhancers Curb Bleeding Complications

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:01:57 GMT
Viscosity enhancers that thicken the blood are highly effective in treating severe bleeding according to a study by University of California San Diego bioengineering researchers. Currently intravenous administration of isotonic fluids i...

Pituitary Hormone May Boost Womens Heart Risk

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:23 GMT
Increasing levels of thyrotropin within the normal range may increase the risk of fatal coronary heart disease in women a Norwegian study finds. Thyrotropin a hormone produced by the pituitary gland is released into the blood and acts on...

Dental health a concern for seniors

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:23 GMT
With the number of Americans aged 60plus expected to increase by 70 per cent by 2025 dental care for seniors is a growing concern.

According to the Baltimore Sun around a quarter of adults in that age group no longer have their natural te...

Health Tip Wear and Tear on the Knees

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:28 GMT
Knee joints can wear as you age or after years of highimpact exercise. Here are ways to help minimize damage to knees courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

Avoid activities that tend to damage the kne...

Relistor Helps Ease PainkillerRelated Constipation

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:00:20 GMT
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Relistor methylnaltrexone bromide to treat constipation stemming from continuous use of opioid painkillers. Opioids including morphine are commonly prescribed for people with latestage...

When It Comes to Memory Its All About Location

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:00:27 GMT
A new report finds that where proteindestroying machines reside in the brains nerve cells may help determine how memories are formed a finding that may play a role in future treatments for Alzheimers and other brain diseases. Wake Fore...

Study Details New Molecular Approach to Preventing Alzheimers

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:00:16 GMT
German researchers are reporting a new approach to the possible prevention of the molecular debris thats associated with the development of Alzheimers disease. The basic idea to block the activity of an enzyme called betasecretase ...

Are your teeth worth their weight in gold

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:28 GMT
With the price of gold rising to record levels many people are digging out their old dental caps fillings and bridgework to sell at pawnbrokers coin shops and specialized firms that buy dental gold.

Speaking to the Associated Press AP ...

Enzyme Beneficial to Alzheimers Plays Darker Role in Other Dementia

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:00:37 GMT
An enzyme shown to help suppress development of Alzheimers disease appears to hasten progress of a related but far less common type of dementia according to a new study. The surprising findings published in the April 22 online issue of <...

Number of US General Surgeons in Decline

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:00:29 GMT
From 1981 to 2005 the number of general surgeons per 100000 people in the United States fell by more than 25 percent according to a study by researchers at the University of Washington Seattle. The team analyzed data from the American...

Antipsychotic Drugs Linked to Pneumonia in Elderly

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:00:29 GMT
Nursing home patients who take antipsychotic drugs are 60 percent more likely to develop pneumonia in the short term than those who dont take the drugs a new study shows. The risk is greatest during the first week after patients start tak...

Disparities in Life Expectancy Increasing

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:17 GMT
Contrary to popular belief life expectancies are not rising steadily and uniformly across the United States. In fact new research shows that between 1983 and 1999 death rates for women went up in many poor counties and overall geograph...

Seniors No Strangers to Happiness

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:26 GMT
With age comes wisdom and now new research suggests happiness tags along for the ride. Surveys of Americans taken since 1972 suggest that plenty of older people are quite happy with more than half of black men and women over the age of 80...

Filling in the Alzheimers Race Gap

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:00:22 GMT
A diagnosis of Alzheimers disease is wrenching especially for family members of the patient. But certain races and ethnic groups including Hispanics and blacks are more likely to labor under misconceptions about the disease often wrong...

Health Tip Talking to a Person With Alzheimers Disease

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:00:29 GMT
As Alzheimers disease progresses communicating becomes more of a challenge. The U.S. National Institute on Aging offers these suggestions for talking to someone with Alzheimers:

Speak in a calm soothing tone of voice....

Experimental Alzheimers Drug Shows Promise

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:00:21 GMT
A new analysis of a study on an experimental Alzheimers drug reinforces the notion that the compound is broadly effective at improving the cognitive function of mild to moderate Alzheimers patients. A second analysis of the trial on the m...

Common Medications May Harm Memory in Older People

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:00:21 GMT
Common medications known as anticholinergic drugs used to treat ulcers stomach cramps motion sickness Parkinsons disease and urinary incontinence may cause older people to lose their thinking skills more quickly than seniors who dont take ...

Men More Likely to Develop Cognitive Problems

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:00:32 GMT
Men are one and a half times more likely than women to develop mild cognitive impairment new research shows. These findings are in contrast to studies which have found more women than men or an equal proportion have dementia and sugges...

Poor dental health linked to heart disease

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:00:49 GMT
Dentists are warning that poor dental health can lead to periodontal or gum disease which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease and a number of other ailments.

Researchers at the American Academy of Periodontology have found that peop...

High Doses of Vitamin E Lengthen Lives of Alzheimers Patients

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:00:26 GMT
Alzheimers patients who consume very high levels of vitamin E seem to live longer than those who do not new research suggests. The study comes on the heels of growing concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of giving any patient whe...

Sleep Disorder Linked to Neurodegenerative Conditions

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:00:31 GMT
Rapid eye movement REM sleep behavior disorder a condition in which people act out often violent and disturbing dreams is associated with anxiety apathy lower levels of attention and executive functioning and symptoms of Parkinsons diseas...

Most EarlyOnset Dementia Not Alzheimers

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:00:30 GMT
The root cause of earlyonset dementia is usually not Alzheimers but rather another neurodegenerative or autoimmune disorder new research suggests. The study authors acknowledge that age aside the most common forms of dementia are...

Heart Failure Drugs Linked to Hip Bone Loss in Older Men

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:00:28 GMT
Loop diuretics drugs commonly prescribed to treat heart failure and hypertension increase the risk of hip bone loss in older men says a U.S. study. Researchers evaluated 3269 men aged 65 and older who underwent an initial examination ...

Inmates benefit from dental lab program

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:00:32 GMT
A correctional institution in Milwaukee is preparing some if its inmates for a bright future in dental laboratory work.

Women from one of the wings at Taycheedah Correctional Institution near Fond du Lac have been trained to make dentures in...

While Hospice Care Is Growing Not All Have Access

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:00:34 GMT
More than onethird of Americans are now getting hospice care services before they die but that care still isnt available to many people in the country a new study finds. Communities with people with low incomes and education levels and...

When a Mind Begins to Disappear A Young Familys Journey to the Dark Side

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:00:30 GMT
Construction foreman Jim Mueller was in his early 30s when his memory started to go. Hed forget things: his schedule his equipment where he was and where he was going. Sometimes even the names of his daughters and his wife. But nothing prepared t...

Few Countries on Track to Curb Maternal Child Mortality Rates

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:00:32 GMT
Threequarters of the 68 countries most in need of improving mother and child mortality rates have made little if any progress in meeting internationally set goals over the past three years according to a series of new reports. The Count...

Health Tip Battling Bunions

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:00:32 GMT
A bunion is a painful enlargement at the joint of the big toe according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The skin over the joint becomes swollen and can be very tender. Bunions can be inherited as a family trait can develo...

Diabetes in Middle Age Raises Alzheimers Risk

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 18:00:31 GMT
Men who develop diabetes in middle age may be at greater risk of Alzheimers disease a Swedish study finds. Our results have important public health implications given the increasing numbers of people developing diabetes and the need for...

Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimers

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 14:00:26 GMT
A little caffeine every day could offer some protection from Alzheimers disease for people with high cholesterol. Rabbits given the daily caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee and fed a cholesterolrich diet for 12 weeks suffered relat...

Medical Errors Costing US Billions

Tue, 8 Apr 2008 10:01:13 GMT
From 2004 through 2006 patient safety errors resulted in 238337 potentially preventable deaths of U.S. Medicare patients and cost the Medicare program $8.8 billion according to the fifth annual Patient Safety in American Hospitals Study. <...

Depression and Alzheimers Risk Linked

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 18:00:36 GMT
Depression appears to more than double the risk of developing Alzheimers disease Dutch researchers report. Depression has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimers and many have suspected that risk is tied to changes in the brain c...

Testosterone Therapy May Reduce Bone Loss in Older Men

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 14:00:42 GMT
Injections of testosterone appear to improve bone density and reduce bone loss in older men who have low testosterone levels and may help to prevent osteoporosis a new study suggests. Testosterone therapy has been used to improve bone str...

Health Tip Why am I Constipated

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 10:00:26 GMT
HealthDay News Constipation often is defined as producing fewer than three bowel movements in a week. Other symptoms may include producing small hard stools; and significant straining during bowel movements. The University of Michigan...

OneThird of Dementia Cases Laid to Small Blood Vessel Damage

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 20:00:25 GMT
Small blood vessel damage caused by hypertension and diabetes may be among the leading causes of dementia according to new research. The findings provide an additional reason to control these common conditions according to Dr. Thomas Mon...

Painkillers Boost Muscle Mass Among WeightTraining Elderly

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 14:00:24 GMT
A daily dose of either ibuprofen and acetaminophen appears to boost both muscle mass and strength among elderly men and women who do weight training. Its surprising said principal investigator Todd A. Trappe an associate professor with...

AgeRelated Eye Disease on the Increase

Sat, 5 Apr 2008 10:00:21 GMT
Twice as many women as men in the United States are diagnosed with visionthreatening eye disease every year but the numbers are increasing for both genders as the baby boomer generation enters its golden years a newly updated report shows. ...

Seniors Avoid ER at Start of Month

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:00:27 GMT
A new study finds that senior citizens in Baltimore seem to avoid visiting the emergency room around the beginning of each month possibly because they want to stay home and make sure no one steals their Social Security checks. The findings...

Yoga Program May Help Prevent Falls in Elderly

Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:00:27 GMT
A specific type of yoga may help improve stability and balance in women over age 65 possibly helping them to avoid falls a preliminary study reports. After nine weeks of participating in an Iyengar yoga program designed for senior citizen...

Report Finds Big Disparities in WellBeing of US Kids

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 18:00:31 GMT
For American children where they are born and raised plays a major role in their chances of getting and staying healthy and living to adulthood a new report finds. The report Geography Matters: Child WellBeing in the States fro...

Antipsychotic Drugs of Little Benefit to Alzheimers Patients

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:00:28 GMT
The continuing use of antipsychotic drugs provides no cognitive or neuropsychiatric benefit for Alzheimers patients a British study concludes. Researchers at Kings College Hospital in London studied 165 patients who were already being tr...

Seat Belt Use by Pregnant Women Could Save 200 Fetuses a Year

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 14:00:25 GMT
Contrary to some popular folklore pregnant women should wear seat belts not only to save themselves in the event of a car accident but also to save their fetus. According to a new study published in the April issue of the Americ...

Health Tip Getting Up After a Fall

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 10:00:26 GMT
HealthDay News If you fall you can injure yourself even more just by trying to get back on your feet. Here are suggestions on how seniors can pull themselves back up safely after a fall courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic...

Poor dental health could indicate rapid ageing

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 06:00:24 GMT
The rate at which natural teeth are lost could indicate the presence of faster ageing according to the findings of a new study.

Scientists from the Copenhagen Gerontological Oral Health Research Center found that dental loss was related to ...

UN Seeks to Curb Worlds Traffic Deaths

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:00:13 GMT
Over 1.2 million people die each year on the worlds roadways more than are killed by major scourges such as malaria or diabetes. In response to this growing epidemic the United Nations General Assembly on Monday approved the first eve...

Home Defibrillators Fail to Boost Survival Rates

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 14:00:20 GMT
Putting external defibrillators in the homes of people after they had a heart attack didnt improve their survival rate a new study found. But the leader of the study still sees plenty of encouraging news in the research and is not necess...

Study Finds Older Corneas Suitable for Transplantation

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 14:00:20 GMT
People up to the age of 75 should be allowed to donate corneas for transplant says a U.S. National Eye Institutefunded study. The researchers found that tissue from donors aged 66 to 75 had the same fiveyear success rate 86 percent as ...

Researchers Successfully Test Ebola Vaccines

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:00:07 GMT
Researchers have successfully tested several Ebola vaccines in monkeys and are now working to create the first human vaccine for one of the worlds deadliest diseases. The biothreat posed by Ebola virus cannot be overlooked. We are seeing...

Elderly Can Benefit From High Blood Pressure Treatment

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:00:06 GMT
Despite some doctors reluctance to do so a new study finds that treating high blood pressure in patients 80 age and older can reduce the rate of stroke heart failure and death from cardiovascular disease. The degree to which elderly pat...

Anniversary of Parents Passing Can Trigger Death

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:00:09 GMT
The anniversary of the death of a parent can trigger sudden death especially in men according to research to be presented over the weekend at the American College of Cardiologys annual meeting in Boston. Sudden death usually caused...

Poor Sense of Smell May Be Early Sign of Parkinsons

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:00:06 GMT
An impaired sense of smell could be an early indicator of Parkinsons disease occurring up to four years before motor skill problems appear recent research shows. The study published in the February issue of the Annals of Neurology

Most Older Americans Living Longer and Better

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:00:15 GMT
Older Americans are living longer than ever and enjoying better health and financial security a new report finds. Yet there continue to be lingering disparities between racial and ethnic groups. In 2006 there were an estimated ...

With Alzheimers It Takes a Family

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:00:17 GMT
Alzheimers care in the United States is a family affair a new survey suggests. Three in five socalled sandwich caregivers who look after a relative or friend with Alzheimers disease said their children help with care duties ranging f...

Abdominal Fat Boosts Dementia Risk

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:00:30 GMT
A potbelly in middle age more than triples the risk of senility decades later according to a large study that pinpoints a new link between obesity and dementia. The takehome message is that its not only what you weigh but its where yo...

Older Women Have Harder Time Preserving Muscle Than Men

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:00:23 GMT
Keeping in good shape is more difficult for older women than men because its harder for women to replace muscle thats lost naturally as they age say U.S. and British researchers. The study of 29 healthy women and men aged 65 to 80 foun...

Popular Colonoscopy Prep Solution May Pose Kidney Risks

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:00:23 GMT
One of the most common bowelcleansing preparations used by people who are about to have a colonoscopy can trigger both acute kidney failure and longterm renal damage in otherwise healthy patients. New research suggests the risks of oral s...

More Seniors Falling Victim to Escalator Injuries

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:00:06 GMT
Older Americans are being injured during slips and falls on escalators at increasing rates a new study finds. The rate of injuries to older adults riding escalators more than doubled from 1991 to 2005 said study lead author Dr. Joseph ON...

Deep Sedation Becoming More Common for Dying Patients in Holland

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:00:06 GMT
Continuous deep sedation is becoming more common than euthanasia in the Netherlands when treating terminally ill patients who are nearing death Dutch researchers report. Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands but its not clear from the ...

Gene Linked to Form of Parkinsons Disease

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:00:05 GMT
Mutations in a gene called GIGYF2 may be directly linked to the development of Parkinsons disease in families with a history of the neurodegenerative condition U.S. researchers report. These findings may ultimately help open the door to ...

Tweaking Insulin Might Help Fight Aging

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:00:22 GMT
Scientists have gained new insight into the workings of insulin potentially laying the groundwork for an antiaging treatment. The research has only taken place in worms a common model for this type of research and its too early to kno...

Fosamax Linked to Unusual Femur Fractures

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:05:31 GMT
In the latest research to cast a shadow on the safety of a popular bonestrengthening medication researchers report that longterm use of Fosamax is associated with unusual fractures of the thigh bone. The fractures were lowenergy fract...

10 Million Baby Boomers Face Alzheimers Report Predicts

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:05:45 GMT
An estimated 10 million American baby boomers will develop Alzheimers disease in their lifetime placing enormous strains on the U.S. healthcare system and the already overburdened network of caregivers a new report predicts. Currently ...

The Elderly Can Be Candidates for Angioplasty Stenting

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:05:30 GMT
People over 80 can safely have diagnostic radiology tests and procedures such as arteryopening angioplasty without being hospitalized for their safety a new study finds. The conventional wisdom has been that not only interventional proce...

Balance in Old Age Tied to Brain Changes

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:05:36 GMT
The severity of agerelated changes to white matter in the brain affects how well older people are able to move around and keep their balance a new study says. White matter changes called leukoaraiosis are common in older people....

1 in 5 US Seniors Struggles With Memory Lapses

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:05:29 GMT
More than onefifth of Americans over age 70 have some memory impairment that isnt classified as dementia a new study finds. While an estimated 3.5 million Americans suffer from dementia another 5.4 million over age 70 have some memory l...

Umbilical Cord Blood Injections Aid Aging Brains

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:05:38 GMT
Injection of human umbilical cord blood cells UCBC boosted the brains of aged lab rats University of South Florida researchers report. They found that the injections led to improvements in the microenvironment of the hippocampus region ...

Study Finds Potential Cause of AgeRelated Macular Degeneration

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:05:24 GMT
Researchers have pinpointed a biological pathway that may block the blood vessel proliferation and leakiness behind most cases of blindness in the United States. Though still preliminary the University of Utah study suggests a new therapeu...

Anxiety Helps Elderly Women Live Longer

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:05:20 GMT
Higher anxiety levels may help elderly women live longer but may harm older men U.S. research shows. A team at the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University followed 1000 seniors in three Florida retirement communities for u...

Survey Finds Many Americans Clueless About Eye Disease

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:05:37 GMT
Many Americans are unaware of the warning signs of eye diseases that could blind them if not detected and treated soon enough a new survey shows. The telephone survey released Thursday by the U.S. National Eye Institute and the Lions Clu...

Health Tip EarlyStage Alzheimers

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:05:25 GMT
People with earlystage Alzheimers disease may fear losing their independence and being reliant on someone else. Here are suggestions on how to maintain independence longer courtesy of the Alzheimers Association:

Hire a...

Caring for Heart Patients Can Strain Hearts

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:05:32 GMT
Taking care of someone with a serious heart problem may raise your own risk of cardiac disease a new study finds. The study of more than 500 family members and others caring for a heart patient showed that those who provided care all or mo...

New Test Predicts Risk of PostSurgery Kidney Injury

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:05:29 GMT
A new simple lab test can identify patients at risk of developing acute kidney injury AKI after surgery up to three days sooner than the problem would otherwise be detected a pilot study shows. The finding could lead to earlier treatmen...

Health Tip Age Affects the Senses

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:05:26 GMT
HealthDay News Getting older leads to many changes involving your senses of sight hearing taste smell and touch. Here are common ways that aging impacts the senses courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

Life Expectancy Tied to Education

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:05:25 GMT
Life expectancy in the United States is on the increase but only among people with more than 12 years of education a new study finds. In fact those with more than 12 years of education more than a high school diploma can expect to ...

Two Parents With Alzheimers Raises Childs Risk

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:05:48 GMT
If both parents have Alzheimers disease their children face an increased risk of developing the condition a new study suggests. Overall 42 percent of offspring whose parents both had Alzheimers went on to develop the disease themselves...

Memory Loss In Hyperactive State With Alzheimers

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 14:05:17 GMT
Memory loss where the brain deletes inconsequential information is in a hyperactive state in people with Alzheimers disease a new study suggests. Researchers at Californias Buck Institute for Age Research analyzed human brain tissue ...

Depression After a Heart Attack Dangerous for Years

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 12:05:21 GMT
The increased risk of death associated with depression after a heart attack persists for at least five years a study finds. Weve known for a number of years that depression increases the risk of mortality as well as morbidity illness a...

ACL Tears Worth Fixing in Seniors

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 14:05:27 GMT
Baby Boomers are staying active on the basketball court and soccer field and now new research suggests their injured knees can tolerate surgery just as easily as their younger counterparts. A new but small study found that men and women ...

Naturally Occurring Bacteria Cut Kidney Stone Recurrence

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 12:05:37 GMT
A naturally occurring type of bacteria called Oxalobacter formigenes reduces the risk of recurrent kidney stones by about 70 percent a new study says. The study looked at 247 adults with recurrent calcium oxalate CaOx kidney ston...

Rare Gene Mutation Plays Role in Longevity

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 14:05:26 GMT
A rare gene mutation that restricts a particular growth factor may be one of the keys to living to 100 and beyond a new study suggests. This mutation which seems to decrease the activity of insulinlike growth factor IGF1 results in s...

Groups Issue New Dementia Drug Guidelines

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 14:05:26 GMT
Theres no proof that any one of the five drugs available in the United States to treat dementia is better than the others says an American College of Physicians ACP and American Academy of Family Physicians AAFP committee that just issued a new...

Baxter Recalls Rest of Heparin Products

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:05:18 GMT
Baxter Healthcare Corp. the pharmaceutical company at the center of recent problems with its blood thinner heparin announced Thursday that it was recalling any remaining multidose vials of the drug as well as singledose vials. The compa...

Ginkgo Biloba Might Not Preserve Memory in Octogenarians

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:05:39 GMT
Ginkgo biloba the popular herbal supplement widely promoted as a memory enhancer offered no clearcut protection against memory loss in octogenarians a new study shows. And a small but disturbing pattern showed up in those who took the...

AgeRelated Macular Degeneration Doubles Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:05:24 GMT
People suffering from agerelated macular degeneration AMD have twice the risk of dying from heart attack or stroke Australian researchers report. The degenerative eye disease is the most common cause of untreatable blindness among older...

Two Drugs Found Equal in Treatment of Septic Shock

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:05:25 GMT
The arterytightening medication vasopressin holds no overall advantage over an older drug norepinephrine in the treatment of severe septic shock a new study finds. But vasopressin did appear to be better for less severe cases in the stu...

More Elderly Americans Living With Heart Failure

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:05:40 GMT
While the number of elderly Americans newly diagnosed with heart failure has declined the number of those living with the condition has increased new research finds. The Duke University study analyzed data on 622789 Medicare patients ag...

Antibiotic Use in Dementia Patients Questioned

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:05:31 GMT
Almost half of nursing home patients with advanced dementia are given antibiotics in the last two weeks of life a new study found. Whats not clear is whether or not that therapy has any benefits such as prolonging life or improving the q...

Blood Clots in Legs Lungs Predispose Patients to Repeat Episodes

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:05:31 GMT
People who develop a blood clot in their legs deep vein thrombosis or in their lungs pulmonary embolism are at risk of developing another blood clot within three years a new study suggests. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism a...

Stroke Risk Factors Drain Memory

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:05:21 GMT
Older people whose health conditions put them at high risk for stroke are more likely to suffer from memory loss even if they never actually have a stroke new research shows. The cause could be ministrokes that people dont notice but th...

Daytime Dozing Might Raise Stroke Risk

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:05:23 GMT
Nodding off in front of the television or anywhere else for that matter may raise your risk of stroke a new study from Columbia University shows. These authors report a potentially important association between daytime dozing which sho...

Cognitive Impairment Declining in Older Adults

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:05:40 GMT
Memory loss and thinking problems are becoming less common among older Americans possibly due to better education personal wealth and cardiovascular care a new study suggests. Published online Feb. 20 in Alzheimers amp; Dementia...

No Difference Found in Treatments for Acute Kidney Failure

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:05:37 GMT
Studies show no particular advantage to any single treatment for acute renal failure the sudden collapse of kidney function that carries with it a high risk of death Canadian researchers report. An analysis of 38 trials found no differenc...

Heart Attacks in Hospital More Deadly at Night on Weekends

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:05:37 GMT
Hospital patients who have the misfortune of suffering cardiac arrest at night or on the weekend are less likely to survive than those who have a heart attack during weekdays or weekday evenings new research finds. Although the study was n...

Hybridge provides senior with lasting dental solution

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:50:31 GMT
A seniors dental problems have been solved by dental implants it has been reported.

Kurt Hertel turned to the Hybridge a cross between a denture and a bridge developed by specialists at the Elmwood Dental Group in Rochester.

The ...

Dont Lose Sight of Vision Care Group Urges

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:05:27 GMT
As part of its efforts to educate Americans about agerelated macular degeneration AMD Prevent Blindness America has declared February AgeRelated Macular Degeneration Awareness Month. AMD a progressive disease that damages central vi...

Unlike Fine Wine Crabby People Dont Age Well

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:05:30 GMT
Theres new evidence that getting along with others is more than a key to pleasant human interaction. It also appears to be good for your health. Researchers who studied a survey of almost 700 older adults found that those who got along wi...

Blacks Awaiting Lung Transplants Face Poorer Outcomes

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:05:30 GMT
Blacks awaiting a lung transplant during a recent 10year period were less likely to receive a new lung and more likely to die or be removed from the transplant list than whites according to researchers. The findings published in the seco...

Older Smokers More Likely to Deny Habit

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:05:30 GMT
Older smokers are more likely than younger ones to deny they smoke when asked about it by doctors and others. Thats the conclusion of a study that analyzed data on 15182 selfreported nonsmokers in the United States who took part in the...

Single Mutation in Mitochondrial DNA Weakens Heart Muscles

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:05:34 GMT
A single change in the DNA of mitochondria the cellular power plants that generate energy in all human cells has been found to cause degenerative heart and muscle disease in mice a new study says. Mice harboring the mutation appeared...

Tango Classes Put Parkinsons Patients a Step Ahead

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:05:47 GMT
Not only is the tango a dance of romance and passion it also helps improve balance and mobility in people with Parkinsons disease a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis compared ...

Learning Disabilities May Presage Later Language Problems

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:05:25 GMT
People with a personal or family history of learning disabilities may be more at risk for a rare type of dementia that causes them to lose language abilities as they age according to a new report. The condition known as primary progressi...

Gene Variations Help Regulate Response to Stress

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:05:31 GMT
Certain variations in a gene that helps regulate stress response offer protection against depression in adults who suffered abuse when they were children a new study says. Adults who were abused as children and didnt have the protective v...

Baseline Exam Is Key to Eye Health

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:13:36 GMT
Even people with no signs or risk factors for eye disease can suffer vision loss and need to get baseline eye exams at age 40 says the American Academy of Ophthalmology AAO. The reminder is part of the academys EyeSmart campaign to mar...

Spouses Sickness Bodes Ill for Partners Health

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:13:36 GMT
Its called the widow or widower effect and doctors have long been familiar with this curious but very real phenomenon: When a husband or wife dies theres a greater likelihood that the surviving spouse will pass soon afterward. Now ...

Health Tip Pain Isnt a Normal Part of Aging

Thu, 7 Feb 2008 09:05:22 GMT
HealthDay News Some seniors accept chronic pain as part of getting older. But AARP says pain and aging dont have to go hand in hand. The organization says its important to see to your doctor to help figure out the cause of your pain ...

Alzheimers Plaques Can Form in One Day

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 14:05:36 GMT
An advanced imaging study has captured the fact that amyloid plaques the harbingers of Alzheimers disease can develop in just 24 hours. They form more rapidly than expected said Dr. Bradley Hyman leader of the group reporting the fin...

Health Tip Am I Getting Too Old to Drive

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 09:05:26 GMT
Driving can become dangerous for some seniors as they decline both physically and mentally. Here are warning signs that a senior may no longer be safe behind the wheel courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

Mem...

Cultural Beliefs May Keep Blacks From Hospice Care

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 09:05:31 GMT
Endoflife hospice care is used much less often by American blacks than whites and certain cultural beliefs may explain why a new survey finds. An historical mistrust of the healthcare system and a strong preference for curative treatme...

Bushs Budget Proposal Would Cut Medicare Spending

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 09:05:31 GMT
President Bushs new budget proposal would cut $196 billion over five years from both Medicare and Medicaid programs that provide health care to millions of poor and elderly federal officials announced Monday. The proposed cuts are part...

Bushs Budget Proposal Would Cut Medicare Funding

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 19:05:18 GMT
President Bushs new budget proposal would cut $196 billion over five years from both Medicare and Medicaid programs that provide health care to millions of poor and elderly federal officials announced Monday. The proposed cuts are part...

New Guideline Urges Screening for Fall Risk

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 16:05:31 GMT
Certain people are at high risk for accidental falls and should be regularly screened to help reduce the high number of fallrelated injuries and deaths in the United States a new guideline says. Each year in the United States accidental ...

Black Men Most at Risk for Kidney Disease Complications

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 14:05:23 GMT
Among Americans diagnosed with kidney disease and high blood pressure black men are least likely to have their blood pressure under control which puts them at risk of lifethreatening complications a new study says. Among people in the l...

TollFree Hotline to Help Seniors Avoid Falls

Sun, 3 Feb 2008 09:05:13 GMT
In the United States about one in three seniors over age 65 and almost one in two over age 80 will fall at least once this year in some cases leading to serious disability or even death. But ways for seniors to improve their balance...

Key Risk Factors for Suicide Consistent Across Globe

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 12:06:13 GMT
Risk factors for suicidal thoughts plans and attempts are similar in many countries new research suggests. The study which used data collected by the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative looked at people in 1...

Medicares Drug Program Enrollment Up Costs Down

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:05:19 GMT
THURSDAY Jan. 31 HealthDay News The threeyearold Medicare Part D drug program is seeing the number of its enrollees climb even as costs for the program fall U.S. health officials announced Thursday. Overall costs for beneficiar...

Health Tip Experience Grief as a Healthy Emotion

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:05:22 GMT
HealthDay News Grief is a normal healthy emotion experienced when a person has a significant loss such as the death of someone close or even the end of a relationship. The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common symp...

Middle Age a Low Point for Most

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:05:24 GMT
People around the globe hit the height of their misery and depression in middle age a new international study suggests. The finding by British and American researchers was based on an analysis of wellbeing among approximately 2 million pe...

Sedentary Lifestyle Accelerates Aging

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:05:25 GMT
People who are physically active in their free time may be biologically younger than couch potatoes a new British study suggests. A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to agingrelated diseases and premature death. Inactivity may...

Mouse Model of AgeRelated Macular Degeneration Developed

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:05:27 GMT
The first animal model of agerelated macular degeneration AMD has been developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers. This mouse model will help improve knowledge about the development and progression of the disease and will enable preclini...

Alzheimers Research Target May Be a Dead End

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:05:24 GMT
A oncepromising pathway for research into preventing and treating Alzheimers disease may have been derailed by a surprise chemical finding researchers report. Scientists in laboratories around the world have been investigating drug candi...

Alzheimers Research Target May Be a Dead End

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:05:14 GMT
A oncepromising pathway for research into preventing and treating Alzheimers disease may have been derailed by a surprise chemical finding researchers report. Scientists in laboratories around the world have been investigating drug candi...

Vitamin E Lutein May Fight Cataracts

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:05:17 GMT
Antioxidants such as vitamin E and lutein could lower a womans risk of sightrobbing cataracts new research suggests. The new observational study included more than 35000 women aged 45 and older. The data suggests that those p...

Geriatrician Care Guards Against Risk of Inappropriate Meds

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:05:19 GMT
Elderly Americans taking prescription medications face a lower risk for being given an inappropriate drug or dosage if they receive care from a geriatrician new research reveals. The finding is based on a large national review of mostly m...

Colonoscopy Coaches Play Lifesaving Role

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:05:17 GMT
Patients who have had a colonoscopy can help encourage other people to undergo the screening for colorectal cancer say University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers. They found that people who received telephone mentoring from ...

Doctors Review EndofLife Care Guidelines

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:05:16 GMT
Dying patients need to be regularly monitored for pain shortness of breath and depression say new American College of Physicians ACP guidelines to improve endoflife care. Published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine...

Driving Skills Decline Among People With Early Alzheimers

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:05:28 GMT
People with early Alzheimers disease were involved in more traffic crashes and performed worse on road tests than drivers without cognitive impairment a new study finds. The findings by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown Univ...

Lack of Vitamin E Linked to Physical Decline

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:05:20 GMT
If you dont get enough vitamin E in your diet you may have a greater risk of declining physical function as you age according to the findings of a new study. Yale researchers report that people with the lowest blood levels of vitamin E ...

Dinosaurs Had Teen Pregnancies Too

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:05:24 GMT
Dinosaurs experienced rapid growth during adolescence and reached sexual maturity near the end of this growth spurt before they reached maximum body size say University of California Berkeley scientists. They noted that humans and othe...

Latest Study Says Statins Dont Slow Alzheimers

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:05:21 GMT
Despite some reports that statins might slow or prevent Alzheimers disease a new study finds no evidence for the theory. While some animal studies have suggested this possibility whether the same benefit translates to humans hasnt been...

Gene That Creates Cerebral Cortex Discovered

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:05:23 GMT
Researchers have identified the gene responsible for creating the brains thinking center in a finding that could one day help people with brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. The gene called Lhx2 tells stem cells in the develo...

Vitamin D May Curb Falls in HighRisk Older Women

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:05:46 GMT
Vitamin D2 supplements may help reduce the risk of falls among highrisk elderly women Australian researchers report. Approximately onethird of women older than 65 fall each year and six percent sustain a fracture as a result of the fal...

Older Surgical Patients Face Greater Risk of Cognitive Problems

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:05:40 GMT
People over age 60 are twice as likely to lose memory and mental acuity after elective surgeries than younger adult patients according to a new study. These patients are also at higher risk of dying within one year of the surgery if they ...

Health Tip Taking a Laxative

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:05:37 GMT
HealthDay News While laxatives are generally safe if taken occasionally to relieve constipation proper use is required to help prevent side effects. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions about taking a laxa...

Depression Obesity Coexist in Many MiddleAged Women

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:05:50 GMT
Obesity and depression often go handinhand in middleaged women a new U.S. study found. The research collected information on the height weight dietary and exercise habits and body image of 4641 women ages 40 to 65 enrolled in a he...

Dementia Diagnosis Typically Means Death Within Five Years

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:05:27 GMT
People with dementia survive an average of four and a half years following their diagnosis new British research shows. However age sex and any existing disability can alter life expectancy according to the report in the Jan. 11 online ...

Small Lifestyle Changes Can Boost Longevity

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 09:05:27 GMT
People with four healthy lifestyle behaviors not smoking physical activity moderate alcohol consumption and eating five servings of fruit or vegetables a day live an average of 14 years longer than people with none of those behaviors a new ...

Health Tip Stay Safe on the Stairs

Mon, 7 Jan 2008 09:05:20 GMT
HealthDay News Its relatively easy for seniors to slip on stairs and hurt themselves so its important to take precautions to prevent falls. Here are some suggestions courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: <...

Testosterone Supplements Provide Little Benefit

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 12:05:31 GMT
Testosterone supplements increase lean body mass and decrease body fat in men over age 60 who have unusually low testosterone but do not improve strength mobility or mental abilities researchers report. Testosterone levels normally decrea...

Fish Oil May Help Prevent Alzheimers

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:05:17 GMT
The omega3 fatty acids found in fish oil might play an important role in preventing Alzheimers disease according to a research team at the University of California Los Angeles UCLA. Publishing in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal o...

Brain Turns to Positive Thoughts When Faced With Death

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:05:25 GMT
When thoughts of death intrude the human mind isnt paralyzed with negativity or fear. Instead the brain instinctively moves toward happier notions and images a new study suggests. The finding supports the notion that people are stronge...

Uninsured Benefit Once They Are Covered by Medicare

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:05:25 GMT
People who are intermittently or totally uninsured in the decade prior to reaching Medicare eligibility experience substantial improvements in health once such coverage kicks in a new study reveals. In fact previously uninsured people app...

Research Offers Promise for Cirrhosis Treatment

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:05:35 GMT
New findings about the inner workings of cells may be bringing scientists one step closer to reversing the scarring of the liver known as cirrhosis. Currently the best treatment for advanced cirrhosis is a liver transplant an option that...

Temporary Amnesia Confusion Raise Stroke Dementia Risk

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:05:24 GMT
Brief bouts of amnesia or confusion raise a persons risk of having a stroke or developing dementia Dutch scientists suggest. The findings which add to previous research linking ministrokes to fullfledged strokes make sense to Dr. A...

Food Pyramid for Older Adults Gets an Update

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:05:20 GMT
To correspond with the new U.S. Department of Agricultures food pyramid MyPyramid Tufts University researchers have updated the content and appearance of their food guide pyramid for older adults. The Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults...

Scientists Marvel at Santas Stamina

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:05:21 GMT
Circling the globe in an airborne sleigh slipping down millions of chimneys bulging sacks in tow how does Santa Claus do it every year? Scientists everywhere south of the North Pole have pondered that question for years. And now...

Maintaining Routine Can Chase Holiday Blues Away

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:05:18 GMT
While the Christmas season is a time of joy and celebration for many it can trigger holiday blues in some people. If you are prone to holiday blues there are things you can do to help prevent them says Dr. Rajnish Mago director of the ...

New Combo Treatment Extends Kidney Cancer Survival

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:05:24 GMT
A combination treatment with two drugs Avastin bevacizumab plus interferon extends the life of patients with kidney cancer European researchers report. Based on the result of earlier trials there is already considerable enthusiasm to...

Mental Decline Faster in BrainInjured Vietnam Vets

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:05:37 GMT
Braininjured Vietnam war veterans experience a faster decline in cognitive functioning as they age than veterans without such trauma a new study finds. The study looked at 199 Vietnam veterans who suffered penetrating head injuries during...

Bone Density Tests Do Predict Womens Fracture Risk

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:05:33 GMT
One bone mineral density test can accurately predict a womans chance of spinal fractures 15 years down the line new research shows. And according to the largest and longest prospective study of osteoporosis ever women who had a spinal f...

Lack of Strong Thirst Signals Leads Elderly to Drink Too Little

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:05:31 GMT
Older adults dont drink enough water and become dehydrated during heat waves because their brains and bodies dont coordinate sensory signals about thirst a new Australian study suggests. The researchers arent sure whether thirst signal...

Hospice An Overlooked Option

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:05:21 GMT
Hospice care helps terminally ill patients prepare for death treating their symptoms and pain and preparing them and their families for the end. The patients maintain their dignity and some semblance of control over their life. Their...

A Little Help Can Boost Holiday Joy for Elderly

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:05:28 GMT
Older relatives who are frail or ill have special emotional mental and physical health needs that require extra attention to help them enjoy the holiday season geriatric specialists say. So experts at the University of California San Di...

HomeBased Senior Care Program Has Limited Benefits

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:05:25 GMT
An intensive homebased program to improve medical care for lowincome seniors produced mixed results a geriatrics team reports. Failure to get better outcomes indicates the need for a new analysis of how Medicare pays for the care for ol...

Hypertension Linked to Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:05:25 GMT
High blood pressure may be associated with increased risk for mild cognitive impairment says a study by researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Mild cognitive impairment which causes learning and thinking d...

Love in the World of Alzheimers

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:05:22 GMT
Even when Alzheimers disease robs them of the life they once knew some people can still find love among the ruins. And in most cases as highlighted by recent news on retired Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day OConnor the spouse or chil...

Mourning Death of Loved One Raises Your Risk of Dying

Fri, 7 Dec 2007 09:05:19 GMT
The grieving that follows a loved ones death can increase your risk of death from suicide as well as other causes a new review shows. The most vulnerable period was the first 30 days following the loss. More research needs to b...

Health Tip EndofLife Planning

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 09:05:15 GMT
HealthDay News Caregivers assume a host of vital responsibilities but an easily neglected or oftenavoided task is endoflife planning. Here are some suggestions courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Aging Brains Get Out of Sync

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 12:08:01 GMT
In a finding that uncovers the biological underpinnings of senior moments new research shows that communication between different parts of the brain begins to break down as a person grows older. We wanted to see how the brain changes in...

Observational Studies Often Overshadow Clinical Research

Tue, 4 Dec 2007 16:05:24 GMT
Even when theres strong contradictory evidence from randomized trials refuted claims based on observational studies often persist in scientific circles Greek researchers claim. Randomized trials where participants are randomized to rec...

Fitness Not Fatness Predicts a Longer Life

Tue, 4 Dec 2007 16:05:24 GMT
In the quest for a longer life a new study suggests fit is where its at even if youre fat. Overweight and obese seniors who were physically fit outlived their contemporaries even thin ones who werent physically fit the researcher...

3 Common Drugs Trigger Most ER Visits by Seniors

Tue, 4 Dec 2007 09:05:22 GMT
Side effects from just three drugs are responsible for a full third of all U.S. emergency room visits by senior citizens who had adverse reactions to medications a new study found. In 2004 and 2005 the blood thinner warfarin the diabetes...

High Blood Pressure Could Exacerbate Alzheimers

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:05:22 GMT
High blood pressure reduces blood flow to the brains of Alzheimers patients and exacerbates the symptoms of the disease a new study finds. A team at the University of Pittsburgh used MRI to measure brain blood flow in older adults includ...

Gene Tweak Reverses Aging in Mouse Skin Cells

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:05:23 GMT
Scientists say theyve been able to temporarily return old skin cells to their youthful state by blocking the activity of a single gene. This gene gets more and more active with age said lead researcher Dr. Howard Chang an assistant pr...

Progesterone Wont Shield Women Against Alzheimers

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:05:23 GMT
Theres no evidence that progesterone which is often given with estrogen in hormone replacement therapy offers women any protection against Alzheimers disease U.S. researchers say. They conducted tests on female mice genetically eng...

Criteria Predict Womens 5Year Risk for Fracture

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:05:15 GMT
Scientists have a developed a model to help doctors predict which postmenopausal women are likely to sustain a hip fracture over a fiveyear period. The algorithm includes 11 different factors such as age and family history and applie...

HighTrauma Fractures Tied to Weak Bones

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:05:24 GMT
Hightrauma fractures such as those caused by vehicle crashes or from steep falls are associated with weak bones researchers report. Older adults who experience such fractures outside of the spine are at risk of another fracture and shou...

Low Testosterone Might Shorten Mens Lives

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:05:19 GMT
Men aged 40 or over with low levels of testosterone may be at increased risk of fatal heart attacks or death from any cause a British study suggests. In fact The magnitude of the effect was very similar to that of high cholesterol or b...

Sleep Problems Plague the Older Set

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 09:05:17 GMT
Older Americans often have difficulty getting a good nights rest. Its a huge qualityoflife problem experts say because contrary to popular belief seniors require about the same amount of sleep as younger adults. Sleep problems and ...

Aging Isnt About Slowing Down Experts Say

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:05:37 GMT
Many older adults may mistakenly believe that becoming less active is just a normal part of aging but a new pilot program suggests its easy to dispel such notions. The program led to a 24 percent increase about 2.5 miles more in the amo...

Older Patients Can Do Well With Kidney Transplant

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:05:24 GMT
Age shouldnt be a barrier to receiving a kidney transplant researchers say and using donated kidneys that would normally be discarded may help ease a shortage of available organs. In the recent past chronological age has been considere...

Fish Fruits Veggies May Cut Dementia Risk

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:05:23 GMT
A diet that includes plenty of fish omega3 rich oils fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease while high intake of omega6 rich oils may boost the risk of developing memory problems say French researchers.

Older Hypertension Patients Less Likely to Get Lifestyle Advice

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:05:54 GMT
Americans over 60 with high blood pressure are less likely than younger patients to receive guidance from their doctors on how lifestyle changes can lower their blood pressure a new study finds. A team at the University of North Carolina a...

Blacks Hispanics Live Longer With Alzheimers

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:05:20 GMT
Blacks and Hispanics appear to live longer following an Alzheimers diagnosis than white patients a new study suggests. While men and women of Asian and American Indian descent diagnosed with the disease were found to have survival expecta...

VaccinePreventable Deaths Reach New Low in US

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:05:22 GMT
The incidence of vaccinepreventable deaths has reached an alltime low in the United States a new federal report shows. The study by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found that childhood vaccinatio...

LongTerm Beta Carotene Use May Protect Against Dementia

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:05:20 GMT
Taking supplements of the antioxidant beta carotene for a long time 15 years or more appears to lessen the decline in thinking ability that comes with Alzheimers disease a study finds. My hypothesis is that its how long you take i...

Eyeglasses Upgrade Helps Elderly Battle Depression

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:05:20 GMT
Correcting nursing home residents poor vision not only boosts quality of life it may lower risks for depression U.S. researchers report. A team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studied 78 nursing home residents 55 and older w...

Older Adults No More Distractible Than Younger Set

Fri, 9 Nov 2007 19:05:18 GMT
Older adults arent more prone to distraction than younger adults when theyre asked to focus their attention on a sight or sound or when asked to switch their attention from one sense to another a U.S. study finds. Previous research sug...

Gout Drug Shows Promise

Fri, 9 Nov 2007 14:05:18 GMT
A drug called rilonacept IL1 Trap may reduce disease activity and pain in patients with chronic active gout. Thats according to a nonrandomized singleblind placebocontrolled study of 10 patients average age 62 who had gout for an...

Severe Urinary Problems Boost Death Risk in Older Men

Fri, 9 Nov 2007 12:05:19 GMT
As many as 25 percent of men over age 45 admitted to hospital with acute urinary retention AUR die within a year a death risk comparable to that of patients with a broken hip a new study says. AUR the sudden inability to pass urine i...

Sticking With Meds Lowers Elderly Fracture Risk

Thu, 8 Nov 2007 14:05:21 GMT
Helping people with osteoporosis stick to their medications may cut their risk for fracture Canadian researchers report. When an osteoporosis patient suffers a fracture theres an increased risk of additional fractures other health probl...

Spirituality Helps Older Black Women Beat Hypertension

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 12:05:29 GMT
Spirituality helps older black American women with high blood pressure stick to the drug regimens that keep the condition under control new research suggests. Older black Americans tend to have poorer antihypertensive medication adherence...

Medicare Drug Plan Cost 32 Billion in 2006

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 12:05:19 GMT
In 2006 introduction of the U.S. Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit increased the number of seniors prescriptions by 158 million at a cost of $32 billion to Medicare a new study concludes. Reporting in the November/December issue...

Chemo Drug Improves Stomach Cancer Survival for Japanese Patients

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:05:34 GMT
Treatment of stomach cancer with an experimental chemotherapy drug after surgery improved survival rates for Japanese patients a new study found. The results of the trial wont mean much for Americans with stomach cancer because the drug...

Stem Cells Restore Memory in Mice

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:05:33 GMT
WEDNESDAY Oct. 31 HealthDay News A new U.S. study involving mice suggests the brains own stem cells may have the ability to restore memory after an injury. These neural stem cells work by protecting existing cells and promoting neur...

Younger Veterans at Greater Suicide Risk

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:05:46 GMT
A study of U.S. veterans suffering from depression finds that their risk factors for suicide differ in surprising ways from those of other depressed Americans. Specifically the risk for suicide appears highest among younger veterans the...

Zinc Helps Elderly Ward Off Pneumonia

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:05:36 GMT
Maintaining normal zinc concentrations in the blood may help prevent pneumonia in elderly nursing home residents a new study shows. A team at Tufts University looked at 617 people 65 and older in 33 nursing homes in the Boston area. ...

Older Women Gain From Good PostFracture Care

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:05:24 GMT
Older patients with fractures benefit from a followup osteoporosis management program that includes electronic medical records and outreach programs U.S. researchers say. Osteoporosis which increases the risk of fracture affects abo...

Blood Pressure Drug Might Work Against Alzheimers

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:05:27 GMT
The blood pressure drug valsartan shows the ability to reduce Alzheimers diseaselike symptoms in mice researchers report. The potential value of valsartan marketed as Diovan emerged from a screening program that started with 55 high bl...

Dementia in More Educated Hits Later But Harder

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:06:07 GMT
Having a higher level of education seems to delay the onset of dementia but once cognitive decline begins the descent is more precipitous a new study finds. The findings confirm the socalled cognitive reserve hypothesis which posits...

Most Elderly Dont Get Good Medical Care Study

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:06:37 GMT
The quality of care received by vulnerable elderly Medicare Medicaid patients is barely acceptable a team of U.S. researchers report. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles used quality of care measurements developed by...

Simpler Anemia Treatment May Help Kidney Patients

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:05:46 GMT
A new approach for treating anemia in patients with severe kidney disease could help improve patients quality of life according to a U.S. study. Compared with conventional therapy giving patients an antianemia drug as infrequently as on...

Blood Test Might Spot Alzheimers Early

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:06:39 GMT
An international team of scientists has developed a blood test that could reveal which patients with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimers disease. If replicated and validated and assuming the development of effecti...

Health Tip Symptoms of Depression in Alzheimers Patients

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:05:39 GMT
HealthDay News People with Alzheimers disease sometimes suffer from depression often when they begin to understand their loss of memory. The symptoms of depression may make it even more difficult for Alzheimers patients to function.<...

Chronic Illness Often a Taboo Subject Survey

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:05:35 GMT
Along with taboo topics such as politics and religion many Americans are reluctant to discuss managing a chronic illness with family or friends according to a new survey of more than 1000 adults. The survey released Oct. 11 found that ...

Tea Helps Toughen Older Womens Hips

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:06:12 GMT
New Australian research suggests that having a cuppa tea that is may help strengthen older womens hips. This study suggests that drinking tea in moderation can actually benefit your bones said lead researcher Amanda Devine a senior ...

Inflammatory Substance May Boost Eye Trouble

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 17:04:08 GMT
People with high blood levels of Creactive protein a substance associated with inflammation may be at higher risk of developing agerelated macular degeneration AMD a major cause of vision loss in older adults. Dutch researchers colle...

Parkinsons Linked to Risk of Alzheimers

Mon, 8 Oct 2007 17:04:08 GMT
Relatives of people with Parkinsons disease face up to a 73 percent increased risk for developing Alzheimers disease suggests a new study that says genetics could be to blame. Parkinsons disease causes declines in functions of the centr...

New Kidney Disease Can Be Fatal

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 17:05:59 GMT
Kidney disease patients with a newly identified disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis NSF are at increased risk of death U.S. researchers report. The researchers also concluded that exposure to gadolinium a contrast agent used in...

Thalidomide Improves Outcomes for Older Myeloma Patients

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:05:55 GMT
Elderly patients with multiple myeloma live longer when thalidomide is added to standard combination chemotherapy treatment a new study finds. The finding could be the first real treatment advance for these types of patients in decades th...

Flu Vaccine Does Protect Older People

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 19:05:30 GMT
If youre over 65 getting an annual flu shot will reduce the risk youll be hospitalized with flu complications by 27 percent and cut your risk of flurelated death by 48 percent. Thats the conclusion of new research published in the Oct...

Study Finds Benefits With DrugCoated Stents

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 19:05:30 GMT
Drugcoated stents offered a clear advantage over the baremetal kind for highrisk patients with blocked coronary arteries a large Canadian study found. The rate of restenosis having the artery become blocked again after stent implant ...

Alzheimers Drug Wont Ease Patients Agitation

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 19:05:30 GMT
Aricept a drug commonly used to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimers disease is no better than a placebo when it comes to treating the agitation associated with the illness a new study finds. When combined with other research the...

Obesity Driving Rising US Health Costs

Tue, 2 Oct 2007 14:05:43 GMT
Obesity is a big factor driving soaring rates of chronic disease in the United States with many more Americans chronically ill than their European counterparts a new study finds. Its an expensive problem too: According to researchers c...

Medicare Offers Smallest Rise in Premiums in 6 Years

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 16:05:39 GMT
Medicares Part B standard monthly premium is rising to $96.40 in 2008 a 3.1 percent increase from the $93.50 paid in 2007 and the smallest rise in six years U.S. health officials announced on Monday. The increase is lower because the ...

Conscientious People Less Prone to Alzheimers

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 16:05:39 GMT
People who are conscientious and prone to doing the right thing are less likely to develop Alzheimers disease as they age according to a longrunning study of Catholic nuns priests and brothers. Its a broadbased trait that is partic...

Health Tip Spotting a Tremor

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:05:26 GMT
HealthDay News A tremor is an uncontrolled involuntary rapid movement of a muscle and can be caused by a medication or certain conditions such as Parkinsons disease. Here are common signs of tremor courtesy of the U.S. National Lib...

Brain Activity Might Point to Early Alzheimers

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:05:22 GMT
A specific pattern of brain activity could be a sign of early Alzheimers disease U.S. researchers report. They noted that as new treatments for Alzheimers become available spotting the disease early will become critical. A te...

Study Questions Flu Shots Value for Older People

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:05:22 GMT
The ability of flu shots to reduce the risk of influenzarelated death among people 65 and older may be greatly exaggerated say researchers who reviewed the available scientific evidence. This exaggeration is the result of frailty selecti...

PostKnee Replacement Physio Helps in Short Term

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:05:18 GMT
Physiotherapy can offer shortterm benefit to patients with recent total knee replacement surgeries according to a review of six studies involving 614 patients. A team at Nuffield Orthopaedic Center NHS Trust in Oxford U.K. conducted the...

Researchers Pinpoint Link Between Caloric Restriction and Longevity

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:05:36 GMT
Harvard researchers report they have uncovered a molecular clue that seems to explain why cutting calories might lengthen your life. It turns out that mitochondria guard against cell death and two specific genes within the mitochondria act...

Obesity Wont Affect Seniors Memory

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:05:03 GMT
Being overweight or obese doesnt increase the odds that seniors will experience memory trouble a new study finds. While past studies have found obesity in middle age increases a persons risk for dementia or Alzheimers disease our find...

Stem Cells From Testes Produce Wide Range of Tissue Types

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:05:19 GMT
U.S. researchers say theyve successfully reprogrammed adult stem cells from the testes of male mice into a wide variety of cell types including functional blood vessels contractile cardiac tissue and brain cells. If the same can be done...

Nighttime Home Dialysis a Boon for Kidney Patients

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:05:11 GMT
Undergoing dialysis at home most nights of the week may be better for some kidney patients health than conventional threetimesaweek dialysis new research suggests. In a sixmonth randomized trial comparing frequent nocturnal dialysis t...

OnceaYear Bone Drug Lowers Fracture Risk

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:05:10 GMT
One annual injection of the drug zoledronic acid Reclast not only reduces the number of new hip fractures for older users it can also save their lives. So finds the first trial to show an improvement in mortality for the drug. Previous s...

Depression Pushes MiddleAged Workers to Retire

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:24:06 GMT
In many cases depression is a deciding factor for men and women considering retirement according to new research. Middleaged men who suffer with symptoms of depression are more likely to retire early while retirementage women often tak...

1 in 4 Men Over 30 Has Low Testosterone

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:05:07 GMT
New research suggests that one out of four men over 30 have low testosterone levels but only one out of every 20 men have clinical symptoms linked to such a deficiency. As men age they are more likely to experience symptoms such as lack o...

Stomach Virus a Culprit in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:05:26 GMT
A fathers concern for his son led to research that now sheds new light on a disease that has long been shrouded in mystery. Andrew Chia now 24 was diagnosed with debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome in 1997. This week he is co...

Stem Cell Therapy Disappoints Against Rare Kidney Ailment

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:05:35 GMT
In a disheartening result that confounds existing research a team in France says a new stem cell therapy for a rare kidney disease is no better than the usual chemotherapyonly approach. The study has major limitations and must be interpr...

US Life Expectancy Hits New High

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:05:24 GMT
Life expectancy rates in the United States are at an alltime high with people born in 2005 projected to live for nearly 78 years a new federal study finds. The finding reflects a continuing trend of increasing life expectancy that began ...

Veggies Might Ward Off AgeLinked Vision Woes

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:05:30 GMT
People who consume high levels of the yellow plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin may have a reduced risk of developing agerelated macular degeneration AMD a leading cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly. The AgeRelated Eye...

US Health Initiative Targets Aging Hispanics

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:05:45 GMT
A U.S. federal effort aimed at boosting the health of Hispanic seniors especially when it comes to diabetes care is set to launch in eight communities nationwide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Healthc...

Medicare Spending Caps Cause Seniors to Stop Meds

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:06:03 GMT
Some American seniors stop taking medications for chronic health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes when they exceed spending limits in their Medicare prescription drug plans new research shows. The study by the nonprofit ...

Vitamin D Supplements May Lengthen Life

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:05:58 GMT
Vitamin D supplements could prolong your life a new European study suggests. The intake of usual doses of vitamin D seems to decrease mortality from any cause of death said lead researcher Dr. Philippe Autier from the International Ag...

Mediterranean Diet May Boost Alzheimers Survival

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:05:57 GMT
Consuming whats known as a Mediterranean diet one loaded with fruits vegetables grains and olive oil may help Alzheimers patients live longer a new study suggests. The observation comes after researchers tracked the dietary habit...

Injuries Deaths Tied to Consumer Drugs Rise Sharply

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:06:00 GMT
The number of serious adverse drug events more than double between 1998 and 2005 in the United States as did the number of related deaths a new study found. This is the first study to ask the question Are we gaining ground or losing gr...

Antidepressant as Good as Antipsychotics for Dementia

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:06:00 GMT
The antidepressant citalopram Celexa may be as effective as oftenprescribed antipsychotic drugs to control the agitation and psychotic symptoms associated with dementia a new study suggests. Agitation and psychotic symptoms are often mo...

Poor Senior Vision Often a Window on Disease

Sat, 8 Sep 2007 12:05:35 GMT
Older adults need to monitor themselves for eyesight problems which can appear gradually and worsen over time says the American Geriatrics Society AGS. If not properly monitored eyesight deterioration can lead to other longterm problems. ...

Counseling Boosts Alzheimers Caregivers Health

Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:05:57 GMT
Spouses caring for partners with Alzheimers disease report better physical health if they participate in individual or group counseling new data shows. Preserving the health of spouse caregivers through counseling and support also benefi...

Health Tip Help Prevent Hemorrhoids

Thu, 6 Sep 2007 12:05:44 GMT
Hemorrhoids are swollen inflamed veins in the anus or rectum. They may be caused by factors including straining during bowel movements pregnancy and constipation. The pain of hemorrhoids can be treated with hemorrhoidal creams ointments ...

Alzheimers Patients May Suffer Silent Seizures

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 14:05:52 GMT
Scientists say mice genetically altered to develop an Alzheimerslike illness undergo silent brain seizures. According to researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine the seizures may explain why some people with advanced Alzheimers h...

High CoPays Cause Seniors to Go Without Meds

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 12:06:03 GMT
Seniors enrolled in Medicare plans that charge higher copays for brand name or nonpreferred medications fill almost 15 percent fewer prescriptions than their peers who have a flat copay for all prescription medications a new study finds. <...

Health Tip Preventing a Bunion

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 12:06:03 GMT
A bunion is a sore swollen bump on the foot at the joint of the big toe. It can be very sore and painful and may require surgery to remove. Here are suggestions to prevent a bunion courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons...

Smokers More Likely to Develop Dementia

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 09:05:43 GMT
Current smokers are 50 percent more likely to develop Alzheimers disease or dementia than people who dont smoke or who gave up smoking a Dutch report says. Researchers announced these results after analyzing seven years of data from alm...

Seniors Need a Safety Plan in Face of Disasters

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:05:41 GMT
Hurricane season is here and the American Geriatrics Society offers advice to seniors to help them prepare for any potential natural disaster. Develop an emergency plan:

Get local emergency and evacuation information in adv...

Health Tip When Alzheimers Patients Wander

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:05:28 GMT
Wandering moving about without a definite purpose in mind is a common trait of a person with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. This can be dangerous for the patient and be a source of great stress for worried caregivers and love...

Removing Ovaries Before Menopause Leads to Memory Movement Troubles

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:05:37 GMT
Removing one or both ovaries before a woman reaches natural menopause increases the risk of both dementia and movement disorders such as Parkinsons disease. But giving hormonereplacement therapy at least until the age of 50 blunts that r...

Health Tip Risk Factors for Varicose Veins

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:05:34 GMT
THURSDAY Aug. 23 HealthDay News Varicose veins are swollen enlarged veins that bulge past the skin surface. They are usually purplish or bluish in color and mostly appear on the backs of the legs or calves. Here are common risk fac...

Gene Tied to PostOp Delirium in Elderly

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:05:21 GMT
Elderly people with the apolipoprotein E APOE e4 gene variant associated with an increased risk of lateonset Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia are more likely to develop postoperative delirium after major surgery than those wit...

Daily Calcium Does Protect Bone

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:05:30 GMT
In people older than 50 calcium supplementation cut the overall risk of bone fractures by about 12 percent Australian researchers report. Dr. Benjamin Tang of the University of Western Sydney and colleagues analyzed 17 previous studies ...

Advanced Age No Bar to Liver Transplant

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:05:26 GMT
Age alone doesnt increase the risk of death among liver transplant patients age 70 or older and shouldnt restrict liver transplantation in the elderly a new study finds. A team at the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen S...

Expenses Overshadow Optimism for Kidney Failure Patients

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:05:26 GMT
While there has been progress in the prevention and treatment of kidney failure in the United States soaring costs remain a major issue a new analysis shows. In 2004 the most recent year for which complete data were available 104364 Am...

Vaccine Stops Alzheimers Brain Tangles

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:05:52 GMT
A vaccine designed to combat a protein implicated in Alzheimers disease has proven effective in mice U.S. scientists say. Abnormal tau protein accumulates into damaging tangles in the memory center of the brains of Alzheimers patients n...

Study Puts 1 Alzheimers Theory in Doubt

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:05:44 GMT
Research with mice is poking holes in a prevailing theory on the origins of Alzheimers scientists say. Mice without a gene thought to rein in celldamaging free radicals actually had fewer Alzheimerslinked brain plaques than mice...

Early Weight Loss in Women Linked to Dementia

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:06:19 GMT
Women who develop dementia lose weight a decade or more before major symptoms appear a new study suggests. The weight loss is small among individual women and cant be used to diagnose who will go on to become senile. Still the research d...

Mt Everest Deadlier for Older Climbers

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:05:33 GMT
While many claim that 60 is the new 40 thats not the case on Mount Everest according to a study that found that older climbers are less likely to reach the summit and more likely to die. Before we did this analysis we didnt know wheth...

Nursing Home Residents at Highest Heatstroke Risk

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:06:27 GMT
Heatstroke may be most lethal for people who live in nursing homes or take medication to lower their blood pressure a French study finds. Heatstroke which results from exposure to high temperatures is defined by an elevated core body t...

Smoking Ups Risk for AgeLinked Vision Loss

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:06:38 GMT
Current and former smokers are much more likely to develop the eye disease agerelated macular degeneration AMD than people who never smoked an Australian study finds. AMD the leading cause of blindness in affluent countries is a progr...

Stabilizing Eye Pressure Key to Glaucoma Care

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:06:25 GMT
Even if a glaucoma patients eye pressure remains low overall fluctuations in eye pressure may still be associated with a shrinking peripheral field of vision South Korean researchers say. Researchers at the Yonsei University College of M...

Bone Marrow Restores Fertility After Chemo

Thu, 9 Aug 2007 17:07:31 GMT
Bone marrow transplantation restored reproductive capability to female mice that had undergone fertilitydestroying chemotherapy according to a study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. More research is needed to de...

Stem Cell Trouble Slows Healing of Aging Muscle

Thu, 9 Aug 2007 14:16:09 GMT
Poor stem cell communication causes the slow incomplete muscle healing associated with aging a new study suggests. Publishing in the Aug. 10 issue of the journal Science researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine foun...

Antihypertension Drugs Help People Over 80

Wed, 8 Aug 2007 14:12:35 GMT
An international study investigating the effects of giving bloodpressure lowering drugs to people age 80 and older was halted early after researchers found big reductions in stroke and deaths among those receiving treatment. The preliminar...

Alzheimers Protein Implicated in Glaucoma

Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:06:47 GMT
The same protein fragments that form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimers disease appear to cause the death of retinal cells in glaucoma the potentially blinding eye disease British researchers report. In animal studies drugs...

Memory Slow Drink Some Joe

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 16:06:15 GMT
Coffee may jolt more than just the nervous system. A new French study found that caffeine seemed to help preserve the cognitive skills of older women. Women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day were 30 percent less likely to have me...

Maturity Brings Richer Memories

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 09:06:31 GMT
While children and adults are similar when it comes to basic memory formation adults create richer more detailed contextual memories. Thats the conclusion of a new Massachusetts Institute of Technology study that included 49 people ages...

Health Tip Have a Healthy Retirement

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 09:06:30 GMT
With retirement can come many new worries including financial concerns and thoughts of how to spend each day. Here are suggestions on how to enjoy a happy healthy retirement courtesy of AARP:

Create a list of goals youd...

Whispering Stroke Can Cause Lasting Damage

Thu, 2 Aug 2007 16:06:02 GMT
A surprisingly high number of Americans may suffer whispering strokes attacks whose symptoms are so mild that they often go ignored but can nevertheless cause physical and mental harm a new study finds. About 18 percent of the almost ...

TwoDrug Combo Tough on Kidney Cancer

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:06:02 GMT
Kidney cancer might have met its match in a new combination of cancer drugs a new study shows. Used together interferon alpha a drug that boosts the bodys ability to fight off tumors and infections and sorafenib a drug that cuts off a...

Aricept Eases Symptoms of Severe Alzheimers

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:06:23 GMT
A drug thats been a mainstay of treatment for mildtomoderate Alzheimers disease symptoms is also safe and effective for people with more advanced stages of the disease a new study suggests. Aricept donepezil is already approved to tr...

EndofLife Hospice Care Underused

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:09:31 GMT
Too few Americans entering lifes final phase are availing themselves of highquality hospice care despite the fact that Medicare covers the expense experts say. The situation is only going to become more problematic as the nations baby...

Better Grasp of Health Info May Boost Life Span

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:06:06 GMT
MONDAY July 23 HealthDay News Being better able to read and understand healthrelated information might help you live longer a new study finds. Inadequate health literacy is associated with less knowledge of chronic disease and wors...

Senior Drivers Arent Unsafe Drivers

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:06:04 GMT
Contrary to popular wisdom older drivers are not much riskier than middleaged drivers and are actually much less dangerous than teenage and collegeage motorists a new report finds. The new study found that drivers aged 65 and older are ...

Curry Spice Chemical Could Curb Alzheimers

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:05:48 GMT
A chemical found in curry may help the immune system clear away brain plaques associated with Alzheimers disease a new study suggests. The findings build on previous research linking curry consumption to reduced Alzheimers risk includi...

Poor Memory Tied to Sleep Woes in Aging Women

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:05:48 GMT
Older women with memory problems are more likely to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep than those without memory loss a U.S. study finds. The study included almost 2500 women average age 69 with no signs of memory problems a...

Inappropriate Prescribing for Older Patients a Growing Problem

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:06:02 GMT
Too many older people are being prescribed too many medicines or the wrong drugs and more research needs to be done to find out how to fix the problem say two papers published in this weeks issue of The Lancet medical journal. The...

Health Tip Dealing With Loss

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:06:10 GMT
Dealing with the death of a loved one friend or family member can take a toll on your health both physically and emotionally. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to cope with a loss:

There...

Uninsured Americans Raise Medicare Expenditures

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:05:34 GMT
Americans who werent insured before they reached age 65 and gained access to Medicare cost the program a lot more than those who did have health insurance a new study finds. Data on more than 5000 older people from a national study found...

Nursing Home Residents Dont Get Routine Eye Exams

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:05:38 GMT
Two out of three nursing home residents do not receive eye exams despite nearly half being visually impaired a new study says. Nursing home residents have rates of visual impairment between three and 15 times higher than nonresident adult...

Nursing Home Residents Dont Get Routine Eye Exams

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:05:35 GMT
Two out of three nursing home residents do not receive eye exams despite nearly half being visually impaired a new study says. Nursing home residents have rates of visual impairment between three and 15 times higher than nonresident adult...

Dementia Gene Mutation Identified

Mon, 9 Jul 2007 17:05:37 GMT
Researchers have discovered a new gene mutation linked to frontotemporal dementia a disease that affects language abilities and socially appropriate behavior in the people who have it. Frontotemporal dementia is the second most common form...

Cataracts Macular Degeneration Increase Risk of Death

Mon, 9 Jul 2007 16:05:33 GMT
People over age 49 who have cataracts or macular degeneration are more likely to die within 11 years than their contemporaries without the eye conditions a new study found. Sudha Cugati of the University of Sydney Australia and colleague...

First Skin Patch Sanctioned for Alzheimers

Mon, 9 Jul 2007 14:07:51 GMT
The Exelon skin patch rivastigmine transdermal system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat dementia associated with mildtomoderate Alzheimers disease maker Novartis Pharmaceuticals said Monday. Exelon a...

Experts Offer Advice to Caregivers of Elderly

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 09:05:14 GMT
Geriatrics experts are offering a new easytounderstand information sheet designed to help prevent burnout in people caring for elderly parents or other older loved ones. The new information sheet Caring for Mom and Dad How to Avoid C...

Older Folks Often Ignore Summer Heat Warnings

Fri, 6 Jul 2007 12:06:11 GMT
Every summertime heat wave brings repeated warnings to older folks to try and stay cool but a new study suggests few are listening. Too often many older Americans arent taking the protective measures that could mean the difference betwee...

Health Tip Keeping Seniors on Their Feet

Thu, 5 Jul 2007 09:05:20 GMT
When an elderly person falls it could cause lifethreatening injury. Here are steps you can take to make your home safe for seniors courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Keep the house well lit. Use brigh...

Dulled Sense of Smell Might Predict Alzheimers

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 09:05:56 GMT
Losing your sense of smell might be an early sign of cognitive decline a new study finds. It has been reported before that people who already have mild cognitive impairment have difficulty with odors noted lead researcher Robert S. Wi...

Drinking Water Is Key to Kidney Stone Prevention

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 09:05:41 GMT
Staying hydrated in the summer is important for many reasons including prevention of kidney stones says Dr. Gary Faerber associate professor of urology at the University of Michigan Health System. A lack of fluid can lead to the develop...

Estrogen May Be BrainBooster

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:05:53 GMT
Estrogen injections might help keep womens minds sharp as they age a new study of female monkeys suggests. For the study published in this weeks online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences researchers at...

Its Never Too Late to Get Healthy

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:06:14 GMT
Adopting a hearthealthy lifestyle makes a difference even if the change doesnt come until middle age. In fact people who eat right and exercise more can substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease and death even if they...

Global Warming Will Cause Rise in Death Rates

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:06:15 GMT
Sizzling temperatures brought on by global warming will kill more people in the summer months a new study suggests and that toll wont be offset by fewer deaths during milder winters. The results suggest that mortality from hot temperat...

HealthTip Passing a Kidney Stone

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:06:15 GMT
A kidney stone is a hard mass created by crystals that have separated from the urine. Most kidney stones will pass on their own and surgery usually isnt necessary. The U.S. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clear...

Sharpening Your Wits Could Outwit Alzheimers

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:06:13 GMT
Doing plenty of mentallystimulating activities such as playing chess reading a newspaper or attending a play in old age helps reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease according to a study of more than 700 elderly Americans. The Chi...

AntiBone Loss Drugs Help Prevent Fractures

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:05:54 GMT
Osteoporosis drugs called antiresorptive agents can help reduce the risk of lowtrauma bone fractures in women age 50 and older concludes a study of more than 6000 Canadian women. Antiresorptive agents are a class of medications that sl...

Study to Assess Hormone Therapy Before Menopause

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:06:03 GMT
Researchers at eight locations across the United States plan to examine the safety and effectiveness of estrogen therapy during perimenopause the few years just prior to menopause. The KEEPS Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study led by...

Study Identifies Drug Target for Parkinsons

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:05:56 GMT
U.S. researchers say theyve identified a potential new drug target to treat Parkinsons disease. In experiments with cells and animals a team at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease found that blocking the action of an ...

Computerized Medication Box Approved

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:05:51 GMT
A programmable device that allows professional caregivers to monitor how patients dispense their medications has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the agency said Thursday. The Electronic Medication Management Assistan...

Health Tip Responsibilities of Caregivers

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:05:53 GMT
Caregiving for a family member or close friend can become a fulltime job so candidates should carefully consider how much time and effort they have to offer. Here are common responsibilities of caregivers courtesy of Caring Connections:...

Medicares Drug Benefit Tough to Navigate

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:05:40 GMT
Medicares new Part D drug benefit is widening patients access to drugs a new study says. The real problem experts say lies in finding out if your particular plan covers the medication you need. Thats because more than 1800 different ...

Health Tip Protect Aging Skin

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:05:54 GMT
During the natural aging process skin becomes thinner and the layer of fat beneath it thins says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Aging skin also becomes less sensitive to sensations of touch pressure vibration and temperature. As...

Caring for Grandkids Wont Strain Grandparents Health

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:05:47 GMT
Caring for grandchildren generally wont have a negative effect on a grandmom or granddads wellbeing a new U.S. study says. The findings by researchers at the University of Chicago and three other universities challenge the conclusions o...

Elderly Sleep Woes Linked to Increased Suicide Risk

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:05:36 GMT
THURSDAY June 14 HealthDay News Chronically troubled sleep may be a marker for an increased risk for suicide in the elderly a new report suggests. The association exists even after you control for depression said lead researcher Re...

Puzzles May Be a Real BrainBooster

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:05:36 GMT
A daily crossword puzzle or similar highly focused task might help sharpen your allround powers of concentration new research suggests. There are a growing number of activities from crossword puzzles to Sudoku promoted as ways to keep ...

Single Free But Not So Healthy

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:05:53 GMT
Single life has its charms and freedoms but adults who never marry may not live as long as their wedded peers new research suggests. While the protective effect of marriage on health and longevity has been pointed out before newer resear...

Older Antifungal Still a Good Choice Against Tough Infections

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:08:33 GMT
An older cheaper medication to treat potentially deadly fungal infections may work just as well as a newer drug in most cases a new study shows. Fungal infections may be a nonissue for most healthy people but they can be lifethreatening...

Health Care Not Compromised by Multiple Conditions

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:08:32 GMT
Having multiple chronic health conditions wont diminish the quality of health care you receive. In fact having more than one chronic problem appears to slightly improve that care a new study concludes. With each additional chronic illn...

Blood Pressure Trouble Leaves Eyes at Risk for Glaucoma

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:13:03 GMT
People with high pulse pressure the difference between systolic beating heart rate and diastolic resting heart rate blood pressure readings may be at increased risk for hightension openangle glaucoma an eye disease involving the loss of ...

New Tests Treatments Close in on Alzheimers

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:06:14 GMT
Doctors may soon have new tests to detect Alzheimers early on as well as better medications to help treat the mindwasting disease researchers say. A number of advances against the disease were highlighted Monday at the Alzheimers Assoc...

Stress Linked to Memory Decline

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:08:43 GMT
If you want your mind to stay healthy into your golden years dont worry be happy. That could be the message of new research that shows those prone to worry anxiety or depression are more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment MC...

Alzheimers Drug Trials Offer Promising Results

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:05:32 GMT
Decades of work in the laboratory may finally be paying off for Alzheimers disease patients as clinical trials show a variety of drugs making headway against the illness. Two drugs Dimebon and the diabetes medication Avandia may help cu...

New Techniques Could Spot Alzheimers Early

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:05:34 GMT
Three groups of researchers are reporting progress on the early detection of Alzheimers disease advances that if validated could aid patients and drug developers alike experts said. In one study a Norwegian team identified a gene ...

Home Visits by Researchers Would Boost Alzheimers Trials

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:08:31 GMT
Home visits by researchers may help increase the number of caregivers who are willing to enroll Alzheimers disease patients in clinical trials a new study finds. It could also boost the number of patients who stay enrolled in trials the ...

Heart Disease a Risk Factor for Alzheimers

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:08:28 GMT
Theres more evidence that cardiovascular problems help drive Alzheimers disease scientists say and that treating the heart might help protect the brain. The findings represent hope that interventions with wellknown drugs can interfere...

US Study Pits an Omega3 Against Alzheimers

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 19:06:17 GMT
U.S. researchers have launched a study to examine whether an omega3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid DHA can help slow the progression of Alzheimers disease. The 18month clinical trial will be conducted at 52 sites across the U...

Health Tip Seniors Listen to Your Bodies

Fri, 8 Jun 2007 09:09:57 GMT
With a doctors approval exercise is a great choice for everyone including seniors. But older people must listen to what their bodies tell them about how much they can handle. Here are warning signs that you have done too much and that yo...

New Medication Slows Rare Kidney Disease

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 17:09:47 GMT
WEDNESDAY June 6 HealthDay News Researchers say a drug called eprodisate can slow a rare but toxic buildup of amyloid protein that results in endstage kidney disease. While not a cure for the condition called amyloid A amyloidosis th...

Study Probes Role of Stroke Head Trauma in Alzheimers

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 14:08:58 GMT
Stroke and head injury trigger a cellular chain of events that increases the risk of Alzheimers disease a new study says. Learning more about this process could help in the development of treatments to protect against Alzheimers disease...

Low Testosterone Levels Linked to Increased Mortality

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 19:06:30 GMT
Men 50 and older with low levels of testosterone may be at higher risk of dying within 20 years than men with higher levels of the male hormone a new study suggests. But the researchers stressed more studies are need to examine the pote...

Antipsychotic Drugs Raise Death Rates in Elderly

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 09:06:27 GMT
A new study adds to growing evidence that antipsychotic drugs raise death rates among elderly people who are sometimes given them when their behavioral problems become too much for doctors or families to handle. For individual patients t...

Parkinsons Linked to Pesticides Head Trauma

Wed, 30 May 2007 12:05:50 GMT
Pesticides and head injury can both bump up risks for Parkinsons disease European researchers report. Moreover odds for the illness increase as exposure to these brain insults rises the report found. For example Those who we...

Weight Training May Be Muscles Fountain of Youth

Wed, 30 May 2007 12:05:50 GMT
Pumping iron can literally rejuvenate seniors muscles reversing the aging process within the tissue and improving peoples ability to perform physical tasks new research shows. In the study American and Canadian researchers examined g...

Blood Marker Could Point to Alzheimers Risk

Tue, 29 May 2007 12:05:47 GMT
Scientists have zeroed in on blood biomarkers that could someday help doctors predict whos at risk for Alzheimers disease. They might even help guide treatment the U.S. researchers added. These biomarkers called cytokines are all hallm...

Vitamin A Lotion May Be WrinkleFighter

Thu, 24 May 2007 12:05:49 GMT
Skin lotion with vitamin A retinol may help reduce wrinkles caused by natural aging and help boost production of skinbuilding compounds say U.S. researchers. In a study of 36 elderly people average age 87 researchers at the Universi...

Botox Could Treat Enlarged Prostate

Wed, 23 May 2007 16:10:19 GMT
Apparently Botox is not just for wrinkles anymore. New research suggests that it may boost the quality of life of men with enlarged prostate when injected directly into the gland. The small study revealed that about 75 percent of men suff...

New Brain Cells Keep Aging Minds Young

Wed, 23 May 2007 12:06:29 GMT
Scientists are gaining new insights into how older brains stay young. A team at Johns Hopkins University Baltimore says the continual formation of new brain cells neurons in adults may help give their brains the same kind of learning ab...

Keeping Weight Off in Youth Pays Off in Old Age

Tue, 22 May 2007 17:06:37 GMT
Staying trim and healthy in younger years can lead to a healthier more mobile old age U.S. researchers say. Researchers analyzed data on more than 2800 people ages 70 to 79 in the Pittsburgh and Memphis metropolitan areas. Re...

Light Drinking May Keep Dementia at Bay

Mon, 21 May 2007 16:05:55 GMT
People with mild cognitive impairment may slow their mental decline if they have up to one alcoholic drink a day a new Italian study suggests. Researchers followed 121 people with mild cognitive impairment and looked at the impact of their...

Female Urinary Incontinence Surgeries Go HeadtoHead

Mon, 21 May 2007 14:05:50 GMT
The results of a new headtohead trial could help women with stress urinary incontinence decide between two surgeries called the Burch and the sling that are commonly used to correct the condition. According to the study The sling...

Health Tip Healing Hemorrhoids

Wed, 16 May 2007 23:02:54 GMT
Hemorrhoids occur when veins in the rectum become swollen and painful. Symptoms may include tender bumps near the anus or blood found on toilet paper after a bowel movement. Here are suggestions on how to help them heal and ease the pain ...

Health Tip When Seniors Shouldnt Live Alone

Mon, 14 May 2007 19:01:36 GMT
Many seniors are reluctant to give up their independence in favor of a nursing home or assisted living facility. But sometimes living alone poses a danger to the health and safety of an elderly loved one. If youre in this posit...

Skin Patch Approved for Early Parkinsons

Thu, 10 May 2007 19:01:29 GMT
The Neupro patch rotigotine transdermal system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first skin patch to treat symptoms of early Parkinsons disease the agency said Wednesday. The active drug rotigotine hadn...

Dutch Euthanasia Rates Steady After Legalization

Wed, 9 May 2007 19:01:28 GMT
Since euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide were legalized by the Dutch in 2002 use of the practices has dropped slightly and now has stabilized a new report finds. That marks an abrupt turnaround from trends during the last 10 years...

EEG Works at Spotting Early Alzheimers

Wed, 9 May 2007 19:01:27 GMT
Electroencephalogram EEG an 80yearold technology that measures brain activity offers a highly accurate means of diagnosing early Alzheimers disease a team of U.S. researchers report. The new study was conducted by scientists at Rowa...

Scans Spot Early Alzheimers in MemoryDeficient Patients

Mon, 7 May 2007 19:01:19 GMT
Using brain scans Finnish researchers were able to detect signs of early Alzheimers disease in people with mild cognitive impairment MCI. The study included 13 elderly men and women with MCI and a control group of 14 elderly people wit...

Certain ACE Inhibitors Cut Elderly Dementia Risk

Sun, 6 May 2007 19:01:18 GMT
Certain types of ACE inhibitor hypertension drugs may help cut the risk of dementia in older adults say researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. They analyzed data from the longterm Cardiovascular Health Study of alm...

Higher White Blood Cell Count May Boost Death Risk

Fri, 4 May 2007 19:01:21 GMT
Men and women with abovenormal white blood cell counts could face an increased risk of death at an earlier age particularly from cardiovascular disease a new study suggests. People with normal white cell counts may not be out of danger ...

Diesel Exhaust Impairs Blood Flow to Marrow

Fri, 4 May 2007 19:01:21 GMT
Diesel exhaust particles contain a chemical component called phenanthraquinone PQ that can harm the ability of arteries to regulate blood flow to bone marrow a U.S. study finds. That can have a number of longterm health effects the re...

Strategy Could Put Brakes on Alzheimers

Thu, 3 May 2007 19:01:14 GMT
By cutting levels of a brain protein called tau scientists were able to preserve the memory and lifespans of mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimers disease. The finding while early could point to effective strategies to pr...

Healthy Bones Shot Could Cut Womens Fracture Risk

Wed, 2 May 2007 19:01:16 GMT
Annual injections of a common osteoporosis drug greatly reduced older womens risk for fractures researchers report. The findings published in the May 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine could open the door to U.S. Food...

Drinking Alcohol Shrinks the Brain

Wed, 2 May 2007 19:01:16 GMT
While it might help your heart drinking even moderately could shrink your brain U.S. researchers say. A small amount of alcohol is beneficial for the heart noted lead researcher Carol Ann Paul but there is a continuous negative corre...

Hormone Therapy May Protect Against Alzheimers

Wed, 2 May 2007 19:01:16 GMT
Women who start hormone therapy earlier in life before they turn 65 could cut their risk of developing Alzheimers or another dementia a new study suggests. This stands in contrast to findings on using hormone replacement therapy H...

Why Calorie Restriction Might Prolong Life

Wed, 2 May 2007 19:01:15 GMT
Scientists have long known that eating less translates into longer life at least in worms and mice. Now researchers report that they think they know why this phenomenon of dietary restriction increases longevity: It all revolves ...

Secondhand Smoke Boosts Risk for Alzheimers

Tue, 1 May 2007 19:02:56 GMT
Breathing in secondhand smoke could raise your risk for Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia a new study finds. Its the first study to link secondhand smoke to this form of mental deterioration said lead researcher Thaddeus Ha...

High Calcium Vitamin D Intake May Harm Aging Brain

Tue, 1 May 2007 19:02:56 GMT
Seniors who consume high levels of calcium and vitamin D are much more likely to have larger brain lesions that can lead to cognitive impairment depression or stroke new research reveals. The study authors point out that brain lesions of ...

CholesterolLowering Drug Aids Memory in AlzheimersLike Mice

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:01:12 GMT
The cholesterollowering statin drug simvastatin brand name Zocor boosted memory in mice genetically bred to have an Alzheimerslike disease according to a new study. While the drug boosted the mices spatial memory helping them na...

Scientists Restore Lost Memory in AlzheimersLike Mice

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:01:03 GMT
In a new study mice bioengineered to mimic the fading memory of Alzheimers patients got their memories restored either by being placed in stimulating environments or by receiving a drug most commonly used to fight cancer. While the res...

LowDose Aspirin Wont Help Aging Brain

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 23:01:03 GMT
Despite earlier hopes regular use of lowdose aspirin does not protect older healthy women against cognitive decline a major new study concludes. The findings may lay to rest the notion that aspirin can prevent agerelated shortfalls in ...

Older and Cranky May Mean Smarter

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:51 GMT
Next time grumpy Aunt Gertrude growls at her bridge partner or one of her wellwishing nephews look at it from this angle: She just may be smarter than all the rest. New research suggests just that revealing that older people with abovea...

100Plus and Loving It

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:50 GMT
A growing number of Americans are now surviving past the 100year mark and many are doing quite well thank you. A positive outlook and a robust spirituality may be crucial to a healthy happy life for most centenarians a new survey finds...

Staying Single May Shorten Life Span

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:49 GMT
Staying single all your life may not be good for your health. Thats the conclusion of new research that shows that people who never marry face an even greater chance of dying early than people who have been divorced separated or widowed. ...

Alzheimers Drug May Shield Brain From Bioterror Agents

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:49 GMT
The Alzheimers drug galantamine shows promise in guarding the brain against nerve agents and certain pesticides U.S. researchers say. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine say galantamine which is used to treat mil...

US Nursing Home Care Found Wanting

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:47 GMT
There are too many bad U.S. nursing homes and too few good ones. Thats the conclusion of a new report titled Nursing Home Quality Monitor published in the September issue of Consumer Reports. We have seen little ...

Shopping Carts Top List of Kids Health Hazards

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:46 GMT
From shopping carts to lawn mowers from escalators to iceskating rinks small children face a host of health hazards. Thats the conclusion of a series of four studies in the August issue of Pediatrics. We live in a worl...

Kidney Membrane Keeps Blood Proteins Out of Urine

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:45 GMT
New findings from research in mice may help scientists better understand how healthy kidneys keep blood proteins out of urine. Leakage of these blood proteins into urine is a symptom that often proceeds kidney failure. Scientists at Washin...

Sleep Apnea Increases Stroke Risk in Elderly

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:44 GMT
Elderly people with severe sleep apnea face more than twice the risk of stroke than people with mild sleep apnea or none Spanish researchers report. People with sleep apnea experience episodes when their breathing stops during sleep. Previ...

Kidney Transplants Highlight Organ Donor Problems

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:44 GMT
Kidney transplants are common safe and lifesaving but they also provide a window into the medical and ethical dilemmas associated with organ transplants in general. In the United States alone more than 63000 patients are waiting for a k...

With Time Running Out Some Gain a Reprieve

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:43 GMT
During the five months he spent at a Washington hospice after voluntarily ending kidney dialysis humorist Art Buchwald said he was asked one question a lot. What is it like to die? His answer: I dont know because I havent d...

Holy Roman Emperor Charles V Had Gout

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:43 GMT
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V one of historys most powerful rulers who died 448 years ago was afflicted with a crippling case of gout that may have eventually forced his abdication Spanish researchers report. The researchers based their ...

Medicare Drug Plan Still Fuels Dissatisfaction

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:42 GMT
Despite high enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug plan many who signed up now feel dissatisfied with Medicare because of their experiences with the cumbersome process of choosing coverage plans. Thats one of the conclusions from a...

911 Rescuers Have Reduced Lung Functions

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:41 GMT
New York Citys fire department rescue workers paid another heavy price for their heroic efforts in the dustchoked environment of Ground Zero: In the year after the terrorist attacks the rescuers showed a reduction in lung function equivalent to 12...

Resistant Bacteria Blamed for High HospitalAcquired Pneumonia Deaths

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:41 GMT
Patients with hospitalacquired pneumonia caused by a highly resistant bacteria are twice as likely to die as patients infected with other lessresistant bacteria a new Brazilian study says. The study is the first to show that this form...

More Than Half of Elderly Report Sleep Problems

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:41 GMT
More than half of older Americans have trouble sleeping and accept it as a normal part of aging. But there are steps elderly people can take to improve their sleep a researcher says. Sleep requirements and patterns change throughout life...

PrimaryCare Doctors Failing to Spot Kidney Disease

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:40 GMT
Too many U.S. primarycare doctors fail to properly diagnose and refer patients with chronic kidney disease CKD to specialists says a Johns Hopkins study. The report included 304 doctors across the United States who were asked to diagno...

HeatRelated Deaths in US on the Rise

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:39 GMT
The death count from the searing heat wave in the United States soared past 150 on Friday as the toll in California alone reached 132. The current heat wave which has engulfed much of the nation has also claimed 10 lives in Oklahoma and...

Summertime Is High Time for Kidney Stones

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:38 GMT
What do picnics baseball and kidney stones have in common? Theyre all much more common in summer experts say. Kidney stones are more prevalent in summer because theyre linked to water consumption and many people dont drink enough wate...

Study Reveals How Fish Oils Help the Heart

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:35 GMT
For older adults fish oils help the heart by regulating its electrical activity a new study indicates. And just a couple of meals a week of the right kind of fish rich in omega3 fatty acids baked or boiled but not fried will do t...

Estrogen Levels May Influence Mens Alzheimers Risk

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:34 GMT
Do hormones affect mens risk for Alzheimers disease? New research suggests that relatively high blood levels of estrogen might boost the risk for men but that levels of circulating testosterone didnt seem to matter. Both findi...

Head Online for Advice on Heart Attack

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:32 GMT
Older adults concerned about preventing detecting and properly treating a heart attack have a brandnew resource: the U.S. National Institutes of Healths NIHSeniorHealth Web site. The initiative is a joint project of the U.S. National I...

Elderly Gain Little From Flu Shot Studies

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:29 GMT
Flu shots provide only modest protection for people over age 65 and theres little evidence that giving flu shots to health workers protects their elderly patients from the flu two new studies find. National and international health organ...

Subtle Deadly Form of Heart Failure on the Rise

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:28 GMT
A form of heart failure thats too often overlooked is on the rise among U.S. patients new research shows and its just as deadly as the betterknown variety. The standard description of heart failure is that the heart progressively loses...

Alzheimers Patch Could Replace Pills

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:27 GMT
The first patch designed to deliver a widely used Alzheimers medication via the skin appears to minimize side effects while being easy to use Swedish researchers say. We think we have a new treatment strategy and it will be very very m...

Gene May be Key to AgeLinked Vision Loss

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:26 GMT
A specific gene variant has a major impact on the risk for agerelated macular degeneration AMD the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly Dutch researchers report. The gene governs production of a molecule called complement factor...

Health Tip How to Reduce Wandering in Alzheimers Patients

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:26 GMT
Wandering is a common but dangerous symptom of Alzheimers disease a degenerative disease of the brain that affects memory and cognition. Alzheimers patients may suddenly walk off and become lost frightened and confused about where they ...

Drug Slows PreAlzheimers Brain Shrinkage

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:25 GMT
The Alzheimers drug Aricept donepezil slows the rate of brain shrinkage in some people with mild cognitive impairment a preAlzheimers disease condition U.S. researchers report. However this benefit was seen only in patients carrying...

Researchers Map Out Early Steps to Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:25 GMT
Memory failure is usually the very earliest sign of a preAlzheimers condition and a new study finds that executive functions concentration decisionmaking and problemsolving may be the next neurological systems affected. If so...

Alzheimers Risk Score Spots Those Most Vulnerable

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:25 GMT
Whos at highest risk for developing Alzheimers disease as they age? Researchers say theyre getting closer to answering that question which in turn could help pave the way to interventions that could slow or stop the illness.

Weight Loss May Yield Alzheimers Clues

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:25 GMT
Gradual weight loss can precede dementia and begin as early as 10 years prior to memory loss concludes a Mayo Clinic study involving women with and without dementia. The findings may provide clues to the origins of dementia say the resear...

Global Bill for Alzheimers Nears QuarterTrillion Dollars

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:24 GMT
The estimated total worldwide cost of caring for people with Alzheimers disease and dementia now tops $248 billion U.S annually researchers said Sunday. That estimate based on a worldwide prevalence estimate of nearly 28 million people w...

Epilepsy Can Be Subtle for Seniors

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:24 GMT
Increasingly doctors are finding that older people whose minds seem to wander are suffering from a treatable condition epilepsy. In fact older Americans now make up the highest percentage of the 200000 people newly diagnosed with epi...

Smoking Linked to Higher Death Rate Among Poorer Men

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:23 GMT
Poorer lesseducated men are more than twice as likely to die as their wealthier bettereducated counterparts and smoking is to blame for more than half the difference in those mortality rates. It has been known that poorer and poorly ed...

Living Alone Boosts Heart Risk

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:23 GMT
Older people who live alone face double the risk of serious heart disease compared to people who live with a partner Danish researchers report. The study included more than 138000 adults aged 30 to 69. Between 2000 and 2002 646 of the p...

High Humidity May Be Linked to HeartAttack Risk

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:22 GMT
A Greek study suggests a relationship between high humidity and increased incidence of heart attacks among the elderly but the finding comes with a lot of buts and maybes attached. For one thing the results dont apply to most of the ...

Lack of Personal Assistance Workers Could Threaten Elderly

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:18 GMT
The United States may not be able to meet future demand for personal assistance workers to look after the elderly at home and keep them out of institutions a new study warns. The aging of the population is going to trigger an increased de...

Spinal Fluid Protein Could Predict Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:18 GMT
Measuring levels of a protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of middleaged adults at high genetic risk for Alzheimers disease may reveal early signs of disease development U.S. researchers report. A team from the University of Washington Se...

Performance Measures May Lead to Overuse of Antibiotics

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:18 GMT
Elderly patients hospitalized for suspected pneumonia may be getting antibiotics before their doctor is certain about the diagnosis a new study suggests. Among healthcare professionals the practice is known as shoot first and ask questi...

Research Points to Alzheimers Blood Test

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:16 GMT
Researchers believe theyve moved closer to a blood test for the early detection of Alzheimers disease. Increased blood levels of specific forms of beta amyloid proteins the abnormal molecules that are found in the brains of people with...

New Clues to Neurological Diseases Discovered

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:14 GMT
Researchers have found that genetic abnormalities in molecules that regulate neuron growth may be at the root of Down syndrome and Alzheimers disease. These molecules known as neurotrophins are taken up by neurons in saclike carriers ca...

Daily Activity Helps Fight PAD

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:14 GMT
Daily physical activity helps extend the lives of people with the debilitating condition known as peripheral arterial disease PAD a U.S. study finds. The researchers found the death rate among more active patients is less than a third th...

Health Tip Proper Diet Can Help Constipation

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:13 GMT
Constipation refers to difficult or infrequent bowel movements. Insufficient fiber and fluids in the diet are the most common causes of constipation according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Certain supplements and m...

Take Your Medicines Save Your Life

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:11 GMT
People who take their medicines regularly as prescribed are at less risk of dying than those who dont even if the drugs they use are just placebos. Thats the conclusion of new Canadian research being reported in the July 1 issue of ...

Magnetic Therapy May Help Stroke Recovery

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:11 GMT
Using powerful magnetic fields to slow activity on the undamaged side of the brain after a stroke may improve patients motor function a small study has found. The technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS had ...

BVitamins Wont Prevent Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:10 GMT
Using B vitamins to lower levels of the blood protein homocysteine does not ward off Alzheimers disease at least not in older people with high homocysteine levels according to new research. The findings come as a disappointment after pre...

Proteins Could Help ReGrow Damaged Nerve Cells

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:09 GMT
Proteins that stimulate the growth of cancer cells may also help regrow nerve cells offering hope against diseases such as Alzheimers or injuries such as paralyzing spinal cord damage researchers say. The proteins called Id proteins a...

Memory Lapses May Herald Early Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:08 GMT
Seniors with no outward signs of dementia but some deterioration in memory could still harbor the accumulated brain plaques that are typical of Alzheimers disease a new study suggests. That doesnt mean elderly Americans should immediatel...

Could a LowCarb Diet Slow Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:06 GMT
A lowcalorie diet particularly one thats low in carbohydrates may reduce or even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimers disease a new study in mice suggests. Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City report that restr...

Ditch That Cell Phone in a Thunderstorm

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:06 GMT
Citing the case of a 15yearold girl struck by lightning while using her cell phone in a London park last year some doctors are warning against the outdoor use of the devices during stormy weather. The girl survived but is confined to a ...

LateLife Job Loss Raises Heart Attack Risk

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:03 GMT
For older workers a pink slip can be a red flag for increased cardiovascular risk. New U.S. research finds that job loss doubles the risk of heart attack or stroke for workers in their 50s and 60s. For many individuals late car...

Mutant Gene May Help Cause Abnormal Heartbeat

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:02 GMT
A genetic flaw may help trigger atrial fibrillation the dangerous abnormal heartbeat whose cause has long remained a mystery. Canadian researchers say mutations in a gene for a protein called connexin 40 which transmits the electrical sig...

Hormones May Hold Clues to Healthy Aging

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:02 GMT
Specific hormones may play a key role in longevity and healthy aging two new studies suggest. Researchers found one hormone adiponectin at higherthanaverage concentrations in 100yearold women while another study found that stimulati...

When Treatment Fails Should Medical Caring Stop

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:01 GMT
Karen DonleyHayes best friend Ashley died of metastatic breast cancer at just 36 years of age. For months a dedicated team of oncologists surgeons and nurses had worked night and day to beat the runaway cells that were slowly robbing...

Statins Linked to Lower Risk of Cataracts

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:31:01 GMT
A fiveyear study of people who took cholesterollowering statin drugs found they had a 40 percent lower incidence of the most common kind of cataract. And the incidence of nuclear cataracts in which the lens of the eye grows cloudy as a p...

With Age Comes Wisdom and Happiness

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:58 GMT
If youre happy and you know it chances are youre no whippersnapper. Thats the upshot of a new Internet survey that found senior citizens report being happier than younger people. The findings contradict the common assumption that happin...

Experts Predict HipFracture Epidemic

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:57 GMT
The world faces an epidemic of hip fractures over the next few decades as more and more peoples bones weaken from osteoporosis as they age. So conclude researchers who estimate that at least 6.3 million people worldwide will suffer a hip ...

Zelapar Cuts Off Time for Parkinsons Patients

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:56 GMT
Zelapar selegiline HCl a drug that helps Parkinsons disease patients have more time without the tremors shaking and other noncontrollable neurological movements has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration its maker announced Th...

Extra Wrinkles a Bad Sign for Smokers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:54 GMT
British scientists have discovered a tantalizing new wrinkle in the understanding of smokings unhealthy effects. Middleaged smokers whose faces were heavily wrinkled were five times as likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ...

GeneBased Vaccines May Fight Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:52 GMT
In what might prove a breakthrough against Alzheimers disease Japanese researchers have created a new genebased vaccine that effectively treated mice with an animal form of the brainrobbing illness. The new vaccine may be an important a...

Defibrillator Recipients Face Increased HeartFailure Risk

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:51 GMT
People whove had a heart attack and receive an implanted defibrillator may be at increased risk of heart failure that often ends in death a new study found. What we do is increase the quantity of life but maybe the quality of life is no...

Asthma Drugs May Boost Cataract Risk for Elderly

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:50 GMT
Elderly patients taking antiasthmatic medications to treat their asthma or lung disease may be more likely to develop cataracts a new study finds. A Canadian research team studied data compiled over 14 years from more than 100000 patient...

Chinese Moss Extract Tested as Alzheimers Drug

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:47 GMT
Can a compound derived from the Chinese club moss Huperzia serrata improve brain function in Alzheimers patients? Thats a question U.S. researchers hope to answer as they recruit participants for a new clinical trial on the compoun...

US Offers New Booklets on Alzheimers Disease

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:46 GMT
Free easytoread booklets that explain Alzheimers disease and memory loss are now available for people with limited reading skills. Created by the U.S. National Institute on Aging NIA the goal was to produce strong clear materials ...

Fewer Calories May Mean Longer Life

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:46 GMT
A slight reduction in daily calorie intake may do more than just help control weight it may also slow aging according to a new study with rats. The scientists found that feeding rats 8 percent fewer calories a day and moderately increas...

Genetic Quality of Sperm Deteriorates as Men Age

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:42 GMT
A pioneering study has found specific genetic defects in the sperm of older men. The results suggest that like women some men who wait to become fathers raise the risk of passing on certain diseases to their children. But Andre...

Counseling Helps Lung Transplant Candidates Cope

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:41 GMT
Psychological counseling over the telephone can help candidates awaiting lung transplant cope with the long often agonizing wait for a donor a new study found. While counseling didnt improve survival rates or participants physical healt...

Caregiver Factors Linked to Patients Dementia Symptoms

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:39 GMT
Caregiver factors may influence the frequency of behavioral problems such as wandering hallucinations and restlessness in patients with dementia a new report finds. Researchers found a rise in these symptoms in patients whose caregiver...

Seniors Who Dont Drive More Likely to Require Care

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:38 GMT
If youre wondering whether your aging parent is going to end up in a nursing or retirement home check whether he is tooling around in his car or staying inside. Elderly peoples driving habits or lack thereof could offer a glimpse i...

One Embryo During IVF Works Well in Older Women

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:38 GMT
Transferring only one embryo during in vitro fertilization is as successful in older women as it is in younger women a new Finnish study finds. This raises the possibility that singleembryo transfers could become more common for women age...

People Shun Help for Illnesses They View as Untreatable

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:35 GMT
People are more likely to seek tests for conditions they believe to be severe but treatable but are unlikely to do the same for illnesses they view as severe and untreatable such as Alzheimers disease cancer and HIV/AIDS a study finds.

Zostavax Helps Prevent Shingles in Seniors

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:35 GMT
Mercks Zostavax vaccine has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent shingles in people older than 60 the agency said Friday. Shingles caused by reactivation of the same varicellazoster virus responsible for chi...

Free Radical Molecules May Help Drive Brain Illnesses

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:33 GMT
Researchers believe theyve found a link between the cellular stress caused by free radical molecules and the accumulation of misfolded proteins that may cause neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. A team...

Lemonade Offers Sweet Relief From Kidney Stones

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:32 GMT
Drinking lemonade could help prevent painful kidney stones new research shows. Regular consumption of the refreshing drink or even lemon juice mixed with water may increase the production of urinary citrate a chemical in the urine t...

HighDose Vaccine May Help Elderly Beat Seasonal Flu

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:32 GMT
Highdose influenza vaccines may boost immune responses to the seasonal virus in older people reducing their death risk researchers report. Although the elderly are considered particularly at risk each season for flu and are advised to ge...

Colonoscopy Benefits Last Longer Than Thought

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:31 GMT
For people under the age of 80 a colonoscopy might provide benefits that last beyond the 10 years now recommended as the interval between procedures a new study finds. On the other hand a second study finds the screen may only provide mi...

First Signs of Dementia May Be Physical

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:30 GMT
Poor physical function may be a warning sign of increased risk of Alzheimers disease and other dementias a new study suggests. Our point is that you dont want to separate the mind from the rest of the body said study coauthor Dr. Er...

Common Painkillers Linked to Increased Admissions for Heart Failure

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:30 GMT
Common painkillers called nonsteroidal antiinflammatories NSAIDs are associated with a 30 percent increased risk in older patients of first hospital admission for heart failure a U.K. study reports. The fouryear study of people aged 60...

Azilect Approved to Treat Parkinsons

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:26 GMT
A new drug to treat Parkinsons disease has been approved for sale in the United States the federal Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The drug Azilect rasagiline blocks the breakdown of dopamine a chemical for cellular s...

Elderly Brains Benefit From Stable Blood Pressure

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:26 GMT
A wide difference between the systolic top and diastolic bottom numbers in a blood pressure reading may be linked to poorer cognitive function in people who are 80 and older Japanese researchers report. Previous research had found a li...

Genes May Be Key to Hearing Loss

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:23 GMT
U.S. researchers say genes on chromosome 3 that are associated with a type of progressive hereditary hearing loss in younger adults may also be linked to hearing loss in older men. The study of 50 pairs of elderly male fraternal twins with ...

Health Tip Prevent Osteoporosis

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:22 GMT
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become brittle fragile and break easily. Fractures from osteoporosis typically occur in the hip spine or wrist. The condition affects mostly women over age 50 but can also affect men. There are...

Walking Test Helps Predict Lifespan

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:22 GMT
An elderly persons ability to walk a quartermile is an important predictor of their future health and even how long they will live new research shows. Of the nearly 3000 healthy people ages 70 to 79 in this multicenter U.S. study thos...

Medicare Drug Plan Gets Mixed Reviews as Deadline Arrives

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:21 GMT
Is it a roaring success or a dismal failure? As the Monday midnight signup deadline nears both critics and supporters of the U.S. governments rollout of the Medicare Part D drug subsidy program say the latest numbers tell the tale. ...

Its Not Your Daughters Health Club Anymore

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:20 GMT
The local health club used to be a mecca for the young and fabulously fit a place to sweat a bit and then preen to be seen. But in case you havent noticed clubs and gyms have taken on a decidedly grayer tint of late. And its a trend tha...

Health Tip About Parkinsons Disease

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:18 GMT
Parkinsons disease occurs when neurons in the brain are destroyed or become impaired. It affects both men and women although typically not until after age 60. Tremors shaking stiffness slow movement and difficulty with balance are com...

37 Million Americans Now Have Medicare Drug Benefit

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:17 GMT
Medicare officials announced Wednesday that they are getting close to enrolling 90 percent of those eligible for their new prescription drug plan with 37 million Americans now on board as the enrollment deadline looms. After Monday most n...

Brain Shows Signs of Alzheimers Onset

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:17 GMT
Researchers say theyve spotted a correlation between mild declines in cognitive ability regarded as a strong early predictor of Alzheimers disease and physical changes in the brain. A team at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. aut...

Collaborative Care Best for Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:16 GMT
Alzheimers patients who were treated with a socalled guided team approach with an advanced practice nurse coordinating care had fewer behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia a new study found. At the same time their caregive...

Health Tip Prevent Hemorrhoids

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:14 GMT
Hemorrhoids are enlarged blood vessels in and around the anus that can cause bleeding and discomfort. According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons hemorrhoids can be caused by a variety of factors including pregnancy...

Key Protein Predicts Need for Dialysis After Kidney Transplant

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:14 GMT
Levels of a specific protein biomarker may help doctors spot kidney transplant patients who will need dialysis within a week of receiving a new organ U.S. researchers report. Previous research found that the protein called neutrophil gela...

Experts Issue New StrokePrevention Guidelines

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:14 GMT
Experts with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association are stressing healthy habits and appropriate treatments to prevent stroke in their new primary prevention guidelines issued Thursday. The new recommendations appear i...

Americans Less Healthy Than the British

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:10 GMT
Americans may have won the Revolutionary War but 230 years later theyre losing the battle for good health to the British. An extensive new study comparing the health of middleaged white residents of both countries finds that we get sic...

Lack of Estrogen Linked to Hip Fractures in Men

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:09 GMT
Older men who have below normal levels of estrogen are at heightened risk for hip fractures and those with low levels of both estrogen and testosterone are at even greater risk a new study found. Although theres no current tests for estr...

Better Biopsies Reduce Unnecessary Kidney Surgeries

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:09 GMT
Imageguided kidney biopsy helps doctors differentiate between benign and malignant kidney tumors and prevents unnecessary kidney surgeries researchers say. A team from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston conducted 407 imageguided ...

Health Tip Choosing a Nursing Home

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:08 GMT
If a close relative or friend needs to enter a nursing home temporarily due to injury or due to a longterm illness there are many things to consider before settling on the right one. The Ohio State University and the Ohio Departmen...

The Brain Waste Not Want Not

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:08 GMT
Use it or lose it has long been the battle cry of physical fitness experts. But many scientists are now expanding upon the traditional concept of exercise moving beyond big biceps and brawny backs to focus on perhaps the most important o...

Full Social Lives May Protect Against Alzheimers

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:08 GMT
Social networks such as having close friends and staying in contact with family members help protect against the damaging effects of Alzheimers disease a new U.S. study finds. Many elderly people who have the tangles and plaques as...

Blood Clots From Heart Associated With Dementia

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:07 GMT
Tiny blood clots that originate in the heart and wander to the brain could cause Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia a British study indicates. The researchers found these clots formally called cerebral emboli in the brains o...

Heart Attacks Are Biggest Threat to US Firefighters

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:06 GMT
Fires dont kill American firefighters as much as heart attacks do. A new government study has found that sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in the line of duty for both volunteer and career firefighters. Traumat...

Patients More Open to Treatment Side Effects as Disease Progresses

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:06 GMT
Faced with declining health due to a chronic illness many patients become more willing to accept treatments that could leave them functionally disabled a new study finds. In fact patients may be more willing to accept these treatments th...

Health Tip Your Joint Pain May Be Gout

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:30:04 GMT
Gout is characterized by a sudden pain in a joint often in the big toe and usually one joint at a time. Other symptoms may include swelling tenderness and redness. The Arthritis Foundation says gout can be inherited or it can ste...