From the monthly archives:
Inner ear disorders – often called vestibular disorders – are a common cause of dizziness in older adults, which can lead to imbalance and place seniors at a higher risk for falls, according to a recent study. An estimated 35 percent of U.S. adults age 40 and older have vestibular dysfunction and it only gets [...]
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Continue ReadingThere’s good news and bad news. The bad news first: obesity is continuing to increase in the U.S., according to a new report from the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention that focuses on obesity in each state. There is an interesting curve in this report that indicates Americans tend to peak in weight somewhere in [...]
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Continue ReadingRecent research makes an important link between walking and brain connectivity. A study, published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, followed 65 adults, aged 59 to 80, who joined a walking group or stretching and toning group for a year. The study found that walking at one’s own pace for 40 minutes three times a week [...]
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Continue ReadingStill smoking? Want to quit? Good for you! Help for seniors is now available through Medicare. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services recently expanded Medicare coverage of evidence-based tobacco cessation counseling, removing a barrier to treatment for all tobacco users covered by Medicare, which includes about 4.5 million seniors. Previously, Medicare had [...]
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Continue ReadingQuestion: My 79-year-old father seems to be getting more confused all the time. I’m very worried he is getting Alzheimer’s disease and, since he lives alone, I don’t know what to do. Help! First, don’t jump to conclusions. Various reasons could explain your father’s disorientation and there’s no reason to panic until you know the [...]
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Continue ReadingA growing body of research suggests that it’s never too late to change your lifestyle. “Adopting healthy lifestyle practices, even when you’re older, can have an enormous impact on how well you’ll age,” says Cheryl Phillips, M.D. “Maintaining these practices is essential for living a higher quality, more independent life.” Here, from the American Geriatrics [...]
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Continue ReadingRecent research from Rush University Medical Center has shed light on this issue. Scientists there discovered that lower, though not necessarily impaired, performance on tests measuring story learning predicted subsequent cognitive decline in a normal population. Other indicators were retention and processing speed in motor tasks dependent on visual control, as well as symptoms of [...]
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Continue ReadingWe found some new data on the topic of cell phones and cancer that we can all celebrate about: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that available scientific evidence, including World Health Organization (WHO) findings released in May, shows no increased health risk due to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation that [...]
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Continue ReadingQuestion: How do I know if my 86-year-old father is a good driver and should still be on the road? His doctor is starting to question whether he should be driving. First, you’ll want to take seriously any concerns that your dad’s doctor is expressing. Have a candid discussion with your father. Make sure he [...]
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