A positive sense of mental well-being is related to better brain health among older adults, according to a new report issued today by the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) and involving University of Exeter research. Studies shows our sense of mental well-being tends to increase after middle age and there are steps we can
Older adults in Canada are being overprescribed benzodiazepines and other sedative-hypnotic drugs with brand names such as Ativan, Valium and Xanax, according to University of Alberta experts. “These drugs are among the most frequently prescribed for older adults, often to aid with sleep, and while there are short-term pluses, the long-term use has very little
(HealthDay)—The prevalence of diabetes was 14.0 percent among U.S. adults in 2013 to 2016, with prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes 4.3 percent, according to a September data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Nicholas D. Mendola, M.P.H., from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of
Older adults at risk for falls are less likely to suffer fall-related hospitalizations when they have a “fall plan of care,” according to new research featuring faculty at Binghamton University, State University at New York. Older adult falls pose a growing burden on the U.S. healthcare system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Stopping
(HealthDay)—The risk of incident contrast sensitivity (CS) impairment is increased with factors such as cadmium exposure and older age, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in JAMA Ophthalmology. Adam J. Paulsen, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and colleagues examined the incidence of and factors associated with CS in a cohort of 1,983 participants
Concussion symptoms for children under 13 years old typically last three times longer than they do for older teens and adults, but keeping them out of the classroom during recovery is not necessarily the preferred treatment, according to a comprehensive research review in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Parents should be aware that
(HealthDay)—Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults report continued problems affording care despite coverage gains offered by the Affordable Care Act, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs. Kevin H. Nguyen, from Brown University in Providence, R.I., and colleagues used data from three waves of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
If you parent a child, teach a child, or heck, even know a child, chances are you’ve heard that grit will make that young person a happier and more successful adult. Grit, the combination of pluck and perseverance has become the theme of articles and books, and is instilled just as much as it’s gained
A new study has found that “skinny fat—the combination of low muscle mass and strength in the context of high fat mass—may be an important predictor of cognitive performance in older adults. While sarcopenia, the loss of muscle tissue that is part of the natural aging process, as well as obesity both negatively impact overall
Are you a trend-spotter? If so, you’ve probably noticed the hottest new thing: listening. Listening is hot. It’s about to blow up bigger than mindfulness, even. It’s been lurking backstage, this "listening" trend, biding its time as we saturate ourselves with news feeds and social updates and Kardashian-Jenner product shills. Maybe you caught a whiff
Researchers previously showed that overweight and obese individuals with knee osteoarthritis can reduce pain by 50% and significantly improve function and mobility with a 10% or more weight loss over an 18-month period. The investigators’ latest findings, which are published in Arthritis Care & Research, reveal that a 20% or more weight loss has the
Staying mentally sharp—that’s aging Americans’ highest priority, according to the National Council on Aging. While thousands of clinical trials suggest that exercising the body can protect or improve brain health as we age, few studies provide practical prescriptive guidance for how much and what kind of exercise. Now, an exhaustive systematic review of 4,600 clinical
(HealthDay)—Resistance exercise training (RET) is associated with reduced depressive symptoms among adults, according to a meta-analysis published online May 9 in JAMA Psychiatry. Brett R. Gordon, from the University of Limerick in Ireland, and colleagues examined the correlation of efficacy of RET with depressive symptoms using data from 33 randomized clinical trials involving 1,877 participants.
Older Americans are often at a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, yet this illness remains vastly underdiagnosed, a new study finds. University of Michigan researchers found evidence that more than half (56 percent) of persons ages 65 and older have a high risk of OSA, a sleep disorder in which the throat collapses during
It’s not just children! Grown adults also suffer from dramatic night terrors Shockingly, around 20 per cent of six-year-olds have nightmares each week But, while 15 per cent of children have night terrors, so do 2 per cent of adults They occur in the non-REM stage of sleep, so people act out what’s happening Gasping
A questionnaire of older men and women suffering from chronic pain who were given medical marijuana found that the drug significantly reduced pain and their need for opioid painkillers, Northwell Health researchers report. The results of the study, “Older Adults’ Use of Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain: A Multisite Community-Based Survey,” are scheduled to be
Delirium is a sudden change in mental status that often occurs when older adults are in the hospital or after they have surgery. More than 20 percent of older adults may experience delirium. The condition can lead to longer hospital stays, the need to be placed on a respirator (a machine that helps you breathe),
Adolescents and young adults with acute leukemia have a survival advantage if they receive treatment at a pediatric cancer center versus an adult center, according to a new study. The study, published online today in Blood Advances, a journal of the American Society of Hematology, also suggests that treatment at a center affiliated with the
After being discharged from the hospital, an older person often is admitted directly to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). SNFs specialize in the skilled care we need to recover properly. These facilities also provide the additional rehabilitation we may need before returning home. However, experts have raised concerns about the uneven quality of SNF services,
(HealthDay)—When it comes to a fever, what’s true for kids isn’t necessarily so for adults. Even a slight temperature in a child warrants a call to the doctor. That’s not the case, though, for most fevers in most adults. What’s considered a normal temperature varies from one adult to the next. In general, though, 98.6
