Mediterranean Diet Could Keep Aging Brains Sharp

• Colin Tweedy HealthDay Reporter
• February 25, 2021
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Feb. 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Helping your brain stay sharp with age may be as simple as changing up the food on your plate at dinnertime, a new study suggests.

The study focused on the healthy "Mediterranean" diet, a regimen reliant on o...

History of Mental Illness Tied to Earlier Onset of Alzheimer's Disease

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• February 25, 2021
• Full Page

THURSDAY, Feb. 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- People with Alzheimer's disease often have a history of depression or anxiety, which might mean an earlier emergence of memory and thinking problems, a preliminary study suggests.

Researchers found that of 1,...

'Night Owls' Perform Worse at Work, Study Finds

• Cara Murez
• February 24, 2021
• Full Page

"Early to bed, early to rise" may be good advice for your career. New research finds that, compared to night owls, folks with earlier bedtimes perform better at work and are less plagued by disabilities that lead to early retirement.

Overall, "night owls" were twice as l...

Guys, Exercise Will Boost Your Aging Hearts, Testosterone Won't: Study

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• February 23, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, Feb. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Testosterone levels tend to fall in older men, but a new study shows that exercise -- and not supplemental testosterone -- is the way to rejuvenate the aging male heart.

Australian researchers found that witho...

Why Some 'Super Ager' Folks Keep Their Minds Dementia-Free

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• February 23, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, Feb. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers may have uncovered a key reason some people remain sharp as a tack into their 80s and 90s: Their brains resist the buildup of certain proteins that mark Alzheimer's disease.

The study focused on wh...

New Hope for Better Treatments Against Macular Degeneration

• Robert Preidt
• February 22, 2021
• Full Page

A number of new treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease, are under development. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in older people.

About 11 million Americans have AMD, which affects part of the eye that allows you to see fine ...

Too Little Sleep Could Raise Your Dementia Risk

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2021
• Full Page

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 17, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults who get little sleep each night may be at heightened risk of dementia or earlier death, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among 2,600 older Americans, those who were deemed "short sle...

Does 'Prediabetes' Lead to Full-Blown Diabetes? Age May Be Key

• Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
• February 10, 2021
• Full Page

Few older adults with prediabetes will actually go on to develop type 2 diabetes, new research concludes.

The surprising finding suggests that while prediabetes is a useful predictor of diabetes risk in young and middle-aged adults, that's not the case in older folks.

Being Frail Greatly Raises COVID-19 Death Risk: Study

• Robert Preidt
• February 9, 2021
• Full Page

Severe frailty significantly increases the risk of death in COVID-19 patients, British researchers say.

In their new study, the investigators analyzed data from more than 5,700 COVID-19 patients at 55 hospitals in 12 countries. They found that those who were severely fra...

Why Adding on a Few Pounds as You Age Might Be Good for You

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• February 8, 2021
• Full Page

Putting on a few extra pounds in your 50s may add years to your life -- if you start off at a normal weight and your weight gain doesn't tip into obesity, a new study suggests.

But two outside experts cautioned that the findings are not a license to pack on the...

Fat Loss in Face Does Make Folks Look Older: Study

• Cara Murez
• February 1, 2021
• Full Page

It's not just sagging that ages a face, but loss of fat under the skin as well, according to a new study.

The findings could help plastic surgeons give their patients a more natural look, the study authors said.

For the study, researchers analyzed CT scans of the ...

When Will You Go Gray? Your Race Matters

• Robert Preidt
• January 26, 2021
• Full Page

Could the color of your hair as you age be determined by the color of your skin?

Yes, according to new research that suggests race plays a role in when and how your hair goes gray.

The scientists conducted a search of 69 publications to review what's known abo...

Aphasia Affects Brain Similar to Alzheimer's, But Without Memory Loss

• January 13, 2021
• Full Page

A rare brain disease that causes loss of language skills doesn't lead to memory loss, a new study finds.

The condition is called primary progressive aphasia and about 40% of people who have it have underlying Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers. Their study was...

Get Fit in Middle Age to Boost Your Aging Brain

• Steven Reinberg
• January 8, 2021
• Full Page

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in middle age and beyond might help keep your brain healthy, a new study suggests.

"Our study suggests that getting at least an hour and 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity a week or more during midlife ma...

Is Self-Control the Key to a Long, Healthy Life?

• Alan Mozes
• January 7, 2021
• Full Page

If your children are well-behaved, do they stand a greater chance of having healthy, happy lives as adults?

A new study says yes.

After tracking just over 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to the age of 45, investigators found that kids who were goal-oriented and bet...

Brain May Age Faster After Spinal Cord Injury

• Cara Murez
• January 5, 2021
• Full Page

A new study supports the theory that people who suffer a spinal cord injury may also have accelerated brain aging that affects how fast they process information.

Those "cognitive deficits" are similar to those in older adults, according to research from the nonprofit Kes...

Older and Getting Surgery? Get Fit Beforehand

• Robert Preidt
• December 22, 2020
• Full Page

Getting fit before surgery can limit the amount of muscle older adults will lose during their recovery, researchers say.

Strength training before a scheduled operation ("prehabilitation") helps counteract muscle wasting during bed rest after a procedure. But it ...

How Are 'Super Agers' Protected From Alzheimer's and Mental Decline?

• Alan Mozes
• December 21, 2020
• Full Page

Some older folks are still sharp as tacks and dementia-free well into their 80s and beyond. Now German researchers have uncovered a possible reason why: Their genes may help them fend off protein build-up in the brain.

The finding is based on a study of brain images of ...

High Blood Pressure in Middle Age Can Harm Your Brain

• Alan Mozes
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

High blood pressure can begin to take a toll on memory and thinking skills as early as middle age, new Brazilian research warns.

And you won't be spared simply by keeping high blood pressure at bay until you hit your golden years, because the study found that even those ...

More Clues to Why Kids Have Much Milder COVID-19

• Robert Preidt
• December 8, 2020
• Full Page

A stronger immune system and healthier blood vessels are among reasons kids are less likely than adults to have severe COVID-19, according to experts who reviewed research from around the world.

"Most children with COVID-19 have no or only mild symptoms, most commonly fe...

Drinking Most Harmful at 3 Points in Life Span

• Robert Preidt
• December 8, 2020
• Full Page

Alcohol poses the greatest threat to brain health at three periods of a person's life, according to new research.

During those three periods -- from conception to birth, from ages 15 to 19, and after age 65 -- people undergo "dynamic" brain changes that may be particular...

Too Many, Too Few Babies May Speed Aging in Women

• Cara Murez
• December 7, 2020
• Full Page

Pregnancy can be exhilarating or exhausting, and sometimes both at the same time. It may not come as a surprise to a woman who has experienced pregnancy once, twice or many times, that it can age her.

New research reveals that how many pregnancies a woman has may affect ...

U.S. Moms-to-Be Are Much Less Healthy Now

• Steven Reinberg
• December 7, 2020
• Full Page

In the past 30 years, U.S. women have been in progressively worse physical shape as they become pregnant, a new study finds.

A combination of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and having children later in life have led to potentially more complications, and even inf...

Childhood Lead Exposure Tied to Brain Changes in Middle Age

• Robert Preidt
• November 19, 2020
• Full Page

Middle-aged adults who had elevated levels of lead in their blood as children have brain structure changes, new research shows.

For the study, the researchers analyzed childhood lead exposure data on 564 participants in a long-term study of people who were born in the sa...

Amid Lockdowns, Online Exercise Classes Help Seniors Feel Less Alone

• Cara Murez
• November 17, 2020
• Full Page

Participating in group exercise classes is good for seniors and not just in the ways one might expect.

The classes reduce loneliness and social isolation, according to a new study. And early results suggest that's true even after the coronavirus pandemic forced those cla...

When Your Spouse Gripes About Aging, It Might Harm Your Health

• November 7, 2020
• Full Page

In older couples, one spouse's negative thoughts about aging can affect the other spouse's health, a new study indicates.

It also found that these effects differ by gender. A wife's views about aging are linked with her husband's physical health, while a husband's view a...

Working Women Show Sharper Memory With Age

• Amy Norton
• November 4, 2020
• Full Page

Women who work outside the home may end up with a sharper memory later in life, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among nearly 6,200 U.S. women aged 55 and older, those who'd worked for pay in young adulthood and middle-age were less prone to memory decline, v...

Upbeat Outlook Could Shield Your Brain

• Robert Preidt
• November 3, 2020
• Full Page

Being positive may help protect your memory as you age, a new study indicates.

Researchers analyzed data from almost 1,000 middle-aged and older U.S. adults who took part in a national study. The upshot: Being upbeat pays dividends.

Participants were asse...

Staying Active as You Age Not a Guarantee Against Dementia

• Dennis Thompson
• October 29, 2020
• Full Page

Experts in healthy aging often cite the importance of leisure activities -- hanging out with friends, playing games, taking classes -- in maintaining your brain health as you grow older.

But a new study calls into question whether those enjoyable pursuits actually protec...

Smog Tied to Raised Risk for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's Disease

• E.J. Mundell
• October 20, 2020
• Full Page

As the air people breathe gets dirtier, their odds for serious neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and other dementias rises, new research shows.

The long-term study of more than 63 million older Americans can't prove cause and effect, but...

Staying Social Can Boost Healthy 'Gray Matter' in Aging Brains

• Cara Roberts Murez
• October 19, 2020
• Full Page

Older adults who get together with friends, volunteer or go to classes have healthier brains, which could help them ward off dementia, according to a new study.

Researchers who used brain imaging to examine brain areas involved in mental decline found that greater soci...

Is Apathy an Early Sign of Dementia?

• Serena Gordon
• October 14, 2020
• Full Page

Older adults who aren't interested or enthusiastic about their usual activities may have a higher risk of developing dementia, new research suggests.

The nine-year study of more than 2,000 older adults -- average age 74 -- found that people with severe apathy (a lac...

Unlike Humans, No Bone Loss for Gorillas as They Age

• Robert Preidt
• October 2, 2020
• Full Page

They are the closest relatives to humans, but gorillas have been spared one aging disease that people haven't: osteoporosis.

The condition triggers accelerated bone loss and weakening.

In a new study, researchers used a CT scanner to analyze the leg, arm an...

Shall You Dance? Study Finds Dancing Helps Seniors Avoid Falls

• Cara Robert Murez
• October 1, 2020
• Full Page

Preventing falls in older age could be as fun as dancing them away, new research shows.

Researchers found a 31% reduction in falls and a 37% reduction in fall risk for those aged 65 and older when reviewing clinical trials on "dance-based mind-motor activitie...

Early Results Show Moderna's COVID Vaccine Safe, Effective in Older People

• E.J. Mundell
• September 29, 2020
• Full Page

One of the big questions around any new COVID-19 vaccine is: Will it safely protect those at highest risk from the illness -- older people?

Now, the results of an early phase 1 trial in 40 adults over the age of 55 suggests that one vaccine, under development by drug...

How Important Is Sex as Women Age?

• Steven Reinberg
• September 28, 2020
• Full Page

It's often thought that older women lose interest in sex, but many women continue to rate sex as important, a new study finds.

"In contrast to prior literature reporting that the importance of sex decreases as women move through midlife, we found that for a quarter ...

Hazardous Ingredients Make 'Smart Drug' Supplements a Not-So-Smart Buy

• Dennis Thompson
• September 24, 2020
• Full Page

Maybe you're a senior concerned that your mind has started to lag a bit. Or maybe you're a college student looking for an edge in your classes.

Either way, a new study warns that you should seriously reconsider taking any over-the-counter supplement that promises a p...

Diabetes Drug Metformin May Protect the Aging Brain

• Serena Gordon
• September 23, 2020
• Full Page

A common type 2 diabetes drug called metformin may have an unexpected, but positive, side effect: New research suggests that people taking the drug appear to have significantly slower declines in thinking and memory as they age.

"Our six-year study of older Australi...

There's No Magic Formula to Slow Your Dog's Aging

• Serena McNiff
• September 18, 2020
• Full Page

Despite the deep desire to help your dog age gracefully and stay mentally sharp, new research suggests that even the best diet and training won't slow the ravages of time for your furry friend.

Just like their human owners, dogs can experience thinking declines and b...

Experts Offer Guidance on a Common But Underreported Menopause Syndrome

• Serena McNiff
• September 18, 2020
• Full Page

Hot flashes and night sweats are well-known side effects of menopause, but the end of a woman's periods can also lead to other uncomfortable changes.

Vaginal dryness, painful sex and painful urination are common symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GS...

Parkinson's Drug Eyed as Treatment for Severe Macular Degeneration

• Serena McNiff
• September 16, 2020
• Full Page

A drug long used to treat Parkinson's disease may benefit patients with a severe form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a small clinical trial suggests.

One of the leading causes of vision loss in older people is a condition called dry macular degeneration. ...

Untreated High Blood Pressure a Growing Problem Among Americans

• Robert Preidt
• September 10, 2020
• Full Page

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is becoming more common among Americans, putting them at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, a new study shows.

Previous research showed that in 1999-2000, 32.2% of Americans maintained blood pressure less than 140/90 mm H...

Kidneys Might Affect Mental Status As You Age

• Robert Preidt
• September 3, 2020
• Full Page

Young adults with kidney problems may be at increased risk for mental decline in middle age, a new study suggests.

"Our study shows that if your kidney function starts declining as early as your 30s, you may perform like someone nine years older on certain cognitive ...

Could Long Naps Shorten Your Life?

• Dennis Thompson
• August 26, 2020
• Full Page

A frequent need to nap could be a red flag for future heart problems and a higher risk of early death, a new analysis concludes.

Long naps lasting more than an hour are associated with a 34% elevated risk of heart disease and a 30% greater risk of death, acco...

Get Dizzy When Standing Up? It Could Be Risk Factor for Dementia

• Steven Reinberg
• August 14, 2020
• Full Page

Feeling woozy when you stand up may be a sign of an increased risk of developing dementia, a new study suggests.

Doctors call this feeling "orthostatic hypotension," and it occurs when there's a sudden drop in blood pressure as you stand, explained a team of researc...

Education Benefits the Brain Over a Lifetime

• Steven Reinberg
• August 12, 2020
• Full Page

A new study confirms what your parents always told you: Getting an education opens the door to career opportunities and higher salaries. But it may also benefit your well-being in old age.

"The total amount of formal education that people receive is related to their...

Many Stay Optimistic Until Old Age Hits

• Robert Preidt
• August 6, 2020
• Full Page

People tend to be optimistic for most of their life, even when they have to cope with serious challenges, a new study finds.

Researchers surveyed 75,000 people aged 16 to 101 in the United States, Germany and the Netherlands to assess their optimism and outlook about...

Are Baby Boomers Less Sharp Than Previous Generations?

• Amy Norton
• August 6, 2020
• Full Page

Aging baby boomers may not be as mentally sharp as their parents were, a new study suggests -- raising questions about what the pattern could mean for future dementia rates.

Looking at two decades' worth of data on U.S. adults, the study found generational difference...

Obesity Ups Odds for Severe COVID-19, But Age Matters

• Dennis Thompson
• August 5, 2020
• Full Page

If you're younger than 65 years old and obese, COVID-19 poses a special danger to you.

A new study reports that the more obese you are, the more likely you are to either die from infection with the new coronavirus or require lifesaving mechanical ventilation to survi...

Under 50 and Overweight? Your Odds for Dementia Later May Rise

• Alan Mozes
• July 30, 2020
• Full Page

Need fresh motivation to lose some weight? New research suggests that young adults who are overweight or obese face a higher risk for dementia in their golden years.

For the study, the researchers looked at just over 5,100 older adults who were involved in two long-t...