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Health News Results - 462

12 Sep
Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall

Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall

Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia.

The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits.

All were at least 60 year...

12 Sep
Your Hobby Could Help Keep Depression at Bay

Your Hobby Could Help Keep Depression at Bay

Seniors, pick up those knitting needles, some paintbrushes or that favorite novel, because new research suggests that having a hobby is linked to having lower depression in older people.

Hobbies might include anything from gardening to playing games, arts and crafts, vol...

11 Sep
Old Age & Heat Can Be Deadly Combo: Tips to Stay Safe

Old Age & Heat Can Be Deadly Combo: Tips to Stay Safe

Hot weather can pose serious health risks for older adults.

Existing medical conditions, problems moving around and medications raise the risk of heatstroke, according to an expert at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Being prepared can help prevent heat e...

28 Aug
Opening All Arteries Best When Heart Attack Strikes in Old Age: Study

Opening All Arteries Best When Heart Attack Strikes in Old Age: Study

After a heart attack, elderly adults have better odds for improved health and survival if all major heart vessels are cleared, not just the one that caused the heart attack.

Because these patients often have other medical conditions and may be frail, doctors frequen...

24 Aug
Extreme Heat Taxes the Brain, and Some Face Higher Risks

Extreme Heat Taxes the Brain, and Some Face Higher Risks

With 2023 predicted to be the hottest year on record, a new study is pointing to another potential consequence of heat waves: faster declines in older adults' memory and thinking skills.

03 Aug
Moderna or Pfizer? One COVID Shot May Be Safer for Older Adults

Moderna or Pfizer? One COVID Shot May Be Safer for Older Adults

While both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective, new research finds the Moderna shot has been the safest and most effective for seniors.

“The results of this study can help public health experts weigh which mRNA vaccine mig...

28 Jul
Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?

Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?

The diabetes drug metformin might also benefit older patients after an injury or illness, a small study suggests.

Researchers found that metformin -- a drug that has been around for more than a half-century to regulate blood sugar -- may have a different ability: It can ...

25 Jul
Many Seniors With Thinking Declines Still Drive

Many Seniors With Thinking Declines Still Drive

Getting older adults who are failing mentally to relinquish their car keys can be challenging. But those conversations are necessary, said researchers who found a majority of adults with cognitive impairment still get behind the wheel.

Michigan Medicine researchers studi...

20 Jul
Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer's Away

Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer's Away

Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers' brain health.

Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researche...

20 Jul
While 8 in 10 Seniors See Wisdom of Dementia Screening, Few Have Been Tested: Poll

While 8 in 10 Seniors See Wisdom of Dementia Screening, Few Have Been Tested: Poll

Most older adults think that screening for dementia is a good idea, according to a new poll on aging. But few actually take that step.

Only about 20% of those aged 65 to 80 had a screening test in the past year to see if their memory and thinking abilities have started t...

12 Jul
As the Popularity of Pickleball Soars, So Do Related Injuries, Poll Finds

As the Popularity of Pickleball Soars, So Do Related Injuries, Poll Finds

Pickleball is a hot trend and it's getting folks exercising who haven't been so active in a long time.

It's also racking up injuries — both overuse type and acute traumas — often in those aged 50 and up.

A new poll suggests these players are forgoing care when ...

10 Jul
Want a Healthier, Happier Old Age? Get Moving

Want a Healthier, Happier Old Age? Get Moving

The couch potato life may not be a happy one.

When older adults become more sedentary, their overall quality of life takes a hit, new research cautions.

Sitting still is your enemy, the study suggests. Even slow walking can help improve your mental and physica...

10 Jul
Psychiatrists Tough to Find for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Plans

Psychiatrists Tough to Find for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Plans

U.S. seniors with mental health needs may not have much access to psychiatrists who could help them, new research shows.

Despite an overall heightened demand for mental health services, nearly two-thirds of Medicare Advantage psychiatrist networks included less than 25%...

29 Jun
CDC Gives Full Approval to RSV Shots for People Over 60; Vaccines Available This Fall

CDC Gives Full Approval to RSV Shots for People Over 60; Vaccines Available This Fall

Americans ages 60 and up can get their vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.

On Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the outgoing CDC director, gave her signature to a recommendation m...

28 Jun
Reversing a Trend, Sicker Americans Are Staying With Medicare Managed Care Plans

Reversing a Trend, Sicker Americans Are Staying With Medicare Managed Care Plans

A new study shows that older Americans with health issues are now staying with their Medicare Advantage managed plans, rather than swapping them for traditional plans through a health insurer.

Although Medicare Advantage has been criticized in the past for “cherry-pick...

22 Jun
CDC Panel Backs RSV Shots for Seniors

CDC Panel Backs RSV Shots for Seniors

An advisory panel of the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Wednesday to recommend the first RSV vaccines for seniors.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved the vaccines, one made by GSK called

09 Jun
Seniors: Stay Social, Active for 'Optimal Aging,' Study Shows

Seniors: Stay Social, Active for 'Optimal Aging,' Study Shows

The benefits of friendships and activity aren't just for the young.

Staying socially active can also help older adults age their best, according to new research that pinpoints volunteering and recreational activities as important for seniors.

“Although the stud...

25 May
U.S. Nursing Homes Fail to Report Many Serious Falls, Bedsores: Study

U.S. Nursing Homes Fail to Report Many Serious Falls, Bedsores: Study

A federal website intended to help people choose a nursing home not only contains inaccurate information, but those inaccuracies appear to be at least partially driven by race, a new study reports.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the...

25 May
Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study

Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study

Drinking heavily while younger puts you at risk for muscle loss and frailty later in life, new research suggests.

These findings are another reason to cut back on the booze, according to the research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.

24 May
More Older Americans Use Online 'Patient Portals' to Access Care

More Older Americans Use Online 'Patient Portals' to Access Care

Older Americans are increasingly likely to log into “patient portals” to access their health care information — but confidence levels vary.

About 78% of people aged 50 to 80 now use at least one patient portal, according to the new University of Michigan (U-M) Nat...

22 May
1 in 5 U.S. Seniors Now Skip Meds Because of Cost

1 in 5 U.S. Seniors Now Skip Meds Because of Cost

Many seniors skip or stretch prescription medications due to costs despite being insured by Medicare, a new U.S. study finds.

Roughly 20% of older adults reported taking less medication than prescribed or not taking medication because of cost, the researchers found.

12 May
Rate of Fatal Falls Among U.S. Seniors Doubled in 20 Years

Rate of Fatal Falls Among U.S. Seniors Doubled in 20 Years

Older Americans are dying of falls at more than double the rate of 20 years ago -- with women, men and all racial groups showing increases, according to a new study.

In 2020, the study found, just over 36,500 Americans age 65 and up died of a fall-related injury. That wa...

28 Apr
Drinking & Driving in the Senior Years: A Recipe for Disaster

Drinking & Driving in the Senior Years: A Recipe for Disaster

Older drivers using alcohol or drugs are much more likely to be at fault in a car crash.

Researchers studying the issue say that calls for sober-driving campaigns aimed at seniors.

"Our research shows just how much aging increases the risk of being at fault for in...

26 Apr
In an Aging America, a Looming Shortage of Home Health Care Workers

In an Aging America, a Looming Shortage of Home Health Care Workers

Over the last decade, an aging American population has increasingly turned away from nursing homes in favor of trained caregivers who can provide critical help in the home with basic daily tasks.

But a new investigation warns the need for at-home care has vastly outpaced...

30 Mar
Fatal Drug ODs Among U.S. Seniors Have Quadrupled in 20 Years

Fatal Drug ODs Among U.S. Seniors Have Quadrupled in 20 Years

Drug overdose deaths -- both accidental and intentional -- have quadrupled over the past 20 years among older adults in the United States, a new study finds.

This increase in people ages 65 and older suggests the need for greater mental health and substance use policies,...

30 Mar
How to Prevent Falls: Tips for Older Adults

How to Prevent Falls: Tips for Older Adults

For older Americans, a fall is no laughing matter.

According to the National Council on Aging, more than 1 in 4 people over age 65 fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of ...

24 Mar
Injury-Proof Homes: Creating Safe Spaces for Older Adults

Injury-Proof Homes: Creating Safe Spaces for Older Adults

There's nothing like the comfort and security of home. For many, a home is a place filled with fond memories of happy times.

It's no wonder older adults choose to extend their independence by trying to stay in their homes as they get older, an experience called aging in ...

14 Mar
Yoga Can Help Seniors Regain Their Strength

Yoga Can Help Seniors Regain Their Strength

Practicing yoga might help older adults become a little surer on their feet, a new research review suggests.

The review, of 33 small clinical trials, found that older adults who participated in yoga programs typically gained some lower-body strength and boosted their wal...

14 Mar
After 3 Years of the Pandemic, Loneliness May Be Ebbing for America's Older Adults

After 3 Years of the Pandemic, Loneliness May Be Ebbing for America's Older Adults

On the third anniversary of the pandemic, a new poll shows fewer older adults are experiencing loneliness and isolation though the numbers are still high.

About one-third of adults aged 50 to 80 still sometimes or often experience isolation and loneliness, according to ...

13 Mar
Reducing Home Hazards Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling

Reducing Home Hazards Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling

Nearly one-third of older people fall each year, most of them in their own homes. But it's possible to reduce those numbers by a quarter, according to a new study.

Five steps can cut the risk of falls by 26%, the researchers reported in the March 10 issue of the

10 Mar
For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching

For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching

Many older adults with depression don't respond to their first antidepressant, so doctors will switch them to another one to see if that does the trick.

Now, new research suggests that the best strategy for these folks may instead be to add the antipsychotic drug A...

02 Mar
70 or Older? An Extra 500 Steps a Day Could Do Wonders for Your Heart

70 or Older? An Extra 500 Steps a Day Could Do Wonders for Your Heart

While the idea of getting 10,000 steps a day is bandied about as a good walking goal, that can be intimidating to some people, depending on how fit they are.

Now, new research in adults between the ages of 70 and 90 finds that a much smaller number of steps can ma...

02 Mar
FDA Panel Backs Second RSV Vaccine for Older Americans

FDA Panel Backs Second RSV Vaccine for Older Americans

Following hours of discussion over safety concerns, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday recommended approval of a second RSV vaccine, this one made by GlaxoSmithKline, for use in Americans ages 60 and older.

The panel's recommendation was base...

01 Mar
Bed Rails Can Help and Harm: FDA Gives Guidance

Bed Rails Can Help and Harm: FDA Gives Guidance

While adult bed rails are marketed with safety in mind, they need to be used with caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises.

"Many death and injury reports related to entrapment and falls for adult portable bed rail products and hospital bed rails have been ...

01 Mar
FDA Panel Backs Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Older Americans

FDA Panel Backs Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Older Americans

In a tight vote, U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisors on Tuesday recommended the approval of an RSV vaccine that could be used in Americans ages 60 and up.

The vaccine, known as RENOIR, was developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. The same panel of advisors w...

16 Feb
Two Vaccines May Soon Shield Seniors Against RSV

Two Vaccines May Soon Shield Seniors Against RSV

Older people have vaccines available to prevent severe influenza and COVID-19, but there's been nothing to protect against the third respiratory virus that contributed to this season's wretched “triple-demic.”

Until now.

Two major pharmaceutical companies publi...

08 Feb
There's Been a Big Decline in the Rate of Americans Hit by Disability

There's Been a Big Decline in the Rate of Americans Hit by Disability

A new study delivers some great news to older Americans, something many likely already realize in their daily lives.

The prevalence of disabilities among seniors is down sharply from what it was just a decade before, researchers say.

Fewer older adults have limit...

07 Feb
Golf Is Healthy Exercise for Seniors, Study Confirms

Golf Is Healthy Exercise for Seniors, Study Confirms

Want to stay healthy well into your golden years? Grab a bag of clubs and hit the green, new research suggests.

Golfing beat walking or even Nordic walking (a full-body workout that consists of walking using specialized poles) when it came to improving several key measur...

01 Feb
Sports-Linked Cardiac Arrest Rare in Seniors, Study Finds

Sports-Linked Cardiac Arrest Rare in Seniors, Study Finds

The saga of Damar Hamlin's recent collapse during a football game has thrown the dangers of sports-related cardiac arrest into the spotlight.

What about this happening to someone much older?

A new study brings reassuring news: It's rare for an older adult to ha...

31 Jan
Many Seniors Shunned In-Home Care During Pandemic, Worsening Health

Many Seniors Shunned In-Home Care During Pandemic, Worsening Health

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on older Americans.

A new study finds that many older adults declined medically necessary in-home care during the height of the pan...

24 Jan
'Spare Tire' in Middle Age Could Mean a Frail Old Age

'Spare Tire' in Middle Age Could Mean a Frail Old Age

Any 'middle-age spread' of excess weight around your tummy could raise your risk of becoming frail decades later, a new study suggests.

Obese folks who've packed on pounds around their waist are more likely to develop symptoms of frailty, including exhaustion, weak grip ...

18 Jan
Feds to Investigate Overuse of Antipsychotic Drugs by Nursing Homes

Feds to Investigate Overuse of Antipsychotic Drugs by Nursing Homes

U.S. health officials say they plan to investigate whether some nursing homes are falsely labeling patients as schizophrenic so they can administer sedating antipsychotic drugs to them.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) noted that evidence of this abus...

14 Jan
Seniors, Make This Winter an Active & Healthy One

Seniors, Make This Winter an Active & Healthy One

Winter may feel like a time for hibernation, but it's important for seniors to safely keep up their hobbies and physical activity in the cold weather.

“It's important to get outside as much as possible, whether it's temperate or even if it's colder, as long as it's sa...

13 Jan
For Seniors, Declining Sense of Smell Could Signal Frailty

For Seniors, Declining Sense of Smell Could Signal Frailty

Doctors already test seniors' hearing and vision. Sense of smell could be added to screenings one day, according to researchers who found links between its loss and risk of frailty in older adults.

“We use our sense of smell to identify the threat of a fire or to enjoy...

27 Dec
Could Soaking in a Hot Spring (or Tub) Ease High Blood Pressure?

Could Soaking in a Hot Spring (or Tub) Ease High Blood Pressure?

Could taking hot baths at night help seniors keep high blood pressure at bay? A new Japanese study suggests it just might work.

The finding follows a fresh analysis of a decade-old survey that looked at high blood pressure risk among older residents of Beppu.

Bepp...

15 Dec
Biden Administration Calls for Crackdown on Misleading Medicare Ads

Biden Administration Calls for Crackdown on Misleading Medicare Ads

Medicare Advantage ads that are confusing or misleading could be banned under a new rule that was proposed Wednesday by the Biden administration to protect seniors.

Nearly half of all seniors or people with disabilities who are enrolled in the Medicare program through th...

06 Dec
Seniors Urged to Get Flu Shots as U.S. Cases Rise

Seniors Urged to Get Flu Shots as U.S. Cases Rise

Experts are asking seniors to get their flu shots ASAP as an exceptionally nasty flu season unfolds across the United States.

Already, 8.7 million flu cases have been reported, with 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths,

30 Nov
Fatal Drug Overdoses Among U.S. Seniors Have Tripled Since 2000

Fatal Drug Overdoses Among U.S. Seniors Have Tripled Since 2000

Growing numbers of older Americans are dying from drug overdoses and alcohol abuse.

That's the tragic takeaway from two new reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 5,000 people aged 65 and older in the United States died of a ...

30 Nov
Many U.S. Seniors Get Needless, Pricey Cervical Cancer Screenings

Many U.S. Seniors Get Needless, Pricey Cervical Cancer Screenings

Researchers warn that high rates of cervical cancer screening in women over 65 suggest that some older Americans are being unnecessarily screened.

More health data on these screenings in older women is needed to prevent potential harm and unnecessary costs, said the team...

30 Oct
Heading South for the Winter? Check This Medical Checklist

Heading South for the Winter? Check This Medical Checklist

Escaping from a cold, wintery place to a warm climate can be fun for so-called "snowbirds" who migrate south for the winter.

Still, experts say it's a good idea for older adults to prepare by having a "medical checklist" to ensure both regular care and help in case of a...

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