Taking a dietary supplement of organic zinc and the enzyme phytase four days before receiving botulinum toxin injections made the toxin more effective in 93 percent of patients tested in a recent study at The Methodist Hospital in Houston.
An intervention that targeted modifiable stressors in the home of patients with dementia resulted in better outcomes for the patients and their caregivers at 4 months, but not at 9 months, although the caregivers perceived greater benefits, according to a study in the September 1 issue of JAMA.
Most recent studies show that elderly people over the age of 80 often have mixed pathologies in their brains that account for their memory loss and confusion. Very few senior citizens have “pure Alzheimer disease”; therefore, this terminology should be used with caution. It now appears that vascular problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes can shrink the parts of the brain that control memory and can significantly affect at what age elderly people become demented. The following tips may be able to postpone cognitive decline late in life.
Scientists today reported the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study, presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), concluded that berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain’s natural “housekeeper” mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.
For people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the level of disease activity—measured using the standard DAS 28 score—is the factor most strongly affecting the level of RA-related disability, according to a study in JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritionist has collaborated in ongoing research that has taken a closer look at the role the B vitamins may play in preventing decline in brain function.
While there are still mysteries surrounding the fundamental process of memory, research has revealed activities that may enhance memory and promote overall brain health. John H. Byrne, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, studies the neuronal and molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. Here are three tips he offers for maintaining and improving brain health.
To meet the escalating patient care, research and healthcare education needs for a rapidly aging population, a university-wide Consortium on Aging has been established at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been named one of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Nathan Shock Centers of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging.
A new study describes a novel pathway of angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Targeting the new pathway, scientists identified two approaches that significantly reduced angiogenesis in mice. These discoveries may lead to novel treatments for diseases caused by excessive angiogenesis, including corneal graft rejection, age-related macular degeneration, cancer, and diabetes.
In one of only two studies of its kind, a study from researchers at Tufts University demonstrates that non-viral gene therapy can delay the onset of some forms of eye disease and preserve vision. The team developed nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic genes to the retina and found that treated mice temporarily retained more eyesight than controls. The study brings researchers closer to a non-viral gene therapy treatment for degenerative eye disorders.
Residents at Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Randallstown, MD, are using one of their favorite hobbies to improve the environment. The residents are taking part in programs where they plant flowers using compost from their own cafeteria and others.
The ability to remember is not just to glimpse into the past; a sharp memory can help with creativity, productivity and even the ability to imagine the future, according to several psychologists.
People with arthritis who exercise have less pain, more energy, improved sleep, and better day-to-day function, according to the American College of Rheumatology.
In Baltimore City, dozens of older adults are now aging safely in their homes, thanks to the work of Assistant Professor Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, CRNP, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
Bears have bones that stay strong even when they hibernate. If humans are bedridden or wrestling with the low-to-no gravity of outer space, their bones grow brittle and crumble. What do the bears know that we don't?
Remember that feeling of finally getting your drivers' license? That feeling of freedom and independence is also connected to reaching many of our day-to-day activities. Yet a disability, illness or aging can affect our ability to be a safe driver by impairing our decision-making skills and our ability to control a vehicle. Being a child of an elderly parent also may mean it's time to talk about driving.
Computerized brain fitness programs are known to help seniors improve their memory and focus. Now, a study led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has found preliminary evidence that such programs may help frail seniors walk faster, potentially preventing disability and improving quality of life.
An observational study funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute on Aging has revealed that high proportion of nursing facility residents were found to have low serum (blood) zinc concentrations, but those with normal blood zinc concentrations were about 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with low concentrations.
Antibiotic use appears to have increased among older adults whose prescription drug coverage improved as a result of enrolling in Medicare Part D, with the largest increases for broad-spectrum, newer and more expensive drugs, according to a report in the August 9/23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Depression in the elderly is not uncommon. According to the National Institutes of Health, of the 35 million Americans age 65 and over, about 2 million suffer from full-blown (major depressive disorder) depression and another 5 million suffer from less severe forms.
Open any beauty magazine and it seems as though all the models have full, pronounced cheeks and a firm, tight jaw line. In contrast, aging causes a loss of volume across the middle of the face, resulting in a flattened or sunken cheek structure with sagging jowls that can make the face appear drawn, tired and old.
Hair is considered a woman’s “crowning glory,” but women with thinning hair and those with curly, textured hair may face considerable challenges in keeping their hair looking its best. Fortunately, there are many different hair care products, or hair cosmetics, that can help conceal thinning hair and also keep textured hair in check.
A new research suggests that a simple variation to the tried and true method of checking blood pressure can reveal startling information about both older and younger persons.
New study suggests that disparities in cardiovascular disease risk in the United States are due less to race or ethnicity than to socioeconomic status.
Resveratrol, a popular anti-inflammatory and antioxidant plant extract, appears also to suppress inflammation in humans, based on results from the first prospective human trial of the extract conducted by University at Buffalo endocrinologists.
Denis Anson, M.S., O.T.R., director of research and development for the Assistive Technology Research Institute (ATRI) at Misericordia University, has devised and brought to market the Americans with Disabilities Act — Compliance Assessment Toolkit or ADA-CAT to measure whether public facilities are in compliance with the federal law that was enacted 20 years ago.
The protein SIRT1 in the brain is tied into a mechanism that allows animals to survive when food is scarce, according to a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The research suggests that SIRT1 may be involved with the life span-increasing effect of low-calorie diets, they report.
A review and analysis of previous research indicates that delirium in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk of death, dementia, and institutionalization, independent of age, co-existing illnesses or illness severity, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Tolstoy wrote that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, and a new study in the August 2010 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family finds significant national differences in the degree of conflict between older parents and their adult children.
Much-studied protein involved in aging, and tied to red wine ingredient resveratrol, is required for recall in mice; but over-expression fails to improve performance, according to a new study in Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers from the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine have identified modifiable factors that could help more people remain healthy and independent as they age. Published results are from surveys of more than 6,500 people aged 50-74.
Physicians who provided Guided Care, a primary care enhancement program for patients with multiple chronic conditions, reported higher levels of satisfaction with their patient/family communications and their knowledge of their patients’ clinical characteristics. The researchers found that Guided Care physicians were significantly more satisfied with patient/family communications than physicians who provide usual care. Guided Care physicians were also significantly more satisfied with their knowledge of their patients’ clinical characteristics.
University of Illinois at Chicago kinesiology researcher David Marquez is testing whether dances that are popular with Latinos may be effective way to promote exercise among those who are older and relatively sedentary. Initial findings suggest the program may have all the right steps for success.
Now that scientists have learned so much about aging through laboratory studies, it’s time to translate those findings into medicines that can benefit our aging population.
There is substantial regional variation in treatment practices for care of older adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including receipt of hospice care and discontinuation of dialysis before death, according to a study in the July 14 issue of JAMA.
Older adults with low levels of vitamin D appear more likely to experience declines in thinking, learning and memory over a six-year period, according to a report in the July 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
As millions of boomers prepare to retire US manufacturing companies, hit harder than other sectors by the recession, now face huge costs for training new employees in the forthcoming years, according to a report by the Sloan Center on Aging at Boston College.
As more women wait until their 30s and 40s to have children, they are more willing to engage in a variety of sexual activities to capitalize on their remaining childbearing years. Such “reproduction expediting” includes one-night stands and adventurous bedroom behavior, the research shows.
In an effort to extend the length of a disability-free life for older adults, researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center are partnering with colleagues from across the US and Australia in the largest international trial ever sponsored by the US National Institute on Aging (NIA).
Don’t put down the red wine and vitamins just yet, but if you’re taking antioxidants because you hope to live longer, consider this: a new study published in the June 2010 issue of the journal GENETICS casts doubt on the theory that oxidative stress to our tissues shortens lifespan. That’s because researchers from McGill University in Canada have identified mutations in 10 different genes of worms (genes believed to have counterparts in humans) that extend their lifespan without reducing the level of oxidative stress the worms suffer. The results contradict the popular theory that production of toxic reactive oxygen species in tissues is responsible for aging.
In an effort to extend the length of a disability-free life for older adults, researchers from Rush University Medical Center are partnering with colleagues from across the U.S. and Australia in the largest international trial ever sponsored by the National Institute on Aging. The Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study aims to assess whether aspirin can not only prolong life, but a life free of physical disability and/or dementia for healthy older people.
The analysis of insurance records of more than 1.4 million U.S. men over 40 found that those who used ED drugs were more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases than were non-users. Physicians who prescribe erectile dysfunction drugs for their male patients should be sure to discuss the importance of safer sex practices, even with older patients.
A new study adds to the mounting evidence that older adults commonly have low vitamin D levels and that vitamin D inadequacy may be a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, a condition that affects one in four adults. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society’s 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.
An across-the-board review of the health effects of Qigong and Tai Chi finds these practices offer benefits for the heart, immune system and overall quality of life.