Blogs

Offering a balm to absent-minded seniors who worry that Alzheimer’s may lurk just around the corner, a new Mayo Clinic study suggests that memory loss may not necessarily mean dementia.

The time and energy seniors expend to navigate our fragmented healthcare system — and protect themselves from unscrupulous insurers — often adds an overwhelming burden to those already coping with chronic illnesses.

An alarming portion of American seniors suffer from various undiagnosed anxiety disorders. And though treatment options are expanding, a recent ruling by an influential task force virtually guarantees that few will receive the help they need.

New research argues that a popular calculator designed to measure the risk of heart disease may have led to millions of unnecessary statin prescriptions. A new tool may provide a more accurate assessment.

New research suggests that we may be closer than ever to understanding a cause of Alzheimer’s. Will a suddenly more scrupulous Food and Drug Administration give serious consideration to novel treatment options?

Millions of older Americans suffer from osteoporosis, a bone disease that makes them especially vulnerable to fractures. Hormones, diet, and a sedentary lifestyle have long been blamed for the affliction, but recent research points to another culprit: too little sleep.

Despite recent attempts to forge some consensus on what qualifies as brain death, physicians often remain uncertain about whether — and when — to pull the plug on a patient.

A retired neighbor’s recent downsizing highlights an increasingly rare real estate win at a time when the vast majority of seniors are facing a serious housing crisis.

Struggling with some annoying side effects of my meds, I’m heartened by new research showing the salutary results of “deprescribing” a popular drug among seniors.

Alcohol-related deaths have been rising at an alarming rate among American seniors, who may be unaware of the risks. And while some countries are taking steps to curb consumption, U.S. regulators seem perfectly comfortable with the status quo.

Can poor oral health lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders? Recent research provides some clues, but nothing to really worry about. Maybe.

Major drugstore chains are shuttering their outlets at an alarming rate, making it harder for seniors to get their prescriptions. Eli Lilly’s new direct-to-consumer drug service may make matters even worse.

In another blow to conventional wisdom, recent research is challenging the long-held belief that a low-dose aspirin regimen may protect healthy seniors from heart attacks and strokes.

While the longevity industry touts an obscure generic drug as the latest antiaging panacea, even some of its disciples are counseling caution.

The sudden closure of a Pennsylvania nursing home highlights the postpandemic challenges facing an increasingly troubled industry.

The Alzheimer’s Association and its Big Pharma allies are working behind the scenes to promote a plan that could vastly increase dementia diagnoses — and, not coincidentally, the demand for drugs that provide little relief.

Ultraprocessed foods, which first took hold among my baby boomer compatriots, now make up nearly 60 percent of the average American diet. Some experts say our addiction to this fare is lowering our life expectancy.

Fitness trackers have long been promoted as effective tools for monitoring key health metrics, but seniors have mostly ignored them. Recent research explains why