Pumping Irony

The new weight-loss drugs promise transformational changes for their users, but are they right for seniors? Experts urge caution.

Research on the risks and benefits of cholesterol-lowering statins offers little reassurance to septuagenarians like me whose numbers signal potential cardiovascular calamities. The solution? More tests.

With the FDA poised to approve the latest Alzheimer’s drug, a respected dementia expert suggests our healthcare system isn’t yet capable of employing it effectively.

A “hypertensive crisis” flings me into the gaping maw of the conventional healthcare system, where I learn to accept its many foibles — and (sheepishly) embrace its pharmaceutical remedies.

Too much stress can age your body prematurely — and even lead to dementia. But new research offers some hope. That is, unless it was your cognitive dysfunction that led to the stress in the first place.

As more states legalize the recreational use of cannabis, new research suggests seniors should imbibe only with extreme caution.

The vast majority of older adults prefer to stay in their own home as they age, but a recent survey suggests most of us haven’t done the necessary planning to age in place. Thankfully, there are plenty of companies that make the relocation process more palatable.

A new study casts doubt on the accuracy of blood-pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office — flawed data that often leads to unnecessary prescriptions and procedures. Some notable cardiologists are pushing for more effective options.

The longevity industry once touted lengthy telomeres as the key to a long life. Turns out that theory doesn’t quite measure up.

While conventional wisdom tells us that we should rest and recover when cancer strikes, recent research suggests regular exercise may offer more benefits.

While government efforts to expand dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries have fallen short, a new study describes how that lack of access affects U.S. seniors.

Previous research has shown how maintaining a positive attitude toward aging may enhance your health. A new study suggests it may even help seniors recover lost cognitive function.

Chafing at what they view as inadequate government reimbursements, assisted-living facilities in recent months have been evicting Medicaid beneficiaries at a disturbing rate. The consequences for the industry are negligible; for the low-income seniors, they can be tragic.

Cold is having a moment among longevity researchers, who argue that we should embrace a little shivering in order to extend our lifespan. My own experience suggests their theories may get a chilly reception.

The latest news on the coffee front promises no end of salutary benefits for diehard bean lovers — if you don’t mind a little sleep deprivation and some heart palpitations.

Medicare Advantage insurers are increasingly using algorithms rather than actual medical reports to justify controversial denials of coverage. The effects on patients can be devastating.

Seniors living in “food swamps” — communities dominated by convenience stores, fast-food outlets, and other purveyors of unhealthy fare — may be more susceptible to strokes, according to a new study. Call me skeptical.

Anxiety disorders are pervasive among the Medicare set, so why is the government counseling doctors to screen only younger patients?

While air quality nationwide has improved markedly since the turn of the century, recent research highlights the cognitive damage that even low levels of pollution can exact on the aging brain.

More than a half century after health-food activists began promoting the notion that food is medicine, public and private initiatives are finally taking shape. But formidable obstacles — some political, some institutional, and some purely personal — loom on the horizon.