Pumping Irony

The scientific community continues to struggle to understand how to diagnose and treat long COVID, which can be especially hard on seniors. But some critics believe the answers are hidden in plain sight.

While Medicare can now force major drugmakers to negotiate some prices, observers question whether it will result in much savings — or in better health outcomes — for U.S. seniors.

Scorching summer temperatures — and the potential health hazards that come with them — increasingly await U.S. retirees settling in the Sun Belt.

Medicare is prepared to pay as much as $5 billion a year to cover a new Alzheimer’s drug while ignoring the in-home care needs of seniors with dementia who live alone.

Older adults are more likely than most to struggle with sleep issues, and recent research suggests tossing and turning could shorten our lifespans. The solution? Exercise.

Cholesterol has long been known for its role in cardiovascular function, but new research suggests it may someday be put to work to hinder the development of Alzheimer’s.

Our healthcare system increasingly requires patients to coordinate their own care, a burden that can delay needed procedures — and cost them dearly in time, energy, and money.

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.

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.

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 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.