Blogs

Seniors tend to gradually eat their meals later in the day as they grow older, according to a new study that links those changes to a variety of chronic diseases. But is it the diseases that spark the mealtime changes or the mealtime changes that trigger the diseases?

Rigid standards designed to improve the quality of patient care often produce the opposite effect on vulnerable seniors — dangerous overtreatment.

When seniors volunteer their help, whether for a formal organization or a friend in need, they may be reaping some surprising health benefits — as long as they moderate their commitment.

As we grow older, the urge to engage in “lifelong learning” becomes more challenging. But recent research suggests that the effort, despite the discomfort it may produce, could yield real benefits — both cognitive and emotional.

While public health organizations have mounted a vigorous campaign to reduce suicides among U.S. teens, a much higher-risk population waits in vain for needed help.

Recent research suggests that older adults who are musically inclined may be insulated from cognitive decline. Where does that leave the rest of us?

Big Tech is betting that AI-generated companions can cure the “loneliness epidemic” afflicting American seniors. It could make us even lonelier.

It’s not uncommon for people to feel stressed when the workweek resumes, but a new study suggests that even retirees often experience the same “Monday blues” as workers — and face the same health consequences.

A recent batch of studies on exercise and brain health yields more confusion than clarity.

Nurse practitioners specializing in geriatric care have stepped up in recent years to offset the steep decline in geriatricians. The American Medical Association has fought them every step of the way.

Recent research has cooled the once-hot debate over coffee’s effects on our health and longevity, but questions remain about how much is enough — or too much — and why drinking it black is better.

Napping is a perfectly healthy habit for seniors, except when it’s not.

About one in four American seniors fall each year, often with serious consequences. Recent research may help physicians spot patients more likely to tumble — and increase the chances that they’ll successfully recover.

A new poll suggests most American seniors have not planned sufficiently for their long-term care, but how do you plan when the options offer more risk than reward?

Research has long suggested that we become less curious as we age, jeopardizing our brain health and overall well-being. A new study offers a more nuanced — and optimistic — view.

Can seniors lower their risk of cognitive dysfunction by spending more time online? A new study challenges conventional wisdom about “digital dementia.”

There’s a reason women tend to retain their cognitive capabilities better than men as they grow older, and researchers believe they can use that knowledge to offer hope to all dementia sufferers.

Older adults concerned about overtaxing their muscles may hesitate to push themselves very hard when exercising, but new research suggests we may be more resilient than we imagine.

Neuroscientists are touting a number of medical breakthroughs due to the innovative use of brain implants, but recent research — and regulatory actions — suggest the risks may outweigh the rewards.

Older adults are especially vulnerable to the circadian challenges caused by the annual switch to Daylight Saving Time. Sleep specialists can offer some remedies, but others suggest that embracing the change of seasons — despite a lack of sleep — may be more effective.

Late-life depression descends on an estimated 20 percent of older U.S. adults, according to recent research. That may explain my recently sagging spirits — or not.