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PUMPING IRONY: Unsafe at Any Speed
Older drivers suffering from certain chronic illnesses can pose a threat to themselves and others on the road, but convincing them to surrender their car keys is no easy task. The Japanese government may have found a way to override their objections.
PUMPING IRONY: Beware of the Chair?
A new study suggests that seniors who spend too much time sitting around may be more prone to develop dementia — even if they exercise regularly.
PUMPING IRONY: Seeing Is Believing
Despite concerns about vision loss, seniors like me tend to ignore preventive screenings and treatments. Accessibility is an issue, experts say, but a lack of collaboration between physicians and ophthalmologists plays a role as well.
PUMPING IRONY: Still Clueless After All These Years
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.
PUMPING IRONY: The Price Is Right?
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Roasted in Retirement?
Scorching summer temperatures — and the potential health hazards that come with them — increasingly await U.S. retirees settling in the Sun Belt.
PUMPING IRONY: Puzzling Priorities
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Seniors, Sleeplessness, and Shortened Lives
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Cholesterol: The Good, the Bad, and the Unpredictable
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Is There a Care Coordinator in the House?
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Weighty Matters
The new weight-loss drugs promise transformational changes for their users, but are they right for seniors? Experts urge caution.
PUMPING IRONY: Puzzling Over Pills
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.
A Prescription for Frustration
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.
PUMPING IRONY: A Sudden Change of Heart
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Keep Calm and Carry On?
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.
PUMPING IRONY: Seniors: Beware the Perils of Pot
As more states legalize the recreational use of cannabis, new research suggests seniors should imbibe only with extreme caution.
PUMPING IRONY: It’s Your Move
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.
PUMPING IRONY: The Pressure Is On
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.
PUMPING IRONY: The Long and the Short of It
The longevity industry once touted lengthy telomeres as the key to a long life. Turns out that theory doesn’t quite measure up.
PUMPING IRONY: When Cancer Strikes, Start Moving
While conventional wisdom tells us that we should rest and recover when cancer strikes, recent research suggests regular exercise may offer more benefits.
PUMPING IRONY: Losing Teeth, Losing Hope
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.