Seniors

Vision loss may increase mortality risk in seniors. Researcher Sharon Christ said, “Participants who experienced visual decline of one letter on an eye chart were expected to have a 16 percent increase in mortality risk during the eight-year study because their vision affected daily activities. These daily activities were not the necessary functioning activities such ...click here to read more

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) risk is high in seniors and continues to rise, prompting researchers to believe that it may initiate Alzheimer-like neurodegeneration. Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Daily, 138 Americans die from TBIs, while many ...click here to read more

Back pain in seniors can be improved with mindful meditation. Lead author Dr. Natalia Morone said, “Mindfulness meditation is a method to learn how to be fully engaged in the present moment and not let the mind get so easily distracted.” Patients practiced mindful meditation and focused on the present moment where, as Morone explained, ...click here to read more

Air pollution and global climate change are subjects that make the daily headlines, especially since the recent Paris Climate Conference, but did you know that studies show air pollution raises dementia and stroke risk in seniors, as well as increases general cognitive decline in elderly women? A study published in the Journal of the American ...click here to read more

Dementia in seniors raises mortality risk from diabetes, heart disease, and smoking. Dementia is the progressive loss of cognitive function and memory, rapidly becoming a leading cause of death in the U.S. Heart disease and diabetes both affect blood vessels and circulation, and – along with dementia – share many common risk factors. A research ...click here to read more

Sensory decline affects majority of seniors, and a new study has found that nearly all U.S. seniors have a decline in at least one of their five main senses. The researchers looked at nearly 3,000 people aged 57 to 85. They found that 94 percent of the participants had a decline in at least one ...click here to read more

Knee buckling treatment have been found to help reduce falls in older adults. Aside from easing up the injury, the treatment has been proven to alleviate the psychological effects that may accompany the fall experience. Treating knee instability is a priority, as the population continues to age and injuries caused by instable knees can negatively ...click here to read more

Common anxiety medications like Xanax and Valium are not linked to an increased risk of dementia among seniors, according to new findings. Although these medications won’t contribute to memory loss, they do, however, come with other side effects and should still be used with caution. Previous research has found a minor link between anxiety medications ...click here to read more

Concussion (traumatic brain injury) increases the risk of dementia in seniors. Roughly 1.7 million Americans experience a minor concussion annually, and nearly 15 percent of those who experience repeated brain injuries suffer from abnormal brain functioning years later. A concussion can occur due to a sports injury, car accident, or any other injury that occurs ...click here to read more

Screening seniors early on for memory loss and dementia is of utmost importance as it can help slow down the progression of memory decline and possibly even preserve or reverse some of the damage that has already been done. Families can make plans for their loved ones’ care, get help with day-to-day tasks, and keep ...click here to read more

Seniors are living longer and healthier lives, so naturally they are having more sex. One large study showed two-thirds of men and 40 percent of women over 65 are still having sex, and although the percentages decrease for those over the age of 80, there are plenty of grandparents still doing the deed. Having sex ...click here to read more

Shingles (herpes zoster) can increase heart attack risk in seniors according to a new study. The study examined 67,000 seniors with newly diagnosed shingles who were 65 and older. The findings uncovered that stroke risk and heart attack risk increase within the first three months of shingles diagnosis but then normalize again after six months. ...click here to read more

Seniors who receive the shingles vaccine with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a reduced risk of developing shingles – by at least half – compared to those who do not receive the vaccination. The findings also uncovered that protection was still successful even after dialysis started. Shingles is a painful skin rash that commonly affects ...click here to read more

Zoonotic diseases are those transferred from animals to humans, including Lyme disease, salmonella, and E. coli. Zoonotic diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that six out of 10 infectious diseases found in human result from animals. As humans we interact with animals on ...click here to read more