Aging & Independence Archives

Newsbriefs: Statin drugs; nutrition and frailty risk; fall-related deaths increase; dementia

Aug 25, 2023 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

Statin Use Less Likely in Black and Hispanic Adults Black and Hispanic adults at risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) are less likely to take statin drugs than white adults with the same risk factors, according to a new study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and University … Read More

Reduce Falls at Home with Better Balance and a Safer Space

Aug 13, 2023 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

As people age, a variety of physical circumstances collude to increase the likelihood of a fall happening at home. Diminished eyesight from cataracts or glaucoma, reduced agility from arthritis or neuropathy, and dizziness from prescription drugs are among a myriad of reasons that falls are the top cause of injuries … Read More

To Vax or Not to Vax, That Is the Question

Aug 13, 2023 · Orli R. Etingin, M.D. · Aging & Independence

Vaccines are lifesaving drugs that prompt our immune systems to fight dangerous infections. They work by administering a small fragment of the infectious agent (that can’t itself infect), which allows our immune systems to make antibodies that recognize that pathogen. Historically, major infections like plague and typhoid have wiped out … Read More

Stay Up to Date with Vaccines to Protect Your Health

Aug 13, 2023 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

With so much information about vaccines coming at us from every direction over the past few years, there is literally no excuse to be ill informed about the shots that are available to protect us from serious illness. Vaccines to help ward off flu, shingles, and pneumonia have long been … Read More

Research RoundUp August 2023

Jul 26, 2023 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

• Nuts are Good for the Heart. Eating just one handful of nuts (about 30 grams) a day can lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 25 percent, researchers say. A review of more than 40 studies (with nearly two million participants) found that higher consumption of nuts … Read More

Stroke Recovery

Jul 26, 2023 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Q: What is the usual timeline for recovery from a stroke? A: There are many factors that determine the timeline and extent of stroke recovery. The region or regions of the brain directly affected by the stroke and the time between the beginning of the stroke and the restoration of … Read More

NEWSBRIEFS August 2023

Jul 25, 2023 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Drug for Resistant Hypertension Shows Promise Treatment-resistant hypertension is a frustrating problem for the individuals who have it and the physicians who treat it. But now there’s a drug in clinical trials called baxdrostat that shows promise for doing what the current combination of several other drugs cannot. In phase … Read More

New Findings on Cognitive Health

Jul 21, 2023 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

There is a growing understanding of the role lifestyle choices play in preventing and slowing the progression of cognitive decline. While we await new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias, emerging research can offer some advice for keeping our brains healthy and sharp. 1. Eat Minimally Processed Plants. … Read More

Memory Malfunctions: Signs of Dementia or Normal Aging?

Jul 21, 2023 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

An estimated 6.7 million Americans who are ages 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s dementia, and this number is expected to grow to 12.7 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Based on these numbers, it’s only natural that people in their 60s and beyond are prone to interpreting … Read More

Medication Overdose a Risk for Many Older Adults

Jul 21, 2023 · Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD · Aging & Independence

Recent research makes for sobering reading about medication safety among older adults. The study (JAMA Psychiatry, March 29) found that overdose-related deaths in people ages 65 and older quadrupled over the past two decades, jumping from 1,060 in 2002 to 6,702 in 2021. Most of the deaths recorded in the … Read More

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