Aging & Independence Archives

Avoid the Rash, Blisters, and Pain of Shingles with a Vaccine

Oct 21, 2022 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral disease that causes a painful, blistering rash. Shingles is caused by the same virus (varicellazoster virus) that causes chickenpox, which usually develops during childhood. Once chickenpox has healed, the virus becomes inactive, but it remains dormant in your body, and it can reactivate years … Read More

Getting Online Can Help Ease Loneliness and May Boost Your Cognition

Sep 29, 2022 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

Numerous studies have emphasized how important it is to stay socially engaged as we get older. The impact of loneliness is far-reaching—it is associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment and increases the risk of dementia in older age by about 50 percent. Older people who are lonely also … Read More

Mount Sinai Study Highlights the Cardiovascular Harm Caused by Environmental Exposures

Sep 20, 2022 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

Numerous studies have revealed the ways in which environmental exposures damage our health. Now, Mount Sinai researchers are among those quantifying the cardiovascular risk posed by specific factors. Their study (PLOS ONE, June 24) is one of the first to look at the impact of multiple environmental risk factors on … Read More

Ask the Experts: Golfer’s Elbow; Diagnosing Dementia Through Voice Recordings; Pancreatic Cancer

Sep 7, 2022 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

I’ve been suffering from elbow pain that bothers me most when I am wringing water out of my twist-mop. I thought it might be tennis elbow, but the pain isn’t on the outside of my elbow— it’s on the inside. What do you think it might be, and what can … Read More

A Difficult Diagnosis

Sep 7, 2022 · Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD · Aging & Independence

Being diagnosed with a serious health problem can be overwhelming, especially if you are told that you have Alzheimer’s disease. You’ll need time to come to terms with your diagnosis, but there also are important things to consider in terms of how the condition will impact your memory as it … Read More

Research Uncovers Clues About the Origins and Promotion of Well-Being and Longevity

Aug 17, 2022 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

[caption id="attachment_142198" align="alignleft" width="300"] © MoMo Productions | Getty ImagesOptimism and a positive outlook are associated with a longer, healthier life.[/caption] What does it take to live a long and happy life? You might be tempted to say the answer lies in having “good genes” and plenty of friends and … Read More

Slow Walking Speed and Other Unexpected Warning Signs of Cognitive Decline

Aug 17, 2022 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Forgetting a name or a doctor’s appointment, becoming momentarily confused in familiar surroundings, and struggling to find the right word to explain something are all signals that your cognition may be changing. When these episodes occur once in a while, they may be chalked up to age-related brain changes. When … Read More

Advance Care Planning Can Give You Peace of Mind

Aug 8, 2022 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

No one wants to think about the possibility of becoming ill and unable to care for yourself, yet it is important to consider the type of care you want should you become unable to make decisions for yourself. It’s also crucial that you make plans for what will happen to … Read More

COVID-19 Symptoms Persist for Many People

Aug 5, 2022 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

While COVID-19 was initially considered a respiratory condition, it has become apparent that the virus can affect multiple organ systems and have wideranging impacts on a person’s health. Recent studies are highlighting the fact that these impacts may be lasting—you likely have heard of “long COVID,” a term used to … Read More

Ask the Experts: Saw Palmetto for Prostate Problems; Treating Vascular Dementia; Sundowning Strategies

Aug 5, 2022 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

One of the guests on an NPR show I recently listened to said that a supplement called saw palmetto could be used to help alleviate urinary symptoms due to an enlarged prostate. Is this true? Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)—the official name for enlarged prostate—is common in older men and can … Read More

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