Aging & Independence Archives

News Briefs: October 2021

Oct 4, 2021 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Walking through Pain to Relieve PAD Symptoms About 8.5 million people in the United States have lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD). People with PAD have blockages in the arteries of their legs, resulting in reduced or stopped blood flow (called ischemia). As a result, they have discomfort and difficulty … Read More

Inflammaging: Connecting Aging and Chronic Diseases

Oct 4, 2021 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Geroscience is a growing discipline that seeks to understand the relationship between aging and age-related diseases. Rather than just studying specific diseases in a silo, the guiding principle is to examine the underlying physiology of aging, how it makes older people more vulnerable to diseases, and what can be done … Read More

Ask the Doctor: October 2021

Oct 4, 2021 · Maurizio Fava, MD · Aging & Independence

Q. I recovered from COVID-19 several months ago, but I still have symptoms like headaches and fatigue. I also have trouble concentrating. Could that be a long-COVID problem, and if so, what can I do about it? A. Difficulty thinking or concentrating, sometimes given the non-medical term “brain fog,” is … Read More

Check Ingredients When Choosing Anti-Aging Skin Care Products

Sep 21, 2021 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

In a society that places a high value on a youthful appearance, the fine lines, crow’s feet, age spots, and wrinkles on your face may reveal more about your age than you’d like. Looking younger is obviously a priority for millions of women, who spend billions of dollars on skin … Read More

Don’t Put Off Doctor’s Visits

Sep 21, 2021 · Orli R. Etingin, M.D. · Aging & Independence

We are now well into the second year of the coronavirus, and, thanks in part to the rapid spread of the delta variant, we’re still unable to return to our “normal” lives. The good news is that we have adapted the way we deliver health care to overcome the restrictions … Read More

Spinal Stenosis a Common Cause of Lower Back Pain in Older Adults

Sep 21, 2021 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

About half of Americans age 60 and older have spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal often caused by osteoarthritis. The condition is a common cause of lower back pain, and if conservative approaches don’t relieve their discomfort, many people undergo surgery to relieve it. “However, surgery is generally … Read More

How to Differentiate Between Signs of Normal Aging and Dementia

Aug 24, 2021 · Dawn Bialy · Aging & Independence

It’s not surprising that people worry about getting Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia as they get older: An estimated one in every 10 Americans over age 65 has Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. And women have even more reason for concern, since they have almost double … Read More

Unexpected Discovery Sheds New Light on Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Aug 24, 2021 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Research has shown that inflammation plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but a recent and unexpected discovery by researchers with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS) is shedding new light on the relationship between inflammation and AD. The researchers found that elevated levels of … Read More

Memory Maximizers: September 2021

Aug 24, 2021 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Breathing Exercise May Lower Blood Pressure, Sharpen Memory A special breathing workout, originally designed to help strengthen the diaphragm and other breathing muscles of critically ill respiratory disease patients, may also benefit the heart and brain. The exercise, called High-Resistance Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST), involves inhaling through a special … Read More

Ask the Doctor: September 2021

Aug 24, 2021 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Q. What does the new Alzheimer’s disease drug do, who is it for, and why is it so controversial? A. Aducanumab (Aduhelm) is the first new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved drug to treat Alzheimer’s in almost two decades. The controversy for the approval has been widespread, with … Read More

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