Cannabis use among adults 60 plus is rising at a surprising rate
If you picture a typical cannabis user, someone over 60 probably isn’t the first image that comes to mind. But a new study suggests that older adults are now the fastest growing demographic when it comes to cannabis use and researchers say the reasons why are deeply rooted in health, not recreation. The study, conducted […]
Healthy aging experts say movement matters more than workout routines
Three physicians say the fixation on formal workouts may be keeping older adults from recognizing how much movement they already do and how much it counts. The standard picture of healthy aging tends to involve a certain kind of person: someone who swims laps, takes morning walks, or shows up reliably […]
Napping habits in older adults are changing their health risks
About half of middle-aged and older Americans nap regularly during the day. For most people, that is not a cause for alarm. But a study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that when napping patterns shift in older adults, particularly when naps become more frequent, longer or move earlier into the morning, that change may […]
High salt intake is now linked to faster memory loss in older men, study finds
Salt has long carried a reputation as a cardiovascular troublemaker, driving up blood pressure and increasing the risk of heart disease. But a new study out of Australia is adding a neurological dimension to that concern, finding that high dietary sodium is associated with faster memory decline in older men specifically, a finding that researchers […]
Napping too much in old age could be your body sending a serious warning
Most people think nothing of an aging parent dozing off in the early hours of the day. But researchers at Boston’s Mass General Brigham healthcare system are urging families to pay closer attention, because frequent and lengthy napping in older adults may point to something far more serious lurking beneath the surface. A new study […]
Loneliness may quietly damage memory in older adults
Feeling lonely could be doing more damage to the aging brain than previously understood but perhaps not in the way most people would expect. A new study involving more than 10,000 older adults across 12 European countries found that those who reported higher levels of loneliness performed worse on memory tests from the outset. Notably, […]
High dose flu shot may cut Alzheimer’s risk by 55%
A new study finds older adults who get a stronger flu vaccine may cut their Alzheimer’s risk significantly and women appear to benefit the most. Researchers may have found a compelling new reason for older adults to roll up their sleeves every flu season. Older adults who received a high-dose influenza vaccine had a 55% […]
Body temperature varies by age and ignoring that difference can lead to missed diagnoses
Most people carry the same piece of health knowledge from childhood into adulthood, that normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a number taught in schools and printed on thermometer packaging, and it has become so embedded in our understanding of health that questioning it feels almost counterintuitive. But experts in infectious disease […]
Researchers uncover a disturbing connection between wildfire smoke and stroke that demands attention
A major new study has drawn a direct line between wildfire smoke and increased stroke risk in older adults, adding to a growing body of evidence that the health consequences of wildfires extend well beyond the flames themselves. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, examined nearly 25 million Americans aged 65 and older […]
Balance recovery is harder for aging brains and Parkinson’s patients”
Balance is something most people take for granted until it fails them. A new study published in the journal eNeuro is offering a revealing look at what happens inside the brain and body when that system is put to the test, and the findings carry serious implications for older adults and those living with Parkinson’s […]