10,000 steps a day — or fewer?
10,000 steps a day has become the gold standard for many people. That number has sold many step-counting devices and inspired interoffice competitions. But it’s a big number that can be hard to reach....
View ArticleWant a sharp mind, strong memory? Ramp up activities
We all want to keep our minds sharp and our memories strong as we get older. So, what can we do right now to prevent cognitive decline in later years? Engaging in regular aerobic exercise for at least...
View ArticleAvoiding nuts and seeds for better gut health? You shouldn’t
Nuts and seeds are important components of a healthy diet. But if you have diverticula — little pouchlike structures that sometimes form in the muscular wall of the colon and bulge outward — you may...
View ArticleLeg pain when you walk? Don’t ignore it
Walking is often touted as a perfect exercise to improve multiple aspects of health. But what if walking causes leg pain? Many people shrug off leg pain when they walk as a normal part of aging. In...
View ArticleFeeling gassy — is it ever a cause for concern?
Everyone does it, but no one talks about it. No, not that topic — the fact that we pass gas every day. In fact, the average person produces between 1/2 and 1 liter of gas daily and passes gas about 10...
View ArticleWant to travel back in time? Use episodic memory
You can picture the long-ago scene perfectly: The waiter opens your bottle of champagne with the familiar — yet always startling — pop. The bubbles tickle your nose as you sniff the effervescent...
View ArticleIs there a test for Alzheimer’s disease?
After spending 30 minutes hunting for your car in a parking lot, or getting lost on a familiar route, have you ever considered asking your doctor for a blood test or brain scan to find out if you have...
View ArticleStudy supports benefit of statin use for older adults
Statin drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young and middle-aged adults. With older adults (those 75 and over), the benefits are less clear. But a recent study...
View ArticleIf you are happy and you know it… you may live longer
Plenty of research suggests optimistic people have a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and declines in lung capacity and function. Optimism is also associated with a lower risk of early death from...
View ArticlePreventing falls in older adults: Multiple strategies are better
Despite considerable research and clinical effort, falls among people 65 and older are on the rise. An older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds, with injuries ranging...
View ArticleA clue to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease
Are you worried about Alzheimer’s disease? Does one of your parents or siblings have the disease? If so, your risks are between two and four times that of the general public. What about people without...
View ArticleWill a purpose-driven life help you live longer?
Do you get joy out of volunteering, helping out with your grandkids, or learning new skills in that class you’ve been taking? If you said yes, it could help you live longer. As it turns out, being...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Trouble with crossword puzzles? Improve your semantic memory
Can you distinguish the taste of a red wine versus a rosé? How about the look of a 1960s muscle car versus a foreign import? Do you prefer to grow lilies or tulips? Would you rather listen to Dark Side...
View ArticleHearing loss may affect brain health
Hearing is a complex sense that provides us with awareness of environmental sounds and, more importantly, the ability to communicate. The ear is the organ responsible for perceiving sound, but it may...
View ArticleWhat’s the best way to manage agitation related to dementia?
You notice your loved one becoming more forgetful. She cannot recall her visit with her granddaughters yesterday. She claims she took her medications this morning, yet you find them untouched in her...
View ArticleFive healthy habits net more healthy years
Are healthy habits worth cultivating? A recent study suggests healthy habits may help people tack on years of life and sidestep serious illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer. After all, if you’re...
View ArticleHands or feet asleep? What to do
We’ve all been there. You awaken in the morning and one of your hands is completely numb. It feels dead, heavy, and simply won’t work. Perhaps there’s some tingling as well. Or, you arise from a long...
View ArticleThe role of our minds in the avoidance of falls
A few years ago, my grandmother suffered a fall and broke her hip. She has never fully recovered and is now constantly fearful of falling, and has significantly limited her activities to prevent a fall...
View ArticleCan short bouts of running lengthen lives?
Working hard and feeling like you don’t have any time to exercise? Well, the reality is we all have time. If you’re feeling bad about not exercising enough or at all, some exciting data crunching from...
View ArticleThe BEEP program: Keep your balance
Balance is a skill you don’t think about until you really need it — like when you lose your footing and have to perform an exotic improv dance to keep from hitting the ground. But don’t wait until your...
View Article
