Study seeks former smokers with COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) describes a set of progressive lung diseases that include emphysema, chronic bronchitis, non-reversible asthma and some forms of bronchiectasis (a widening of the airways that can lead to infection).Symptoms of the condition include increased shortness of breath, frequent coughing (with and without sputum), wheezing and tightness in the chest. In ... READ MORE
Help test a vaccine to prevent avian flu
Bird flu has been out of the news for a while, but that doesn’t mean it may not be a threat at some point, or that it might not cause serious disease. The flu strain known as H5N1 has caused large outbreaks in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East.Although H5N1 does not usually infect humans, nearly 650 cases of bird flu in humans have been reported from 15 countries... READ MORE
Exercise builds brain as well as brawn
You probably know that regular exercise offers a wealth of benefits for your body, like staving off excess weight and chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise is also good for your brain.A study published in the journal Neurology links better cardiovascular fitness to improved thinking skills in older adults.The findings add to our... READ MORE
Pancreas cell transplants help diabetics
Transplants of insulin-producing pancreas cells are a long hoped-for treatment for diabetes — and a new study shows they can protect the most seriously ill patients from a life-threatening complication of the disease, an important step toward U.S. approval.These transplants are used in some countries, but in the U.S. they’re available only through research studies. Armed with... READ MORE
A prom that has two generations dancing
When you hear the term “senior prom” you probably think of high school seniors dancing the night away in their school gymnasium. However, in this column, I’m going to talk about a different type of senior prom — one that brought together older adults and teens.The Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA)’s Interages program recently hosted a senior prom that could... READ MORE
New treatments for leukemia are studied
Nearly 19,000 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) will be reported this year in the U.S., according to American Cancer Society statistics.CLL affects mainly older adults, and the average age at the time of diagnosis is 71. It is rarely seen in people under 40, and is extremely rare in children. Yet CLL accounts for one quarter of all diagnosed cases of leukemia.Chronic... READ MORE
You can fight back when drugs are denied
You make a routine trip to the pharmacy to fill a prescription. But the pharmacist tells you your Medicare drug plan won’t cover the drug. You walk away with no medication — and no clear explanation about why you were denied coverage.More and more seniors are finding themselves in this confusing and potentially dangerous situation, patient advocates say.Questions about... READ MORE
Drug distribution can block competition
The same strategy that Martin Shkreli used to get away with a 5,000-percent price increase on an old drug is used by many other drugmakers to maintain sky-high prices on billions of dollars’ worth of medications.Before the price hike that made him infamous, the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals had to ensure that no competitor would be able to launch a cheaper version of Daraprim,... READ MORE
Surprising benefits of worrying (for some)
Everyone worries, but some people worry more than others. When worry is excessive, people may develop generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In fact, close to a quarter of people who go to their primary care physicians with anxiety suffer from the condition.In general, stressful events in childhood and adulthood, having strained economic resources, being divorced, and being female all put you... READ MORE
Montgomery County honors advocates
Sarah Gotbaum, who has advocated for women’s issues for over 60 years, is one of two winners of the 2016 Path of Achievement Award.Photo courtesy of Sarah GotbaumSarah Gotbaum is the very definition of a firebrand. Now 91, the sociologist and social justice advocate has been a champion of women’s issues — from equal pay for working women to protecting the rights of retired ... READ MORE
