10,000 dogs needed for study of aging
Can old dogs teach us new tricks? Scientists are looking for 10,000 pets for the largest-ever study of aging in canines. They hope to shed light on human longevity, too. The project will collect a pile of pooch data: vet records, DNA samples, gut microbes and information on food and walks. Five hundred dogs will test a pill that could slow the aging process. “What we learn will... READ MORE
Eat healthier: try these simply food swaps
We could probably all stand to eat a little healthier, but traditional nutrition swaps are kind of a bummer (no, rice cakes are not an acceptable substitute for rice pudding, thank you very much). And, really, the key to permanently cleaning up your diet is adding in more healthy foods that you actually enjoy eating. Try these delicious food swaps: 1. Swap coconut water for... READ MORE
Over-worrying about health is unhealthy
Dear Mayo Clinic: What is the difference between occasionally worrying that something is wrong with me and somatic symptom disorder? How can I stop worrying that I’m not as healthy as my doctor says? A: A little worry over your health is normal. But for some people, fear and concern over symptoms can get out of control. These people can become convinced that they have a particular... READ MORE
Mediterranean-style diet best for heart
There is a mountain of high-quality research supporting a Mediterranean-style diet as the best diet for our cardiovascular health. But what does this diet actually look like, why does it work, and how can we adopt it into our real lives? The Mediterranean diet is not a fad. It is a centuries-old approach to meals, traditional to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. The... READ MORE
Study finds no baby powder/cancer link
U.S. government-led research found no strong evidence linking baby powder with ovarian cancer in the largest analysis to look at the question. The findings were called “overall reassuring” in an editorial published in January together with the study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The analysis involving 250,000 women isn’t definitive, but more conclusive... READ MORE
Side effects of grieving put health at risk
Nothing quite prepares you for the heartache of profound loss. It settles in like a gloomy thrum — sometimes louder, sometimes softer — with a volume switch you can’t entirely shut off. For me, that heartbreak arrived this past October, when my mother died after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, dementia and disability. Now, for the first time in my life, I’m... READ MORE
Exploring dental and mental health link
Can better oral hygiene slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease, even for a few years? The question arises after a medical study last January established a link between Alzheimer’s disease and the bacteria that cause gum disease. A new pilot study at the University of Maryland’s Claude D. Pepper Center will take a closer look at the... READ MORE
Using new (and old) drugs to help hearts
Novel drugs — and old ones as well — may offer fresh ways to reduce heart risks beyond the medicines typically used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. One new study found that heart attack survivors benefited from a medicine long used to treat gout. Several experimental drugs also showed early promise for interfering with heart-harmful genes without modifying the genes... READ MORE
Study seeks to better understand asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. One in 13 Americans, or about 8% of the population, suffers from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That means more than 25 million people suffer from asthma in the U.S. alone. Although generally thought of as a treatable disease,... READ MORE
To avoid winter falls, consider these tips
Winter season can be a time of increased danger for everyone, but especially older adults. Fall-related deaths among people aged 75 and older have almost tripled since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Here are some suggestions for staying safely on your feet this winter: —If you use a cane, get an ice gripper cane tip. These metal-spike attachments cost less than... READ MORE
