VA studies ways to help veterans avoid falls
Baltimore retiree and 30-year U.S. Army veteran David Webber has had so many falls, he said, “I stopped keeping track.” He’s fallen down stairs, while vacuuming, on a ladder and off a deck. One day he received a letter from Veterans Affairs asking for volunteers in a fall-prevention study. “I answered right away,” he said. After 12 weeks of exercise classes at the VA in Loch ... READ MORE
Volunteers with asthma needed for NIH study
If you or someone you love suffers from asthma, you know how frightening an asthma attack can be — gasping for breath, unable to get enough air. Researchers want to know what causes inflammation in the lungs that leads to asthma and other diseases. A study is underway now at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute comparing lung cells from healthy people with those of people with ... READ MORE
Test a new combo flu and Covid vaccine
When children get immunized for measles, mumps and rubella, they get one shot, known as MMR. Same with diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis, or DTaP. So why not bundle the flu shot with a Covid vaccine? A study of a combined flu and Covid vaccine is under way now at Velocity Clinical Research in Rockville, Maryland. “Right now, we have a Covid vaccine and we have a ... READ MORE
Can personal training help prevent falls?
As we age, balance begins to decline, starting at about age 50, according to most research. Of course, lack of balance can lead to devastating falls. Researchers at the University of Maryland and Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center are recruiting 100 people 65 and older for a study involving personal training to try to reduce fall risk. “The long-term goal of this research is... READ MORE
Exercise may fight residual Covid effects
If you’ve had a bout of Covid and are still feeling tired or out of breath, you’re not alone. As many as 20% of people who have recovered from an initial Covid infection have residual symptoms that affect their daily lives. That’s why the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center launched a study to determine whether exercise can help people recover faster. “The... READ MORE
Have prediabetes? Try this helpful class
One in three Americans has prediabetes and doesn’t know it. If untreated, the condition can lead to type 2 diabetes, which can wreak havoc on the body. The good news is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented if you make a few lifestyle changes, which is easier said than done. That’s where Johns Hopkins comes in. Its Diabetes Prevention Program, led by people trained by the Centers... READ MORE
Exercise study to boost veterans’ health
By now more than half of Americans say they’ve had Covid, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But some haven’t fully recovered, particularly those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. The Baltimore VA Medical Center wants to help veterans fully recover from Covid. Researchers have launched a study nicknamed “BOOST” to give free exercise... READ MORE
Can stress be a predictor of Alzheimer’s?
What if you could protect future generations from Alzheimer’s disease by simply visiting Johns Hopkins’ Bayview campus three times over two years? A new study at Hopkins, funded by the National Institute on Aging, is recruiting adults 60 and up with mild cognitive impairment. Hopkins researchers are focused on the role stress plays in the onset of Alzheimer’s... READ MORE
Veterans can lose weight with help of VA study
If you’re a U.S. veteran and need to lose weight, the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center has a study for you — and it comes with free food. Veterans between 50 and 75 who are overweight are eligible for the randomized study, titled Promotion of Weight Management in Overweight or Obese Veterans, or Power-Vet for short. For the first 12 weeks of the study, they’ll visit the ... READ MORE
Study seeks dementia patient caregivers
More than six million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. And most of them (80%) still live at home, cared for by family members, according to the Centers for Disease Control. “The caregiver is on their own,” said Laura Gitlin, PhD, dean emerita of Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions. “Families are always on their own to... READ MORE
