Researchers study meditation for anxiety
Can a once-a-week meditation class alleviate anxiety and depression? That’s what researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center want to find out. Its previous study found meditation could be as effective as an anti-anxiety medication. In January, they published their findings in JAMA Psychiatry that a study of more than 276 people found mindfulness-based stress reduction was more... READ MORE
Studying sleep and memory problems
Sleep and memory loss have a chicken-and-egg relationship. People with early Alzheimer’s disease tend to have trouble sleeping, and lack of sleep may contribute to memory loss. If you have memory lapses and also have a hard time sleeping, there’s a study at Johns Hopkins that could help. Known as the REST study, it involves a common, FDA-approved sleep aid called... READ MORE
Vets with low back pain wanted for study
Most of us have had at least one bout of lower back pain in our lives. But about half of all veterans have chronic low back pain. Now a study is under way to determine the best way to treat that pain without medication. The nationwide study, known as Sequential and Comparative Evaluation of Pain Treatment Effectiveness Response (SCEPTER), will enroll more than 2,500 U.S. veterans.... READ MORE
New health study seeks older volunteers
Most of us have never heard of a condition called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (also known as CHIP). But 10% of people over age 60 have the condition — and may not know it. “It’s really common in older people,” said Emma Groarke, principal investigator of a study on the condition at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She describes CHIP as “genetic... READ MORE
Memory issues? This study may help you
Are you or is someone you love having trouble with remembering things and keeping up with daily activities? A little help around the house can make a big difference for older adults. Johns Hopkins is currently recruiting dozens of Baltimore-area residents and their caregivers for a study to determine how best to help older adults with mild cognitive impairment maintain... READ MORE
A scratch-and-sniff test for Parkinson’s
A seasonal cold or case of Covid can cause people to lose their sense of smell temporarily. But people whose sense of smell has disappeared for good may be at risk for brain disease. In fact, people with enduring smell loss have a 30% chance of having brain changes associated with Parkinson’s disease. Now, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is using a screening... READ MORE
Two vaccine studies seeking volunteers
Sometimes a cold can progress to something more dangerous. In people over 60, the common respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, starts out as a mild cold but can cause bronchitis, pneumonia and even chronic pulmonary obstruction disease (COPD). In fact, RSV is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations for older adults. Now, a drug company is launching a worldwide study of 10,000 people ... READ MORE
VA Annex hopes to prevent falls in veterans
As we age, we’re more likely to fall and, as a result, become injured or even disabled. More than one in three people over age 65 falls each year, according to the National Institute on Aging. Falls Prevention Week, September 18 to 24, 2022, is a time to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Public-service announcements this month may remind us to secure loose rugs around the... READ MORE
Three NIH studies will focus on fatigue
If you’re tired of being tired, you’re not alone. Cancer survivors, people with chronic illnesses such as lupus, and many older adults suffer from fatigue. A lab at NIH’s National Institute of Nursing Research is currently enrolling people in three clinical trials related to fatigue. “They’re all trying to better understand fatigue,” said Alex Ross, senior research nurse... READ MORE
Participants sought for a Maryland study
If you’d like to be part of a new research program whose goal is to improve the health of Marylanders, the University of Maryland School of Medicine wants to hear from you. Researchers are seeking to engage 250,000 Marylanders to build a resource that will enable a broad range of health- and disease-related research. They’ll use surveys and other health information as well as DNA... READ MORE
