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
Study of potential Alzheimer’s treatment
Alzheimer’s disease starts with mild memory loss. What if there was a pill to prevent the disease from getting worse? Studies of an investigational drug are underway to see if it may be effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who carry two copies of a certain gene (APOE/4) that increases the risk of developing it and other dementias. While one in four ... READ MORE
Study pairs flu shot and shingles vaccine
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new recommendation: People over age 65 should get a stronger flu vaccine than the general public. Why? Because they’re more likely to suffer serious complications from the flu. That’s because our immune systems don’t work as well as we age. “As we get older, our ability to respond to vaccines —... READ MORE
Studying connection between aging, falls
When it comes to dementia and falls, which comes first? Do people with dementia fall more often, or does falling down indicate dementia? Researchers at Johns Hopkins hope to find out. They’re conducting two studies this summer that will look at how dementia affects balance. “The same parts of your brain that control memory play a significant role in how you maintain your... READ MORE
Can omega-7 help prevent heart disease?
Most of us have lost relatives or friends who have had a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the world and in our country. According to the CDC, about 660,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths. That’s why researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) want... READ MORE
Three studies aim for improved balance
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in older Americans. Often, people who fall down have simply lost their balance, something that becomes more common with age. Other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, muscle loss or stroke, can also affect balance. If you’ve fallen down at least twice in the past year, or if you’ve had a stroke, you may benefit from one of several... READ MORE
Psoriasis study at NIH seeks volunteers
Three million Americans live with psoriasis — a scaly, itchy red skin rash — and so far, there’s no cure. Doctors don’t know what causes the condition, but the immune system and genetics are partly to blame. Researchers at NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute are trying to determine how psoriasis affects the heart because “people who have inflammation conditions... READ MORE
Say what? Study helps focus on hearing
If you have trouble keeping up with a conversation in a noisy restaurant, you’re not alone. After all, as we age, our ears and brains age, too. Now researchers at the University of Maryland’s Hearing Lab are launching a study to teach older adults how to listen better. They’re seeking 100 volunteers between the ages of 65 and 85. “For someone who has trouble understanding... READ MORE
Volunteer for new fall-prevention study
As we age, falling is not only more likely but more dangerous. A bad fall can lead to death or permanent damage. About 38 million older Americans — one out of four older adults — suffer a fall each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The majority of them survive, but many never fully recover. “The number-one cause of injurious death to older adults is falling,” ... READ MORE
Help researchers compare hearing aids
About 28.8 million Americans could benefit from hearing aids, according to NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Yet fewer than one in three have ever tried them. Some people who do try hearing aids are disappointed because they don’t provide the quality of sound they expected. Now researchers at the University of Maryland’s Hearing Brain Lab... READ MORE
