Aging

The threat of COVID-19 has meant seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia can't receive visitors at their care facilities. Online contact is sometimes the best option.

Health & Safety

For Alzheimer's Patients And Their Families, Coronavirus Can Mean Loving From Afar

3:58pm April 07, 2020

by Jonathan Hamilton

Efforts to keep coronavirus out of care facilities has left many Alzheimer's patients isolated from their families. Online contact is often the best option but it's not the same as an in-person visit.

The hydra, a tiny sea creature, appears to never age. Scientists are studying it to learn what secrets it may hold to longevity.

Health & Safety

Opossums, Hydras And Hummingbirds: What We're Learning About Aging From Animals

6:14pm April 06, 2020

Some animals live longer than they should for their size. Some have shorter lives. And others don't appear to age at all.

Researchers have identified waves of proteins in blood that peak at three distinct stages of life. What do the findings mean for aging?

Health & Safety

Scientists Find Surprising Age-Related Protein Waves In Blood

4:23pm December 05, 2019

by Richard Harris

They've identified hundreds of proteins in human blood that wax and wane in surprising ways as we age. The findings could provide important clues about which substances in the blood can slow aging.

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The CAPABLE program provides therapy but also offers up practical solutions to help make navigating the home easier. Sarah Szanton (left) got the idea for CAPABLE when she was a nurse practitioner treating homebound seniors.

National

Program Offers TLC To Older Adults And Their Homes So They Can Stay Put

4:04pm November 26, 2019

by Ina Jaffe

Many older adults want to age in their own homes, and the CAPABLE program makes that possible by offering everything from physical therapy to grab bar installation. It's cost effective too.

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Geriatric oncologist Supriya Gupta Mohile meets with patient Jim Mulcahy at Highland Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. "If I didn't do a geriatric assessment and just looked at a patient I wouldn't have the same information," she says.

Health & Safety

A Cancer Care Approach Tailored To The Elderly May Have Better Results

11:20pm November 23, 2019

by Cheryl Platzman Weinstock

For older, often frail cancer patients, geriatric assessments can help doctors gauge the patients' physical, mental and functional capacity, and choose an appropriate treatment approach.

No Stopping Us Now: The Adventures of Older Women in American History ,byGail Collins

Books
Arts

'Past Their Prime' At 20? Book Chronicles Attitudes Toward Female Aging In America

1:45pm October 18, 2019

by Heller McAlpin

Known for the punch of her columns, The New York Times' Gail Collins sprinkles conversational, sardonic asides throughout No Stopping Us Now in an effort to keep the decades-long hike spry.

Many seniors take multiple drugs, which can lead to side effects like confusion, lightheadedness and difficulty sleeping. Doctors who specialize in the care of the elderly often recommend carefully reducing the medication load.

Health & Safety

Do You Need All Those Meds? How To Talk To Your Doctor About Cutting Back

5:02pm August 15, 2019

by Luisa Torres

Drug combinations can cause side effects like confusion and dizziness — and even increase the risk for falls. Here's how to talk to your doctor about reducing or eliminating some prescriptions.

Sheri Adler at an American Behavioral Health Systems office in Wenatchee, Wash. At age 72, Adler attempted to take her own life.

Isolated And Struggling, Many Seniors Are Turning To Suicide

8:03am July 27, 2019

The golden years are thought to be a well-earned, carefree time in life. But adults 65 and older now account for almost 1 in 5 suicides in America.

Many falls among the elderly are preventable. Ways to help include reducing certain medications, getting vision checked and using walking aides.

Health & Safety

Simple Ways To Prevent Falls In Older Adults

3:37pm July 14, 2019

by Luisa Torres

Older adults are dying from falls at a higher rate today than 20 years ago. But you can take simple steps to improve balance, vision and alertness — and keep from falling.

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Mutations, most of them harmless, accumulate in our tissues over a lifetime. The subtle genetic variations in cells make humans a mosaic.

Accumulated Mutations Create A Cellular Mosaic In Our Bodies

4:25pm June 06, 2019

by Richard Harris

It turns out you aren't simply a clone of cells from the womb. Over a lifetime, mutations create a patchwork of tissues made with pieces that have subtly different genetic signatures.