On Aging

Health & Safety

Ineffective Treatment Often Prescribed For Lower Back Pain, Report Says

5:37pm April 05, 2018

by Rina Shaikh-Lesko

And the number of sufferers is expected to increase, especially in lower-income countries as people in rural areas move to urban centers and adopt more sedentary lives. So what can help them?

Tell Us: Are You Unable To Retire Or Retired But Back To Work?

11:10am April 03, 2018

by Ina Jaffe

For many Americans, retirement is no longer the long vacation they once imagined. More older adults are in the workforce than ever.

Cutting back up to 25 percent of your calories per day helps slow your metabolism and reduce free radicals that cause cell damage and aging. But would you want to?

You May Live Longer By Severely Restricting Calories, Scientists Say

11:38am April 02, 2018

Scientists have long been fascinated with whether dramatically restricting the amount of food we eat can help us live longer. New research suggests it might, but the question is, is it worth it?

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After a lifetime of agricultural work on the U.S. mainland, Ausberto Maldonado retired home to a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico. But he has diabetes, and especially since Hurricane Maria, has been struggling to get by.

Time's Running Out For Many Frail, Older People In Puerto Rico

8:57am March 30, 2018

by Sarah Varney

Ausberto Maldonado picked corn and asparagus for years on the U.S. mainland before retiring in Puerto Rico. He has diabetes, and as the island's safety net wears thin, he's struggling to survive.

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A document developed by a New York end-of-life agency permits people who want to avoid the ravages of advanced dementia to make their final wishes known — while they still have the ability to do so. One version requests that all food and fluids be withh

'Aggressive' Advance Directive Permits Halting Food And Water In Severe Dementia

1:19pm March 29, 2018

by JoNel Aleccia

Supporters call this right-to-die proposal the strongest move yet to document a person's advance wishes in cases of severe dementia. Critics say it would deny basic care to society's most vulnerable.

One of the life-size body cast statues of "Another Place" created by the artist Antony Gormley looks out over the Mersey Estuary at sunset at Crosby beach on April 15, 2014, in Crosby, United Kingdom.

Why Not Talk About Death?

2:56pm March 26, 2018

by Adam Frank

Many people just don't want to talk about what it means to live in the face of death. Astrophysicist Adam Frank reflects on life and death — and invites others to do the same.

How do LGBTQ adults experience discrimination and how does it impact their health? Experts discuss the issue in a webcast from Harvard's Chan School of Public Health.

Forum: How Discrimination Damages Health In LGBTQ Communities

1:18pm March 21, 2018

by Joe Neel

How do LGBTQ adults experience discrimination and how does it impact their health? Join us for a discussion with experts in a webcast from Harvard's Chan School of Public Health at noon ET Wednesday.

Cost, procrastination and a lack of insurance coverage are just a few of the reasons adults give health care providers for not getting vaccinated against shingles and other illnesses.

Shingles Is Nasty, And The New Vaccine Works Well. Why Do Adults Avoid Shots?

11:21am March 20, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

Beyond annual flu shots, older adults need protection against shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, federal health officials say. But many aren't getting vaccinated.

Scientists are finding that, just as with secondhand smoke from tobacco, inhaling secondhand smoke from marijuana can make it harder for arteries to expand to allow a healthy flow of blood.

Are There Risks From Secondhand Marijuana Smoke? Early Science Says Yes

11:09pm March 19, 2018

by Marissa Ortega-Welch

Now that marijuana is legal in more than 20 states, we all may be exposed to more marijuana on the street. Researchers warn that secondhand smoke from pot poses risks to the heart, lungs and arteries.

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Health & Safety

Guys, We Have A Problem: How American Masculinity Creates Lonely Men

9:00pm March 19, 2018

Boys get the message quickly: a man is supposed to be strong and independent. That message, researchers say, has widespread consequences for men's social lives and physical health.

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