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23 Oct
More Seniors Splitting Up. Gray Divorce Rate Hits New High, Study Finds
The divorce rate among people 65+ nearly tripled from 1990 to 2022, and it looks like Baby Boomers are driving the trend.
22 Jul
Simple Supplement May Slow Vision Loss in Patients with Common Form of Macular Degeneration
A new study finds a daily supplement of antioxidants and minerals may slow central vision loss in people with late dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Health News Results - 181
Poll Finds Public Fears Over RSV Have Eased, Although It Remains a Threat
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 16, 2024
- Full Page
Public concerns about contracting RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) have significantly declined during the past year, a new survey shows.
About 1 in 4 people (26%) are now worried that ...
New Deals Will Cut Medicare Costs for Expensive Drugs
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- August 15, 2024
- Full Page
The Biden administration said Thursday that it has signed deals with drug companies that will lower the prices on 10 of the most popular and expensive drugs used by American seniors.
Taxpayers should save $6 billion because of the new prices, while seniors using Medicare...
Older Adults More Stressed About Inflation, Hold Off on Health Care
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 12, 2024
- Full Page
Financial stress persists even though rising inflation rates have eased, and the group feeling the pinch most acutely is in its peak earning years, a new poll shows.
"Our biggest surprise from this poll is that the age group most likely to be affected or stressed by pres...
Over a Quarter of 'Healthy' Folks Over 60 Have Heart Valve Disease
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 28, 2024
- Full Page
Heart valve disease is much more common in aging adults that has been thought, a new study warns.
More than a quarter of healthy and symptom-free people aged 60 and older had previously undetected heart valve disease, researchers report.
"Our findings showed that m...
CDC Strengthens RSV Vaccine Advice for Those Over 75
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- June 27, 2024
- Full Page
In new vaccination guidance issued Wednesday, U.S. health officials now recommend that all Americans aged 75 and older get an RSV vaccine before fall arrives.
However, those a bit younger -- ages 60 to 74 -- should only seek the shot if they are vulnerable to severe RSV ...
Older Americans in Senior Housing Have Better Health Than Those Living at Home
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 24, 2024
- Full Page
Independent living is important for seniors, but a new study shows it might not be the best thing for their health.
Older adults living in senior housing tended to have better health than those who remain in their own homes, researchers found.
People in senior hous...
Cannabis Edibles Are Triggering Poisonings Among Older Users
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- May 21, 2024
- Full Page
The legalization of cannabis and the popularity of its edible versions is having an unexpected effect: More seniors landing in emergency departments with overdoses.
A new Canadian study found "cannabis poisonings" in the province of Ontario tripled among older users afte...
What Folks Consider 'Old Age' Is Getting Older
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 22, 2024
- Full Page
People's idea of "old age"is aging itself, with middle-aged folks and seniors believing that old age starts later in life than did peers from decades ago, a new study finds.
The study revolves around the question "At what age would you describe someone as old?"
Dec...
Many Older Americans Get Care Outside of Doctor's Office, Poll Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 10, 2024
- Full Page
Most seniors have embraced "doc-in-a-box"strip mall clinics and urgent care centers as a means of getting prompt medical care, a new poll has found.
About 60% of people ages 50 to 80 have visited an urgent care center or a retail health clinic during the past two years -...
Can Older Patients With Low-Risk Leukemia Quit Seeing Specialists?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 9, 2024
- Full Page
Some slow-growing cases of leukemia don't need constant surveillance by cancer specialists, a new study claims.
Low-risk patients with slow-growing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and no symptoms fared well even after they stopped seeing doctors for specialized blood ...
Staffing Shortages at Nursing Homes Continue: Report
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2024
- Full Page
Although the pandemic has ended, staffing shortages and employee burnout still plague U.S. nursing homes, a new government report finds.
As Pickleball's Popularity Has Soared, So Have Injuries
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- February 12, 2024
- Full Page
Pickleball has become the darling of older folks trying to stay in shape, but new research shows that with that popularity has come a surge in serious injuries.
Bone fractures related to pickleball have increased 90-fold over the last 20 years, with most injuries occurri...
As Suicide Rates Climb, Older Men Are Most Vulnerable
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- November 15, 2023
- Full Page
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2023 (Healthday News) -- As U.S. suicide rates continue to rise, new government data shows older men have become the most susceptible.
In a report published Wednesday, researchers fr...
Take These Steps to 'Fall-Proof' Your Home
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 30, 2023
- Full Page
The risk of falls increases in older age, and along with it, the risk for serious physical or psychological damage, but there are steps people can take to help prevent these accidents.
Each year, about 27% of adults 65 and older fall and about 10% of those are injured.
Most Older Americans Object to Cancer Screening Cutoffs Based on Life Expectancy: Poll
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 29, 2023
- Full Page
While guidelines for cancer screening have begun factoring in life expectancy, a new poll shows a majority of older adults disagree with age cutoff...
Experiment Shows Many Seniors Falling Prey to 'Impostor Scams'
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- September 25, 2023
- Full Page
Many older adults are savvy about telephone scams, but a sizable minority remain vulnerable, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that when they simulated a "government impersonation" scam -- contacting seniors and pretending to be federal employees -- over two-thirds...
Dementia Risk Rises as Activity Rates Fall
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
Bolstering the notion that a strong body equals a strong mind, new research indicates that the more inactive seniors are, the higher their risk for dementia.
The finding stems from a look at the onset of dementia among nearly 50,000 Brits.
All were at least 60 year...
Your Hobby Could Help Keep Depression at Bay
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
Seniors, pick up those knitting needles, some paintbrushes or that favorite novel, because new research suggests that having a hobby is linked to having lower depression in older people.
Hobbies might include anything from gardening to playing games, arts and crafts, vol...
Old Age & Heat Can Be Deadly Combo: Tips to Stay Safe
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 11, 2023
- Full Page
Hot weather can pose serious health risks for older adults.
Existing medical conditions, problems moving around and medications raise the risk of heatstroke, according to an expert at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Being prepared can help prevent heat e...
Opening All Arteries Best When Heart Attack Strikes in Old Age: Study
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- August 28, 2023
- Full Page
After a heart attack, elderly adults have better odds for improved health and survival if all major heart vessels are cleared, not just the one that caused the heart attack.
Because these patients often have other medical conditions and may be frail, doctors frequen...
Extreme Heat Taxes the Brain, and Some Face Higher Risks
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- August 24, 2023
- Full Page
With 2023 predicted to be the hottest year on record, a new study is pointing to another potential consequence of heat waves: faster declines in older adults' memory and thinking skills.
Moderna or Pfizer? One COVID Shot May Be Safer for Older Adults
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 3, 2023
- Full Page
While both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective, new research finds the Moderna shot has been the safest and most effective for seniors.
"The results of this study can help public health experts weigh which mRNA vaccine might...
Could Metformin Help Seniors Bounce Back After Surgery?
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- July 28, 2023
- Full Page
The diabetes drug metformin might also benefit older patients after an injury or illness, a small study suggests.
Researchers found that metformin -- a drug that has been around for more than a half-century to regulate blood sugar -- may have a different ability: It can ...
Many Seniors With Thinking Declines Still Drive
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 25, 2023
- Full Page
Getting older adults who are failing mentally to relinquish their car keys can be challenging. But those conversations are necessary, said researchers who found a majority of adults with cognitive impairment still get behind the wheel.
Michigan Medicine researchers studi...
Volunteering Late in Life May Keep Alzheimer's Away
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2023
- Full Page
Many retirees opt to volunteer as a way to help others, but new research suggests this act can also benefit volunteers' brain health.
Volunteering later in life may provide protection for the brain from both cognitive (mental) decline and dementia, according to researche...
While 8 in 10 Seniors See Wisdom of Dementia Screening, Few Have Been Tested: Poll
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 20, 2023
- Full Page
Most older adults think that screening for dementia is a good idea, according to a new poll on aging. But few actually take that step.
Only about 20% of those aged 65 to 80 had a screening test in the past year to see if their memory and thinking abilities have started t...
As the Popularity of Pickleball Soars, So Do Related Injuries, Poll Finds
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 12, 2023
- Full Page
Pickleball is a hot trend and it's getting folks exercising who haven't been so active in a long time.
It's also racking up injuries -- both overuse type and acute traumas -- often in those aged 50 and up.
A new poll suggests these players are forgoing care when th...
Want a Healthier, Happier Old Age? Get Moving
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2023
- Full Page
The couch potato life may not be a happy one.
When older adults become more sedentary, their overall quality of life takes a hit, new research cautions.
Sitting still is your enemy, the study suggests. Even slow walking can help improve your mental and physica...
Psychiatrists Tough to Find for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Plans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2023
- Full Page
U.S. seniors with mental health needs may not have much access to psychiatrists who could help them, new research shows.
Despite an overall heightened demand for mental health services, nearly two-thirds of Medicare Advantage psychiatrist networks included less than 25%...
CDC Gives Full Approval to RSV Shots for People Over 60; Vaccines Available This Fall
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 29, 2023
- Full Page
Americans ages 60 and up can get their vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this fall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.
On Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the outgoing CDC director, gave her signature to a recommendation m...
Reversing a Trend, Sicker Americans Are Staying With Medicare Managed Care Plans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 28, 2023
- Full Page
A new study shows that older Americans with health issues are now staying with their Medicare Advantage managed plans, rather than swapping them for traditional plans through a health insurer.
Although Medicare Advantage has been criticized in the past for "cherry-pickin...
CDC Panel Backs RSV Shots for Seniors
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 22, 2023
- Full Page
An advisory panel of the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Wednesday to recommend the first RSV vaccines for seniors.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already approved the vaccines, one made by GSK called
Seniors: Stay Social, Active for 'Optimal Aging,' Study Shows
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- June 9, 2023
- Full Page
The benefits of friendships and activity aren't just for the young.
Staying socially active can also help older adults age their best, according to new research that pinpoints volunteering and recreational activities as important for seniors.
"Although the study'...
U.S. Nursing Homes Fail to Report Many Serious Falls, Bedsores: Study
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
A federal website intended to help people choose a nursing home not only contains inaccurate information, but those inaccuracies appear to be at least partially driven by race, a new study reports.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the...
Heavy Drinking Could Raise Your Risk for Frailty: Study
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 25, 2023
- Full Page
Drinking heavily while younger puts you at risk for muscle loss and frailty later in life, new research suggests.
These findings are another reason to cut back on the booze, according to the research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.
More Older Americans Use Online 'Patient Portals' to Access Care
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2023
- Full Page
Older Americans are increasingly likely to log into "patient portals"to access their health care information -- but confidence levels vary.
About 78% of people aged 50 to 80 now use at least one patient portal, according to the new University of Michigan (U-M) National ...
1 in 5 U.S. Seniors Now Skip Meds Because of Cost
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- May 22, 2023
- Full Page
Many seniors skip or stretch prescription medications due to costs despite being insured by Medicare, a new U.S. study finds.
Roughly 20% of older adults reported taking less medication than prescribed or not taking medication because of cost, the researchers found.
Rate of Fatal Falls Among U.S. Seniors Doubled in 20 Years
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 12, 2023
- Full Page
Older Americans are dying of falls at more than double the rate of 20 years ago -- with women, men and all racial groups showing increases, according to a new study.
In 2020, the study found, just over 36,500 Americans age 65 and up died of a fall-related injury. That wa...
Drinking & Driving in the Senior Years: A Recipe for Disaster
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- April 28, 2023
- Full Page
Older drivers using alcohol or drugs are much more likely to be at fault in a car crash.
Researchers studying the issue say that calls for sober-driving campaigns aimed at seniors.
"Our research shows just how much aging increases the risk of being at fault for in...
In an Aging America, a Looming Shortage of Home Health Care Workers
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- April 26, 2023
- Full Page
Over the last decade, an aging American population has increasingly turned away from nursing homes in favor of trained caregivers who can provide critical help in the home with basic daily tasks.
But a new investigation warns the need for at-home care has vastly outpaced...
Fatal Drug ODs Among U.S. Seniors Have Quadrupled in 20 Years
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 30, 2023
- Full Page
Drug overdose deaths -- both accidental and intentional -- have quadrupled over the past 20 years among older adults in the United States, a new study finds.
This increase in people ages 65 and older suggests the need for greater mental health and substance use policies,...
How to Prevent Falls: Tips for Older Adults
- Miriam Jones Bradley, RN HealthDay Reporter
- March 30, 2023
- Full Page
For older Americans, a fall is no laughing matter.
According to the National Council on Aging, more than 1 in 4 people over age 65 fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of ...
Injury-Proof Homes: Creating Safe Spaces for Older Adults
- Mandi Harenberg HealthDay Reporter
- March 24, 2023
- Full Page
There's nothing like the comfort and security of home. For many, a home is a place filled with fond memories of happy times.
It's no wonder older adults choose to extend their independence by trying to stay in their homes as they get older, an experience called aging in ...
Yoga Can Help Seniors Regain Their Strength
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2023
- Full Page
Practicing yoga might help older adults become a little surer on their feet, a new research review suggests.
The review, of 33 small clinical trials, found that older adults who participated in yoga programs typically gained some lower-body strength and boosted their wal...
After 3 Years of the Pandemic, Loneliness May Be Ebbing for America's Older Adults
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 14, 2023
- Full Page
On the third anniversary of the pandemic, a new poll shows fewer older adults are experiencing loneliness and isolation though the numbers are still high.
About one-third of adults aged 50 to 80 still sometimes or often experience isolation and loneliness, according to ...
Reducing Home Hazards Cuts Seniors' Risk of Falling
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 13, 2023
- Full Page
Nearly one-third of older people fall each year, most of them in their own homes. But it's possible to reduce those numbers by a quarter, according to a new study.
Five steps can cut the risk of falls by 26%, the researchers reported in the March 10 issue of the
For Seniors on Antidepressants, Adding a Drug May Work Better Than Switching
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- March 10, 2023
- Full Page
Many older adults with depression don't respond to their first antidepressant, so doctors will switch them to another one to see if that does the trick.
Now, new research suggests that the best strategy for these folks may instead be to add the antipsychotic drug A...
70 or Older? An Extra 500 Steps a Day Could Do Wonders for Your Heart
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 2, 2023
- Full Page
While the idea of getting 10,000 steps a day is bandied about as a good walking goal, that can be intimidating to some people, depending on how fit they are.
Now, new research in adults between the ages of 70 and 90 finds that a much smaller number of steps can ma...
FDA Panel Backs Second RSV Vaccine for Older Americans
- Cara Murez and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
- March 2, 2023
- Full Page
Following hours of discussion over safety concerns, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Wednesday recommended approval of a second RSV vaccine, this one made by GlaxoSmithKline, for use in Americans ages 60 and older.
The panel's recommendation was base...
Bed Rails Can Help and Harm: FDA Gives Guidance
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- March 1, 2023
- Full Page
While adult bed rails are marketed with safety in mind, they need to be used with caution, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises.
"Many death and injury reports related to entrapment and falls for adult portable bed rail products and hospital bed rails have been ...