National Physicians Week sets out March 25 -31 to honor the healers dedicated to the art of medicine. We are reminded to take a moment to reflect on all the ways in which physicians make a difference in our lives and appreciate the doctors we know and work alongside. The first Doctors’ Day observance was […]
Before enrolling in Medicare, you may want a basic understanding of what it is and what the various parts of Medicare cover. Knowing these basics will help make sure you get the most out of your plan. Medicare is a federal insurance program that pays for many health care expenses. Medicare enrollees are typically people age 65 […]
Scientists have studied the sleep process to discover what makes for a good night of rest. The tactics they recommend are sometimes called sleep hygiene. Healthy sleep, or sleep hygiene, improves both physical and mental health. A good night’s sleep can also improve productivity and quality of life. The Sleep Foundation and the American Sleep […]
Reducing some germ-born illnesses is as simple as washing your hands. It’s an inexpensive, easy, and effective way to avoid catching a cold or the flu, if done correctly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, feces from people or animals is a common source of germs like Salmonella, E. coli O157, and norovirus. These […]
Far worse than the average “winter blues,” the phenomenon of depressive symptoms cycling with the change of seasons has been studied since the mid-1990’s. As we move into the fall and winter seasons, which are the most common seasons associated with this condition, here are some fast facts that the research has uncovered: About 5% […]
A recent study examining potential links between sustained cessation from cigarette smoking and risk for developing dementia, found compelling evidence that nonsmokers and long-time former smokers have a reduced risk for dementia compared to recent quitters or current smokers, relative to the length of time they have not smoked. The current study included over 46,000 […]
Episodes of depression can occur at any stage during the lifespan, and professional screenings for depressive symptoms are increasingly being incorporated into more settings – doctor’s offices, schools, community health fairs, etc. Recent research, however, suggests that there is plenty of work to be done to ensure that adults in the US are being screened […]
Aimed at speeding up the research and development of improved testing and treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, a coalition of philanthropists announced their commitment earlier this week to providing more than $30 million over the next three years to a newly created initiative, the Diagnostics Accelerator. The goal for this initiative includes funding innovative, ground-breaking research […]
Avid music listeners may have a general sense that music plays an important role in their health and overall wellbeing, and new research is providing scientific evidence to support this idea, particularly for older Americans. A recent study reviewed data on 5,797 participants aged 50 or older who self-reported a number of measures including how […]
Tomorrow, Thursday the 21st, is the summer solstice. With the long stretch of daylight sandwiched between the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, it is marked as the longest day of the year. It is also the annual awareness and fundraising campaign led by the Alzheimer’s Association, meant to symbolize the long journey that millions of […]
Can Exercise Help Cognitive Function in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s? Exercise training is frequently recommended to older adults as a way to promote overall wellness and brain health. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides specific exercise recommendations regarding time and intensity for adults ages 65 and older, but these recommendations have been mostly […]
Hope for Sleeping in on the Weekends It has long been understood that not getting enough sleep each night is associated with higher mortality, and there is a long-held belief that attempting to “catch up” by sleeping in on the weekends is not actually enough to outweigh the effects of reduced sleep during the week. […]