A New Alzheimer's Approach
Good nutrition and a sharper brain are more strongly linked that we knew. Resist the fries and resist cognitive decline...   > >
Feed Your Head
Good nutrition and a sharper brain are more strongly linked that we knew. Resist the fries and resist cognitive decline...   > >
Making Headway on BRCA
Researchers discover exactly what makes BRCA mutations so dangerous for breast cancer risk. Now, for new treatments...   > >
Bad Vibes for Bone Loss
Whole body vibration platforms have been marketed to prevent bone loss. Problem is, they don't work...   > >
Feed Your Sperm Well
Good nutrition and lifestyle choices are just as important for men's fertility as for women's. So be kind to your sperm...   > >
Winters are Tough on Arthritis
Winter reduces exercise levels and those with arthritis pay a painful price for sitting around. How to get moving...   > >
Study Overturns Alzheimer's Theory
The idea that a build-up of beta-amyloid plaques is behind Alzheimer's has been turned on its head...   > >
Good News for Joints
Osteoarthritis is a product of your immune system, not just wear and tear. Disrupt the attack, stop the disease...   > >
Saving Breasts After Cancer
A procedure that preserves the nipple during breast cancer surgery helps with reconstruction — and better yet, it's safe...   > >
Does Living Happy = Living Longer?
Happiness measured at one point in time was linked to lower mortality five years later. Cause or coincidence?   > >
Middle-Aged Stressors Up Death Risk
Going through a string of difficult life events in middle age raises one's death risk. But there is a silver lining...   > >
Colon Cancer Linked to Bug
Colon cancer tissue was infected with a specific bacterium. Could this mean a cancer antibiotic in the future?   > >
Preventing Stroke in at-Risk Brains
Drugs to reduce the brain's immense energy needs may serve to help preserve it when its blood supply is compromised...   > >
ED Linked to a Broken Heart
A study finds that ED predicts future heart disease. But another finds an easy way to improve sexual function...   > >
Stents Double Risk of Second Stroke
A study is ended early because stents proved so risky compared to treating patients' high blood pressure and cholesterol...   > >
Stents Double Risk of Second Stroke
A study is ended early because stents proved so risky compared to treating patients' high blood pressure and cholesterol...   > >
High Heat Harms Medications
Exposing medications to extreme temperatures, such as in the car when traveling, reduces their potency. How hot is too hot?   > >
Making Your Fat Burn More Calories
Brown fat burns many more calories than white fat. Now, a surprising new way to make white fat behave like brown...   > >
Memory Loss: New Hope
In aging brains cyclic AMP, a cytokine, weakens cell firing, slowing working memory. Blocking it reverses the effect...   > >
Postmenopausal Weight Loss
Older women – men too – who see a lower number on their scales are likely to be delighted. But it could be a bad sign...   > >
Ovarian Cancer Gene Discovered
Having a faulty RAD51D gene means a 1 in 11 chance of ovarian cancer. Knowing your status can help with serious decisions...   > >
Warning on Colon Cleanses
Though they may sound enticingly healthy, colonics can pose serious, even fatal, health risks. Have some fiber instead...   > >
Grapes vs. Alzheimer's
Grape seed extract – and perhaps red wine – shows promise as a way to slow the progression of Alzheimer's...   > >
Earlier Menopause for Celiac Women
Women with undiagnosed celiac disease go through menopause earlier than celiac women who are diagnosed. Why?   > >
Yoga for Stroke
Stroke patients with balance problems began with work from a wheelchair and progressed to standing and sitting on the floor...   > >
Scanning the Brain's Networks
A new technique enables researchers to view patterns of activity within the whole brain, rather than just discrete regions...   > >
Turning Off Cancer
From a chance discovery, scientists develop a new way to shut down cancer growth...   > >
Apples Work Wonders
A compound in apples, ursolic acid, helps prevent the muscle atrophy that comes with illness and age...   > >
Paxil and Pravachol: A Bad Combo
Drug interactions can be surprising. Alone, neither Paxil nor Pravachol raise blood sugar. Together, they do...   > >
Prozac Not Working For You?
People taking anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen may find that their SSRI antidepressants don't work as well...   > >
How "Health Literate" Are You?
Patients who are less knowledgeable about their own health have a greater chance of being hospitalized — and of dying...   > >
It's Never Too Late to Start Exercising
A study of women over 60 found that moderate exercise – just walking – significantly improved blood flow and BP...   > >
Fat But Fit Better
Fitness level may be a better predictor of heart disease than obesity. But thin and fit is still the best bet...   > >
Preventing Atrial Fib
Afib is one of the more preventable heart disturbances. What you need to do to take it out of the picture...   > >
Healing Your Heart
Injecting stem cells into hearts reduces enlargement and scar tissue, and boosts heart function. What's the drawback?   > >
Exercise Cuts Salt's Effect on BP
Regular exercise can inhibit salt's tendency to raise blood pressure. But don't break out the chips yet...   > >
Seniors Unaware of Free Health Services
Too many Medicare recipients are not taking advantage of the preventive health care services they are entitled to...   > >
An OTC for the Brain?
Ibuprofen appears to offer protection against Parkinson's disease. Brain inflammation may be the reason...   > >
Skip That Colonoscopy?
You may be able to avoid this dreaded test with fecal occult blood tests or flexible sigmoidoscopy...   > >
US Unhealthier Than UK
Americans’ health is worse than their British counterparts’ in everything from asthma to angina. Is our healthcare system to blame?   > >
Cognitive Problems in Cancer Patients
Cancer patients on opioid painkillers often experience confusion, disorientation and forgetfulness. Is there an alternative?   > >
Of Mice and, Hopefully, Men
An accidental discovery has resulted in serious hair re-growth in stressed mice. If men are next, let the celebration begin...  > >
Obesity Trumps Everything
Being overweight was found to dramatically raise men's risk of death from heart attack, even if they were otherwise healthy...   > >
Nuts, Beans, Fruit, Seeds...
A study of 400,000 people over 50 found that those who ate lots of fiber tended to live longer. Post your favorite recipe...   > >
Surgical Breast Biopsies
Doctors are ordering surgical breast biopsies when needle biopsies would suffice. What’s the cost, emotionally, financially?   > >
Live Longer
An Australian study has found that elderly people on this osteoporosis drug are living longer than other people.  > >
New Osteoporosis Guidelines
The guidelines for osteoporosis screening have been expanded — do they include you?  > >
Waiting for HRT
Waiting longer to begin hormones after menopause may reduce your risk of breast cancer. How long should you wait?  > >
Don't Sit Too Long At Your Computer
A new study finds the health risks involved in spending hours sitting (in front of a screen or anywhere) are huge...   > >
Antibiotics and BP Med Danger
Taking some antibiotics while on certain BP meds can cause a severe drop in blood pressure and falls. An alternative...   > >
Hot Flashes Are Good?
Hot flashes and other menopause symptoms may actually have a protective effect when it comes to certain cancers...  > >
Walk On
Walking just 5 miles a week slows mental decline significantly, even among those with Alzheimer's. Get started now...   > >
Best Breast Cancer Treatments
The success rate in treatment is closely linked to the surgical skill and radiation strategy of your oncologist. What works...   > >
Active Survival
Men with prostate cancer can raise their odds of surviving by being active. How active? You'd be surprised...   > >
Foods to Rescue You
Research finds that eating certain foods now can seriously reduce the risk of heart attack later...   > >
Viva Fruits, Vegetables — and Vino
Seniors who eat – and drink – a more Mediterranean style diet have less cognitive decline than people who don't.   > >
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Virus?
The supposed link between chronic fatigue syndrome and the XMRV virus may be simply the result of lab contamination...   > >
Aging Better
A 10-year study of people 70 and over has found that those following simple healthy eating guidelines live better and longer...   > >
Raise the Cholesterol?
More evidence that "good" cholesterol really is good: Higher levels of HDL may reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease...   > >
Alzheimer's Breakthrough?
It is not that Alzheimer's brains overproduce dangerous plaques; they have trouble getting rid of them once they've formed...   > >
For the New Year: Let's Quit!
The Surgeon General's report on smoking details the damage and the speed with which smoke (even secondhand) harms you...  > >
Can Science Reverse Aging?
Researchers find a way to control a gene that plays a key role in the aging process. It worked in mice: are humans next?  > >
Fatigued? Depressed? Retire!
Workers with exhaustion and depression felt significantly better after they retired. But is it not working that did it?  > >
A Weight Gain Wake-Up Call
Gaining weight wreaks havoc on the heart and significantly ups the odds for heart disease. So go easy on the cookies...  > >
Abandoned Prescriptions
How many people go to the doctor, get a prescription and then either don't fill it or simply never pick it up?  > >
Bluetooth for BP
Using your cell phone and your doctor's feedback to "telemonitor" your blood pressure can help keep it in check...  > >
More Evidence for Early Mammograms
Just in: Another new study finds that early mammograms may bring big benefits to women under 50...  > >
Heart Imaging Danger
The dye used in heart imaging can harm the kidneys. Doctors thought acetylcysteine could protect us. Not so...  > >
Spotty Care for Rural Elders
In much of rural America medical and geriatric care may be minimal. A new program that tightens the safety net may help...  > >
Eye on Glaucoma
What can a common eye condition reveal more about our overall health?  > >
Preventing Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease appears linked to problems in the brain’s energy stores. New research suggests a fix...  > >
Lose Your Belly Fat
This simple eating adjustment can help reduce belly fat, as well as your risk for diabetes and heart disease...  > >
Aging Like Wine
So often studies tell us what not to do. Finally, here's one that tells you what you need to do to age well...  > >
Aspirin for the Colon
Low doses of aspirin may be quite effective in fighting off colon cancer in those at high risk — but how it works is still a mystery...  > >
Hormones Raise Cancer Risk
A landmark study finds that HRT raises a woman's odds of developing invasive breast cancer, and of dying from it...  > >
Now Remember This
Higher levels of vitamin B12 were linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease — so eat your eggs!...  > >
Med Before Bed
Taking blood pressure medications before bed boosts their effectiveness by working with your body's natural rhythms...  > >
Mammograms for 40-Somethings?
Two new studies add to the debate about whether mammograms should be standard for women in their 40s...  > >
Helping Families Get Healthier
A study at IBM shows that modest company-sponsored incentive programs can increase the health of workers and their families...  > >
What Hurts the Heart?
Metabolic syndrome can double the risk of heart attack and stroke. The good news is it doesn’t necessarily lead to diabetes...  > >
The Whole Grains Secret
Researchers find that people who consume more magnesium are less likely to develop diabetes. So have some whole grains...  > >
A Little Exercise Benefits Bones
Women, listen up: Exercising just 20 minutes a day may mean the difference between fractures and healthy bones...  > >
FDA Restricts Diabetes Drug
The FDA has issued restrictions on who can be prescribed the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia^®. There is a confirmed heart risk...  > >
Magnetic Pulsing
A small study has found that stroke patients recover better when they receive magnetic pulses to the brain...  > >
Joint Disappointment
A major study of the joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin found they offer no benefit to arthritic joints...  > >
Angioplasty, No Free Pass
Using a balloon to open clogged arteries reduces angina, but not the threat of a heart attack...  > >
B for the Brain
People taking high doses of B vitamins had less brain shrinkage than those who didn't in this Oxford University study...  > >
Medical Mistakes, Real and Imagined
Many people think their doctors made an error. Whether it's true or not, patients often switch doctors as a result...  > >
Omega-3's and Diabetes
Researchers show how these beneficial little fats reduce inflammation in fat cells, and could help stave off diabetes...  > >
The Price of Malpractice
Researchers calculate that medical malpractice and defensive medicine cost the nation billions of dollars each year...  > >
Challenging Mammograms
Hormone Replacement Therapy may affect how doctors interpret the tests, leading to diagnoses of breast cancer where none is present...  > >
You Can Change Your Heart's Fate
By adjusting the diet, it's possible to reverse metabolic syndrome, the precursor to heart disease and diabetes...  > >
Mind over Matter
Seniors who worry about falling actually fall more than those who don't, even when their risk of falling is the same...  > >
Sexual Cholesterol
Doctors testing a woman's cholesterol may want to ask when her last period was, since estrogen levels may affect the reading...  > >
More Bad News for Fructose
Cancer cells actually prefer fructose over glucose to fuel themselves and help them proliferate...  > >
An Alternative to Hysterectomy
For some women, a procedure that stops blood flow to uterine fibroids may be a good alternative to hysterectomy...  > >
Stem Cells Heal Hearts
Tiny "scaffolds" lined with stem cells may help damaged hearts tissue repair itself - but will it work in humans?  > >
Calcium: Trouble for the Heart?
Calcium supplements may strengthen the bones, but they may also raise the risk of heart attack, researchers say...  > >
Not So Sweet Alabama
People who have higher levels of the chemicals PCBs in their bodies also seem to have higher blood pressure...  > >
Patient Doctor Communications
Doctors and patients don't communicate well, which can be a big health problem. If patients speak up, things improve...  > >
Friends, For a Long and Healthy Life
Having a strong social support system rivals quitting smoking in terms of the years it can add to our lives...  > >
Fish for the Eyes
Age-related macular degeneration can cause blindness in seniors. Eating fish loaded with omega-3's may help prevent it...  > >
Saved by a Whisker
Researchers relieved blocked arteries in rats just by stroking a whisker. Can this approach be applied to humans?...  > >
Sniffing Insulin for Alzheimer's
Not just for diabetics: A sniff of the hormone insulin may help recover memory function in Alzheimer's patients...  > >
Seniors on Antibiotic Risk High Potassium
An antibiotic often prescribed for urinary tract infections can raise potassium levels to dangerously high levels...  > >
Cholesterol and Cancer: Strong Link?
“Good” HDL cholesterol was found to be linked to much lower risk of cancer: now the questions is why this is the case...  > >
CBT and Exercise Help Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia patients better manage their pain with cognitive behavior therapy and exercise. Knowing how they cope helps, too...  > >
Vacuuming Stroke-Causing Clots?
Early studies using a tiny vacuum to remove blood clots in the brain show promise and extend the time to treatment...  > >
Get That Gallbladder Out!
If you suffer from gallbladder inflammation you should probably have it removed to reduce risk and financial cost.   > >
New, and Not Necessarily Improved
New drugs are often prescribed over the old even if they aren't better or more cost effective. And few are paying attention.   > >
Deactivating Defibrillators and Pacemakers
Patients with pacemakers or defibrillators may receive painful shocks during their last days. What can be done? > >
Anemia Drugs Not for Kidney Patients
ESAs, a common class of drugs used to treat anemia post a risk of stroke and clots for elderly kidney patients...   > >
Talk About Sexual Problems
Aging presents some obstacles to sexual satisfaction. Many can be overcome, but talking to your partner or spouse appears key...  > >
Mini-Strokes Are Not Minor
TiAs, or transient ischemic attacks, are very often warning signs of an impending stroke. Too few seek treatment for them...  > >
More Reasons to Get Your ZZZs...
Inadequate sleep raises the risk of early death and diabetes. It may also help explain the rising rates of diabetes worldwide...   > >
A Laughing Matter
Break out the sitcom DVDs. Laughter may help stimulate appetite in older adults and people with chronic pain...   > >
The Senior Hustle
Dancing improves seniors' balance and prevents falls. It also can raise their spirits. A low impact program helps...   > >
Helping Tooth Extractions Heal Faster
A promising "Buffy-Coat" technique uses platelet-rich plasma to help tooth-extraction patients form new bone...   > >
B-Vitamins May Help Protect from Heart Disease and Stroke
Vitamin B6 and folate can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. A reduction in homocysteine seems to be at work...   > >
Detecting Lung Cancer Early
A new approach yields cells that provide a look at a genetic marker which may predict cancer before a tumor starts...   > >
Cardiac Recovery -- Walkin' The Dog
One way to get cardiac patients active again is to have them walk dogs at their local animal shelter, a win-win situation...  > >
Spinal Fusions On the Rise
Operations to relieve the back and leg pains associated with disc problems have risen dramatically. Are they all necessary?...  > >
Middle-Aged Increasingly Disabled
The number of middle-aged Americans who say they cannot easily perform daily functions like climbing ten stairs has risen...  > >
Say What? OTC Pain Meds Raise Risk of Hearing Loss
A long-term study has found that men who regularly take pain medication have a higher rate of hearing loss...  > >
A Clip For Leaking Mitral Valves
A clothespin-like clip, inserted through a vein in the groin, is a promising alternative to open-heart surgery...  > >
Quitting Smoking Brings Results
Just one year after quitting smoking non-smokers enjoy improved flow in their brachial arteries, a key sign of heart health...  > >
Hip Fracture Patients Need More Help
A meta-analysis finds that after breaking a hip, people need more help than they tend to get...  > >
High Blood Pressure Can Be Good?
Patients with chest pains who had the highest systolic BP had the best prognosis, a study has found. But there is more...  > >
Zen Mind, Less Pain
Zen meditation reduces a person's sensitivity to pain. Meditators had thicker gray matter, a good sign for aging brains, too...  > >
Adults: Diet Makes A Difference
It's not too late: Even older adults can lower their cholesterol by eating fish and cutting down on butter and saturated fats...  > >
Over 70? A Few Pounds Can Help
People over 70 who are a bit heavier than the ideal BMI tend to live longer than those in the "normal" range. But obesity was of no benefit...  > >
The Pill and Osteoporosis
A recent study has found that when young women take oral contraceptives, their bone density suffers. A number of factors need to be weighed, however...  > >
High BP Means More Brain Lesions, Dementia
People with high blood pressure are more likely to have the sorts of white matter brain lesions connected to mental decline and Alzheimer's...  > >
A Break Can Help Memory
Just what students want to hear: Taking a break after learning something new may give the brain time to move the information into long-term memory...  > >
Toning the Body Tunes the Mind
Are those "senior moments" increasing? Exercise helps the mind stay in shape as much as the body...  > >
Heart Attack: Improving the Odds
The odds of dying from a heart attack are as bad as they were 30 years ago. CPR education and defibrillators can help...  > >
Green Tea An Antidepressant?
The more green tea elderly subjects drank in a day, the less likely they were to be depressed. Theanine may be behind it...   > >
Predicting Second Stroke Risk
Having a second stroke soon after the first makes disability much more likely. A new tool helps predict the risk...  > >
Can Stem Cells Heal the Heart?
An early clinical trial has found that giving heart attack patients adult stem cells can reduce mortality and speed healing...  > >
Too Much Of A Good Thing
By middle age we need to be careful about how much active exercise we do. Too much can raise the risk of osteoarthritis...  > >
Healthy Hearts, Brains, Linked
Seniors who ate the most fruits and vegetables had better cognitive function and reduced risk of heart disease...  > >
Diet Slows Muscle Loss
Diet may help reduce frailty. Those who had plenty of vitamins C and E had greater strength than those who didn't. ...  > >
Depression and Longevity
People who are depressed have a shorter life−span. Is this because doctors tend not to investigate their symptoms?...  > >
Retirees Feel Younger
Retirement is good for your health. In fact, if your work life has been stressful, you are likely to feel much better after you retire. According to one study, it's like turning the clock back eight years...  > >
Like Body, Like Artery
For those over 40, having a flexible body seems to reflect a similar flexibility of the arteries, according to a recent study in Japan. Yoga or other stretching exercise may actually help...  > >
Keeping The Heart Young
A gene, P13K, appears to play a big role in cell generation and aging in the heart. Mice who had the gene suppressed had less thickening of heart tissue and better overall function. The findings likely apply to humans as well...  > >
Coffee Won't Keep You Sharp
A Finnish study has found that drinking coffee offers no defense against the natural decline of mental abilities as we age. But they did find several factors that seemed to be good predictors...  > >
Vitamin D Helps Prevent Falls
A Finnish study has found that drinking coffee offers no protection from the natural decline of mental abilities as we age. But it did find several factors that seemed to be good predictors ...  > >
Prostate Cancer, A Waiting Game
Three new studies shed light on the reasons to give serious thought to postponing treatment, especially if you are over 65. However much depends on how high risk...  > >
Mind Games Reduce Decline
When seniors give their minds a workout at least twice weekly, they halve their risk for dementia. The mental effort needs to be active, such as playing cards or doing puzzles; passive activities don't work...  > >
Meat Fuels Independence?
People who ate meat a couple times a week in middle age remained independent longer than those who did not, a recent study found. Eggs and fish seemed to have no effect...  > >
A Tiny Protein, A Big Impact
In what may be a crucial finding for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, a tiny portion of a protein, called N60, appears to be behind the formation of the beta amyloid plaques that disrupt...  > >
A One−Two Punch For Alzheimers
The risk of Alzheimer’s disease appears to be reduced among those who exercise and among those who eat a “Mediterranean” diet. People who did both had even less risk...  > >
Silent Strokes Still a Risk
For those over 60, especially those with high blood pressure, the risk of having a silent or unnoticed stroke is greater than anyone expected. These strokes are likely to cause modest deficits...  > >
Get Physical To Remember
Did you take that pill today, or yesterday? Doing something like crossing your arms when you take a pill can help you remember habitual acts that memory tends to blur...  > >
Growth Factor May Curb AD
A growth factor (GCSF) often used to increase white blood cell production in the bone marrow of cancer patients may actually reverse Alzheimer's symptoms in mice bred to develop the disease...  > >
Fit Body, Sharp Mind
Being physically fit helps you stay mentally sharp, a new study has found. People who exercised at least once a week were more likely to avoid cognitive decline. Lifestyle plays a part, too...  > >
Exercises Ease Sleep Apnea
Tongue and throat exercises can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The exercises helped increase oxygen intake...  > >
The Message Is Moderation
Two new studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly wine, can lengthen life and reduce the risk of dementia. As for what "moderate" means...  > >
Seniors Better At Home
Seniors can be helped to learn new ways to accomplish tasks −− like getting dressed −− that grow difficult and tend to lead to assisted living. This also helps avoid the cycle of re-hospitalizations that many...  > >
Alcohol & Aging: A Potent Mix
The same blood alcohol level affects older and younger adults differently, but this fact often goes unnoticed by aging drivers, a potentially dangerous situation...  > >
Arthroscopy's Limited Scope
Arthroscopy, the minimally-invasive surgical technqiue, appears to be of limited value for osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a new study. Patients without the procedure did as well...  > >
Why Obama is Going Gray
Graying hair has been blamed on children, job stress and other life events. New research gets to the root (pun intended) of why hair goes gray and may provide the means to reverse it...   > >
Strong Quads & Artificial Knees
People who do strength training after a knee replacement, in addition to the usual physical therapy, do far better a year later than people who decided to skip strength training. In fact, their performance is...  > >
Protein Linked To OA Found
Researchers have identified a protein present in the outer layers of cartilage in healthy joints and less present in joints showing the changes associated with osteoarthritis. The finding may signal a new way to treat...  > >