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Aging

Shortage of Geriatric Physicians Grows

The US doesn’t have enough Geratricians. Currently, there about 7,000 Geriatricians practicing in the US. And the shortage is getting worse, because our medical schools and teaching hospitals are training one or two geriatricians for every nine specialists in higher paying specialties like cardiology or orthopedic surgery, Geriatricians make less money because their patients are on Medicare and their services are reimbursed a lower rate than private insurance patients. Additionally, the treatment of the elderly is less attractive to young... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on March 13, 2008 2:08 PM
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Dementia Screenings Pay Off in Early Detection and Treatment

The early stages of dementia are usually not recognized early enough. An early diagnosis could lead to positive intervention and early treatment. Experts at the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) are recommending have more widespread use of memory screenings. Memory screenings are cheap and effective Physicians need to use them more. It is estimated, that physicians miss at least half of the cases of mild and moderate dementia, only recognizing it when the brain disorder is at least moderately advanced.... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on November 6, 2007 4:01 PM
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New Test Can Predict Dementia

Dementia can be predicted with 87% accuracy by a relatively simple test developed by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. The test is a combination of medical history, a physical exam, and cognitive testing. No special equipment is required and it can be given in a doctor's office or at the patient's home. The test measures the salient risk factors for dementia, including age 70 or more, low cognitive scores, poor dexterity or slow walking, a history of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on June 13, 2007 2:59 PM
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Poor Health Causes Early Retirement for 25% of American Workers

Unexpected medical problems cause 1 in 4 American workers to retire early. They had lower-than-expected income due to health problems. In retirement planning, it is not just about money. You have to take health into account as well. Poor health can certainly significantly impact your finances. See full story at Boston Globe Online, Moving into retirement.... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on March 16, 2007 11:15 AM
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Elderly Caffein Users Have Lower Risk of Death by Heart Disease

People who are 65 years of age or older and who have a higher than average caffeine intake are indicated to be a lower risk of coronary vascular disease and also heart mortality than those of the same age with a lower recorded intake. The reason is most likely to be due to the beneficial effect of caffeine on blood pressure. It was also found that the higher their intake, the more beneficial the results except for those who were... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 27, 2007 11:00 AM
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Large Doses of Vitamin D May Help Prevent Elderly Falls

Elderly nursing home residents (average 89 years old) taking part in a study were given 800 IUs of vitamin D daily for five months. They were found to take less falls than those who were given lower doses, no vitamin D or a sugar pill placebo. Most participants in the study were white women who had experienced a fall within the previous year. For the duration of the five-month study, 61 participants, or 59%, suffered falls. The group taking the... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 23, 2007 6:22 PM
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Risk of Shingles Increases With Age

My golf buddy recently got shingles. I didn't know what it was. It turns out, most people don't know about shingles unless they know someone who has had shingles, or they develop it themselves. Shingles, a disease caused by the same virus as chickenpox, affects roughly one million Americans each year. Shingles is nasty and very painful.The first signs of shingles may not be visually noticeable. People often experience tingling, burning, itching or pain. During the first few days of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on January 21, 2007 8:39 PM
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Folic Acid Supplements May Significantly Improve Cognitive Function

Diminshing cognitive functions such as deterioration in memory, reduced ability to process information quickly, and reduced verbal fluency have been linked to risk of dementia in old age. Taking supplements of folic acid may significantly improve cognitive function in older men and women. A group of 818 men and women over-50s were followed for three years. Some were given 800 micrograms of a synthetic form of folic acid per day, the rest took a placebo. The scientists found that the... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on January 19, 2007 9:48 PM
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Growth Hormone Not Worth the Risk for Seniors

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has indicated that not only does growth hormone (GH) not help you live longer, but it comes with a substantial potential for adverse side effects, such as diabetes, carpel tunnel syndrome and swollen joints. Growth hormones have been promoted for years as wonder products that can prevent, even reverse, the aging process. Researchers from the University of Stanford looked at 31 studies. The study looked at a total of 220... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on January 15, 2007 1:54 PM
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Medicare Prescription Drug Costs All Over the Map

Two Medicare recipients taking the same drugs but living in different states could face costs that differe by thousands of dollars - even if each had chosen the lowest-cost plan available to them. And within a state, the difference in a person's costs for the same drugs could top $10,000 a year or more, depending on which plan he or she chose. Such wide variation in prices demonstrates that Medicare prescription drug plans are substantially more affordable in some states... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on January 15, 2007 1:54 PM
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