Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. Continue reading "George Carlin on aging! "

Maintaining mental acuity is a major concern for aging Americans--they want to make the most of their golden years rather than have to struggle through them. In fact, adults are more than twice as likely to fear losing their mental capacity as their physical capacity, according to a 2006 poll by Research!America, a nonprofit public education and advocacy alliance. Continue reading "Surprising Things That Affect Memory by Allison Van Dusen"

by Marilynn Marchione | The Associated Press

Tuesday July 29, 2008, 4:33 PM

CHICAGO -- For the first time, an experimental drug shows promise for halting the progression of Alzheimer's disease by taking a very new approach: breaking up the protein tangles that clog victims' brains.

Continue reading "Experimental Alzheimer's drug shows early promise"

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- A class of drugs called gamma-secretase modulators shows potential for treating Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.

Continue reading "New Class of Drugs May Fight Alzheimer's"

The number of Americans that have medical insurance but are poorly covered rose by 60 percent in the last 4 years to reach 25 million, leaving many without needed care and facing medical debt, according to a new study.

The study, published yesterday, Tuesday 10th June, is titled How Many Are Underinsured? Trends Among U.S. Adults, 2003 and 2007, and was conducted by the The Commonwealth Fund, an independent health reform foundation based in New York.

"Premiums are up but people are buying less protection," said Cathy Schoen, lead author and Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President.

Continue reading "25 Million Americans Are Underinsured Says New Study"

By Janet Kornblum, USA TODAY

When Bob Cailleteau's daughter got married last year, he didn't even think of renting a tuxedo. Cailleteau may have been 91, but his heart was strong. His mind was sharp. And he had just been told by his doctor that he could reasonably expect to live to 105. He insisted on a dapper new suit; he knew he'd have occasion to wear it.

Continue reading "Injuries from falls are growing concern for seniors"

Weatherization Could be the Answer!

Weatherization means making your home more energy efficient -- warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and less expensive to heat and cool. Best of all, it's FREE for eligible low-income families. You don't even have to own a home to benefit -- Weatherization can improve rental houses as long as the owner is willing to participate. Mobile homes are eligible, too!

Continue reading "Are Your Heating or Cooling Bills Eating Up Your Income?"

Nearly one in five U.S. adults – more than 40 million people – report they do not have adequate access to the health care they need, according to the annual report on the nation’s health released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report, "Health, United States, 2007," is a compilation of more than 150 health tables prepared by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

The report also contains a special section focusing on access to care, which shows that nearly 20 percent of adults reported that they needed and did not receive one or more of these services in the past year – medical care, prescription medicines, mental health care, dental care, or eyeglasses – because they could not afford them.

"There has been important progress made in many areas of health such as increased life expectancy and decreases in deaths from leading killers such as heart disease and cancer. But this report shows that access to health care is still an issue where we need improvement," said CDC Director Julie Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H.

Continue reading "Nearly One in Five Americans Say They Can’t Afford Needed Health Care"

By BOB CONDOR
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

Continue reading "Living Well: The road to a healthier lifestyle is paved with small steps"

Coffee Protects Mice Against Alzheimer's

According to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, caffeine intake not only appears to protect against Alzheimer's but may actually help those who already have the disease.

Researchers at the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute in Florida have reported that five cups of coffee a day could protect humans in the same way that the caffeine equivalent appears to have in the study of mice.

Continue reading "Could Caffeine Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease?"