Someday, doctors may be able to screen for Alzheimer’s using a simple scratch and sniff test, according to researchers at Columbia University. Dysfunctions in major olfactory functional domains, including odor detection, identification, and discrimination, appear prior to cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).1 Therefore, olfactory function tests may have potential to help identify […]
Do you remember the last time you had a really good laugh? Both the mind and body can benefit from a good laugh. Children laugh so often each day, but adults tend to take life more seriously and laugh more infrequently. Here are just some of the examples showing the benefits of laughter. In addition […]
Irritation of the sciatic nerve causes sciatic pain. The pain typically starts from the lower back and goes down to the knee. Usually, sciatica affects only one buttock and leg: it is rare that both legs experience pain. This pain is usually constant and may come with weakness and numbness in the affected areas. A […]
Although depression is a mental health condition and is a widespread problem in older adults, it is not a general part of getting older. Due to some overlap between signs of depression and signs of getting older, depression is often not recognized or treated. Elderly experiencing depression may just appear to be lost in thought […]
Although different types of diabetic neuropathy can affect people who have diabetes, research suggests that up to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy.1 Neuropathies are a series of conditions that cause damage to the nervous system. More than 30 percent of people with diabetes have autonomic neuropathy.2 Autonomic neuropathy affects involuntary functions of […]
It’s no secret that cardiovascular problems during the middle and latter years can cause cognitive decline as people age. However, a new study shows that high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and elevated blood sugar in early adulthood are also linked to cognitive deficits later in life.1 The study started with over 3000 people between […]
Adults aged 65 and older still need to be active. This does not necessarily mean running miles or lifting weights. Good physical activity is essential to healthy aging. The phrase “use it or loose it” is a statement that becomes truer as we get older. There are three major actions you can take to stay […]
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week.1 Many people do not reach this mark because they either don’t enjoy workouts or have medical issues that make traditional exercise a challenge. People also sometimes think it takes too much time and effort. […]
The term “silent heart attack” refers to when a person has a heart attack but didn’t know. Surprisingly, a study published recently in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that 45% of heart attacks happen without people being fully aware.1 The problem is that silent heart attacks cause just as much damage […]
Loneliness increases with age, and it is connected with a surprising number of health effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even mortality. When it comes to loneliness, we all feel it in different ways. Some people feel lonely when they are by […]
