Great improvements in medicine, public health, science, and technology have enabled today's older Americans to live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Older adults want to remain healthy and independent at home in their communities. Society wants to minimize the health care and economic costs associated with an increasing older population. The science of aging indicates that chronic disease and disability are not inevitable. As a result, health promotion and disease prevention activities and programs are an increasing priority for older adults, their families, and the health care system.
Many people fail to make the connection between undertaking healthy behaviors today and the impact of these choices later in life. Studies indicate that healthy eating, physical activity, mental stimulation, not smoking, active social engagement, moderate use of alcohol, maintaining a safe environment, social support, and regular health care are important in maintaining he...More
Osteoporosis is a threat to many women, especially after menopause. But the lead up to weak, brittle bones can start much earlier in life. More...
Interacting with lots of different people may help you live longer and healthier, a new study suggests. More...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an incurable eye disease that affects millions of older Americans, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk, a vision expert says. More...
Osteoporosis is typically thought of as a woman's disease, but elderly men are also prone to bone loss -- even though they often aren't treated for it, a new study finds. More...
If you're a 40-something guy and can't do 40 push-ups in a row, maybe it's time to do something about it. More...
If you're in your 50s and your typical day involves sitting at a desk followed by lounging on the sofa and succumbing to late-night snacks, the long-term toll on your mind might be greater than you think. More...
Dementia is hard to predict, but hearing loss might signal a higher risk, a new study suggests. More...
As we age, so does our skin. With that comes wrinkles and age spots. More...
What determines how much control seniors feel they have over their lives? New research offers some answers. More...
Efforts to keep seniors heart-healthy have saved tens of billions of dollars in U.S. health care costs in recent years, researchers say. More...
On average, women's brains appear to be about three years younger than those of men at the same chronological age. This could provide one clue to why women tend to stay mentally sharp longer than men, the authors noted. More...
For seniors who often find themselves in the ER, complications from diabetes is the most common culprit, new research shows. More...
You know about the value of exercise for heart health and for staying strong and independent as you age. There's also proof that exercise keeps your body young physically as well as mentally. More...
It seems as though every day brings warnings about phone and internet scammers, with older Americans being particularly vulnerable. More...
Frailty is associated with a higher risk of both Alzheimer's disease and its crippling symptoms, a new study shows. More...
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in seniors, and existing treatments are few. More...
Staying active in old age may help preserve your memory and thinking skills, a new study suggests. More...
Researchers say even a few extra minutes off the sofa each day can add years to your life span. More...
Families of nursing home residents are more likely to be satisfied with facilities that have higher staffing levels and are nonprofits, a new study finds. More...
If you're poor, you'll likely have less success with your hearing aid, a new study finds. More...
Older adults who find meaning in their daily activities may remain in better health as they age, a new study suggests. More...
Hearing loss among seniors is not always recognized and treated, but if it were it might help head off late-life depression, a new report suggests. More...
Seniors may be more vulnerable to alcoholism, a psychologist warns. More...
Many middle-aged folks nearing retirement have serious concerns about their health insurance coverage, a new survey shows. More...
In winter, older adults are at higher risk of losing body heat and slipping into potentially fatal hypothermia, U.S. health officials warn. More...
Walking and other types of moderate exercise may help turn back the clock for older adults who are losing their mental sharpness, a new clinical trial finds. More...
Major heart surgery does not cause significant memory decline in older patients, a new study finds. More...
The agency says anything that affects the processes of thinking and learning can affect memory. More...
Hotter temperatures threaten the elderly and other vulnerable people with heat stress, and heart and kidney disease, according to an international team of experts. More...
That doesn't mean you can't take steps to avoid becoming too wrinkled, the American Academy of Dermatology says. More...
Many older drivers take medications known to raise the risk of a crash, a new study shows. More...
Few people entrusted with making difficult health care decisions for older loved ones actually know what the patient would want, a new study contends. More...
As you age, it can be difficult to stay active, particularly during winter. The National Institute on Aging urges people to stay active all year long. More...
It's taking you longer than it once did to learn a new task. Or you've forgotten about today's doctor's appointment. Should you be worried? More...
You've had a professional diagnose your hearing loss. So how bad is it? More...
Prejudice directed at older people results in $63 billion in excess health costs each year in the United States, a new study claims. More...
Contrary to common belief, blood pressure doesn't have to rise as you age, a study of two remote South American tribes suggests. More...
New research shows that differences between the two sides of your face increase with age. More...
Having hearing loss and not knowing it might translate into higher medical bills and other health problems for many seniors, two new studies suggest. More...
Despite years of attention to the problem, U.S. hospitals have made little headway in preventing severe cases of bedsores among older Americans, a new study shows. More...
Your life partner has a much greater influence on your longevity than the genes you inherited from your family, according to a new analysis of the family trees of more than 400 million people. More...
More than 3 million older Americans are now raising their grandchildren as their own, even as they struggle with health problems and financial stresses, a new survey shows. More...
Middle-aged people with higher-than-average levels of the "stress" hormone cortisol may have fuzzier memories, a new study suggests. More...
Older adults who live in for-profit nursing homes are nearly twice as likely to have health problems linked to poor care than those in nonprofit nursing homes and those who live in private homes, a new study finds. More...
If you are middle aged and out of shape, it isn't too late to get active and improve your health, the American Heart Association says. More...
Many factors influence how we age, ranging from dietary choices and physical activity to health screenings and managing risk factors for disease. More...
One in four Americans 65 and older falls each year, with some ending up in hospitals or even dying. But new research suggests that it's possible to avoid some of these serious injuries. More...
The first hearing aid that doesn't require the assistance of an audiologist or other health care provider has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More...
A review of previously published studies found that taking either high or low doses of vitamin D supplements didn't prevent fractures or falls, or improve bone density. More...
It's well-known that regular exercise can help cut your risk for a stroke. Now, new research shows fitness may have an added bonus, cutting the severity of a stroke should one occur. More...