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Monday, October 08, 2012

Shots - Health News

When Should Seniors Hang Up The Car Keys?

More elderly drivers will hit the road in the next decade, but family members wonder: When is it time for elderly loved ones to move to the passenger seat?

October 8, 2012 Most elderly drivers give up the keys only when their child or grandchild intervenes. Social workers say it's important for family members to be aware and look for changes in their parents' driving behavior.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Shots - Health News

Knee Replacements Are All The Rage With The Medicare Set

Ouch!

September 26, 2012 There are a lot more older people with worn-out knees, and the rate at which those people get knees replaced has gone way up in the last 20 years, too.

Summary

Monday, September 24, 2012

Shots - Health News

Experimental Drug Is First To Help Kids With Premature-Aging Disease

Sam Berns, 15, who has the very rare premature-aging disease progeria, plays the drums in his high school's marching band.

September 24, 2012 The new drug reversed changes in blood vessels that usually lead kids with the rare genetic disease progeria to have heart attacks and strokes. Research on the toxic protein responsible for progeria is also changing scientists' understanding of how normal cells age.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Shots - Health News

Nursing Homes' Arbitration Agreements Can Contain Hidden Risks

The agreements offered by many nursing homes can result in higher fees and smaller awards in the case of a dispute.

September 18, 2012 KHNConsumer advocates say people who sign the agreements pay higher fees and may get smaller awards than they would if the case were to go to court.

Summary

Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Salt

Subtracting Calories May Not Add Years To Life

A rhesus monkey eats watermelon, provided by zookeepers, at the Kamla Nehru Zoological Gardens in India in May 2012.

August 30, 2012 A study, which started back in 1987, shows that monkeys fed a diet with 30 percent fewer calories than normal did not live unusually long lives. Researchers say the results are a good indication of how caloric restriction might affect the life spans of people.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Monday, August 27, 2012

Shots - Health News

Sleepless Nights May Put The Aging Brain At Risk Of Dementia

If you're having trouble sleeping, researchers say you should resist the urge to keep checking the time.

August 27, 2012 Researchers have found an association between sleep problems among older adults and dementia later in life. If diagnosed early, treatments like controlling stimuli before bed can help and possibly reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Shots - Health News

Oldest Americans Living Longer, And Are Fitter And Richer, Too

The latest data paint a brighter picture of aging in America.

August 21, 2012 Long-term gains in longevity continue. Today's 65-year-olds can expect to live a tad over 20 more years. That's a huge jump from 1980, when 65-year-olds could expect 14 more years of life. A big part of the reason is that deaths from heart disease and stroke have plummeted by nearly 50 percent.

Summary

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

Grappling With The Uncertainty Of Alzheimer's Testing

When does it make sense to test a person for the risk of an incurable illness?

August 16, 2012 KHNWould you get tested for your potential risk for Alzheimer's disease, even though the prediction is imperfect and there is no cure for the condition? Studies suggest people can handle the results just find.

Summary

Monday, July 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

Treatment Gives HIV's Long-Term Survivors Hope, But Takes A Toll

HIV treatment regimens, like the pills in this patient's hand, keep AIDS at bay, but can take a harsh physical toll over the course of many years.

July 16, 2012 KQEDAIDS has been around for long enough that some people have lived for decades with the HIV virus. But as they age, survivors face new challenges as complicated medication regimens have their own impact on health.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Shots - Health News

Thriving Gut Bacteria Linked To Good Health

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is important for gut health, especially in aging adults.

July 16, 2012 Aging people who cook with vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins at home have more kinds of gut bacteria, than those eating a bland nursing home diet, says a new study. Researchers say that in addition to digestion, these bacteria might also increase immune and cognitive functions during aging.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Shots - Health News

Dementia Complicates Romance In Nursing Homes

Holding hands is the easy part.

June 26, 2012 Consensual sex among aging residents of nursing homes can be fraught. And when those older people are showing signs of dementia, family members sometimes stand in in the way of love.

Summary

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Shots - Health News

Life Over 50 Can Include An Eating Disorder

A woman checks her weight at the doctor's office.

June 21, 2012 Many women over 50 grapple with issues related to body image and food. Two-thirds of women surveyed said they were unhappy with their overall appearance. Nearly 8 percent reported purging within the last year, and about 4 percent reporting binge eating at least once a week.

Summary

Monday, June 18, 2012

Shots - Health News

Loneliness Bodes Poorly For A Healthy Old Age

A feeling of loneliness carries health risks.

June 18, 2012 Loneliness in older people can predict declines in health and an increased risk of death, a six-year-long study found. People over 60 who feel lonely had a 45 percent higher risk of death than those who weren't lonely.

Summary

Friday, June 15, 2012

Shots - Health News

As More Americans Live Through Cancer, Survivors' Ranks Grow

An American Cancer Society Relay for Life event at the University of Texas-Dallas in 2006. The events are meant to "celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease," according to the organization.

June 15, 2012 The number of American cancer survivors will increase from 13.7 million in January 2012 to nearly 18 million in January 2022, according to a report from the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

Summary

Monday, May 14, 2012

Shots - Health News

Alzheimer's Patients Turn To Stories Instead Of Memories

TimeSlips is a program based on the idea that storytelling can be therapeutic for people with dementia.

May 14, 2012 Storytelling can be a way of giving people with dementia a low-stress way to communicate, one that does not rely on their memories. And it can give caregivers a chance to reconnect with their loved ones.

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