Caregiving Archive

Good dental health protects against not only gum disease, gum inflammation, and tooth loss but also many other age-related diseases. Like other aspects of health care, prevention is the best medicine when it comes to your teeth and gums. People should see their dentist every six months for check-ups, x-rays as needed, and cleanings. In between, they should follow a daily dental hygiene routine of rinsing, brushing, and flossing to help reduce plaque buildup, gingivitis, and cavities.

Most people know that as they age, they need to put effort into staying healthy by eating carefully, exercising, and getting enough sleep. But there is another element to healthy aging: keeping your mind engaged helps protect brain health, and one way to do that is by maintaining an active social life.

Denial is a natural response at times when you’re unable or unwilling to face the facts. As a defense mechanism, it can be helpful or harmful. Here's how to spot it in yourself and others, and how to move from denial toward meaningful change.

New panic attacks while taking an SSRI may prompt questions about dosage, switching medications, or adding another type of treatment.

When pleasure fades from everyday activities, anhedonia can affect mood, relationships and motivation. Discover why it happens and where support may help.

5-HTP is often promoted for mood support, but its effects, side effects, and place among depression treatments deserve careful consideration.

Caregiving can have physical and mental effects. Explore ways to cope and find support.

Epigenetics is the study of how behavior, the environment, and other factors can trigger chemical changes to DNA or nearby proteins that affect how genes work. Collectively, these changes (known as epigenetic marks) may provide clues about health and longevity.

Past smoking, heavy drinking, and drug use can raise lasting questions about aging. Find out which factors shape future health and longevity.

Mindfulness is the process of paying attention to one’s surroundings with an attitude of acceptance. Mindfulness practices can anchor people’s consciousness moment by moment, helping them to ease stress and anxiety and to sustain attention. Mindfulness practices can be done while sitting, walking, and eating.