Healthy Aging

Healthy Aging Articles

Lift weights to boost muscle

Men naturally lose muscle mass as they age—as much as 3% to 5% per decade after age 30. Weaker muscles mean less stamina, balance and mobility, all which increase a person’s risk for falls and fractures. Strength training, using either free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells or weight machines that are designed to work specific muscle groups, can help men maintain and even add muscle. More »

An aspirin a day for your health?

Low-dose aspirin use has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. But it’s not right for all women and can lead to serious complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding. A thorough risk analysis should be conducted by your doctor before you consider starting a low-dose aspirin regimen. (Locked) More »

Better habits, better brain health

Engaging in healthy lifestyle habits may help protect thinking skills. For example, aerobic exercise helps improve the health of brain tissue by increasing blood flow to the brain and reducing the chances of injury to the brain. Maintaining routine habits of good health—such as getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, managing stress, quitting smoking, and treating underlying conditions—also support brain health. Socializing also has important brain benefits. People who report having more companionship and more emotional support have a lower risk for dementia and stroke. (Locked) More »

Is my bruising normal?

If you find that you are bruising more easily, it may be due to aging, which causes changes to your blood vessels and skin that make bruising more likely. More »

Can you, should you, have medically tailored food delivered to your home?

Many older adults who have chronic illness or have just come home from the hospital are unable to shop for or cook their own meals. The result is a diet that’s deficient in the nutrients essential for good health, or meals that don’t follow dietary restrictions, such as low salt or low potassium. A solution is having medically tailored meals prepared by friends and family, or prepared and delivered by a nonprofit organization such as Community Servings in Boston. (Locked) More »

Keep on driving

An older man’s health tends to go downhill after he loses the ability to drive. Driving keeps men more independent and increases their ability to socialize, visit the doctor, or go exercise. The best ways to ensure men stay behind the wheel is to sharpen certain physical and cognitive skills, as well as reviewing other aspects that affect driving ability, such as medication side effects and car accessories. (Locked) More »

Should you try a home genetic test kit?

Direct-to-consumer test kits can help detect a person’s genetic predisposition or odds of developing certain medical diseases or conditions. They are simple to use and can be done in the privacy of home. The tests analyze markers in DNA to look for mutations or markers associated with common diseases, such as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease or particular cancers. Results can be used as a way to explore things people should already be doing to improve health and reduce the risk of disease, such as losing weight, exercising, and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. (Locked) More »

Practical advice for helping people with dementia with their daily routines

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's is one of the toughest jobs 
in the world. "It is stressful, physically and emotionally draining, and very expensive, as almost 15 million unpaid caregivers for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias can attest," says Dr. Scott McGinnis, medical editor of the Harvard Special Health Report A Guide to Coping with Alzheimer's Disease. Learning how to take care of a person with dementia can be a trial-and-error process. Every person with dementia and every caregiver is unique, and so is their relationship. However, the following general tips may be useful in helping people with dementia remain physically healthy and connected to the world. More »

Elevated blood pressure may not predict early death in those with weak grip strength

Elevated blood pressure is not a useful sign of a high risk of early death among older adults if they have weak grip strength, says a new study. The findings suggest that when an older person still functions at a high level physically, high blood pressure can help indicate mortality risk. However, when the person is not physically robust, high blood pressure may not always be a viable marker. More »