Recent Blog Articles

Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health

PTSD: How is treatment changing?

Virtual mental health care visits: Making them work for you

How healthy is sugar alcohol?

A bird flu primer: What to know and do

New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy

Dupuytren's contracture of the hand

Why play? Early games build bonds and brain

Moving from couch to 5K

How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

Healthy Aging Archive

Mind & Mood

Drinking both coffee and tea linked to lower risks for stroke and dementia

Published February 1, 2022

A study published Nov. 16, 2021, in PLOS Medicine found that drinking two to three cups of coffee as well as two to three cups of tea per day was associated with substantially lower risks for dementia and stroke, compared with drinking no coffee or tea.

Mind & Mood

Shield your brain from decline

Published February 1, 2022

The acronym SHIELD sums up the habits that may help ward off cognitive decline. SHIELD stands for sleeping at least seven hours per night, handling stress, interacting with friends, exercising daily, learning new things, and eating a healthy diet. Ideally, one should incorporate all of these healthy lifestyle habits into each day. If that feels overwhelming, doctors advise focusing on a different healthy habit per day, until it’s possible to practice all of the habits every day.

Staying Healthy

Difficulty seeing at night? Try these tips to cope

Published February 1, 2022

Age-related eye changes can make it harder to see at night. These changes include the loss of light-sensitive eye cells called rods, which are essential for seeing at night; smaller pupils that let less light into the eyes; slowed reactions to changes in light, such as when walking into a dark room from a bright room; clouding of the lenses inside the eyes, which may cause glare around streetlights or headlights; and worsening vision that makes it harder to discern fine detail.

Exercise & Fitness

The most common exercise among people with arthritis

Published February 1, 2022

U.S. adults who report being physically active say their most frequent forms of exercise are walking, gardening, and weight lifting, according to a study published online Oct. 8, 2021, by the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Staying Healthy

Thinking of trying Dry January? Steps for success

Updated December 20, 2023

If you want to cut down on your alcohol consumption, or just want to start the new year on a healthy note, consider joining the Dry January challenge. Does a month seem like a long time? Here are steps you can take to improve your chances of success.

Exercise & Fitness

How does regular exercise protect against mental decline?

Published January 1, 2022

A study published online Aug. 20, 2021, by Nature Metabolism suggests that the hormone irisin, produced during exercise, might have something to do with the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain. Scientists suspect that irisin plays a role protecting the brain against changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, possibly by reducing brain inflammation. Irisin has also been shown to turn white fat cells (which store fat) into brown fat cells (which burn fat), and also to improve insulin resistance. Such changes reduce body weight and protect against both diabetes and heart disease.

Staying Healthy

Are your shots up to date?

Published January 1, 2022

A number of vaccinations are recommended for adults. These include not only the COVID-19 vaccine, but also an annual influenza shot and vaccinations for shingles and pneumococcal disease, among others. A doctor may also recommend additional vaccines depending on a person’s individual circumstances, such as planning travel or caring for a newborn. Adults should check periodically to make sure that they are up to date with all of their shots.

Mind & Mood

Turning up the volume on brain health

Published January 1, 2022

While hearing loss and dementia seem to be connected, doctors don’t know if hearing loss causes cognitive decline. It may be that an unknown common factor causes both problems. But regardless of whether hearing loss may be an early indicator of dementia or a risk factor for the condition, it should be treated. Improving hearing can improve the ability to connect with others and quality of life.

Mind & Mood

Managing memory slip-ups

Published January 1, 2022

After a certain age, most adults encounter nagging and sometimes embarrassing memory lapses. While recurring or worsening memory issues always should be checked out, everyday lapses—like recalling names, finding everyday items, and remembering appointments, errands, and even online passwords—can be managed with some simple strategies.

Staying Healthy

The senior’s guide to dental care

Published January 1, 2022

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.

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Recent Blog Articles

Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health

PTSD: How is treatment changing?

Virtual mental health care visits: Making them work for you

How healthy is sugar alcohol?

A bird flu primer: What to know and do

New urine test may help some men with elevated PSA avoid biopsy

Dupuytren's contracture of the hand

Why play? Early games build bonds and brain

Moving from couch to 5K

How — and why — to fit more fiber and fermented food into your meals

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