Pumping Irony

New research suggests travel can actually slow the aging process for older adults. So why am I so hesitant to venture beyond my comfort zone?

A routine memory test — and new research — tell me my brain may be too full of useless trivia to remember what really matters.

In the latest evidence of widespread inequities in our healthcare system, researchers have found that dementia sufferers are about twice as likely to get a diagnosis in certain regions of the country than in others.

What if the aging process isn’t linear but spikes at specific points in our lifespan? Stanford University researchers believe such a pattern exists and could inform new treatment options to help us thrive in our later years.

New research suggests that married men are healthier and happier in their golden years than their unwed peers. For married women, however, the benefits are less clear.

Convincing an elderly driver to give up their car keys is a fraught process made more challenging by a lack of access to objective driving evaluations. Advance directives for driving — and Medicare coverage for those costly driver’s tests — could help.

A new study suggests that living amid more “residential greenery” during midlife may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s — even among those genetically predisposed to the disease. If memory serves, I may be one of the lucky ones. Or maybe not.

Reading Gail Godwin’s sober meditation on aging and death so soon after my recent ER visit leaves me grasping for a sense of optimism.

After a head injury sent me to the ER, I find myself confronted by lessons I probably should’ve learned long ago.

Offering a balm to absent-minded seniors who worry that Alzheimer’s may lurk just around the corner, a new Mayo Clinic study suggests that memory loss may not necessarily mean dementia.

The time and energy seniors expend to navigate our fragmented healthcare system — and protect themselves from unscrupulous insurers — often adds an overwhelming burden to those already coping with chronic illnesses.

An alarming portion of American seniors suffer from various undiagnosed anxiety disorders. And though treatment options are expanding, a recent ruling by an influential task force virtually guarantees that few will receive the help they need.

New research argues that a popular calculator designed to measure the risk of heart disease may have led to millions of unnecessary statin prescriptions. A new tool may provide a more accurate assessment.

New research suggests that we may be closer than ever to understanding a cause of Alzheimer’s. Will a suddenly more scrupulous Food and Drug Administration give serious consideration to novel treatment options?

Millions of older Americans suffer from osteoporosis, a bone disease that makes them especially vulnerable to fractures. Hormones, diet, and a sedentary lifestyle have long been blamed for the affliction, but recent research points to another culprit: too little sleep.

Despite recent attempts to forge some consensus on what qualifies as brain death, physicians often remain uncertain about whether — and when — to pull the plug on a patient.

A retired neighbor’s recent downsizing highlights an increasingly rare real estate win at a time when the vast majority of seniors are facing a serious housing crisis.

Struggling with some annoying side effects of my meds, I’m heartened by new research showing the salutary results of “deprescribing” a popular drug among seniors.

Alcohol-related deaths have been rising at an alarming rate among American seniors, who may be unaware of the risks. And while some countries are taking steps to curb consumption, U.S. regulators seem perfectly comfortable with the status quo.

Can poor oral health lead to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders? Recent research provides some clues, but nothing to really worry about. Maybe.

Major drugstore chains are shuttering their outlets at an alarming rate, making it harder for seniors to get their prescriptions. Eli Lilly’s new direct-to-consumer drug service may make matters even worse.