Latest Senior Health News

28May
2020

More Patients Turning to Medical Marijuana for Arthritis Pain

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Lots of people are using medical marijuana to treat their arthritis and other muscle aches and pains, often without consulting their doctor, a new study reports. As many as 1 in 5 patients who consult an orthopedic surgeon for chronic musculoskeletal pain are using a cannabis product to treat them, Canadian researchers found. "We found 20% had reported past or current use of cannabis with the specific intention to manage pain," said study author Dr. Timothy Leroux, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Toronto. "Not just recreational users, but patients who said, 'I'm using cannabis because I want to improve pain with this condition.' " There's also a lot of interest in medical marijuana among arthritis sufferers who haven't yet tried it,...

Spirituality Helps Stroke Survivors, Caregivers Bounce Back

28 May 2020
THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Could a higher power help stroke recovery? People who are spiritual may be better able to deal with stroke-related disability, new research suggests. The Italian study linked spirituality -- be it through religion or simply a strong sense of purpose and connection to others -- to a lower risk of depression for people with low to moderate disability after a stroke and their caregivers. Spirituality also appeared to improve the quality of life for both. "We observed that when stroke survivors had higher spirituality, their caregivers had lower depression and consequently better physical and psychological quality of life," said study author Gianluca Pucciarelli, a research fellow at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy. Stroke...

A New Hip or Knee Can Do a Marriage Good, Study Finds

27 May 2020
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- After people have a hip or knee replacement surgery, doctors expect these patients will get relief from joint pain, get around easier and once again enjoy the activities they love. Now, a new study shows that patients' partners -- and thereby their marriage -- also reaped the benefits of the surgery. "It was obvious that [patients] have less suffering and they can be more active and they can travel more," said study author Dr. Michael Tanzer, Jo Miller chair of orthopaedic research at McGill University Health Center in Montreal. "But that it actually improved their marital life and their relationship and their family life is not something I could have predicted beforehand." Tanzer did have reason to suspect this could be true for some...

Mindfulness May Ease the Emotional Burden of MS

27 May 2020
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Mindfulness training may help counter the thinking and emotional difficulties caused by multiple sclerosis. In a small test study, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who had four weeks of mindfulness training emerged with better emotional control and faster thinking. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. This interferes with communication in the brain and between the brain and body, leading to worsening mental and physical problems. An estimated one million people in the United States are affected. "Emotional upheaval is part and parcel of living with multiple sclerosis -- there's no cure, per se," said Nicholas Larocca, a National Multiple Sclerosis Society...

Alzheimer's Gene Linked to Severe COVID-19 Risk

27 May 2020
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- People who have a flawed gene linked to Alzheimer's disease may face a higher risk of COVID-19, an international team of researchers reports. Part of the increased risk among people with dementia may owe to high rates of new coronavirus infections in nursing homes. But this study suggests genetics may also be a factor. The APOE e4e4 gene variant is known to increase Alzheimer's risk up to 14 times. It also increases heart disease risk. Medical school researchers at the University of Exeter in England and the University of Connecticut analyzed data from more than 382,000 people of European ancestry. Of those, about 2.4% had the ApoE e4e4 gene variant. Meanwhile, 5.1% of those who tested positive for COVID-19 had the gene variant. While...
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