2 March 2020
MONDAY, March 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Low folate levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new study suggests.
People with RA have a 60% increased risk of dying from heart disease, but the reasons have been unclear.
"Our study is the first to show an association between serum folate and increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis," lead author Kalyani Sonawane said in a University of Texas news release. She is an assistant professor at UTHealth's School of Public Health.
This study included 683 RA patients who were divided into three groups based on their blood levels of folate, a B vitamin also known as folic acid.
One group had levels below 4.3 nanograms per milliliter, the...
26 February 2020
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Losing a spouse can be a heartbreaker, and new research suggests it's also tough on the brain.
The study found that when a husband or wife dies, the surviving mate's mental acuity could start to decline.
In fact, people who are widowed and have high levels of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, appear to experience cognitive decline three times faster than similar people who have not lost a spouse, the researchers added.
"The associations of widowhood and amyloid were compounded, not simply additive, indicating that widowhood is a specific risk factor for cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease," explained lead researcher Dr. Nancy Donovan, chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Brigham and Women's...
20 February 2020
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Caring for a loved one at home can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming and take a toll on your own health, a new study suggests.
According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 of the nearly 18 million Americans who provide informal, unpaid care may be in fair or poor health.
"As the population of America ages and the number of older adults with diseases such as Alzheimer's continue to grow, there concomitantly has been a growth in the number of non-paid, informal caregivers," said Dr. Teresa Murray Amato, director of geriatric emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York City.
"Many of these caregivers are family members, which can be very helpful for...
12 February 2020
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Grab your golf clubs. Spending a day on the green at least once a month may lower the risk of early death among older adults, a new study finds.
About 25 million Americans play golf, which is a sport that can reduce stress and yield exercise benefits. Social in nature and played at a controlled pace, people often continue enjoying the sport into old age.
"Our study is perhaps the first of its kind to evaluate the long-term health benefits of golf, one of the most popular sports among older people in many countries," said lead study author Dr. Adnan Qureshi. He is a professor of neurology at the University of Missouri, in Columbia.
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans does not yet...