Latest Senior Health News

23Sep
2021

Signs of Early Alzheimer's May Be Spotted in Brain Stem

Signs of Early Alzheimer`s May Be Spotted in Brain StemTHURSDAY, Sept. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Certain changes in a part of the brain stem, visible in scans, might be a potential early indicator of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.Using different brain imaging techniques, researchers found that lesser "integrity" in the brain stem region was linked to a faster decline in memory and thinking in older adults, as well as certain brain changes seen in early Alzheimer's.The research -- published Sept. 22 in the journal Science Translational Medicine -- is the latest in a broad effort to find "biomarkers" that could aid in earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis.Biomarkers are things that can be measured to reliably detect a disease -- a substance in the blood or a brain scan finding, for instance.Right now, most people with Alzheimer's are...

FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Shots for Seniors, High-Risk...

23 September 2021
FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Shots for Seniors, High-Risk AmericansTHURSDAY, Sept. 23, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Pfizer booster shots for people over 65 and for those at high risk of severe COVID-19.Under the emergency use authorization, the booster shots should be given at least six months after a person is fully vaccinated.Wednesday's move is likely the beginning of a staggered campaign to deliver booster shots to all Americans, starting with the most vulnerable."Today's action demonstrates that science and the currently available data continue to guide the FDA's decision-making for COVID-19 vaccines during this pandemic," Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in an agency news release. "After considering the totality of the available scientific evidence and the deliberations of...

Sexual Assault Could Affect a Woman's Long-Term Brain Health

22 September 2021
Sexual Assault Could Affect a Woman`s Long-Term Brain HealthWEDNESDAY, Sept. 22, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- It's known that sexual assault affects a woman's physical and mental health. Now, researchers say these traumatic incidents may also harm her brain health.A new study found that traumatic experiences, including sexual violence, may be linked to greater risk of dementia, stroke and other brain disorders. "Identifying early warning signs of stroke and dementia are critical to providing effective intervention," said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Society. "Studies like this one provide important information about the long-term effects of traumatic experiences on a woman's overall well-being and mental health," she added in a society news release. Faubion was not involved with the new research.For the...

COVID Has Killed More Americans Than the Spanish Flu Did...

21 September 2021
COVID Has Killed More Americans Than the Spanish Flu Did in 1918TUESDAY, Sept. 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- As the highly contagious Delta variant has swept across the United States, the country has reached a tragic milestone.COVID-19 has now killed more Americans than the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic did, when roughly 675,000 people died.It didn't have to be that way."Big pockets of American society — and worse, their leaders — have thrown this away" by not getting vaccinated, Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian from the University of Michigan, told the Associated Press.This happened despite vast gains in scientific knowledge during the past century, including the development of three powerful vaccines approved in the United States to fight the new coronavirus."We know that all pandemics come to an end," Dr. Jeremy Brown, director of emergency...

Animal Sedative Is Driving Rise in Fatal Drug ODs

21 September 2021
Animal Sedative Is Driving Rise in Fatal Drug ODsTUESDAY, Sept. 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- An animal tranquilizer, xylazine, is increasingly linked to drug overdose deaths across the United States, health officials say.According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, xylazine has turned up in overdose deaths in 25 of 38 states examined. In 2019, xylazine contributed to death in 64% of cases and almost always also involved fentanyl.The drug is mixed with opioids, such as fentanyl or heroin, to enhance their effects, but this cocktail can increase sedation and respiratory depression. That, in turn, increases the risk of a fatal overdose, CDC researchers explained."The detection of xylazine in multiple jurisdictions is concerning and warrants continued surveillance to inform overdose response and...
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