Latest Senior Health News

4May
2023

U.S. Death Rate Declined in 2022, COVID Deaths Fell by Almost Half

U.S. Death Rate Declined in 2022, COVID Deaths Fell by Almost HalfTHURSDAY, May 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Preliminary mortality data for 2022 finds America making its way back from the devastation of the pandemic, with a significant 5.3% decline in deaths compared to 2021.And although COVID-19 remained the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year, the number of fatalities linked to the disease fell by almost half -- from 462,193 deaths in 2021 to 244,986 deaths in 2022. COVID was responsible for about 5.7% of American deaths in 2022, down from 12% a year earlier. Among COVID-19 fatalities, men continued to be at higher risk of dying than women. The new figures, compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are called “provisional” because the numbers aren’t yet final. They’re based on data from the...

Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Slows Decline in Thinking...

3 May 2023
Experimental Alzheimer`s Drug Slows Decline in Thinking in Late-Stage TrialWEDNESDAY, May 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Another experimental drug meant for Alzheimer’s disease looks so promising that drugmaker Eli Lilly plans to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for full approval by the end of June. Known as donanemab, the medication clears amyloid plaque from the brain. In a late trial, the drug slowed memory and thinking declines in early symptomatic Alzheimer’s patients by more than a third, Lilly said Wednesday. About 47% of those taking the medication had no decline on a key measure of thinking over a year, compared to 29% of patients on a placebo."We are extremely pleased that donanemab yielded positive clinical results with compelling statistical significance for people with Alzheimer's disease in this trial," Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's...

Vermont Opens Its Assisted Suicide Laws to Out-of-State...

2 May 2023
Vermont Opens Its Assisted Suicide Laws to Out-of-State ResidentsTUESDAY, May 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- People seeking medically assisted suicide from any state can now get it in Vermont. The state is the first to allow those with terminal illnesses from out of state to end their lives within its borders, the Associated Press reported.Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill Tuesday removing a requirement that those seeking medically assisted suicide in the state must be Vermont residents. “We are grateful to Vermont lawmakers for recognizing that a state border shouldn’t determine if you die peacefully or in agony,” Kim Callinan, president and CEO of Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit advocacy organization, said in a statement. “Patients routinely travel to other states to utilize the best health care options. There is no rational reason...

Science Reveals Possible 'Surge of Consciousness' Just...

2 May 2023
Science Reveals Possible `Surge of Consciousness` Just Before DyingTUESDAY, May 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Near-death experiences — seeing a bright light, floating outside your body, watching your life flash past, communicating with lost loved ones — could well be part of a dying brain’s final fight-or-flight response, a new report suggests.Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of dying intensive care unit patients found that some experienced a surge of brain activity in regions associated with consciousness and perception of vision and sound.The patients in which this brain surge occurred also showed signs of a fight-or-flight response in their dying moments, with heart racing and lungs gasping for breath, said senior researcher Jimo Borjigin, an associate professor of neurology and molecular & integrative physiology with the University of...

Taking Longer to Perform Tasks? It Could Be a Sign of Dementia Risk

2 May 2023
Taking Longer to Perform Tasks? It Could Be a Sign of Dementia RiskTUESDAY, May 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- It’s expected that seniors slow down physically as they age, but this could be a sign of more than just lost muscle strength, a new study suggests. In some, it may be a harbinger of dementia.Australian researchers said the findings may help health professionals to identify dementia risk in patients earlier.“Both grip strength and TUG tests [for balance and mobility] aren’t commonly performed in clinical practice, but both are inexpensive and simple screening tools,” said senior researcher Marc Sim, from Edith Cowan University in Australia.“Incorporating muscle function tests as part of dementia screening could be useful to identify high-risk individuals, who might then benefit from primary prevention programs aimed at preventing the...
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