New technique depicts brain synapses

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on October 03, 2016

The brain’s nerve cells communicate by firing messages to each other through junctions called synapses. Problems with those connections are linked to disorders like Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.Now Yale University researchers have developed a way to picture synapses in living brains. The technique, using PET scans, is highly experimental, but it raises the possibility of one day... READ MORE

FDA approves new stent that dissolves

By Matthew Perrone
Posted on September 28, 2016

A medical implant that slowly dissolves into the body could be the answer to long-standing safety concerns with devices used to treat clogged arteries.But not so fast, say experts.Abbott Laboratories’ newly-approved Absorb stent comes with one important caveat: it hasn’t yet been shown to be safer than older metal implants. The Food and Drug Administration approved the... READ MORE

How regular exercise may cut cancer risk

By Dr. Howard LeWine
Posted on September 19, 2016

Q: It makes sense that regular exercise helps prevent heart disease. But I have also read that it might help prevent cancer. What’s the reason?A: Many studies show that people who are physically active are less likely to develop cancer. Such associations don’t prove that exercise prevents cancer. But there are also several potential biological explanations for a protective... READ MORE

Where to donate hearing aids, glasses, etc.

By Jim Miller
Posted on September 14, 2016

Dear Savvy Senior: Where are some good places to donate old hearing aids, eyeglasses and mobility equipment? My uncle passed away a few months ago and left behind a bunch of useful aids that could surely help someone else.                             Searching Nephew Dear Searching: Donating old, unused assistive living aids and/or medical equipment is a great way to... READ MORE

Behavior changes may precede dementia

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on September 07, 2016

Memory loss may not always be the first warning sign that dementia is brewing — changes in behavior or personality might be an early clue.Researchers recently outlined a syndrome called “mild behavioral impairment” that may be a harbinger of Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and proposed a checklist of symptoms to alert doctors and families.Losing interest in favorite... READ MORE

Help contribute to breast cancer research

By Beacon
Posted on September 01, 2016

Clinical trials are one of the major factors responsible for the gains made in breast cancer survival over the past 30 years.Thanks to such research studies, improvements have also been made in quality of life for people living with cancer, as researchers have been able to identify more targeted treatments that can help limit many cancer therapy side effects.The Sidney Kimmel... READ MORE

How are you feeling today?

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on August 29, 2016

It’s such a simple question and yet, I bet your own opinion of how you feel matters little to your doctors. It’s quite frequent that you’re told not to worry about your health if a lab test comes back as “normal.” The assumption is made that nothing’s wrong. New research from Rice University in Texas suggests that how you feel is a more reliable indicator of future illness... READ MORE

Added sugar isn’t so sweet for your heart

By Judy Thalheimer, R.D
Posted on August 26, 2016

People who consume more added sugars have a higher risk of death from heart disease.Researchers used to think it was the calories in sugary foods that were the problem: sugar made us fat, and obesity raised our risk of heart disease.But a 2014 research review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who consumed more added sugars had more risk factors for... READ MORE

Relieving and preventing a pain in the neck

By Beacon
Posted on August 25, 2016

Neck pain is a nagging ailment that affects nearly everyone at some time. In fact, approximately 80 percent of people experience neck pain during their lifetime, and 20 to 50 percent deal with it annually, according to Dr. Frank Pedlow, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.Besides the obvious problem of physical discomfort, neck pain can trigger... READ MORE

Multiple medications can multiply risks

By Beacon
Posted on August 18, 2016

Taking several types of medications can be challenging. But this is something you have to get right. If you don’t, you may have unwanted side effects, or you may not properly treat your chronic condition.“I see people who average 15 medications, and it’s very difficult for them to juggle that many pills,” said Joanne Doyle Petrongolo, a pharmacist at... READ MORE