Getting therapy when cost is a barrier
The race to find mental health treatment can feel like a marathon when you may not have the energy or ability to even make it to the starting line. You may be faced with limited affordable options and a lack of available therapists. “Prior to the pandemic, we had an inadequate workforce to meet the mental health demand of the country,” said Vaile Wright, who has a doctorate in... READ MORE
Prostate cancer screening after age 70
Q: I just celebrated my 70th birthday and am due for my yearly doctor visit. How does a man decide whether to continue PSA testing for prostate cancer? A: While some guidelines suggest stopping prostate cancer screening after age 70, the decision to continue depends on your general health and life expectancy. The reason: Most prostate cancers are low-grade and will not shorten a... READ MORE
Learn your hunger cues to limit cravings
The challenge with resisting food is, well, the food. It tastes good. It looks good. It smells really good, and when we see everyone eating pizza, ice cream and chips, we want in. Then we eat too much and swear that we’ll do better, but when the next time comes… We know that what we’re eating isn’t healthy, but no matter how hard we try, resisting feels impossible. It helps to ... READ MORE
Grapes pair well with fish and vegetables
Grapes are a popular and convenient fruit that can also be an ally in wellness, offering an abundance of health benefits that can help you get (and stay) on the right track. They can go with you on hikes and bike rides or to the gym as a healthy and hydrating source of energy. With no need to peel, cut, core or slice, grapes are perfectly portable when you’re on the... READ MORE
Distracted? Meditation improves focus
Many, many years ago, I worked at the magazine Yoga Journal. Our small editorial team created thousands of stories highlighting the many uplifting qualities of the physical, mental and spiritual practice. Ironically, it also was one of the most stressful work environments I’d seen. Even though the magazine’s topics were about calmness, attentiveness and inner growth, we dealt with ... READ MORE
Is once-daily aspirin still recommended?
Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been taking daily aspirin for almost 20 years now because I have a family history of heart disease. But I recently read that using aspirin is not recommended anymore. What can you tell me about this change in philosophy? —Confused Aspirin User Dear Confused, There’s no doubt that taking low-dose daily aspirin is beneficial to most people who’ve had a ... READ MORE
Study of potential Alzheimer’s treatment
Alzheimer’s disease starts with mild memory loss. What if there was a pill to prevent the disease from getting worse? Studies of an investigational drug are underway to see if it may be effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in people who carry two copies of a certain gene (APOE/4) that increases the risk of developing it and other dementias. While one in four ... READ MORE
Health Shorts
Not too late to get COVID-19 boosters With new omicron variants again driving COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths higher in recent weeks, states and cities are rethinking their responses, and the White House is stepping up efforts to alert the public. The highly transmissible BA.5 variant now accounts for 65% of cases, with its cousin BA.4 contributing another 16%. The variants have ... READ MORE
Technology program catches on locally
Six years ago, Montgomery County, Maryland, launched a program to help older adults become confident using technology. Called Senior Planet Montgomery, the program offered hands-on courses where participants could learn the basics of computers, word processing programs, how to safely navigate the internet and more. The training programs were developed by a nonprofit based in Brooklyn,... READ MORE
Experiment shrinks tough-to-treat cancer
In a novel experiment, a woman with advanced pancreatic cancer saw her tumors dramatically shrink after researchers in Oregon turbocharged her own immune cells, highlighting a possible new way to someday treat a variety of cancers. Kathy Wilkes isn’t cured, but said what’s left of her cancer has shown no sign of growth since the one-time treatment last summer. “I knew that... READ MORE
