Senior Health Update Archives

Heart disease, weight gain linked to higher breast cancer risk after menopause

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer recently examined the link between excess weight and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. The scientists focused specifically on women who developed cardiovascular disease to see...

A cough medicine may help slow down cognitive decline in Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease dementia develops in people who have a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Experts are interested in finding the best ways to address and prevent Parkinson’s disease dementia. A randomized clinical trial found that the drug...

A simple blood test could indicate how long you might live

Intrinsic capacity is the sum of a person’s mental and physical capacities, and is a measure of aging. Maintaining physical and mental function is a cornerstone of healthy aging. Formerly, assessing intrinsic capacity has been...

A fasting-mimicking diet may improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes

Dietary changes are a crucial component of managing type 2 diabetes and can even help achieve remission of the disease. Fasting diets, which involve calorie restriction during specific hours or days, have been shown to...

Rapamycin may extend lifespan as effectively as dietary restrictions

Research is ongoing about potential strategies to prolong life. A meta-analysis found that the drug rapamycin prolongs life in several vertebrate species. Rapamycin appeared to prolong life at a level similar to dietary restrictions. Written...

Can Ozempic help lower your risk of dementia?

There are several risk factors for dementia, including type 2 diabetes. A new study reports that semaglutide — the active ingredient in type 2 diabetes and weight loss GLP-1 medications Ozempic and Wegovy — may...

Common sugar substitute may affect brain and blood vessel health

Recent studies suggest a connection between higher levels of erythritol — a popular sweetener — in the blood and an increased risk of vascular health issues, such as blood clotting, heart disease, and stroke. New...

Vitamin D supplements may slow aging by preserving telomere length

Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, are an important component of healthy aging. One study found that vitamin D supplementation helps to minimize the shortening of telomeres, which happens as people get...

Could eating chicken heighten cancer risk? Experts weigh in on latest claims

A recent study found that eating 300 grams of poultry per week was linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer and death from all causes. The findings have caused concern among consumers as they...

Shingles vaccine could prevent 1 in 5 dementia cases

Dementia currently affects more than 57 million people worldwide, and numbers are projected to almost triple over the next 25 years. Many factors can increase a person’s risk of developing dementia, including age, genetics, vascular...