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Dr. Crandall: What You Should Know About Stroke
Pope Francis died, at age 88, after suffering a stroke last Monday, April 21. The Pope had the stroke in the early morning hours, which led to a coma and later, heart failure, according to the Vatican.According to the American Stroke Association, in the United States, every...
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Alzheimer's Signs Can Appear Prior To Middle Age
Risk factors for dementia could start taking their toll as early as a person's 20s and 30s, a new study says. Younger adults who carry known risks for dementia performed worse on memory and thinking tests between ages 24 and 44, researchers report in the May issue of the...
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Muscle Quality May Be Key to Hip Replacement
Folks are less likely to recover successfully from a total hip replacement if they have poor muscle quality going into the procedure, a small-scale study says. Patients whose MRI scans revealed fatty hip muscle prior to surgery were more likely to perform poorly on movement...
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Early Menopause May Predict Greater Brain Decline
Early menopause could be a warning sign for future age-related brain decline, a new study says. Women who entered menopause before 40 had a greater cognitive decline than women who entered menopause after 50, according to a study published recently in the journal Alzheimer's...
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Immune Therapy Effective in Older Cancer Patients
It's well-known that a person's immune system wears down over time, becoming less effective as folks progress through middle age and become seniors. But that doesn't appear to hinder the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer in seniors, a new study says. Seniors with...
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Regular Digital Tech Use Protects Seniors' Brains
It's a common notion that overuse of smartphones, tablets, laptops and other digital devices is rotting people's minds. But the opposite appears to be true - regular use of digital technology seems to protect the brain against decline and dementia, at least among those...
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ERs Treat A Gunshot Wound Every Half-Hour
U.S. emergency room doctors treat a gunshot wound every half-hour, a new study has found. What's more, firearm injuries appear to follow specific patterns throughout the year, with gun violence occurring more often at certain times, according to research from the U.S....
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A Father With Alzheimer's May Increase Your Risk
Having a father with Alzheimer's disease could put you at risk for brain changes linked to the degenerative disorder, a new study says. People whose fathers fell prey to Alzheimer's had a greater spread of tau proteins in their brain, according to findings published in the...
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Eligible Smokers Not Getting Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer screening can save the lives of former and current smokers, but most aren't taking advantage of it, a new study says. Fewer than 1 in 5 people eligible for lung cancer screening go through with a chest CT scan, according to research published April 2 in the...
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Blood Test Diagnoses, Tracks Alzheimer's Disease
An experimental blood test for Alzheimer's disease not only can aid in its diagnosis but also indicate how far the brain condition has progressed, a new study says. The test tracks levels of a protein called MTBR-tau243, which is linked to toxic tau tangles that build up in...
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Even Rich Americans Die Younger Than Europeans
Death comes for everyone, be they rich or poor. But no amount of money will help Americans live longer than Europeans, a new study says. Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans compared to well-heeled Europeans, according to results published April 2 in the New...
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'Weekend Warriors' as Healthy as Daily Exercisers
Life is busy, and some folks simply don't have time until the weekend to work out. Turns out, that's just fine for their health, a new study suggests. "Weekend warriors" who cram their week's exercise into one or two days appear to gain as much benefit as people who are...
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Shingles Vaccine Reduces Risk for Dementia
A vaccine to fight dementia? It turns out there may already be one - shots that prevent painful shingles also appear to protect aging brains.A new study found shingles vaccination cut older adults' risk of developing dementia over the next seven years by 20%.The research,...
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Low 'Bad' Cholesterol Might Lower Dementia Risk
Lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol could mean a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a new study says. People with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels lower than 70 mg/dl had a 26% lower risk of dementia and 28% lower risk of Alzheimer's, compared...
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Eye Exam Can Assess Risk for Delirium After Surgery
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. The eyes also might help detect seniors at risk for a common syndrome in which they emerge from surgery in a state of delirium, new research suggests. Seniors who have thicker retinas are about 60% more likely to develop...
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What a Smile Reveals About Longevity
A healthy smile may play a key role in how long you live. A recent study from China found that maintaining good oral health, particularly preserving natural teeth, can significantly impact overall life expectancy. The study emphasizes the importance of regular dental care...
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Microplastics Linked to Hypertension, Diabetes
Microplastics appear to be contributing to chronic diseases in shoreline areas of the United States, a new study suggests. High blood pressure, diabetes and stroke rates are higher in coastal or lakefront areas with greater concentrations of microplastics in the environment,...
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Heart Problems Linked to Brain Shrinkage
Heart disease might contribute to the sort of brain shrinkage seen in dementia, a new study says. People with early signs of heart problems are more likely to have brain changes associated with dementia, researchers reported on March 26 in the journal Neurology. Specifically,...
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Delete Your DNA Data With 23andMe Now
If you're one of the 15 million people who shared your DNA with 23andMe, stop whatever you're doing. Experts say now is the time to delete your data. The genetic testing company filed for bankruptcy March 23 and is looking to sell its assets. California Attorney General Rob...
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Drug Combo Drops Cholesterol More Than Statin Alone
Statins are very cheap and highly effective cholesterol-lowering drugs - but high-risk heart patients may have an even better option, a new evidence review says. Combining statins with another drug, ezetimibe, significantly reduces the risk of death in patients with clogged...
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Study: Shingles Vaccine May Lower Dementia Risk
GSK said on Tuesday that it is studying a group of more than a million older adults in the UK to examine whether its best-selling shingles vaccine lowers the risk of dementia. The British drugmaker is using the health data of some 1.4 million people, aged 65 to 66, some of...
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Study: Anti-Amyloid Drug Halved Alzheimer's Risk
The best evidence yet that cutting-edge Alzheimer's disease drugs might indeed ward off the degenerative brain disease has emerged from a small-scale study. An experimental drug that clears amyloid beta from the brain cut the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 50% among a...
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Why We Don't Remember Baby Memories
Babies and toddlers are sponges, incessantly soaking up lessons from the world around them. So why, then, can't adults remember specific events from their earliest moments of childhood? A new study indicates that memories of baby experiences might remain, lurking in the...
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Cheap Health Insurance Can Delay Cancer Diagnosis
Considering a short-term health insurance plan as a cheap alternative to more costly comprehensive coverage? You could be rolling the dice when it comes to cancer, a new study suggests. People who opt for short-term limited duration (STLD) insurance tend to have their cancers...
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Increasing Daytime Sleepiness May Signal Dementia
Drowsy during the daytime? For seniors, such sleepiness could indicate that they're at increased risk for dementia, a new study suggests. Women in their 80s had double risk of dementia if they experienced increasing daytime sleepiness over a five-year period, researchers...