ScienceDaily: Elder Care News

Sleep Apnea linked to Alzheimer's

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

A new study looking at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and markers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging adds to the growing body of research linking the two.

Depression linked to almost doubled stroke risk in middle-aged women

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

Depression among women 47-52 years old is associated with an almost doubled risk of stroke. Researchers call for greater awareness of depression as a preventable risk factor for stroke among younger middle-aged women.

Novel brain training device to reconnect brain and paralyzed limb after stroke

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

The world’s first Brain Training Device has given a ray of new hope to the recovery of survivors after stroke. This novel device can detect brainwave and control the movement of paralyzed limbs.

Massage therapy shown to improve stress response in preterm infants

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:06:06 EDT

A new study has found massage therapy that involved moderate pressure and stroking of the soft tissues followed by flexing and extending the joints of the arms and legs increased heart rate variability in male, but not in female preterm infants.

Future hospitalization and increased health service use may be linked to insomnia

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:53:53 EDT

New study finds insomnia may be an important indicator of future hospitalization among middle-aged and older adults.

Credit card debt leads some to skip medical care

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

People with outstanding credit card or medical debt were more likely to delay or avoid medical or dental care, finds a new study.

Using anticholinergics for as few as 60 days causes memory problems in older adults

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Research on medications commonly taken by older adults has found that drugs with strong anticholinergic effects cause cognitive impairment when taken continuously for as few as 60 days. A similar impact can be seen with 90 days of continuous use when taking multiple drugs with weak anticholinergic effect.

Foster care a sound choice for some maltreated children

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Newspaper articles, TV shows and books are filled with horror stories of children placed in foster care. A new study bucks that trend by showing out-of-home placements can improve the emotional health of some youths who have been maltreated by a parent.

Driving with the dog not a good idea for seniors

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Senior drivers who always take a pet in the car are at increased risk for being involved in a motor vehicle collision, said researchers. The research team said both overall and at-fault crash rates for drivers 70 years of age or older were higher for those whose pet habitually rode with them.

Five 'sudden symptoms' of stroke: Recognizing these could save a life – even a young life

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:35 EDT

Quickly recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical care from stroke specialists can minimize the effects of the disease or even save a life. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Nearly 20 percent of strokes occur in people younger than age 55.

Exercise proves to be ineffective against care home depression

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

Researchers have shown that exercise is not effective in reducing burden of depression among elderly care home residents.

No link between anesthesia, dementia in elderly

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Elderly patients who receive anesthesia are no more likely to develop long-term dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than other seniors, according to new research. The study analyzed thousands of patients using the Rochester Epidemiology Project -- which allows researchers access to medical records of nearly all residents of Olmsted County, Minn. -- and found that receiving general anesthesia for procedures after age 45 is not a risk factor for developing dementia.

Gene networks in brains of deceased patients reveal potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Most information about the cause of Alzheimer's is based on studies from animal models. Now, a study examines the brain tissue of deceased human patients and sheds light on dysfunctions in molecular networks in the brain that are at the root of Alzheimer's. By showing that the TYROBP gene plays a key role in disrupting immune system pathways in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, the study reveals a potential therapeutic target for preventing brain damage.

Teen years may be critical in later stroke risk

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

The teenage years may be a key period of vulnerability related to living in the "stroke belt" when it comes to future stroke risk, according to a new study.

Costs to treat heart failure expected to more than double by 2030

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:22:22 EDT

By 2030, you — and every U.S. taxpayer — could be paying $244 a year to care for heart failure patients, according to a new policy statement.

Slow walking speed linked with premature death in kidney disease patients

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:39:39 EDT

Kidney disease patients who have slower walking speed on physical performance tests seem to be more burdened by their disease than patients who perform well on lower extremity physical performance tests, according to a new study. The findings indicate that measuring lower extremity physical performance may capture a complex set of skeletal muscle and neurologic impairments that develop in CKD patients and substantially affect their survival.

Reducing the pain of movement in intensive care

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:36:36 EDT

Monitoring pain and providing analgesics to patients in intensive care units (ICUs) during non-surgical procedures, such as turning and washing, can not only reduce the amount of pain but also reduce the number of serious adverse events including cardiac arrest, finds new research. Although pain at rest is routinely noted, pain during procedures is less regularly reported and its effect on patients unknown.

The doctor won't see you now? Study: US facing a neurologist shortage

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:44:44 EDT

Americans with brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS) who need to see a neurologist may face longer wait times or have more difficulty finding a neurologist, according to a new study.

Hair analysis reveals elevated stress hormone levels raise cardiovascular risk

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Hair strands contain valuable information about senior citizens' stress levels that can be used to determine an individual's cardiovascular disease risk, according to a recent stud.

Paper-thin skin patch collects vitals: E-health made easier and more comfortable

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:22:22 EDT

The future of health care could be found in a tiny, paper-thin skin patch that collects vital information. The Bio-patch sensor is inexpensive, versatile and, best of all, comfortable to wear.

The power of cocoa polyphenols against neurodegenerative diseases

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Epidemiological studies have indicated that dietary habits and antioxidants from diet can influence the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Gene may help identify risk of Alzheimer's in African Americans

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers found minor differences between genes that contribute to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in African-Americans and in Caucasians.

Older people may be at greater risk for alcohol impairment than teens

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:29:29 EDT

An acute dose of alcohol may cause greater impairment in coordination, learning and memory in the elderly than in young people, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings have profound significance for older people -- a population that is aging worldwide at an unprecedented rate and that includes Baby Boomers as they become seniors.

Reducing infant exposure to smoke

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:16:16 EDT

A study to investigate whether a hospital-initiated behavioral therapy program conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit can reduce secondhand smoke in homes with infants at risk for pulmonary problems has been launched by UTHealth researchers.

Posture provides clue for future disability

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:47:47 EDT

The shape of an individual's spinal column may predict his or her risk for nursing home admission or need of home assistance in old age, according to a new article.

Increased rates of hospitalization linked to elder abuse

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

Older adults who are subject to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation face a greater risk of being hospitalized than other seniors, according to the results of a study published in the April 8 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Shift of language function to right hemisphere impedes post-stroke aphasia recovery

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:19:19 EDT

In a study designed to differentiate why some stroke patients recover from aphasia and others do not, investigators have found that a compensatory reorganization of language function to right hemispheric brain regions bodes poorly for language recovery. Patients who recovered from aphasia showed a return to normal left-hemispheric language activation patterns.

Dementia costs top those for heart disease or cancer, study finds

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:02:02 EDT

The most-detailed examination of the costs of dementia in the United States finds the disease is more costly to the nation than either heart disease or cancer. The analysis suggests that the costs of dementia could more than double by 2040 if the rate of the disease remains constant as the nation's population continues to grow older.

Brain-imaging tool and stroke risk test help identify cognitive decline early

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:13:13 EDT

Medical researchers have used a brain-imaging tool and stroke risk assessment to identify signs of cognitive decline early on in individuals who don't yet show symptoms of dementia.

Tests to predict heart problems and stroke may be more useful predictor of memory loss than dementia tests

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

Risk prediction tools that estimate future risk of heart disease and stroke may be more useful predictors of future decline in cognitive abilities, or memory and thinking, than a dementia risk scores, according to a new study.

Eating more fiber may lower risk of first-time stroke

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:14:14 EDT

Eating more fiber may decrease your risk of first-time stroke, according to new research.

Surgical menopause may prime brain for stroke, Alzheimer's

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Removing the ovaries before menopause, appears to leave more of the brain vulnerable to stroke and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.

Hospital remains most common place of death for cancer patients in England

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

In England, the hospital is still the most common place for patients with cancer to die, but an increase in home and hospice deaths since 2005 suggests that the National End of Life Care Programme (a Programme to promote the rollout of national end-of-life care initiatives) has helped more people to die at their preferred place of death, according to a UK study.

Certified stroke centers more likely to give clot-busting drugs

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:23:23 EDT

Stroke patients are three times more likely to receive clot-busting medication if they're treated at a hospital certified as a primary stroke center. There is a limited window of opportunity for using the drugs, so getting to a hospital quickly for treatment is important. Call 9-1-1 at the first sign of stroke symptoms.

Carmustine decreases amyloid beta plaques

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:25:25 EDT

Long term treatment by carmustine, a chemical relative of mustard gas and already used to treat some types of brain cancer, can decrease the amount of amyloid ² and number of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.

Genetic alterations linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, progression, and patient survival

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:40:40 EDT

A new analysis has found that genetic alterations in a particular cellular pathway are linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, disease progression, and patient survival. The findings could help improve bladder cancer screening and treatment.

Acting out dreams linked to development of dementia

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

The strongest predictor of whether a man is developing dementia with Lewy bodies — the second most common form of dementia in the elderly — is whether he acts out his dreams while sleeping, researchers have discovered.

Robot-delivered speech and physical therapy a success

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:26:26 EDT

In one of the earliest experiments using a humanoid robot to deliver speech and physical therapy to a stroke patient, researchers saw notable speech and physical therapy gains and significant improvement in quality of life.

Genetic evidence that new therapies targeting Parkinson's disease may cause harm

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:26:26 EDT

Researchers have completed a small study that shows genetic and clinical evidence that therapies targeting the expression of alpha-synuclein -- a gene whose function is involved in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease -- may accelerate disease progression and increase the risk of physical incapacitation and dementia. If replicated, the findings will have profound implications for therapies under development for Parkinson’s disease.

'Lessons from abroad' on caring for a graying population

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:53:53 EDT

In Norway, families receive public support that enables them to care for aging parents in their own homes and keep them out of nursing homes. This includes a salary for a son or daughter to provide care. They also focus on adapting houses to the needs of older people through municipal government-financed repairs and renovations. The nursing home is the last resort.

Pneumonia patients nearly twice as likely to suffer from depression, impairments

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Long-term cognitive and functional impairments that follow pneumonia hospitalization are comparable to the negative health effects of heart disease.

Tau transmission model opens doors for new Alzheimer's, Parkinson's therapies

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:08 EDT

Injecting synthetic tau fibrils into animal models induces Alzheimer's-like tau tangles and imitates the spread of tau pathology, according to new research.

Coffee, green tea, may help lower stroke risk, research shows

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Green tea and coffee may help lower your risks of having a stroke, especially when both are a regular part of your diet. People who drank either green tea or coffee daily had about approximately 20~30 percent lower risk for one type of stroke, compared to those who seldom drank them.

New drugs may improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Three new studies present possible positive news for people with Parkinson’s disease. The studies report on treatments for blood pressure problems, the wearing-off that can occur when people have taken the main drug for Parkinson’s for a long time, and for people early in the disease whose symptoms are not well-controlled by their main drugs.

Dynamic new software improves care of aging brain

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:11:11 EDT

Innovative medical records software will provide more personalized health care for older adult patients, a population at significant risk for mental health decline and disorders.

How chronic stress accelerates Alzheimer’s disease

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:50:50 EDT

Why does chronic stress lead to increased risk for dementia? The answer may lie in the elevation of stress steroids that is seen in the brain during stress, a researcher suggests.

Recovery in motion: Post-discharge activity level linked to risk of hospital readmission in elderly

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:04:04 EDT

A new study has found a link between the activity levels of elderly people who have just been released from the hospital and the risk that they will require readmission within 30 days.

Antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli increasing among older adults and residents of nursing homes

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:47:47 EDT

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities as settings in which this antibiotic-resistant strain is increasingly found.

Stroke risk in elderly treated with antipsychotics is newly linked to specific drug actions

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Antipsychotic administration in the elderly is associated with an increased risk for cerebrovascular accident, more commonly known as stroke; a new study provides additional insight into this important relationship.

Robots to get stroke patients back on their feet

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:13:13 EDT

Strokes are the most common cause of physical disability among the elderly. This often result in paralysis of one side of the body, and many patients suffer much reduced physical mobility and are often unable to walk on their own. Scientists are currently developing a robotic system designed to help stroke patients re-train their bodies.

Outdoor heat increases respiratory hospitalization risk in elderly

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:34:34 EST

Outdoor heat is associated with a significantly increased risk of emergency hospitalization for respiratory disorders in the elderly, according to a large epidemiological study of more than 12.5 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Post-stroke walking program improves stroke survivors' lives

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:16:16 EST

Regular brisk walking after a stroke may improve physical fitness, mobility and quality of life. Walking with friends or family can help stroke survivors overcome a fear of falling.

Alzheimer's risk gene discovered by screening brain's connections: Signs of disease decades before illness strike

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:38:38 EST

Scientists have discovered a new genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease by screening people's DNA and then using an advanced type of scan to visualize their brains' connections. The researchers discovered a common abnormality in our genetic code that increases the risk of Alzheimer's. To find the gene, they used a new imaging method that screens the brain's connections -- the wiring, or circuitry, that communicates information. Switching off such Alzheimer's risk genes (nine of them have been implicated over the last 20 years) could stop the disorder in its tracks or delay its onset by many years.

New clinical tool assesses health risks for older adults

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:44:44 EST

Medical researchers have developed a tool that can help determine – and perhaps influence – senior citizens’ 10-year survivability rates.

New model could lead to improved treatment for early stage Alzheimer's

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:15 EST

Researchers have developed a line of genetically altered mice that model the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease. This model may help scientists identify new therapies to provide relief to patients who are beginning to experience symptoms.

Clogged heart arteries can foreshadow stroke

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:15 EST

Blockages in your heart arteries could mean you're more likely to have a stroke, even if you're considered low risk, according to new research.

Researchers link left-sided brain injury with greater risk for hospital-acquired infections

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:14:14 EST

New findings have implications for translational research into brain-mediated immune defenses, infection control practices and cognitive rehabilitation strategies after stroke and brain injury.

Steroids may shorten hospital stay for pneumonia patients

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:33:33 EST

Patients with pneumonia may spend fewer days in the hospital if they are given steroids along with antibiotics and supportive care.

After a stroke, every minute counts: New national guide for care

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:34:34 EST

From the moment a person starts to experience stroke symptoms, the clock starts ticking. Every minute that passes can make a difference in how well their brain, arms, legs, speech or thinking ability recover. Now, new national guidelines for stroke treatment make it clear just how much minutes count.

Defining the new normal in aging

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:30:30 EST

Researcher says terms such as "normal," "healthy" or "successful" aging can prejudice our views of seniors.