Category Archives: Science of Us

New Study Of Yanomami and Yekwana Tribes Points To Role Of Diet On Blood Pressure

A tribe with virtually no Western contact shows little to no increase in blood pressure as they age

A newly released study sheds insight into the role Western-influenced diets may play in blood pressure levels throughout our lives. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health measured blood pressure levels of two native tribes in South … Continue reading

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New Report Highlights Opioid Misuse in the Elderly

The numbers of seniors who appear to be misusing painkillers is on the rise

When most of us think about the opioid crisis, we tend to think of young people or people in middle age who have been dealing with addiction for a long time. Seniors, we assume, have little interest in recreational drug … Continue reading

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Blood-Brain Barrier Biomarker Could Be Early Alzheimer’s Indicator

Early detection of Alzheimer's is crucial to slow advancement of the disease

A recent study out of the University of Southern California suggests that leaks in the blood-brain barrier could be used to detect Alzheimer’s in its early stages. This is important because it’s believed that early detection is crucial to stop or … Continue reading

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Breast Cancer Surgery Harmful in Frail Nursing Home Residents

Elderly women with breast cancer fare worse after surgery, study finds

As a rule, breast cancer surgery is considered a low-risk procedure, even in the elderly. But a recent study published in JAMA Surgery has called into question the wisdom of surgery in women who are elderly and medically frail. After … Continue reading

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Young Widows Are More Susceptible to Ill Health because They Grieve Longer

Annual physicals lessen the health risks they face

Twenty years ago I read a letter to an editor urging young widows to go for annual physicals. The message jolted me because my 49-year-old husband had died a few weeks earlier. The article convinced me that, for my sake and … Continue reading

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Mutation in Gene Connected to Fatigue in Shift Workers Could Also Increase Risk of Alzheimer’s

Research by the same team points to the possible connection between shift work intolerance and later development of Alzheimer's

A new study out of Finland appears to show a connection between shift work and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. The recent study, published in the journal SLEEP, shows that a variation in the melatonin receptor … Continue reading

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