On a recent late night in New Jersey, Adam Robb sat up with Dulcie Laurance, lulling her back to sleep.
Doctors and health officials have relied for decades on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of height to weight, to categorize people as overweight and obese.
Scientists say they "serendipitously" discovered that a drug used to treat a type of cancer quickly reversed Alzheimer's disease in mice.
Men in their 70s and 80s may be more likely than women of the same age to develop the memory loss and cognitive problems that often herald Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found.
The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else.
For years, many experts have maintained that the subtle changes in memory and mental function that occur naturally as we get older rarely begin before age 60.
Barbara Hall tell us about a new study that finds breast cancer treatments can cause memory loss for patients.
Over the past several years, researchers have noticed an odd pattern in the relationship between body weight and Alzheimer's disease: Middle-aged people have a higher long-term risk of developing the disease if they're overweight or obese, while older people have a lower risk of the disease if they're carrying excess weight.
I am a 24-year-old female who is a fitness enthusiast. I have been trying to lose some weight. My weight is 113 pounds ( it was 120 and I lost 7). Recently I got my BMI, lipid profile, cholesterol, etc., tests done and all of them are normal. I have a normal BMI of around 22. However, when I took a body fat test online, it says I have body fat of 38% and I am obese. I am extremely confused, as to which metric to trust and what should be my ideal weight (I have a small frame). Should I be around 100 pounds?
Women age 65 and older who fracture a hip are much more likely to die from any cause during the following year than they would be if they had avoided injury, a new study suggests.
People with diabetes are at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke at an early age, but that's not the only worry. Diabetes appears to dramatically increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia later in life, according to a new study conducted in Japan.
There was cake at one of the last birthdays Robert John Kreitner Jr. would have at the nursing home in Pennsylvania, but the guest of honor didn't open his eyes to see it.
Middle-aged women searching for a safe alternative to hormone therapy to prevent bone loss and ease the symptoms of menopause are in for another letdown.
Elizabeth Cohen discusses new research that suggests that eye exams may help doctors detect early signs of Alzheimer's.
With more than 5 million people suffering from Alzheimer's disease in the United States, a number that's expected to rise to 16 million by 2050, the pressure is on to find better methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Seventy-five former professional football players are suing the National Football League, saying the league knew as early as the 1920s of the harmful effects of concussions on players' brains but concealed the information from players, coaches, trainers and others until June 2010.
I am 39 years old and petite (5 feet and weigh about 94 pounds). My doctor recommended that I work out with weights to increase my bone density, since my small size puts me at greater risk for osteoporosis as I get older.
A report shows life span in the U.S. is falling behind other countries. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports.
Life expectancy in most U.S. counties lags behind that of the world's healthiest nations, in some cases by 50 years or more, according to a new analysis of government data.
Alzheimer's disease begins long before family and friends notice differences in the patient's memory and behavior, doctors who treat the condition said Monday. By the time an official diagnosis is made, the person's function is usually significantly impaired and treatment rarely helps.
Researchers expand the definition of Alzheimer's disease, recognizing it may be present long before symptoms appear.
The anti-aging quest got some attention this week when actor/producer Ashton Kutcher was pictured in a British tabloid reading my book, The Youth Pill, on a beach next to his wife, actress Demi Moore. According to one account, Moore had given the book to Kutcher -- the smirking implication was that he needed all the help he could get as the aging consort of the seemingly immortal Demi. The uncannily svelte, 48-year-old mother of three was photographed in a skimpy black bikini, leaving no doubt about her all-around youthfulness.
Gradual hearing loss is a common symptom of aging, but in some people it may also be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, a new study suggests.
Mental exercises won't prevent Alzheimer's disease, but they may delay it. Patty Lane has more in the Health Minute.
An essential nutrient found in fish oil does not appear to slow the mental decline associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
After age 60, we are all likely passengers on the Alzheimer's Express. These days it's overcrowded with baby boomers and is predicted by 2050 to claim 115 million victims worldwide, including 13.5 million Americans (up from 5.1 million today), bankrupting our health care system.
HLN's Susan Hendricks reports on a new study that finds men have earlier memory loss than women.
Last week, I answered a question about the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Today I want to talk a little about how dementia is treated.
Is hearing things that aren't there a symptom of Alzheimer's? Is Alzheimer's treatable?
Popular bone drugs taken by millions of older people to prevent osteoporosis do not appear to raise the risk of cancer in the esophagus, as some doctors and patients have feared.
The millions of people who take calcium supplements to strengthen aging bones and ward off osteoporosis may be putting themselves at increased risk of a heart attack, a new study has found.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports on a study suggesting calcium supplements can increase heart attack risks.
The link between depression and dementia has always been unclear, but a new study supports the theory that depression increases dementia risk.
Primary-care doctors now have a new--and potentially more convenient--tool to fight the bone disease osteoporosis.
In the fight against memory loss, nothing is certain, doctors say.
Ginkgo biloba has failed -- again -- to live up to its reputation for boosting memory and brain function. Just over a year after a study showed that the herb doesn't prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a new study from the same team of researchers has found no evidence that ginkgo reduces the normal cognitive decline that comes with aging.
My husband, age 39, was diagnosed with manic depression/bipolar disorder approximately two years ago. He suffers from recurrent bouts of depression and is currently in a depressive phase. He does not have very many manic phases at all. His short-term memory is getting progressively worse. Lately he cannot seem to remember how to get to places that he had just visited two or three days before. This has happened three times in the past week alone. Is there a correlation between recurrent bouts of depression and memory loss? I would question the medications as a factor, but he has not changed meds in many months and the episodes of memory loss have been in recent weeks. I would appreciate any information you can give me, as the primary caregiver you can imagine that this whole ordeal is very difficult.
Are professional football players at greater risk of dementia and other neurological problems?
The House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on legal issues relating to pro football head injuries.
I am a healthy and fit 55-year-old woman. My bone density test showed that I needed to be supplemented. I cannot take hormones as I had a blood clot, so the doctor prescribed Fosamax. I had awful side effects: muscle pain, joint pain, etc. He has now prescribed Forteo. Is this a good alternative?
People with a stable mood and better capacity to handle stressful situations without anxiety have a reduced risk of developing dementia, according to a study published this week in the journal Neurology.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins are often hailed as "wonder drugs." But a study published in the January 2008 issue of the journal Neurology says they don't protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease.
Women who have used the bone-building drug Fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat as those who have never used it. Patients, especially those with family history of heart problems, should talk to their doctor about whether the drug is the appropriate option for them. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in April 2008.
How can poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency affect your health, as far as dementia?
The popular herb ginkgo biloba does not reduce the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, according to a study of more than 1,500 elderly patients who took the supplement. Often touted as a way to preserve aging memories, no large-scale, randomized clinical trial -- until now -- has thoroughly evaluated the safety and effectiveness of ginkgo biloba extract as a way to prevent dementia.
An experimental menopause treatment drugmaker Wyeth is developing reduced hot flashes, trouble sleeping and other symptoms
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta meets a man paid to spend 84 days on bed rest as part of a NASA study.
Doctors working with NASA scientists believe that they may have a way to combat one of the greatest health dangers of space travel: bone loss.
British researchers say a new drug could effectively halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, offering hope to millions.
In a field of inquiry that has yielded much disappointment, scientists studying Alzheimer's disease announce some hopeful news
Researchers are studying whether blood pressure drugs can be used to treat Alzheimer's.
Patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who performed better on a treadmill test had less atrophy in the areas of the brain that control memory
Some doctors have long suspected that if the plaque that builds up in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease could be removed, they could be saved. But a new vaccine that did just that suggests the theory is wrong
Don Hayen has a handy way of deflecting the instant pity that comes when he reveals his Alzheimer's disease: "But I haven't lost my keys all day," he quickly jokes.
When Sheri Diehl, a Chicago-area flight attendant, got -- and finally stayed --pregnant after four miscarriages in the 1990s, she contacted her supervisor and asked to stop flying immediately. Her biggest worry? Radiation. She knew the airplane's shell didn't protect her from the sun's rays at high altitude. Diehl and her fellow flight attendants had long wondered -- Could there be unknown health risks for frequent fliers? -- which now included her baby. "I wasn't taking any chances," she says.
Results from a large government experiment are dimming hopes that two common painkillers can prevent Alzheimer's disease
Millions of baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only isn't ready for them, but may even discourage them from getting quality care
The truth: By age 35 your bone strength has usually peaked, and by age 50 your risk of breaking a bone because of osteoporosis may be as high as one in two. But here's an important secret: Experts say smart lifestyle choices-from workouts to the right supplements-can greatly improve your odds of avoiding bone problems. What should you do right now? Just follow this age-specific game plan.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on a study that links abdominal fat to an increased risk of dementia later in life.
Dr. Bernadine Healy can't even count the number of women who've complained to her about how tough it is to make the decision about hormone replacement therapy.
Just a few minutes of moderate daily exercise may stave off the signs of dementia in the elderly, a new study suggests
Amgen just can't get a break these days.
If you want to stand up tall when you're old, you might want to start when you're young. While osteoporosis, or thinning of bone density, usually hits most women after they have gone through menopause, there are steps they can take in their early years to lessen just how much bone they eventually lose.
CNN's Judy Fortin looks at ways women can fight back against osteoporosis.
New research shows that insulin plays a key role in the brain -- and in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, prompting some researchers to call it "type 3" diabetes
Four prominent neurologists say they cannot see how Sen. Pete Domenici can continue his work as a U.S. senator given his diagnosis with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a type of dementia.
Researchers are still figuring out the dangers and benefits of hormone replacement therapy, but two new studies give a boost to estrogen as a defense against dementia
Do you take care of someone in your family with a chronic medical illness or dementia? Have you felt depression, anger or guilt? Has your health deteriorated since taking on the responsibility of caregiving? If your answer is yes to any one of these, you may be suffering from caregiver stress.
More than 26 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease, and a new forecast says the number will quadruple by 2050
How can something can be healthy one day and unhealthy the next? A new study on alcohol and dementia shows that the results are usually more complicated than we think
SI.com: Dangerous games updated: Mon Apr 23 2007 12:42:00
The images on the large screen came one after another, each more disturbing and haunting than the other. There was Mike Webster shown naked from the waist up, lying dead on an autopsy table. There was Terry Long dead on an autopsy table with his tongue sticking out, still showing the pain of someone who had endured a prolonged death after ingesting antifreeze. Then there were simply the words of Dr. Bennet Omalu -- who didn't show pictures of Andre Waters because he shot himself -- as he described Waters' condition at his autopsy.
As we eat, so will we age.
For some, the search for the fountain of youth means downing fruit-flavored potions they believe give them more energy. Others look for it in the creams and lotions they rub on their crows' feet in hopes that the wrinkles will magically disappear. Still, there are those of us who think a true fountain of youth would deliver the answer to one of the mysteries of middle-age life: Where did I put my car keys?
November is National Alzheimer's Disease month. CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin talked about the illness with Dr. John Morris, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
A federal jury ruled that Eli Lilly & Co. infringed the patent of Ariad Pharmaceuticals with its drugs Evista and Xigris, and ordered the drugmaker to pay the Massachusetts biotech firm $65.2 million, the companies said.
On the heels of disappointing results for thalidomide as a treatment for bone marrow cancer, a smaller study suggests the drug may prolong survival of elderly patients, but at a price.
Heartsick women at disadvantage
With at least seven competing drugs shouldering in, the multi-billion dollar market for treating elderly bones is getting crowded. There will probably be enough aging baby boomers to go around ... but expect some jostling.
Dr. David Reuben is the anti-Peter Pan.
The thick and thin of health
Remember thisupdated: Tue Mar 22 2005 08:39:00
The capitals of all 50 states. The name of your second-grade teacher. The location of your keys.
The power of wishful thinking guarantees that just about anything can be successfully marketed as an elixir of youth. Pee, for instance. A multitude of websites extol the ability of "urine therapy"...
MEMORY LOSS Michela Gallagher, Ph.D. Chair, Johns Hopkins University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Fortune: Alzheimer's Uneaseupdated: Mon Oct 28 2002 00:01:00
A common concern I hear from patients is that they're having trouble remembering names and dates. What they're really worried about is Alzheimer's disease. Anyone who's seen someone struggling with...
Fortune: Bone Vivantupdated: Mon Mar 18 2002 00:01:00
"Break a leg" may be good luck in the theater but not when it comes to osteoporosis. The disease causes bones to become more porous, gradually making them brittle--and it causes 1.5 million fractur...
Larry Ellison has the good life down pat--health, youthful good looks, vast wealth, a fast sailboat, airplanes, and more gorgeous amours than a Hollywood hunk. But like every potentate from King Tu...
Chin up, fellow boomers, aging has its compensations. Our fingernails are growing slower, so we don't need to clip them as often. Our sweat glands are waning, so we have less body odor to worry abo...
DURING AN ANNUAL industry gathering, the regional manager of a communications giant began to feel warm. The air conditioner must be on the blink, she thought. But then she realized that everyone el...
Hope I die before I get old. PETE TOWNSHEND 1966
Few families are closer than the Lifsons of Hopkins, Minn. With Laurel, 40, and Scott, 39, living just a block away from Laurel's parents, Efrom and Honee Abramson, ages 73 and 71, the two couples ...
CHILDREN HAVE LONG had their own pediatricians, but until recently there was no medical specialty for people above 70, when medical problems multiply. A geriatrician is often best at alleviating ch...
WE'D ALL LIKE a better memory, but for most of us the occasional lapse is only a fleeting embarrassment. Not so for the more than 25 million Americans over 65, whose ranks are growing three times f...
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