The research group Prevent Blindness in America has joined with other eye health organizations to promote education about Glaucoma. Age related Macular Degeneration may cause more blindness but Glaucoma is the number one preventable cause of the affliction. Half the people who have the disease do not know it because it doesn’t strike central vision until it’s too late.

Glaucoma is really the name for a number of diseases that attack the optic nerve. It can be found by taking a dilated eye test.  The National Eye Institute

A study reported in the British Medical Journal shows cognitive decline in groups beginning at the age of 45. The cognitive decline for those over sixty-five was more pronounced but the 45 to 49 age group, the youngest tested,  showed a 3.6 %  drop in reasoning scores over a ten year period. Researchers feel the findings are important because therapies for cognitive problems tend to be more effective when started as early as possible.

Improving cognitive function is a good goal for any age. The National Institute of Health has been encouraging seniors to get more exercise to increase blood flow to the brain to combat the onset of cognitive problems.  Many doctors already advise a stricter diet more exercise for patients

An article from the Health Day News has reported on a study in Europe showing that the development of late stage “wet” age related macular degeneration may be linked to the daily use of aspirin. Since aspirin has long been used to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in seniors these developments are being looked at very closely.

Over 4,700 people were studied for three years and about one third that have wet AMD took aspirin on a daily basis.  The pill may also be responsible for another cause of blindness in seniors, “dry” AMD, but fewer people were found to have this type of the disease.

The scientists quoted in the article were clear that in most cases no one should be ending aspirin

A recent article in the Huffington Post has looked at the last few years of research on the possible health benefits of drinking coffee. The drink has been avoided by many health conscious seniors due to a high caffeine content but it appears as though it may have some benefits when consumed in moderation.

Despite concerns about the consumption of caffeine recent research has suggested that many health risks are reduced with regular coffee consumption.  One study found coffee causes a release of mood altering hormones in the brain and may prevent depression.  Another benefit seniors may enjoy from coffee

The American Academy of Neurology released the results of a recent study that looked at the memory test performances of 658 people aged 65 and over. The subjects were given an MRI to measure the size of the hippocampus and to identify signs of a silent stroke.  Researchers concluded that those who had suffered a silent stroke had the most difficulty with the memory tests, scoring lower than even those with a smaller hippocampus.

A silent stroke doesn’t show any symptoms of a regular stroke or mini stroke. A mini stroke will show stroke like symptoms which usually dissipate within 24 hours – evidence of silent strokes are usually only found by an MRI.  This study indicates that memory loss not related to the size of the memory center could possibly be delayed with stroke prevention.

Many seniors are on medication for hypertension.  Proper management of this medication can be very important in reducing the chances of a stroke.  Cholesterol reducing medications such as Lipitor can also limit the chances of a blot clot forming in an artery of the brain and causing a stroke.

Medication management is a critical aspect of senior care.  A professional senior care provider can take over medication management to minimize the chances of dangerous drug interactions and ensure that necessary medications are taken at the appropriate times.  Having a trained professional assume this responsibility can reduce some of the stress associated with senior care.

A recent study conducted at the University Of Pittsburg School Of Medicine found that consuming fish once a week may contribute to the manufacturing of brain cells.  The 250 participants were asked about their diet, including consumption of fish, and were given preliminary brain scans at the outset of the study.

These original scans were compared to new brain scans about seven years later.  The subjects who reported that they consumed fish regularly had a greater number of brain cells than the respondents who did not. The study also revealed

Alcohol use can be cause for some concern to seniors. The older adults that drink alcohol on a regular basis may not have a drinking problem but the use of alcohol can cause more problems for the senior population than for younger adults. An aging body can be more susceptible to alcohol’s effects. There are also a number of medications that a senior may be taking that might not react well with alcohol.

An older person takes longer to metabolize alcohol so it stays in their body longer. This, along with the fact that older people usually have less water in their body, can contribute to their blood alcohol content being higher than a younger person who drinks the same amount.

Aging also lowers the senior’s tolerance to alcohol.  This fact combined with the higher blood alcohol level may lead to symptoms like slurred speech and balance problems. A visitor may even miss these symptoms as related to alcohol and instead believe the senior is showing signs of a stroke or another malady.

A person offering in home assistance to a senior family member should be aware of the possible problems caused by alcohol intake.  A senior care specialist can highlight the potential dangers of mixing alcohol with certain medications and evaluate your loved one’s health to determine other possible risks of consuming alcohol.

As we age our cholesterol levels tend to increase but there are ways you can control the cholesterol that your body manufactures. You can reduce your LDL cholesterol by improving your diet and getting enough physical exercise.  Avoiding foods that contain saturated and Trans fats can also be a big help in controlling cholesterol.

Unfortunately, there are some factors that are impossible to control when it comes to cholesterol. Things like heredity, age and sex can all be contributing factors to high cholesterol.

Seniors may be more apt to reduce

The CDC issued a report on their website that shows that many seniors are not receiving preventive care necessary to increase their life span and improve quality of life. The report showed that the majority of seniors are not taking advantage of services like flu vaccinations and screenings for bladder, colorectal and breast cancer.

The report used data taken from state and federal records and it indicates that the need for these services must be better communicated to all seniors. The CDC recommends that the medical infrastructure that provides these services be improved and that awareness for the necessity of these services must be promoted.

A senior who receives in home assistance from a family member or home health aide can be in a better position to have these services provided. A home health aide can be a

The cold and flu season is upon us and this fact has many seniors scheduling appointments for a flu shot. Physicians are, of course, the primary place to get a shot to help prevent influenza. There are choices that older Americans can make about the strength of dosage to be used though.

The FDA notes that there have been no clinical studies to determine whether a higher dose flu shot prevents more cases of influenza that it’s weaker counterpart. There are also possible side effects that can be more likely with the stronger dose shot.  Pain or swelling in the injection site and headaches are some of the side effects that are slightly more frequent with those who opt for the higher dose shot.