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Anglican Church’s take on population growth: Stop baby bonus

An Anglican Church body has urged authorities to scrap the baby bonus to control population growth. The church's key advisory group wants the Gillard Government to scrap public incentives that increase the birth rate and to cut immigration. It has described population growth as a taboo subject and the “elephant in the room”.

28 Apr 2011

Frailty increases exponentially with age throughout adult life span

The prevalence of frailty, which is linked to earlier death, increases throughout adulthood as people age and not just after age 65, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Relatively good fitness levels at all ages were predictive of lower mortality and less reliance on health care services.

28 Apr 2011

Arthritis poses significant health and economic burden in U.S. adults

A new study reports that the health-related quality of life for U.S. adults with arthritis is much worse than for those without this condition. Both physical and mental health are affected by arthritis, which poses a significant health and economic burden as the number of those diagnosed continues to climb.

28 Apr 2011

State roundup: Conn. Gov. says no 'public option' this year

Gov. Bobby Jindal's chief budget adviser defended the administration's plan to sell a state-run health insurance plan to a private company, rebutting a chorus of critics Tuesday who said the move would result in higher premiums and lower benefits for state workers and retirees.

28 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Medicare options and politics; high costs of care; health disparities

The Democratic Party is urging Americans to choose Medicare as we've always known it rather than a new plan by Rep. Paul Ryan that would enroll seniors in private health insurance beginning in 2022.

28 Apr 2011

NHL Alumni, Baycrest team up for brain health research

One of the world's top neuroscience institutes has teamed up with the NHL Alumni on a study that will track the brain health of retired NHL players over several years.

28 Apr 2011

High metabolic rates linked to accelerated aging in humans

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that higher metabolic rates predict early natural mortality, indicating that higher energy turnover may accelerate aging in humans.

27 Apr 2011

Synthes, JNJ sign merger agreement for orthopaedics business

Johnson & Johnson, the world's most comprehensive and broadly-based manufacturer of health care products, and Synthes, Inc., a premier global manufacturer of orthopaedic devices, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Johnson & Johnson will acquire Synthes for CHF159 per share, or $21.3 billion.

27 Apr 2011

Study finds gender difference in immune responses to PTSD

Men and women had starkly different immune system responses to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, with men showing no response and women showing a strong response, in two studies by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.

27 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

Humana declares quarterly cash dividend, anticipates first quarter diluted EPS of $1.86

Humana Inc. announced today that it has realigned its business segments to more closely reflect the company's evolving business model. Effective immediately, the company will be managing and reporting its operating results using the following segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services.

26 Apr 2011

ACC/AHA release consensus document to help clinicians reduce risk of hypertension in older adults

Hypertension is very common among older adults. 64 percent of older men and 78 percent of older women have high blood pressure, placing them at heightened risk for heart disease including heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, as well as chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.

26 Apr 2011

Frequent social activity may prevent or delay cognitive decline in old age

If you want to keep your brain healthy, it turns out that visiting friends, attending parties, and even going to church might be just as good for you as crossword puzzles.

26 Apr 2011

Study: HIV infection linked to increased risk of heart failure

Patients with HIV infection without a prior history of coronary heart disease may be at a higher risk of developing heart failure, according to a report in the April 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

26 Apr 2011

Adults with PTSD and history of childhood trauma have shorter telomeres

Adults with post-traumatic stress disorder and a history of childhood trauma had significantly shorter telomere length than those with PTSD but without childhood trauma, in a study by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.

25 Apr 2011

New book on aging

Aging is a natural part of life. From the minute we are born we are heading in one certain direction: towards death. That said, it is possible to arrive at that ultimate destination graceful and vital to our last days rather than chronically ill suffering from one or many debilitating illnesses.

25 Apr 2011

Researchers to develop Alzheimer's diagnostic test based on spinal fluid biomarkers

Researchers at the University of Kentucky are working on a potential diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease, based on biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid.

25 Apr 2011

NCOA to provide online Chronic Disease Self Management Program for employees

The National Council on Aging today announced it will offer Better Choices, Better Health, the online version of the internationally recognized Chronic Disease Self Management Program, as a benefit to all of its full-time staff and their families.

25 Apr 2011

Early meniscus interventions may help prevent future osteoarthritis

Aging often means bad knees, and bad knees often mean osteoarthritis, a common and painful disability that affects more than 20 million Americans.

25 Apr 2011

Geisinger's Geriatric Assessment Program helps seniors promote good health

Some seniors may need help getting around town, while others may need assistance getting around the house. Regardless of the degree of need, Geisinger Health System utilizes a systematic approach through its Geriatric Assessment Program to identify the medical and social needs of a geriatric patient to design a custom course of treatment to help seniors and their families successfully manage the aging process.

25 Apr 2011