Life Expectancy News and Research

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Life expectancy is the expected (in the statistical sense) number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by e''x'', which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged ''x'', according to a particular mortality experience.

Prenatal biochemical screening only detects half of chromosomal abnormalities

Prenatal biochemical screening tests are widely used to look for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus which can lead to serious handicap, or even death during gestation or in the first few days after birth. But these tests are only able to detect fewer than half of the total chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, a scientist will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics tomorrow (Monday 2 June) Dr. Francesca R. Grati, of the TOMA Laboratory, Busto Arsizio, Italy, says that these findings mean that women should be better informed on the limitations of such diagnostic tests.

1 Jun 2008

Golf for a long life!

Golf can be a good investment for the health, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. The death rate for golfers is 40 per cent lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which correspond to a 5 year increase in life expectancy. Golfers with a low handicap are the safest.

1 Jun 2008

New insight into the genetics of Lou Gehrig's disease

An upcoming paper from Drs. Hidenori Ichijo and Hideki Nishitoh (The University of Tokyo) and colleagues lends new and valuable insight into the genetics of ALS.

1 Jun 2008

Patriarch Edward Kennedy stricken with malignant brain tumour

The tragic history of the men in the legendary Kennedy family in the U.S. continues with the news this week that the Democratic patriarch Senator Edward Kennedy is suffering from a malignant brain tumour.

21 May 2008

Global burden of disease shifts from infectious diseases to noncommunicable diseases

The global burden of disease is shifting from infectious diseases to noncommunicable diseases, with chronic conditions such as heart disease and stroke now being the chief causes of death globally, according to a new WHO report published today. The shifting health trends indicate that leading infectious diseases - diarrhoea, HIV, tuberculosis, neonatal infections and malaria - will become less important causes of death globally over the next 20 years.

20 May 2008

Gap in mortality rates between people with more, less education widened, study finds

The gap in mortality rates between highly educated and poorly educated people widened during the 1990s, according to a study published on Tuesday in the online journal PLoS One, the Washington Post reports.

19 May 2008

Chicago Tribune magazine examines HIV/AIDS among children, adolescents in U.S.

The Chicago Tribune Magazine on Sunday examined HIV/AIDS among children and adolescents in the U.S. According to the Tribune, there are about 6,000 children and young adults living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

13 May 2008

End-stage dementia patients deserve the same access to palliative care as people with cancer

There is an urgent need to improve end-of-life care for older people in the final stages of dementia, according to an international review published in the May issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing.

12 May 2008

Binge eating and crash diets could shorten your life

According to scientists in Britain binge eating and crash dieting may significantly reduce life expectancy.

30 Apr 2008

Specialists create center to help patients with pediatric diseases transition to adulthood

Growing pains can mean one thing for a typical adolescent and quite another to an older teen with cerebral palsy attempting independence in an adult world. A unique program, the Indiana University School of Medicine Center for Youth and Adults with Conditions of Childhood (CYACC) is helping these youths spread their wings and live more independently.

28 Apr 2008

FDA approves Relistor for opioid-induced constipation - helps reduce effects of drugs like morphine on bowel function

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) to help restore bowel function in patients with late-stage, advanced illness who are receiving opioids on a continuous basis to help alleviate their pain.

24 Apr 2008

Life expectancy declines in some U.S. populations

Although life expectancy has been increasing in the U.S. for most people, there is a growing disparity in mortality depending on race, income and geography, according to a study published on Monday in the online journal PLoS Medicine, the New York Times reports.

22 Apr 2008

Estimating mortality risk reduction and economic benefits from controlling ozone air pollution

Short-term exposure to current levels of ozone in many areas is likely to contribute to premature deaths, says a new National Research Council report, which adds that the evidence is strong enough that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should include ozone-related mortality in health-benefit analyses related to future ozone standards.

22 Apr 2008

Life expectancy of a significant segment of the U.S. population is declining or at best stagnating

One of the major aims of the U.S. health system is improving the health of all people, particularly those segments of the population at greater risk of health disparities. In fact, overall life expectancy in the U.S. increased more than seven years for men and more than six years for women between 1960 and 2000.

21 Apr 2008

Neuroimaging helps improve quality of life for brain tumor patients

A new neuroimaging study at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University aims to ensure the highest quality of life for patients by assessing their cognitive skills before, during, and after brain tumour surgery. This is done by mapping the important functional brain areas surrounding the tumour in order to decrease the risks during surgery.

21 Apr 2008

Parkinson's disease linked to exposure to pesticides

Recent research suggests a possible link between exposure to pesticides and the development of Parkinson's disease (PD).

21 Apr 2008

Social networking, malaria and philanthropy partnership

Philanthropy just got easier and a lot more accessible to the public thanks to the social networking power of the Internet and a ground-breaking partnership between a young British entrepreneur, a global health think tank and an African medical research institute.

20 Apr 2008

Report examines how social, economic factors contribute to health disparities in Alameda County

Higher rates of illness among low-income individuals and people of color in Alameda County, Calif., can be attributed to social, economic, transportation, housing, education and other inequalities, according to a report released on Thursday by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the Oakland Tribune reports.

18 Apr 2008

Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases

Many people take antioxidants in the belief that they will prolong their life expectancy. However, data from 67 randomised trials that involved just under a quarter of a million people failed to support this idea, a Cochrane Systematic Review has discovered.

17 Apr 2008

Increased life expectancy seen for patients with advanced cancers

A new study indicates that patients receiving treatments for late stage testicular, colorectal and ovarian cancer have increased life expectancy, resulting from the proportion of patients cured or by prolonging survival among non-cured patients.

13 Apr 2008

Life Expectancy News and Research

Further Reading

Prenatal biochemical screening only detects half of chromosomal abnormalities

Golf for a long life!

New insight into the genetics of Lou Gehrig's disease

Patriarch Edward Kennedy stricken with malignant brain tumour

Global burden of disease shifts from infectious diseases to noncommunicable diseases

Gap in mortality rates between people with more, less education widened, study finds

Chicago Tribune magazine examines HIV/AIDS among children, adolescents in U.S.

End-stage dementia patients deserve the same access to palliative care as people with cancer

Binge eating and crash diets could shorten your life

Specialists create center to help patients with pediatric diseases transition to adulthood

FDA approves Relistor for opioid-induced constipation - helps reduce effects of drugs like morphine on bowel function

Life expectancy declines in some U.S. populations

Estimating mortality risk reduction and economic benefits from controlling ozone air pollution

Life expectancy of a significant segment of the U.S. population is declining or at best stagnating

Neuroimaging helps improve quality of life for brain tumor patients

Parkinson's disease linked to exposure to pesticides

Social networking, malaria and philanthropy partnership

Report examines how social, economic factors contribute to health disparities in Alameda County

Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases

Increased life expectancy seen for patients with advanced cancers

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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