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Social security overpayments draw scrutiny and outrage from members of Congress

Several members of Congress are calling on the Social Security Administration to answer for issuing billions of dollars of payments it says beneficiaries weren't entitled to receive — and then demanding the money back.

29 Sep 2023

New Medicare Advantage plans tailor offerings to Asian Americans, Latinos, and LGBTQ+

As Medicare Advantage continues to gain popularity among seniors, three Southern California companies are pioneering new types of plans that target cultural and ethnic communities with special offerings and native-language practitioners.

28 Sep 2023

As covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines

"Covid is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.

27 Sep 2023

What happens to health programs if the federal government shuts down?

For the first time since 2019, congressional gridlock is poised to at least temporarily shut down big parts of the federal government — including many health programs.

27 Sep 2023

Plant-based proteins boost muscle mass and cut fat in older adults

Plant-based proteins are just as effective as animal-based options in maintaining muscle mass and strength in older adults, a new meta-analysis finds. The study shows that plant proteins can even aid in reducing fat mass, offering a sustainable and healthful option for combating age-related muscle decline.

24 Sep 2023

Certain gut microbes may be linked to skeletal health

There is growing evidence that a relative abundance of certain gut microbes may be related to skeletal health, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology.

22 Sep 2023

New software uncovers that myelin develops much slower after birth

A single brain is unfathomably complex. So brain researchers, whether they're looking at datasets built from 300,000 neurons in 81 mice or from MRIs of 1,200 young adults, are now dealing with so much information that they must also come up with new methods to comprehend it.

22 Sep 2023

Rural nursing home supporters fear proposed staffing standards will trigger more closures

Many rural communities like this one face a health care dilemma: Is it better to have a nursing home that struggles to hire workers or no nursing home at all?

15 Sep 2023

Engaging in hobbies boosts mental well-being for seniors, study finds

Researchers harmonize data from five longitudinal studies across 16 countries to reveal that engaging in hobbies is universally associated with better mental well-being among adults over 65. The study found less variance in mental health outcomes across countries, suggesting the pursuit of hobbies could be a global key to enhancing life satisfaction and reducing depression in older adults.

13 Sep 2023

5 things to know about the new drug pricing negotiations

The Biden administration has picked the first 10 high-priced prescription drugs subject to federal price negotiations, taking a swipe at the powerful pharmaceutical industry.

30 Aug 2023

Exclusive: CMS study sabotages efforts to bolster nursing home staffing, advocates say

The Biden administration last year promised to establish minimum staffing levels for the nation's roughly 15,000 nursing homes. It was the centerpiece of an agenda to overhaul an industry the government said was rife with substandard care and failures to follow federal quality rules.

29 Aug 2023

MFGM and milk protein may improve physical functioning of the elderly, study shows

Leading Finnish dairy company Valio collaborated with top nutritional scientists in a new study about the effects of MFGM and milk protein on the physical functioning of the elderly. The results show significant improvement in balance and physical performance even without an exercise intervention.

25 Aug 2023

NIH awards $3 million grant to study synbiotic medical food for bone health in older women

The NIH/National Institute on Aging has awarded a R01 $3 million grant to study the impact of a probiotic/prebiotic (synbiotic) medical food developed by Solarea Bio on maintaining bone health of older women.

23 Aug 2023

Omicron infection may increase risk of reinfection, study finds

Researchers at McMaster University have found that rather than conferring immunity against future infections, infection during the first Omicron wave of COVID left the seniors they studied much more vulnerable to reinfection during the second Omicron wave.

21 Aug 2023

A new Medicare proposal would cover training for family caregivers

Even with extensive caregiving experience, Patti LaFleur was unprepared for the crisis that hit in April 2021, when her mother, Linda LaTurner, fell out of a chair and broke her hip.

18 Aug 2023

Late life depression: Bridging the gap with new perspectives on aging

Researchers explore the interplay between late life depression and aging.

14 Aug 2023

New Alzheimer’s drug raises hopes — along with questions

The FDA has approved Leqembi, the first disease-modifying treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's and a precursor condition, mild cognitive impairment.

11 Aug 2023

Seeking Medicare coverage for weight loss drugs, pharma giant courts Black influencers

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has turned to influential Black Americans in pursuit of what would be a lucrative victory: having Medicare cover a new class of weight loss drugs, including the company's highly sought Wegovy, which can cost patients more than $1,000 a month.

8 Aug 2023

MIT expert calls for a total overhaul of the U.S. health insurance system

It's not exactly what he's best known for, but Alexander Hamilton helped develop the first national, compulsory health insurance policy in the world: a 1798 taxpayer-financed plan Congress approved to cover sick and disabled seamen.

25 Jul 2023