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Geriatric palliative care news

Major surgery may accelerate memory loss in 1 in 7 older adults

Going through surgery can take a significant toll on a patient's physical health and capabilities, especially if they are elderly. A recent study found that the effects extend far beyond mobility and pain management, as the ...

The potential problems of living longer: Q&A

Many scientists are trying to determine just how much medical intervention can lengthen the human lifespan. But Daniel Promislow, senior scientist and scientific advisor at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center ...

Three medical routines that older people may not need

Enough time had passed since the patient's previous colonoscopy that she met the criteria to undergo another, said Dr. Steven Itzkowitz, a gastroenterologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

UK heat risk leaves vulnerable people dangerously exposed

Older people, care home residents and those living in poor-quality housing are facing growing danger from extreme heat, as new research warns that the UK is failing to protect those most at risk. The work is published in ...

How advance directives may affect end-of-life care

Advance directives document patient preferences for future care, including end-of-life. An analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found that older patients with an advance directive that had been uploaded ...

Routine coastal flooding could become deadly for older adults

Routine high-tide flooding in coastal communities could lead to thousands of deaths among older adults by the end of the century, according to a new study co-authored by Florida State University researcher Mathew Hauer. Published ...

Heavy caring responsibilities may hasten cognitive decline

Onerous caring responsibilities reduce brain function for people aged 50 and over, whereas light caring duties can actually be beneficial to middle-aged and older people's mental abilities, finds a new study led by University ...

Simple home test predicts mobility decline in older adults

Predicting whether a healthy 45-year-old will struggle to climb stairs or walk a decade later has long been a challenge for geriatric medicine. Now, a study published in JMIR Aging, reveals that early mobility decline can ...

Annual frailty screening recommended for the over 65s

A new framework to prevent and manage frailty in older Australians has been developed in a national project led by University of Queensland researchers. The Australian Consensus Statements are recommendations designed in ...

In older adults, adding whey protein doesn't make more muscle

Packing in the protein is all the rage. From cereal to pasta to nacho chips and more, food manufacturers are trying to get as much of the stuff into their products as possible, and one of the benefits they tout is that protein ...

Why supplements aren't a shortcut to healthy aging

The use of dietary supplements has increased sharply in recent years. Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional products are often marketed as simple ways to boost energy, support immunity, protect brain health or even promote ...

Genes reveal why some older people suffer from frailty

A new study has identified genetic variants linked to brain function, immune defense and metabolism that contribute to the development of frailty in older people. The study, published in Nature Aging by researchers from Karolinska ...

Using a fan can make older adults hotter in a dry heat

Montreal Heart Institute-led research has found that older adults using an electric fan at 38 °C and 60% relative humidity experienced a modest fall in core temperature and greater comfort. Fan use at 45 °C and 15% relative ...

Insights into palliative care for patients with cancer

For patients with a cancer diagnosis, early specialty palliative care is considered the standard of care. However, many patients with advanced cancer do not consistently receive specialty palliative care, especially during ...

How infection with RSV affects the health of older adults

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-known cause of infections in children, but it's understudied in older individuals. In a retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, adults aged ...