It turns out you aren't simply a clone of cells from the womb. Over a lifetime, mutations create a patchwork of tissues made with pieces that have subtly different genetic signatures.
Flo Filion Meiler was inspired to take up the event at 65 when she scoped out the competition. "I said to myself, you know, I think that I could do better than that."
A brief cognitive test can detect signs of Alzheimer's in older patients. Only half of primary care doctors routinely give one, despite coverage by Medicare as part of annual wellness visits.
Researchers say the metabolism of a woman's brain remains higher than a man's throughout a lifetime. And that may help with late-life creativity and learning.
Muscle cells may retain nuclei that helped them grow strong, even after muscles shrink from lack of use. This provocative contentious idea could have implications for public health and sports.
Whether it's exercise or housework, older Americans who move their bodies regularly may preserve more of their memory and thinking skills, even if they have brain lesions and other signs of dementia.
Black Americans are more likely than whites to develop Alzheimer's. Yet black people studied appeared to have lower levels of a toxic substance associated with the disease, researchers say.
This holiday season, the must-have item for people of a certain age is a vaccine to protect against shingles, the painful skin condition caused by a reawakening of the chickenpox virus.
Why develop an exercise habit now? Because 75-year-olds who've been doing it for decades may have the cardiovascular systems of people in their 40s and the muscles of 20-somethings, researchers found.
Health insurer UnitedHealthcare plans to cut SilverSneakers, a popular fitness benefit, for 2.5 million people with the company's Medigap and Medicare Advantage coverage.
A study involving 2,000 women age 65 and older found that a commonly used drug for osteoporosis could reduce the risk for broken bones in women at an earlier stage of bone thinning.
Results from a large international study show that risks from taking daily low-dose aspirin outweigh the potential benefits for older people in generally good health.
Lost birth certificates, name changes and even getting to the DMV can all be challenges when older people try to get a new driver's license in order to vote in states with strict voter ID laws.
Many of us at one time or another have been in financial tight squeeze. It can happen at any time in life. For a certain demographic – those over 60 – financial troubles can be catastrophic and difficult to overcome.
A nationwide survey by health insurer Cigna finds that loneliness is widespread in America. Millennials and people in Generation Z tend to feel lonelier than retirees.
Drugs like Valium, Xanax and Ativan are more popular than ever. Frequently used to treat anxiety, the medicines can be risky, especially when mixed with alcohol or opioids.
After reviewing the medical evidence, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended exercise as the most effective approach for older people seeking to minimize the risk of falling.
Scientists have long been fascinated with whether dramatically restricting the amount of food we eat can help us live longer. New research suggests it might, but the question is, is it worth it?
Hundreds of "Villages" have now been created around the country, as a "grassroots movement on the part of older people who did not want to be patronized, isolated, [or] infantilized."
Critics say an effort to let Alzheimer's patients and others formally refuse feeding by hand as part of an advance directive raises concerns about potential mistreatment of the vulnerable.
The founder of a tiny Washington state hospice that depends on community volunteers and donations says the unconventional approach allows for more flexible care.
