Pamphlet by: National Institute on Aging back issues from Thursday, November 1:
Alzheimer's Disease Centers program directory.(Directory)
Nov 01, 2007 ... The National Institute on Aging funds Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADCs) at major medical institutions across the Nation. Researchers at these Centers are working to translate research advances into improved diagnosis and care for Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients while, at the same time, ...
Alzheimer's disease medications.(Drug overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Fact Sheet Five prescription drugs currently are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Treating the symptoms of AD can provide patients with comfort, dignity, and independence for a longer ...
A good night's sleep.(AgePage)(Medical condition overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Since he retired, Edward dreads going to bed at night. He's afraid that when he turns off his light he will just lie there with his eyes open and his mind racing. "How can I break this cycle?" he asks. "I'm so tired--I need to get some sleep." Just like Edward, you want a good ...
Acute hospitalization & Alzheimer's disease: a special kind of care.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new environment filled with strange sights, odors and sounds, a change in the daily routine, medications and tests, and the disease process itself can all be factors ...
Aging and your eyes.(AgePage)(Medical condition overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Are you holding the newspaper farther away from your eyes than, you used to? join the crowd--age can bring changes that affect your eyesight. Some changes are more serious than others, but no matter what the problem, there are things you can do to protect your vision. The key is to have ...
Introduction.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Age is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and stroke incidence rises steeply after age 65, accounting for more than 40 percent of all deaths among people age 65 to 74 and almost 60 percent at age 85 and above. People age 65 and ...
A host of interconnections: the heart is purest theater ... throbbing in its cage palpably as any nightingale.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)
Nov 01, 2007; ... It is scarcely as big as the palm of your hand yet it sustains life, pumping up to 5 quarts or more of blood per minute to the body's organs, tissues, and cells. In a typical day, it beats 100,000 times. And in a lifetime, it beats more than 2.5 billion times. Even as you rest, your heart ...
The aging heart: the heart is a tough organ: a marvelous mechanism that, mostly without repairs, will give valiant pumping service up to a hundred years.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)
Nov 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For 92-year-old John Bicknell, this is the best of times. A long-retired English professor, he remains mentally and physically active. In addition to singing in community choirs and performing in local musical theater productions, he continues to mow his ...
Cellular clues: the sustained dependability of a tireless heart relies ...on the performance of the trillions of chemical reactions occurring in its aggregate of cells every instant of its function.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)
Nov 01, 2007; ... Under a microscope, the true grandeur of the heart reveals itself. Magnified, a rod-shaped heart muscle cell taps out a constant beat. A closer look within the cell reveals a series of thin contractile fibers called myofilaments that are the machinery driving these contractions. In the ...
Blood vessels and aging: the rest of the journey: a man is as old as his arteries.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)
Nov 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stretched end-to-end, the arteries, veins, and other vessels of the human circulatory system would measure about 60,000 miles. On any given day, the heart pumps about 1,800 gallons of blood through this vast network. In an average lifetime, the heart pumps ...
What lies ahead: he is the best physician who is the most ingenious inspirer of hope.(Aging Hearts & Arteries: A Scientific Quest)(Glossary)
Nov 01, 2007; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1903, Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven, MD, PhD invented the electrocardiograph, a machine that measures the minute electrical currents generated by the heart. Initially, it was a cumbersome and costly device, taking five technicians to operate ....
Introduction.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The study of aging is not what it used to be. Gerontology was a young science when Congress created the National Institute on Aging (NIA) in 1974 as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At that time, theories of aging abounded, but data was ...
Posing questions, finding answers.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)(Medical condition overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1965, a lawyer made an unusual deal with one of his older clients, Jeanne Calment of Arles, France. In exchange for ownership of her apartment, he agreed to pay her a monthly pension for the rest of her life. Because Mme. Calment was 90 years old at the ...
The genetic connection.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)(Medical condition overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year on her birthday, Jeanne Calment sent her lawyer a note, which read, "Excuse me if I'm still alive, but my parents didn't raise shoddy goods." Her brother, who died at age 97, apparently wasn't too "shoddy" himself. When another super ...
Biochemistry and aging.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)
Nov 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As important as genes are, they do not act in a vacuum. Everyday metabolic activities--even breathing--expose cells to biochemical substances that can promote random DNAdamage and other cellular breakdowns. Of these factors, oxygen radicals and ...
Physiologic clues.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)(Report)
Nov 01, 2007 ... We don't know very much about the few men and women who have lived to 115 years of age or more, but we can assume that they eluded the diseases that kill many people in their 70s and 80s. At 122, Jeanne Calment, for instance, had lived a relatively disease-free life. In fact, escape from ...
The future of aging.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)
Nov 01, 2007 ... The aging boom is upon us. Life expectancy nearly doubled in the 20th century. Since 1900, the number of Americans age 65 and older has increased 10-fold. The oldest-old--people age 85 and older--constitute the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. By 2050, this ...
Glossary and bibliography.(Aging Under the Microscope: A Biological Quest)(Bibliography)(Glossary)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Amino acid--A chemical building block of proteins. There are 20 standard amino acids. A protein consists of a specific sequence of amino acids. Antioxidants--Compounds that neutralize oxygen radicals. Some are enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, while others ...
Alcohol use and abuse.(AgePage)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his drinking behavior is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma Betty was a teetotaler all her life--she started having a drink each night to help her get to ...
Alzheimer's disease.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Fact Sheet Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and ...
Alzheimer's disease genetics.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Fact Sheet Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the more they learn about AD, the more they become aware of the important function genes* play in the development of this devastating disease. Genes All ...
Preface.(ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Unraveling the Mystery)(Brief article)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Over the past few decades, Alzheimer's disease has emerged from obscurity. Once considered a rare disorder, it is now seen as a major public helath problem that has a severe impact on millions of older Americans and their families. Research on Alzheimer's disease has grown accordingly. The ...
Introduction.(ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Unraveling the Mystery)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Introduction Often, Mary was afraid, a nameless, shapeless fear. Her impaired mind could not put a name or an explanation to her fear. People came, memories came, and then they slipped away. She could not tell what was reality and what was memory of people past. The bathroom was ...
Part 1: a walking tour through the brain.(ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Unraveling the Mystery)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... The brain is a remarkable organ. Seemingly without any effort, it allows us to carry out every element of our daily lives. It manages many of the body functions that happen without our knowledge or direction, such as breathing, blood circulation, and digestion. It also directs all the ...
Part 2: AD research: finding new answers and asking better questions.(Alzheimer's disease)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... In the past 25 years, scientists have studied Alzheimer's disease from many angles. They've looked at populations to see how many cases of AD occur and whether there might be links between the disease and lifestyles or genetic backgrounds. They've conducted clinical studies with healthy ...
Glossary.(Alzheimer's disease)(Bibliography)(Glossary)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Acetylcholine--a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in learning and memory. Amyloid precursor protein (APP)--the larger protein from which beta-amyloid is formed. Amyloid plaques--largely insoluble deposits found in the spaces between nerve cells in the ...
Arthritis advice.(Age page)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "Arthritis" is not just a word doctors use when they talk about painful, stiff joints. In fact, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can ...
Arthritis advice. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "Arthritis" is not just a word doctors use when they talk about painful, stiff joints. In fact, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can ...
Cancer facts for people over 50. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Cancer strikes people of all ages, but you are more likely to get cancer as you get older, even if no one in your family has had it. The good news is that the chances of surviving cancer are better today than ever before. When cancer is found early, it is more likely to be treated ...
Depression: don't let the blues hang around. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Everyone feels blue now and then. It's part of life. But if you no longer enjoy activities that you usually like, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed, without letup, can change the way you think and feel. Doctors call this medical disorder "clinical depression." ...
Diabetes in older people--a disease you can manage. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Diabetes is a serious disease. It happens when your blood levels of glucose, a form of sugar, are too high. Diabetes can lead to dangerous health problems. The good news is that high glucose levels can be managed to help control the disease and prevent or delay future problems. ...
Forgetfulness: it's not always what you think. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Many older people worry about becoming more forgetful. They think forgetfulness is the first sign of Alzheimer's disease. In the past, memory loss and confusion were considered a normal part of aging. However, scientists now know that most people remain both alert and able as they age, ...
Hearing loss. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... About one-third of Americans older than age 60 have hearing problems. About half the people who are 85 and older have hearing loss. Whether a hearing loss is small (missing certain sounds) or large (being profoundly deaf), it is a serious concern. If left untreated, problems can get worse ....
High blood pressure. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... You can have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, and still feel just fine. That's because high blood pressure does not cause symptoms that you can see or feel. But, high blood pressure, sometimes called the "silent killer," is a major health problem. If not treated, it can lead ...
HIV, AIDS, and older people. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Grace was dating again. George, a close family friend she had known for a long time, was starting to stay overnight more and more often. Because she was past childbearing age, Grace didn't think about using condoms. And because she had known George for so long, she didn't think to ask him ...
Menopause. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Medical condition overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "My mom never talked to me about menopause. She says her mother never talked about it either." "I'm not sad I'm past menopause. I'm glad those monthly periods are over." "Is it hot in here, or is it me?" Menopause, or the "change of life," is different for ...
Osteoporosis: the bone thief. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Helen grew up on a farm in the Midwest. She drank lots of milk as a child. She also walked a lot. After graduating from high school, she got married and found a job. Family and work kept her too busy to exercise. Helen went through menopause at age 47. At age 76, she was enjoying ...
Prostate problems. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... The prostate is a small organ about the size of a walnut. It is found below the bladder (where urine is stored) and surrounds the tube that carries urine away from the bladder (urethra). The prostate makes a fluid that becomes part of semen. Semen is the white fluid that contains sperm. ...
Shingles. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Ruth a 79-year-old woman, said her case of shingles was causing her so much pain she couldn't bear to put on her clothes or have sheets touch her skin. Ruth was sick for several months. Her friend, Sarah, had it easier. Shingles made Sarah feel sick for a few days, and she had some ...
Stroke. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... John and Edith were eating dinner one night when John asked Edith a question. She began to answer, but couldn't speak. John knew something was very wrong. Could Edith have had a stroke? Without waiting, he called 911. The ambulance took Edith to the hospital right away. Emergency room ...
Urinary incontinence. (Common Health Concerns: Learn more about the medical concerns you might have.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Are you reluctant to talk to your doctor about your bladder control problem? Don't be. There is help. Loss of bladder control is called urinary incontinence. It can happen to anyone, but is very common in older people. At least one in ten people age 65 or older has this problem ....
A good night's sleep.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... We all look forward to a good night's sleep. Getting enough sleep and sleeping well help us stay healthy. Many older people do not enjoy a good night's sleep on a regular basis. They have trouble falling or staying asleep. Sleep patterns change as we age, but disturbed sleep and waking up ...
Aging and your eyes.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Aunt Rose used to read all the time, but lately she complains that the words are blurry and hard to follow. Grandpa Joe just hammered his thumb for the third time this month. Last week Nancy's doctor suggested her mom needs cataract surgery. Age can bring changes that affect ...
Alcohol use and abuse.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Great-Uncle George may have always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his drinking behavior is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma Betty was a teetotaler all her life--she started having a drink each night to help her get to ...
Concerned about constipation?(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Nearly everyone becomes constipated at one time or another. Usually, it is not serious. To avoid most constipation problems, it helps to know what causes it, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. You may be constipated if you are ...
Dietary supplements: more is not always better.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Bill's retired and lives alone. Often he's just not hungry or is too tired to fix a whole meal. Does he need a multi-vitamin or one of those dietary supplements he sees in ads everywhere? He wonders if they work--will one help his arthritis, or another give him more energy? And, are they ...
Exercise: getting fit for life.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "I don't have time." "I'm too old--I might hurt myself." "I'd be too embarrassed at a gym with all those fit young people around." Sound familiar? Maybe one of these is the reason you aren't physically active or exercising. But, in fact, scientists now ...
Foot care.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... When we are in love, we may be "swept off our feet." When we don't want to do something, we are said to have "cold feet." A sensible person "has both feet on the ground." Sometimes we even "vote with our feet." Years of wear and tear can be hard on our feet. So can disease, poor ...
Good nutrition: it's a way of life.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "I have trouble chewing." "Food just doesn't taste the same anymore." "I don't have a car to go shopping." "It's hard to cook for one person." "I'm just not that hungry anymore." Sound familiar? These are some of the common reasons ...
Life extension: science fact or science fiction?(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Bill just died of a heart attack at age 67. His brother, Jim, 12 years older, still enjoys playing golf once a week. Why is Jim living so much longer? Does he take after their mother's family who all lived into their eighties? Or, does he just have a healthier lifestyle? What ...
Sexuality in later life.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... People seem to want and need to be close to others. We want to share our thoughts and feelings with others and to touch and be touched. Just being physically near is important, but many of us also want to continue an active, satisfying sex life as we grow older. However, over time most ...
Shots for safety.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Shots--r immunizations-are not just for children! Adults also need to be vaccinated from time to time to protect themselves against serious infectious diseases. In fact, some shots are more important for adults than for children. Every year, thousands of older people die needlessly. The ...
Skin care and aging.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "Defy aging." "Tone and firm sagging skin." "Restore your skin's own wrinkle control." Americans spend billions of dollars each year on skin care products that promise to erase wrinkles, lighten age spots, and eliminate itching, flaking, or redness. But ...
Smoking: it's never too late to stop.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)
Nov 01, 2007 ... "I've smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years--what's the use of quitting now?" If you quit smoking, you are likely to add years to your life, breathe more easily, and have more energy. You will have extra money for spending or saving, and food will taste better. When ...
Taking care of your teeth and mouth.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... No matter what your age, you need to take care of your teeth and mouth. When your mouth is healthy, you can easily eat the foods you need for good nutrition. Smiling, talking, and laughing with others also are easier when your mouth is healthy. Tooth Decay (Cavities) ...
What to do about flu.(Staying Healthy: How to keep your body working well)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Each winter, millions of people suffer from the flu, a highly contagious infection. It spreads easily from person to person mainly when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Flu--the short name for influenza--is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It usually is a ...
Games, lifestyles, and crossword puzzles: can Alzheimer's disease be prevented?(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... TABLE OF CONTENTS <Pre> Introduction 1 Preventing a Complex Disease Like AD is a Challenge3 AD Risk Factors We Can't Control 3 The Search for AD Prevention Strategies7 The Search ...
Cancer facts for people over 50.(AgePage)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Cancer strikes people of all ages, but you are more likely to get cancer as you get older, even if no one in your family has had it. The good news is that cancer death rates are going down. No matter what your age, the chances of surviving cancer are better today than ever before. ...
Caregiver guide: tips for caregivers people with with Alzheimer's disease ... from the National Institute on Aging.(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. Research has shown that caregivers themselves often are at ...
Caregiving resources.(List)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Who can you call if you need information on finding local resources to help you take care of your father? Are there organizations that will help pay for your mother's medication? Where can you find support groups for family caregivers? This resource list includes some useful ...
Choosing a doctor.(Age Page)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Mrs. Wiley had a big surprise the other day when she called her doctor's office to make an appointment. The receptionist told her that Dr. Horowitz was retiring at the end of the year. After all this time--after the doctor had treated her for strep throat, bladder infections, and that ...
Foreword.(Working with Your Older Patient: a clinician's handbook)
Nov 01, 2007; ... <Pre> Table of Contents IFOREWORD Richard J. Hodes, MD, Director, NIA 1CHARTER 1 Considering Health Care Perceptions "I'm thirty ... until I look in the mirror." 4CHAPTER 2 Listening to Older Patients "Tell me more about how you spend ...
Concerned about constipation?(AgePage)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Nearly everyone becomes constipated at one time or another. Older people are more likely than younger people to become constipated, but most of the time it is not serious. Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. You may be constipated if you are having fewer bowel movements ...
Considering surgery?(AgePage)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Have you been told that you need to have surgery? If so, you are not alone. Millions of older Americans have surgery each year. Most surgeries are not emergencies. You have time to find out as much as possible about the surgery, think the matter over, and review other options ....
Crime and older people.(AgePage)
Nov 01, 2007 ... Lucy is worried. She's lived in the same neighborhood for 50 years, but things seem to be changing. Last week, her friend Rose was walking to the store when a young man ran by and pulled her purse right off her shoulder. Two weeks ago, Joe, the man upstairs, put his grocery bags on the ...