High optimism levels tied to ‘exceptional longevity’
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 10, 2022
Optimism appears to promote good health and long lifespans across diverse racial and ethnic groups, according to a large study using data from the Women’s Health Initiative.
Harms of overdiagnosis outweigh benefits of mammography after age 75: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 24, 2021
Overdiagnosis and overtreatment after late-life screenings may harm more older women than are helped — especially those with multiple comorbidities, investigators say.
Physical, occupational therapy tied to better resident outcomes across all PALTC settings
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 07, 2021
Most patients in post-acute care settings reap functional benefits and see reduced rehospitalization from physical therapy and occupational therapy, finds a new study across 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries.
Genetic risk of teeth and gum problems tied to declining brain health
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 06, 2023
A study of brain MRIs found 43% higher microstructural damage scores in adults who are genetically prone to poor oral health.
Antibiotics use spiked in nursing homes early in pandemic, studies find
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
Nursing homes saw a big jump in certain antibiotic prescriptions early in the pandemic, and more than half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics in the first six months, researchers say.
Head injury doubles 30-year mortality risk, deaths tied to neuro diseases: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2023
The more severe the injury, the greater the risk, investigators report. Many of these eventual deaths are linked to neurological conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Aggressive end-of-life cancer care remains common in nursing homes: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 22, 2023
Cancer patients in nursing homes receive more aggressive end-of-life care than their community-dwelling peers, despite a push to reduce treatments that compromise quality of life, investigators say.
Focus on hand coordination could improve stroke therapy outcomes: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 07, 2022
Stroke may affect some bimanual tasks more than others, leaving room for significant improvements in capabilities, investigators say.
It’s official: Omicron causes less severe COVID-19 illness than prior variants, CDC study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2022
The SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant is much less likely to cause severe illness and death than its predecessors, according to a new analysis of U.S. data from December 2020 through mid-January 2022.
Few Medicare recipients enroll in cardiac rehab, despite expanded benefits
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 11, 2021
Cardiac rehab participation rose among Medicare recipients with heart failure after coverage expansion in 2014, but the numbers remain abysmally low at less than 10%, a new study has found.