As a physician, friends and family often consult me informally about the health of their parents.  At 53, I’ve lost both parents, and many friends are going through that process now. However, even more painful sometimes is dealing with the …

“… a Swedish study of identical twins separated at birth and reared apart concluded that only about 20 to 30 percent of longevity is genetically determined. Lifestyle seems to be the more dominant factor.“ Nice article in the NY Times about …

NY Times article explains that maintaining muscle mass may make elderly people better able to function independently. An 80-year-old might have 30 percent less muscle mass than a 20-year-old….  geriatric specialists, in particular, are now trying to establish the age-related …

A study shows that a program of exercise improved physical functioning in obese and non-obese elderly. Mobility function was assessed as usual walking speed over 400 m and scores on a short physical performance battery (SPPB), which includes short distance walking, …

The NY Times reports: As in the rest of the population, the obesity rate has increased among people 65 and over, from 22 percent in 1994 to 32 percent in 2008, increasing the risks of coronary artery disease, Type 2 …

From the NY Times, about a South African soccer team – of grandmothers! Beka Ntsanwisi founded Vakhegula Vakhegula (Grannies Grannies) five years ago as a way of providing inspiration for older women. In 2003, she learned she had colon cancer; …