Hearing loss may be linked to mental decline
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Hearing Problems May Speed Mental Decline
Hearing loss may increase the risk of problems with memory and thinking in older adults, a study suggests. The study included 1,984 people in their 70s and 80s. At the start of the study, tests showed they had normal brain function. But 1,162 of them had problems with hearing. Researchers kept track of everyone for about 6 years. They repeated the tests of hearing and brain function 3 times. More than 600 people developed memory or thinking problems. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for other factors that can increase the risk of mental decline, such as high blood pressure or low education. People with hearing problems were still 24% more likely to develop thinking and memory problems than people with normal hearing. Researchers noted that people who don’t hear well may not talk to other people as much.
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In the journals: Digital tablets make reading easier
Enlarged font sizes available on digital tablets can improve reading speed and comfort in people with vision loss.
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Ask the doctor: What does my doctor mean by “clearance for surgery”?
Cataract surgery puts very little strain on the heart. In the absence of symptoms of heart disease, the cardiovascular risks of cataract surgery are low.
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How sleep apnea affects the heart
In the sleep disorder called sleep apnea, sleep is interrupted many times a night. Sleep apnea appears to increase the risk of developing or dying from heart disease. Several treatments are available to halt sleep apnea and restore better sleep.
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Heart Advances from Harvard: Risk factors for peripheral artery disease pinpointed
Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, past or current smoking, and high cholesterol are the four factors most closely associated with the development of peripheral artery disease-blockages in the arteries of the legs or arms.
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Can you die of a broken heart?
In people at risk for heart disease, the stress of losing a loved one greatly increases the risk of suffering a fatal or nonfatal heart attack. In healthy people, the stress can cause a serious but reversible condition that imitates a heart attack.
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Common vision problems in women
Cataracts, dry eyes, and presbyopia are common eye conditions among older women. Having regular eye exams can detect serious problems early and help avoid vision loss.
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In the journals: Breast cancer drugs linked to heart failure in older women
Older women who are being treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin), alone or with a class of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines, may be at increased risk for heart failure and heart muscle damage.
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In the journals: Other colon cancer tests may be good alternatives to repeat colonoscopy
After a negative colonoscopy at age 50, less invasive screening tests may be just as accurate, but carry less expense and risk for complications, than repeating the colonoscopy every 10 years.
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