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A 2025 study suggests that smokers who quit in middle age may, within a decade, reduce their risk of developing dementia to that of people who never smoked.
Obesity is thought to increase the risk of complications for people undergoing certain joint replacement surgeries. A 2025 study found that compared with people of a healthy weight, people with severe obesity (BMI of at least 40) were at no greater risk for serious complications following shoulder replacement surgery.
Chronic low back pain affects as many as one-third of adults ages 65 and older and can be difficult to treat. A 2025 study found that adding 12 weeks of acupuncture to usual care resulted in greater pain relief and better function that lasted as long as a year after the treatments.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic pulses to repeatedly activate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Updated protocols hold the promise of rapid relief from major depression.
Physical activity improves physical and mental health, and walking is the simplest way to stay active. Walking for more than 10 minutes at a time may offer extra benefits, but all movement counts. For people over 60, 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day are optimal, regardless of walking speed.
Many common medications can affect oral health, causing issues like dry mouth, taste changes, gum swelling, mouth sores, or thrush. Patients should check side effects on medication labels, report persistent symptoms, review medications annually, and keep up with regular dental visits.
If total knee replacement is needed for both knees and symptoms in both are equally severe, bilateral knee replacement can be done, either in one surgery or in stages. Replacing both knees at once may be a good option for people under 75 with no major medical conditions and support at home.
Social media posts tend to exaggerate side effects (such as muscle aches and memory problems) associated with statins and may spread invalid information about these drugs. This misinformation is a major threat to public health, according to a 2025 article.
A 2025 analysis suggests that far fewer people are considered candidates for low-dose aspirin to prevent heart disease with the updated PREVENT risk calculator compared with the older risk calculator.
Reclining and lying down may be linked to worse cardiovascular health while short bouts of sitting or standing may reduce cardiovascular risk, according to a 2025 study.