Category Archives: Health

AARP Hosting Tele-townhall with Governor Inslee

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Jim deMaine

On Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. AARP will host a Tele-townhall with Governor Inslee. AARP Washington State Director, Doug Shadel will interview the Governor about the Long Term Care Trust Act, healthcare and prescription drugs. More than 10,000 AARP … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Health, Politics | Comments Off on AARP Hosting Tele-townhall with Governor Inslee

Brain chemistry and love – from BrainHQ.com

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Sally S who sent this in. BrainHQ is an online brain-training system that represents the culmination of 30 years of research in neurological science and related medicine. It was designed by an international team of neuroscientists, led by Michael Merzenich—a … Continue reading →

Posted in happiness, Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on Brain chemistry and love – from BrainHQ.com

Ingenious: Leonard Hayflick

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Jim deMaine

One of the world’s preeminent experts on aging on his life in research. From Nautilis: “After all, for 60 years it had been known that human cells were immortal, capable of dividing forever if they were cultivated in the right … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on Ingenious: Leonard Hayflick

Is the future of medicine a cell, not a pill?

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Gordon G for sending this along. We are entering a new area where using specialized cells modified with your genome in mind, may provide the breakthroughs in cancer, parkinson’s and other serious illness.

Posted in Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on Is the future of medicine a cell, not a pill?

Study Offers Hint of Hope for Staving Off Dementia in Some People

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: There’s a saying in medicine that the questions never change, but every few years the answers do. I was taught that it was “normal” for the systolic blood pressure to increase roughly 10 points for every decade and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, Health | Comments Off on Study Offers Hint of Hope for Staving Off Dementia in Some People

Should Scientists Toy With the Secret to Life?

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: Science continues to push well ahead of the ethical implications involved, especially now with the ability to modify our basic genetic makeup. With Crispr the key is now present to consider literally cutting out bad genes known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on Should Scientists Toy With the Secret to Life?

The Cause of Alzheimer’s Could Be Coming From Inside Your Mouth, Study Claims

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Jim deMaine

In recent years, a growing number of scientific studies have backed an alarming hypothesis: Alzheimer’s disease isn’t just a disease, it’s an infection. While the exact mechanisms of this infection are something researchers are still trying to isolate, a litany of papers argue the deadly spread of Alzheimer’s goes … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, Health | Comments Off on The Cause of Alzheimer’s Could Be Coming From Inside Your Mouth, Study Claims

Four Simple Words to Help You Live Well

Posted on January 24, 2019 by Jim deMaine

By Tara Parker-Pope in the New York Times “During nearly 20 years writing about health, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of top medical experts about how to live well. What I’ve learned from all of them can be … Continue reading →

Posted in happiness, Health | Comments Off on Four Simple Words to Help You Live Well

Hospitals Stopped Readmitting So Many Medicare Patients. Did That Cost Lives?

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: These days you have to be pretty darn sick in order to be admitted to a hospital. Then they are anxious to make your stay as short as possible because they are now paid based on your diagnosis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Hospitals Stopped Readmitting So Many Medicare Patients. Did That Cost Lives?

Senate Democrats introduce bill to deny tax loophole for Big Pharma ads

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Thanks to Dick D for sending this along. I’ve been puzzled when watching TV that so many commercials are for very expensive drugs for conditions that aren’t all that common. The hype benefits then discuss side effects (even … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Business, Finance, Health, Politics | Comments Off on Senate Democrats introduce bill to deny tax loophole for Big Pharma ads

UC San Diego opens new senior-focused emergency unit

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: Focusing on urgent or emergent senior care is finally starting to happen. Only three level one senior emergency rooms exist in the USA, the only one on the west coast featured here. Wouldn’t it be nice if we … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on UC San Diego opens new senior-focused emergency unit

Nature vs Nurture – our beliefs may be more important than our genes in this study

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: The age old argument about nature vs. nurture will likely continue on for ages. In the field of epigenetics it’s been discovered that we can actually turn our genes off/on with some life experiences. At times our beliefs … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Essays, Fitness, Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on Nature vs Nurture – our beliefs may be more important than our genes in this study

Treating Alzheimer’s by treating aging

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: The Alzheimer’s drugs have been very disappointing. So are strawberries and curry part of the solution? Creative scientists at the Salk Institute are looking at the possibility that “anti-aging” treatments may be part of the answer. The article … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Treating Alzheimer’s by treating aging

Am I old?

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: “A few years ago at a college reunion, I listened transfixed as the silver-haired philanthropist David Rubenstein urged us “to accelerate” as we entered the last chapters of our lives. Pick up the pace? So many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, Health | Comments Off on Am I old?

Washington voters may get final say on safe injection sites

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From Crosscut: “Not often do I praise the Seattle City Council, but here goes: When time came to take a stand on supervised heroin injection sites, the members stepped up and voiced their approval. So did the candidates for mayor, including eventual winner Jenny Durkan. True, … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Advocacy, Health, Politics | Comments Off on Washington voters may get final say on safe injection sites

Opioid Crisis: The lawsuits that could bankrupt manufacturers and distributors

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: It looks like the opioid manufacturers and distributors are going to be taken to court by a “county lawyer” who successfully took on big tobacco and enron. This segment on 60 minutes is worth watching. Click here to … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Health, Law, Scams | Comments Off on Opioid Crisis: The lawsuits that could bankrupt manufacturers and distributors

Act F.A.S.T. to Identify a Stroke in Progress

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Dick D for sending along this important health info from American Stroke Association. If you are talking with someone and that person suddenly begins to behave unusually, you may hesitate to say something. After all, you don’t want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Act F.A.S.T. to Identify a Stroke in Progress

What Doctors Know About CPR

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Jim deMaine

We are all signed up for CPR unless we indicate otherwise. I think we all wish for a peaceful end, much like that of President George H. W. Bush – with caring family and friends at our bedside. The alternative … Continue reading →

Posted in Advance Directives, Education, end of life, Health | Comments Off on What Doctors Know About CPR

Even a Little Weight Training May Cut the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: “Despite the muscle-building, flab-trimming and, according to recent research, mood-boosting benefits of lifting weights, such resistance exercise has generally been thought not to contribute much to heart health, as endurance workouts like jogging and cycling do. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness, Health | Comments Off on Even a Little Weight Training May Cut the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

How climate change could affect us all – new US government report (buried by release on Black Friday)

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Jim deMaine

(CNN)The average global temperature is much higher and rising more rapidly than “anything modern civilization has experienced,” according to David Easterling, one of the authors of a new US government report that delivers a dire warning about our future. Thousands more could die, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Business, environment, Essays, Health, Media, Politics, Science and Technology | Comments Off on How climate change could affect us all – new US government report (buried by release on Black Friday)

AgeWise King County Newsletter

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Chair’s Corner: Your Time, Talent, and Kindness Go a Long Way In December, it is very tempting to write a cheery article about celebrating the holidays with families, food, friends, and fun. I don’t want to sound all doom-and-gloom, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Aging Sites, Education, happiness, Health, Homeless, In the Neighborhood, Social justice | Comments Off on AgeWise King County Newsletter

A New Treatment for Blindness Comes From Gene Therapy

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M for sending this “eye opening” article By Jocelyn Kaiser Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe December 2018 Three months after Misty Lovelace was born, she was already going blind. In first grade she could still read small print, but within … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on A New Treatment for Blindness Comes From Gene Therapy

Will We Ever Cure Alzheimer’s?

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Prevention and treatment of dementia remains a discouraging effort for patients, families and researchers. It would seem that Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, begins many years before symptoms show up, so early detection with prevention is … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, Health | Comments Off on Will We Ever Cure Alzheimer’s?

Perspectives on Memory – Conference at the Frye

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Perspectives on Memory CREATIVE AGING CONFERENCE Friday, February 1, 2019 8:15am – 6:00 pm 8:15 am: Check-in & continental breakfast 9 am – 5 pm: Conference sessions 5–6 pm: Closing reception Location Frye Auditorium Perspectives on Memory is a one-day conference designed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Dementia, Education, Health | Comments Off on Perspectives on Memory – Conference at the Frye

Why do people go blind? – Dr. Russell Van Gelder from the UW

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M for inviting Dr. Van Gelder to speak at Skyline

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Why do people go blind? – Dr. Russell Van Gelder from the UW