'Confusion' Complicates Hospitalization of Elderly

FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2017 -- Older adults with confusion are more likely to remain in the hospital longer once they are admitted, and are more likely to die, a new study finds.

"People with confusion -- or cognitive spectrum disorders -- make up over one-third of the population over 65 [in the U.K.] who are admitted as an emergency to the hospital, and half of patients over the age of 85 years," said the study's lead researcher, Prof. Emma Reynish.

Taking a Stand on Staying Mobile After 80

MONDAY, Aug. 14, 2017 -- If you want to stay as fit as possible well into your 80s, the answer may be as simple as standing on your own two feet.

New research shows that a standing-exercise program is more effective for older adults than commonly used seated exercises.

A Little Drinking Might Lengthen Your Life: Study

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 -- Light to moderate drinking can lower your overall risk of premature death and, specifically, your odds of dying from heart disease, a new study reports.

Moderate drinkers -- men who have one or two drinks a day, and women who have one drink a day -- have a 29 percent decreased risk of heart-related death and a 22 percent reduced risk of death from any cause, compared with teetotalers, the study findings showed.

A Cheaper Alternative to Hearing Aids?

WEDNESDAY, July 5, 2017 -- A handful of over-the-counter "personal sound amplification products" fared as well as an expensive hearing aid in helping people pick up more words in conversation, researchers report.

While the study took place in a sound booth, "in this controlled environment, some of these devices helped people with mild to moderate hearing loss as well as a hearing aid," said study author Nicholas Reed. He is an audiologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

For Many, Friends Are Key to Happiness in Old Age

THURSDAY, July 29, 2017 -- As you age, the friends you keep wield an ever-greater impact on your health and sense of happiness, new research reveals.

They may even outstrip family in terms of the sway they have over you, according to the pair of new studies.

Even at Low Levels, Dirty Air Raises Death Risk for U.S. Seniors

WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 -- Air pollution may shorten the lives of American seniors, even in areas where levels fall below national safety standards, new research indicates.

Although it's possible that factors other than air pollution are responsible for the increase in premature deaths among older adults, study co-author Francesca Dominici said the findings are "bulletproof evidence of increased risk of deaths due to polluted air in the U.S.