Americans' Pets Help Ease the Aging Process, Poll Finds

WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2019 -- Richard McIntosh hadn't had any pets since his childhood farm dogs, but then he started a relationship with a competitive dog trainer and found his life filled with Golden Retrievers.

Now McIntosh, 59, of Cornelius, Ore., can't imagine growing old without a dog or two by his side.

Heart Attacks Fall By One-Third Among Older Americans

FRIDAY, March 15, 2019 -- A groundbreaking new study holds heartening news for older Americans.

Since the mid-1990s, the number of seniors who suffered a heart attack or died from one dropped dramatically -- evidence that campaigns to prevent heart attacks and improve patient care are paying off, Yale University researchers said.

Attention, Seniors: Drink More Water and Head Off Disease

THURSDAY, March 21, 2019 -- Not drinking enough water is a common but under-recognized problem among American seniors that puts their health at risk, researchers say.

"So many health issues are related to inadequate hydration," including urinary tract and respiratory infections, frequent falls and other problems, said study author Janet Mentes. She's a professor of nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Medical Pot: An Elixir for the Elderly?

THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 -- Your grandparents' chronic aches and pains might best be eased with a little weed, a new study suggests.

Not only did folks over 75 who took medical marijuana report less pain, their use of pot-based capsules, tinctures and e-cigarettes allowed a third of these patients to reduce their use of opioid painkillers, researchers found.

Being Socially Active Helps Older Folk Age Well

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 -- Interacting with lots of different people may help you live longer and healthier, a new study suggests.

Older people who spend more time with family members, close friends, acquaintances, casual friends and even strangers were more likely to be physically active, spend less time sitting or lying around and have a more positive attitude and fewer negative feelings, the researchers found.