The sunny side of aging

Article Abstract:

An article in the May 2, 1990, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association presents a pessimistic view of the future of older people in the United States with respect to health and the costs of medical care. The prediction is made that costs may increase by a factor of six, with dementia and other serious illness affecting large numbers of people. As more people live longer, diseases of aging will dominate the national health care priorities. Two developments, however, could move the prognosis in a more optimistic direction. These are a possible slowing in the rate of increase of longevity, and delay in the age of occurrence of disability. No one disagrees with the prediction that many more older people will survive in the future; these citizens are already born. But it is possible that some health problems will have a lower incidence among these people. Some, such as heart attack, stroke, and lung cancer in men, are already declining. Nonfatal diseases, such as musculoskeletal disease, are often preventable by weight control and exercise. Fractures, to some extent, can also be prevented by exercise, hormones, and certain dietary regimens. Alzheimer's disease is not cause for optimism, since its risk factors are not known, and it will definitely become more prevalent as the number of older people increases. Research on health care and aging should attempt to understand the epidemiology of illnesses among this group, to press toward curing as many as possible, and to try to develop preventive approaches. In deciding whether to be optimistic or pessimistic about the health of the elderly, it should be kept in mind that 80 percent of people older than 85 are not in nursing homes. Aging well is a very real possibility; people do it all the time. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Evaluation, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs, editorial

---

Aging, health risks, and cumulative disability

Article Abstract:

Healthy lifestyle habits are likely associated with longer life and less disability in old age. Researchers surveyed 1,741 college-educated and mostly white people in 1962, then annually beginning in 1986, about exercise, smoking, body weight, and ability to perform routine daily tasks. Those with high risks to health had twice the disability of those with low risk. Difficulties performing tasks developed about five years later in healthy subjects, compared to those with poor health habits. Healthy habits may delay the development of disability and prolong life.

Activities of daily living

---

Hydroxychloroquine and risk of diabetes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

A study was done to determine the use of hydroxychloroquine, a rheumatoid arthritis medicine, and its hypoglycemic effects on rheumatoid arthritic patients and if they had a reduced risk of diabetes mellitus. Results concluded that hydroxychloroquine use lead to a reduction in the risk of diabetes.

United States, Drug therapy, Diabetes, Diabetes mellitus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Control, Dosage and administration, Hydroxychloroquine, Clinical report

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The upside of failure. Faith, race & family. My favorite things
• Abstracts: The impact of allergy training in primary care nursing. Pulling together in general practice. 'Is it the GP system or the GP culture that's at fault?'
• Abstracts: Late vs. early clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term neonates: Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials
• Abstracts: Interactions between secondhand smoke and genes that affect cyctic fibrosis lung disease. Exposure to second hand smoke among students aged 13-15 years- worldwide, 2000-2007

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.