Getting older involves change, both negative and positive, but you can enjoy aging if you understand what’s going on with your body and take steps to maintain your health. Many different things happen to your body as you age. Your skin, bones, and even brain may start to behave differently. Don’t let the changes that… [Read More]

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some smartphones that are specifically designed for seniors? My 75-year-old mother is interested in upgrading from a basic cellphone to a smartphone, but will need one that’s very easy to operate. —Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring, I wrote about this topic just last year, but in the fast changing world… [Read More]

In a large study conducted by at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), researchers found an association between women who maintain a healthy diet and a reduction in the risk of developing impaired physical function as they age. “Little research has been done on how diet impacts physical function later in life. We study the connection… [Read More]

Some of the most difficult physician-patient discussions revolve around the issue of driving. Driving is a part of everyday life in America – a necessity that allows you to go to work on a regular basis, visit friends and family, and manage everyday activities, such as shopping for groceries, going to church and transporting children… [Read More]

This week was a great week for most senior citizens. They welcomed the news that their favorite drink – coffee – does not cause cancer, and, in fact, in many cases may prevent it. An international Working Group of 23 scientists convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of… [Read More]

When it comes to retirement, the world is literally a senior’s oyster. There’s no shortage of places to live in, and it just comes down to choice. Here are some of the best, arranged by factors like climate, activity, entertainment, travel and cost efficiency. Adventure New Zealand: With its southern tip only 3,092 miles away… [Read More]

Keeping memory sharp is one of the goals seniors have when they age, as losing it can produce great anxiety. There’s also a double-bind that affects’ seniors memory: on one hand, they have much more information stored, which enables them to recognize patters more easily. But on the other hand, neurons begin to lose myelination,… [Read More]

For 500,000 Americans each year, what starts as short-term memory loss will ultimately end in premature death. Today Alzheimer’s affects more than 5 million US adults, and currently while many of those cases are manageable, as doctors have developed ways to slow the progression of the disease, there is no cure. But a breakthrough involving… [Read More]

Many sunscreens fail to measure up to the protection promised on their label. Consumer Reports has identified 17 that do. In CR’s latest annual tests and ratings of 65 water-resistant lotions, sprays, and sticks with SPF claims of 30 or higher, the organization found that 28 of them – a full 43 percent of the… [Read More]

After a bout with heat failure, exercise may well be the last thing on your mind. But, maybe you should think again. A new study finds exercise extends life even for patients with heart failure. The analysis in more than 4000 patients showed a mortality benefit from exercise regardless of heart failure severity, age and… [Read More]