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A number of studies have risen doubts on the association between high levels of cholesterol and cardiovascular risk in older subjects; in addition to this, some actually suggest that an increase in cholesterol is associated with a decreased risk of noncardiovascular death. Researchers in Rotterdam [...]
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According to a few studies, vitamin D supplementation in the elderly reduces the risk of falls, probably due to a strengthening effect on striated muscles. A meta-analysis has recently been carried out involving 26 randomized trials on vitamin D whose primary outcome was a reduction in the risk of [...]
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Perhaps because of an increasing prevalence of various forms of dementia, many patients are concerned about initial memory loss occurring after a certain age. To assess the issue at a population level, a study was carried out involving 17,000 women (average age 74 years) who were asked questions on [...]
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The decision to perform Holter monitoring in a patient who has experienced an episode of syncope depends on certain clinical characteristics, including the age of the patient, which could influence the probability of arrhythmias. In this study, Swiss researchers have examined the results of Holter [...]
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Orthostatic hypotension is a relatively frequent condition among elderly, above all in people taking drugs against hypertension or presenting diseases involving autonomic system (diabetes, Parkinson’s disease). In this study, performed in Ireland, a continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood [...]
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Studies examining the methods to prevent spontaneous falls in old people are many, as well as the used methods are various. In a study performed in Switzerland, 134 elderly (averagely 76 years of age), with a high risk for falls, have been enrolled to evaluate the efficacy of a program based on the [...]
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The basis of the treatment for lower-limb ulcers is the elastic bandage, but, also in this way, ulcers with a greater dimension are a great problem for recovery. With an English, multicentric trial, the efficacy of a high-frequency ultrasound-based therapy has been evaluated, weekly applied on [...]
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Insomnia is one of the most irritating problems for the old population (and for their general practitioners), managed, most times, with sleep-inducing drugs and with a consequent tolerance. With a double-blinded, randomized study performed by Italian researchers, 43 subjects (averagely 78 years of [...]
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Falls, which are one of the most treacherous daily dangers in the old population, often occur during the night. In this study, performed in a laboratory for the study of sleep, it has been assessed whether a drug, usually used as a sleeping draught (zolpidem), can positively interfere with balance [...]
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Among the so many variables considered to assess life expectancy, now also walk speed has been considered: 35,000 elderly (above all women, averagely 74 years of age) have been studied as to the covered distance (2-6 meters) and to the time to cover it (5-11 seconds to complete 6 meters). In the [...]