The human body and its immune system excels at fighting foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Signaling chemicals called interleukins tell cells whether they are needed to fight illness or they should wait in the wings. While these immune defenders are doing their jobs, soreness, fatigue and swelling can occur – the natural side effects of an immune system response – but will soon dissipate.

However, many people deal with immune systems that are consistently revved up, even when no invaders are present. This is the problem with many chronic diseases and immune system dysfunction. Unfortunately, the inflammation that is a hallmark […]

Physical activity and proper diet and nutrition can help people age 50 and older maintain their physical health. But there are also ways aging men and women can preserve brain health in an effort to prevent or delay the cognitive decline that affects millions of seniors across the globe.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of keeping the brain healthy. However, a decline in brain function can result in poor concentration, memory loss and a host of other issues. Sometimes, by the time symptoms present themselves, it may be too late to reverse any damage.

Research suggests that a combination of nutrition and mental, social […]

According to the National Sleep Foundation, changes in sleep patterns are a part of the aging process. Many people experience difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep as they age, and that difficulty can make men and women over 50 feel more tired during the day.

But even though difficulty sleeping may be a part of aging, that does not mean men and women over 50 cannot take steps to improve their sleeping patterns. For example, certain snack foods may help to improve quality of sleep, especially when these foods replace less healthy snacking options. While men and women over […]

How To Stay Flexible As You Age Men and women may begin to feel less flexible as they get older. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, that loss of flexibility is because muscles lose both strength and elasticity as the body ages. A lack of flexibility can make men and women more vulnerable to certain types of injuries, including muscle strains and tears. While people might not be able to maintain the flexibility they enjoyed in their twenties, there are ways for them to combat age-related loss of flexibility.

Stretch frequently. Stretching is a great way to combat age-related loss […]

After the whirlwind of the holiday season, the season of resolutions takes over. Many people resolve to live healthier, and they may not have to give up their favorite foods to do so. Research from the National Institutes of Health suggests American adults gain an average of one to two pounds every year. Grazing and overeating tends to increase when the weather cools down. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, in the fall, people tend to consume more calories, total fat and saturated fat. In the spring, people seem to prefer more carbohydrates. In […]

Aging is associated with or linked to a host of mental and physical side effects. For example, many adults expect their vision to deteriorate as they grow older. Such a side effect can be combatted with routine eye examinations that may indicate a need for a stronger eyeglass prescription, a relatively simple solution that won’t impact adults’ daily lives much at all.

While physical side effects like diminished vision might not strike much fear in the hearts of aging men and women, those same people may be concerned and/or frightened by the notion of age-related cognitive decline. Some immediately associate such decline […]

By the time they reach senior status, many adults have amassed a ton of stuff along with their irreplaceable knowledge. Come their golden years, grandparents and other aging loved ones probably don’t need much in the way of material possessions, which can make it challenging to find them holiday gifts.

Finding great gifts for seniors may take a little more effort, but with these ideas at the ready, it’s likely gift-givers can make this holiday merry for everyone on their shopping lists.

Family Photo Memories

Many seniors love to talk about their life histories. What better way to be the catalyst for conversation than […]

Medicare is the governmental health insurance program which, from 1966, has been a single-payer, national social insurance program providing coverage for most Americans of “retirement age.” It has been estimated that Medicare spending accounts for about fifteen to sixteen percent of the total US Federal spending. On average, Medicare covers about half of the health care charges for those enrolled, with the remaining costs either paid out of the individual’s pocket or with supplemental insurance — sometimes called Medigap policies. While campaigning, most politicians will promise “not to cut Medicare.” There are many ways, however, that Congress may alter Medicare’s guaranteed […]

Social Security’s version of retirement age, known as the “full retirement age,” is currently 66. The current eligibility date for Medicare is age 65. Benefits claimed prior to “full retirement age” are hit with early retirement or survivor reductions. Studies have proposed that millions of dollars could be saved by the government if the formal retirement dates for Social Security and Medicare were extended by two or perhaps even three years.

Right now, the earliest you can apply for Social Security benefits is age 62; however, a person who begins claiming their retirement benefit at age 62 will receive only seventy-five percent […]

When aging homeowners become “empty nesters,” they often find themselves looking around their homes to find items they have not used in several years. Often times, aging men and women decide they want to downsize and declutter their lives. Downsizing and decluttering are common among aging individuals as they begin to think about retirement. Homeowners decide that they no longer need the space they did when children lived at home.

It is common for aging men and women who are thinking about retirement to want to move into a smaller, more manageable space. It is optimal for individuals to downsize into a […]