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A wheel chair in a nursing home

PUMPING IRONY: Broken Homes

By Craig Cox

The sudden closure of a Pennsylvania nursing home highlights the postpandemic challenges facing an increasingly troubled industry.

a puzzle piece cut out of a face shaped piece of paper

PUMPING IRONY: Dementia, Redefined

By Craig Cox

The Alzheimer’s Association and its Big Pharma allies are working behind the scenes to promote a plan that could vastly increase dementia diagnoses — and, not coincidentally, the demand for drugs that provide little relief.

a variety of highly processed snacks

PUMPING IRONY: Junk Food Jeopardy

By Craig Cox

Ultraprocessed foods, which first took hold among my baby boomer compatriots, now make up nearly 60 percent of the average American diet. Some experts say our addiction to this fare is lowering our life expectancy.

a man with a gray beards checks in smart watch

PUMPING IRONY: There’s an App for That — or Is There?

By Craig Cox

Fitness trackers have long been promoted as effective tools for monitoring key health metrics, but seniors have mostly ignored them. Recent research explains why

a tree lined park sidewalk

PUMPING IRONY: The Upside of Outside

By Craig Cox

Can living amid bountiful green space improve a senior’s mental and physical health? New research — and the reemergence of ecotherapy — suggest that spending more time outdoors could make a difference.

unrecognizable female doctor holding graphic virtual visualization model of Liver organ in hands

PUMPING IRONY: Looking for Trouble in All the Wrong Places?

By Craig Cox

While Big Pharma plods along in its search for an Alzheimer’s cure, new research suggests relief for some dementia sufferers may not begin in the brain at all.

a patient meets with a clinician with robotic text over the top

PUMPING IRONY: Dr. Chatbot Will See You Now

By Craig Cox

Artificial intelligence is insinuating itself into our shaky healthcare system despite the warnings of experts who believe it may deliver more harm than help.

a senior man does a bicep curl

PUMPING IRONY: Lift to Live

By Craig Cox

Mounting research — and the exploits of one extraordinary Irishman — suggest that it’s never too late for seniors to reap the benefits of strength training.

two chairs with a small table in between

PUMPING IRONY: A Generation in Need of Therapy — Again

By Craig Cox

At a time when one in four American seniors are struggling with mental health issues, Medicare has expanded its coverage beyond psychologists and psychiatrists to include more accessible therapists. But will those counselors sign up to provide the services?

test tubes labeled HDL test

PUMPING IRONY: Too Much of a Good Thing?

By Craig Cox

Recent research suggests that the “good” cholesterol that helps seniors prevent heart attacks and strokes may also raise their risk of developing dementia.

illustration

PUMPING IRONY: Where Have All the Geriatricians Gone?

By Craig Cox

At a time when the U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented pace, the number of geriatricians trained to treat older patients is dwindling. Rebuilding that profession may require more than what our healthcare system can muster.

a person holds a black ribbon

PUMPING IRONY: The Hazards of Healing

By Craig Cox

A much-delayed visit with a dermatologist offers some painful lessons about the danger of ignoring “benign” skin cancers — as well as the damage that may result from treating them.

a person stands in a vast maze

PUMPING IRONY: The Medicare Dis-Advantage

By Craig Cox

Hospitals and medical groups across the country are severing ties with Medicare Advantage insurers, leaving seniors scrambling to find new providers that will accept their insurance.

Creative idea. Concept of idea and innovation

PUMPING IRONY: An Antidote for Alzheimer’s?

By Craig Cox

Can lifestyle changes free us from the ravages of dementia? Recent research offers a modicum of hope, but few assurances.

a senior man holding a red weight

PUMPING IRONY: On Aging, Attitude, and Activity

By Craig Cox

Dreading the idea of growing old? A new study suggests such a view may keep you from engaging in the physical activity necessary to age gracefully.

dental equipment and a stethescope

PUMPING IRONY: Boundary Issues

By Craig Cox

Doctors and dentists are each in a position to identify symptoms the other could treat. Referrals, however, are exceedingly rare — leaving seniors especially vulnerable and public health experts routinely vexed.

a senior aged woman gets a shot

PUMPING IRONY: To Save Your Brain, Get Your Shots?

By Craig Cox

While a growing percentage of Americans express skepticism about flu vaccines and other recommended immunizations, recent research offers a fresh incentive to roll up your sleeve: Those shots may reduce your risk of developing dementia.

a stop watch with the word retirement

PUMPING IRONY: Retirement, Reconsidered

By Craig Cox

Seniors are increasingly choosing to delay retirement, a trend some experts believe must accelerate if we want to protect Social Security and Medicare for the next generation.

A blue-gloved hand is picking out a test tube.

PUMPING IRONY: Curiosity and Its Costs

By Craig Cox

Despite the lack of viable treatment options, Americans are flocking to genetic tests designed to reveal their chances of developing Alzheimer’s. The results can produce more reservations than reassurance.

an elderly man driving

PUMPING IRONY: Unsafe at Any Speed

By Craig Cox

Older drivers suffering from certain chronic illnesses can pose a threat to themselves and others on the road, but convincing them to surrender their car keys is no easy task. The Japanese government may have found a way to override their objections.

A COMFY CHAIR

PUMPING IRONY: Beware of the Chair?

By Craig Cox

A new study suggests that seniors who spend too much time sitting around may be more prone to develop dementia — even if they exercise regularly.

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