Craig Cox
LATEST STORIES
PUMPING IRONY: Driven to Distraction
A royal collision sparked renewed debate over elderly drivers and public safety, but I understand completely why geezers refuse to give up their keys.
PUMPING IRONY: Invasion of the Robots
With the aging population far outpacing the resources of caregivers, robotics seems to be a plausible solution — until you consider the consequences.
PUMPING IRONY: A Good Death?
New research suggests that killing off neurons in our aging brains might prevent, rather than invite, Alzheimer’s. Personal experience suggests it may be more complicated than that.
PUMPING IRONY: Hope, Reconsidered
The older I get, the more I find myself focusing on what is rather than what may be.
PUMPING IRONY: An Empty-Nest Holiday
When our adult daughter vetoed a longtime Christmas Eve tradition, we were forced to acknowledge all the other ways we can celebrate the season.
PUMPING IRONY: Don’t Get Out Much Anymore
New research suggests my reluctance to venture out to cultural events may make me prone to depression.
PUMPING IRONY: Attention, Please
Recent research aims to explain why the aging brain is more distractible.
PUMPING IRONY: In the Dark About Sleeplessness
I may not be the best person to suggest that light pollution is keeping seniors awake.
PUMPING IRONY: Problematic Pills
Hospitals are commonly sending their elderly patients home with prescription drugs that do more harm than good.
PUMPING IRONY: Prepared for the Worst
Geezers are particularly liable to imagine catastrophe whenever some ailment arises, but research suggests that accepting these conditions with equanimity can actually enhance our well-being.
PUMPING IRONY: Calm Down and Carry On
The Medical-Pharmaceutical Complex has been elevating my blood pressure for years by trying to convince me that the systolic readings produced in my doctor’s office matter. New research renders that argument moot.
PUMPING IRONY: Make Your Medicine
A nascent movement of “biohackers” aims to challenge Big Pharma by empowering patients to synthesize their own medications and assemble their own medical devices. I’m not the only one who’s cautiously pessimistic.
PUMPING IRONY: The Upside of Old Age
When one is seeking contentment, aging might be the solution rather than the problem.
PUMPING IRONY: Home Free
The nursing-home industry is suffering through an unprecedented decline as elderly Americans are increasingly opting for home- and community-based options.
PUMPING IRONY: Geezers, Unite!
Whether conservative or liberal, my retired friends all appreciate their monthly Social Security check. But I suspect any move to expand the program may fall on deaf ears.
PUMPING IRONY: A Healthy Skepticism
Reports that a daily aspirin may not prevent heart attacks and strokes reminds me that ignoring the advice of the medical establishment is often the healthiest option.
PUMPING IRONY: There’s No Place Like Home
My vacation activities tend to mirror much of what I enjoy doing on the home front. And if what the latest research suggests is true, those preferences may extend my lifespan.
PUMPING IRONY: A Wardrobe for the Ages
What does fashion mean to the aging male? New research suggests that we don’t give it much thought.
PUMPING IRONY: All Ears
Never one to put too much stock in preventive health measures, I suddenly find myself obsessed with improving my hearing.
PUMPING IRONY: You Must Be Mistaken
Recent research suggests that geezers are less likely than young adults to recognize when they err. This is problematic — except when it’s not.