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Features for Senior Citizens
Top Stories in SeniorJournal.com for 2006 Concern
Health and Aging
Nutrition, Alzheimer's and Sex get attention,
too
December 28, 2006 - The two most often read stories
published in SeniorJournal.com during 2006 are both from the Aging
Section. The most popular story reported on new findings about what it
takes for a man to reach age 85, which included that he needs a wife. But, surprisingly, the second most read story was actually
first published in 2005, but still drew thousands of readers this year.
It is a story from the FDA Consumer Magazine on sore feet being a sure
sign of aging.
A report in the section on Sex and Senior Citizens
was a close third. This study found that
older couples enjoy more equality between men and women are most likely
to report being satisfied with their sex lives.
Relationships between men and women is clearly a
popular topic with many senior citizens as evidenced by the number of
such stories in our top 30. Another good example is the fifth most read
story reporting on a study that the heart really does hurt when older
couples fight.
Another story from 2005 came in fourth and still
draws thousands of readers every month. It explored the hype surrounding
the Pomegranate and attempts to sort out fact from fiction.
Red wine, too, is frequently popping up in reports
on its health benefits. The sixth most popular story in 2006 reported on
its ability to fight periodontal disease in older people.
Health is always popular with senior citizen
readers but it is interesting to see what ailments get the most
attention. Among our top stories are reports on Alzheimer's, heart
disease, hardening of the arteries, osteoporosis, high blood pressure,
and obesity. The only cancers that drew top story billing were prostate
and breast.
Two big health stories, however, were the
recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control recommending all
senior citizens be vaccinated for shingles, and the Food and Drug
Administration's approval of Januvia to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The story in August on America's Elizabeth "Lizzie"
Bolden becoming the oldest living person and woman in the world at 115
years and 14 days old was number 7 in popularity. The story in December
on her death at 116 was a stop story for the month.
SeniorJournal.com attempts to be a publication of
record on programs that impact senior citizens, such as Medicare,
Medicaid and Social Security. There were a number of well-read stories
about the Medicare drug program and two stories about Wal-Mart's
discount on generic drugs made the top 30 list.
Amazingly, number 20 of the top read stories in
2006 was first published in 2004. It is in the opinion section and
complains of the "Republican assault on senior citizen consumers" by the
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, then controlled by Republican
Senator Larry Craig. It criticized him for a hearing on litigation in
long-term care facilities at which he invited no consumer advocate or
eldercare attorney to testify.
Below are the top 30 most read stories in
SeniorJournal.com and links to the main stories, in case you missed
them.
Number 1
Researchers Learn What It Takes for Men to Reach Age
85 - One Major Surprise
No smoking, excessive drinking, hypertension or
obesity but need spouse
November 14, 2006 Men who want to live to at
least age 85 now have a specific strategy that will help them get there
but they need to start at age 54 to exactly fit this model. But give
or take a few years probably does not change the formula proposed by
this research, which says avoiding smoking, excessive drinking,
hypertension and being overweight should just about achieve the goal.
One problem, if you are not married you just probably are not going to
make it to 85.
Read
more...
Number 2
Sore Feet a Sure Sign of Aging
FDA Consumer
Magazine explores the problems and solutions
 April
21, 2006 There is probably nothing more common for aging Americans
than sore feet. Although some foot problems are inherited or come with
injuries, many more are caused by the years of wear and tear senior
citizens have given them. "Taking Care of Your Feet," is the cover story
in the current issue (March-April 2006) of the FDA Consumer Magazine,
which discusses common problems many seniors experience with their feet
and some things that may help.
Read more..
Number 3
Sex Lives Better for Older Couples with Gender
Equality
Study in 29
countries finds general happiness, sex related
April 19, 2006 - Older couples who live in Western
countries and who enjoy more equality between men and women are most
likely to report being satisfied with their sex lives, according to a
new study on sexual well-being, aging and health that was conducted in
29 countries by a University of Chicago research team.
Read more...
Number 4
Pomegranate Hottest Health Remedy: Fad or Fact?
Whats all this hype about
a little known and rarely seen fruit
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
 Sept.
29, 2005 So whats with this surge of pomegranate hype. This fruit is
being touted as a miracle drug for aging, Alzheimers, cancer, heart
disease, arthritis and even protecting unborn babies from brain
injuries. It cures about anything that can ail an aging senior citizen.
It has become a popular ingredient for mixed drinks, ice cream and even
bottled water. Its now a popular decoration for table displays.
President Bush even brought it up in his meeting in May with Afghanistan
President Karzai, suggesting they grow these trees rather than poppies.
The Centers for Disease Control honored it by naming it the fruit of the
month.
Read
more...
Number 5
Heart Really Does Hurt When Older Couples Fight
Artery disease tied to hostility for wives, loss of
control for husbands
 March 3, 2006 When older couples fight, no one
wins. Wives are likely to suffer hardening of the coronary arteries, and
so are men, if they feel controlled or try to act in a controlling
manner. Those are key findings of a study of 150 healthy, older, married
couples mostly in their 60s.
Read more...
Number 6
Red Wine Fights Periodontal Disease that Hits Most
Older People
Components modulate tissue damage induced by bacteria
in gum diseases
March 10, 2006 The latest medical miracle for red
wine is its assist in preventing and treating inflammatory periodontal
disease, which attacks about 65 percent of Americans over age 50,
according to new research. Periodontitis is a progressive infectious
disease affecting the gums and bone that surround and support teeth,
often causing tooth movement and leading to permanent tooth loss. About
65% of adults over 50 are affected by this disease.
Read more...
Number 7
American Woman Becomes Worlds Oldest Living Person
 U.S. now holds top three spots on list of oldest
people
Aug. 31, 2005 An American woman, Elizabeth
"Lizzie" Bolden, 115 years and 14 days old, has officially become the
oldest living person and woman in the world, according to an
announcement by the Guinness World Records. The previous title holder,
Hendrikje Van Andel-Schipper of the Netherlands, died in her sleep at 2
a.m. yesterday. She was 115 years and 62 days old.
Read more...
NOTE: Ms. Bolden died on December
11, and this story was a top story for this month:
America's Lizzie Bolden Dies at 116 as World's
Oldest Person
Number 8
Hardening of Arteries Significantly Reduced by
Vegetable Diet
Study of vegi-fed mice results in 38 percent
atherosclerosis risk reduction
 June 17, 2006 Hardening of the arteries
(atherosclerosis) is one of the conditions most feared by senior
citizens, who are the most frequent victims. This artery-clogging
condition significantly increases the risk of heart attack and severe
pain. Although experts have long advocated a diet of whole grains,
fruits, and vegetables, and low in salt and saturated fat, a new study
says it may be possible to reduce the risk by 38 percent with a
vegetable diet.
Read
more...
Number 9
Shingles Vaccinations Recommended for All 60 and
Over
CDC committee says action needed to
prevent painful disease
October 26, 2006 An advisory committee on
immunization of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
recommended everyone age 60 and older be vaccinated for shingles with
the recently FDA approved Zostavax vaccine. This extremely painful viral
disease inflicts many senior citizens with blisters and nerve pain caused by the
re-activated chicken pox virus.
Read more...
Number 10
Men in 50s More Satisfied with Sex Lives than Most
Younger Men
Satisfaction falls fast for senior citizens; 20-year-olds
most satisfied
Feb. 20, 2006 - Men in their fifties are more
satisfied with their sex lives than men in their thirties and forties,
recording levels that are only topped barely by the 20-29 year-olds.
But, after age 59 sexual satisfaction takes a plunge, according to a
survey published in the February issue of BJU International, official
journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons.
Read more...
Number 11
Alzheimer's Risk Lowered by Mediterranean Diet in
Study
April 18, 2006 - Americans who ate a Mediterranean
diet--lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, some fish and
alcohol, and little dairy and meat--had a reduced risk for Alzheimer's
disease as they aged. These findings are published in the April issue of
Annals of Neurology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons.
Read more...
Number 12
Heart Disease Undiagnosed in Many Women Because
Plaque Spreads
They mistakenly appear to have clear arteries after
angiography
Jan. 31, 2006 - In as many as 3 million U.S. women
with coronary heart disease, cholesterol plaque may not build up into
major blockages, but instead spreads evenly throughout the artery wall.
As a result, diagnostic coronary angiography reveals that these women
have clear arteries no blockages incorrectly indicating low risk.
Despite this, many of these women have a high risk for heart attack,
according to newly published research from the National Institutes of
Health.
Read
more...
Number 13
 Use Folic Acid to Reduce Heart Disease, Say Experts
November 25, 2006 - The scientific evidence is
strong enough to justify using folic acid as a cheap and simple way of
reducing heart disease and strokes, say researchers in this weeks
British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Read more...
Number 14
Osteoporosis Risk Increases for Older Women Drinking
Cola
All the facts aren't in, say experts, but women may
want to hold off on cola
October 6, 2006 They are not sure why, but a
study of older women found cola consumption was associated with lower
bone mineral density and increased risk for osteoporosis. An expert at
the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging suggests women
concerned about osteoporosis may want to steer away from drinking cola
until more study is conducted.
Read more...
Number 15
Controversy Follows Medicare Drug Plan Despite
Enrollment Claims
April 21, 2006 Despite the satisfaction expressed
by the Bush Administration with Medicare drug plan enrollment and polls
saying many senior citizens are happy with their plan, the controversy
will not die. The Administration announced yesterday that 30 million now
have coverage but critics say millions are not covered and the Wall
Street Journal challenges the Administration numbers. And, according to
the daily report from KaiserNet.org, the Los Angeles Times reports that
not only are the rates for the drug program set to increase by 7 percent
next year, the size of the "doughnut hole" may also be enlarged.
Read
more...
Number 16
FDA Anoints Januvia as New Super Star in Fighting
Type 2 Diabetes
Merck drug is first
approved in a new class called DPP-4 inhibitors
October 18, 2006 The world probably looks much
different this morning to millions of senior citizens battling type 2
diabetes. A whole new way of fighting the debilitating disease was
introduced yesterday with the Food and Drug Administration's approval of
Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate). It is the first approved of a new class
of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors that enhances the body's ability to
lower elevated blood sugar. Not far behind in the approval process is a
similar drug named Galvus. Experts say the commercial potential is
"gigantic."
Read more...
Number 17
First Signs of Alzheimer's May Be Trouble with
Balance, Walking
Senior citizens who stayed active less likely
to develop dementia
May 22, 2006 - The first signs of dementia -
including Alzheimer's disease may not be a faulty memory but problems
with balance and walking, according to a new study that found senior
citizens who participated were three times less likely to develop
dementia if they maintained their physical function at high levels.
Read more...
Number 18
Ten Steps Senior Citizens Can Take to Control High
Blood Pressure
Plus info from
National Institute on Aging abut hypertension
August 28, 2006 More than half of all senior
citizens suffer with high blood pressure, or
hypertension. The September issue of the Harvard Heart Letter takes a
look at the latest thinking on high blood pressure and includes 10 steps
for getting your blood pressure under control.
Read more...
Number 19
Older Women Who Sleep Least Gain Most Weight
Appetite and diet not accounting for weight gain in
women who sleep less
May 23, 2006 - Women who sleep 5 hours or less per
night weigh more on average than those who sleep 7 hours, according to a
study of middle-aged women to be presented at the American Thoracic
Society International Conference today.
Read more...
Number 20
Opinion: Placing Special Interest Above Senior Consumers
Senate Aging Committee Continues Republican
Assault on Senior Citizens' Rights
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
July 13, 2004 - In another example of the
Republican assault on senior citizen consumers, the U.S. Senate Special
Committee on Aging, controlled by Republican Senator Larry Craig, will
hold a hearing on litigation in long-term care facilities without a
consumer advocate or eldercare attorney on the witness list.
More...
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