If death is a topic we like to avoid – six out of ten people have not made a will – the thought of becoming incapable of running our own lives is even more taboo. Fewer than one in ten adults in England and Wales have taken steps to appoint someone they trust to step in and look after their affairs if they become incapacitated. Yet the prospect of living out old age in ill health and mental confusion is...Read more

Putting your feet up could be slowing you down There’s nothing like putting your feet up in that favourite chair however, according to new research we’d better not get too comfortable. Sedentary lifestyles can impact on many facets of health and the Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have realised research illustrating the potential adverse effects of too many hours in front of the television or reading a book. Us woman are particularly at risk with...Read more

Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels may help to prevent the onset of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, research led by the University of Birmingham has discovered. The research also found that while Vitamin D can be effective at preventing the onset of inflammation, it is less effective once inflammatory disease is established because diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis leads to vitamin D insensitivity. Another key finding of the research was that the impact of vitamin D on inflammatory disease cannot...Read more

The University of Glasgow has released a damning report on the potential harm Grandparents pose to children's health. Researchers from the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, published the results of the review – which looked at 56 studies with data from 18 countries, concerning the care provided by grandparents who are not the primary carer of their grandchildren – today in the journal PLOS ONE. Until now research has largely focused on the potential role...Read more

"Doing moderate exercise several times a week is the best way to keep the mind sharp if you're over 50," BBC News reports. A review of existing data found both aerobic exercise and strength training appeared to improve cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and how well people carry out tasks. The review brought together information from 39 studies in the biggest summary of the effects of exercise on mental ability to date. Previous summaries of research have had unclear...Read more

A Cancer Research UK-funded trial allowing GP surgeries to test for Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition that can increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer – launches in the UK today. "Around three in every 100 people with Barrett’s oesophagus go on to develop oesophageal cancer so techniques that help us to prevent or diagnose the disease earlier are vital." - Dr Richard Roope This trial aims to offer the Cytosponge test, a less invasive way to test for changing...Read more

Age UK’s Wellbeing Index finds that age isn’t a barrier to living well. The Wellbeing in Later Life Index, developed by Age UK and the University of Southampton, analysed data from 15,000 people aged 60 and over to measure the wellbeing of the UK’s older population. It looked at how people were doing in different aspects of their lives under five key areas – social, personal, health, financial and environmental. Overall it showed there is no ‘magic bullet’ for positive...Read more

The Scottish Chiropractic Association’s Good-back Gardening Guide At this time of year, Scottish chiropractors experience a seasonal influx of patients with back and neck strain caused by over-zealous gardening. Dr Ross McDonald, SCA President, comments: “The arrival of spring brings out the gardener in all of us, regardless of how fit or physically active we have been during the winter. As a result, we see an increase in gardening-related spinal injury and pain. Looking after your back properly before, during...Read more

Minister meets with organisations for older people about current influenza outbreak Minister McEntee encourages more older people to get the flu vaccine and keep healthy and safe this winter – it’s never too late to vaccinate Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee TD, has today met with organisations representing the needs of older people in Ireland, to provide them with the most up to date information and advice on the current influenza outbreak. Older people...Read more

How are you? modern life responsible for ‘worrying’ health in middle aged Statistics show eight out of 10 of over 50 year olds are either overweight, drink too much, or don’t exercise enough. The analysis just published by Public Health England (PHE) clearly illustrates why modern life taking its toll on our health. Modern life is seriously harming the health of the over 50s an alarming 77% of men and 63% of women in middle age are overweight or obese....Read more