The post Scientists uncover how some 80-year-olds have the memory of 50-year-olds appeared first on My Blog.
]]>A study from Northwestern University looked at a group of 80-year-olds who appeared to have memory skills on par with 50-year-olds, and the researchers aimed to understand the differences in their brains.
These people were classified as “SuperAgers,” defined as those 80 and older who have memories of those 30 years their junior, according to a university press release. People in this category score at least nine out of 15 on a delayed word recall test.
7 STEPS TO ‘SUPER-AGING’ ARE KEY TO LIVING A LONGER, MORE FULFILLING LIFE, EXPERTS SAY
“SuperAgers” are defined as those 80 and older who have memories of those 30 years younger. (iStock)
The “SuperAger” term was coined by Dr. M. Marsel Mesulam, founder of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern, in the late 1990s.
In studying nearly 300 SuperAgers for the past 25 years, the Northwestern researchers identified some common traits, including being “highly social and outgoing” and having strong interpersonal relationships.
“It’s really what we’ve found in their brains that’s been so earth-shattering for us,” noted co-author Dr. Sandra Weintraub, professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in the release.
The researchers found that some of the participants’ brains showed no buildup of amyloid and tau proteins (plaques and tangles), the toxic substances that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)
The research team examined 77 of the SuperAgers’ donated brains after they died. They found that some of the brains showed no buildup of amyloid and tau proteins (plaques and tangles), the toxic substances that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Other brains did have the proteins, but they didn’t appear to have affected cognitive health.
STUDY REVEALS WHY ‘SUPER AGERS’ MAINTAIN ‘OUTSTANDING MEMORY’ INTO THEIR 80S
“What we realized is there are two mechanisms that lead someone to become a SuperAger,” Weintraub said in the release. “One is resistance: they don’t make the plaques and tangles. Two is resilience: they make them, but they don’t do anything to their brains.”
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Unlike most aging brains, SuperAgers did not experience significant thinning of the cortex, which is the brain’s outer layer. They also had a thicker anterior cingulate cortex, the region of the brain involved in decision-making, emotion and motivation.
They were also found to have a greater number of “von Economo neurons,” specialized cells associated with social behavior, and larger entorhinal neurons, which are crucial for memory.
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The study outcome was published as a perspective article in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The SuperAgers shared common traits, including being “highly social and outgoing” and having strong interpersonal relationships. (iStock)
“Our findings show that exceptional memory in old age is not only possible but is linked to a distinct neurobiological profile,” said Weintraub. “This opens the door to new interventions aimed at preserving brain health well into the later decades of life.”
Armed with this information about the commonalities among SuperAgers, the researchers hope to develop new ways to boost cognitive resilience and prevent or delay Alzheimer’s and other dementias, they noted.
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Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings to Fox News Digital.
“The answer is a combination of genetic predisposition as well as continuing to keep exercising the brain like a muscle — both socially and intellectually,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“The buildup of senile plaques — beta amyloid and tau — did not impact neuronal function in those who continued to do very well in terms of thinking, memory and decision-making,” he noted.
“Those with positive outcomes shared continued socialization, interaction and a high level of intellectual engagement.
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“So, the answer is a combination of genetic predisposition as well as continuing to keep exercising the brain like a muscle — both socially and intellectually.”
The study was funded by Northwestern Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the National Institute on Aging (part of the National Institutes of Health).
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
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]]>The post Kim Kardashian’s brain aneurysm scare: Doctors reveal warning signs to never ignore appeared first on My Blog.
]]>The Skims founder, 45, announced in a preview clip of Season 7 of Hulu’s “The Kardashians” that her doctors discovered the condition during an MRI scan, telling her family, “There was a little aneurysm.”
The cause has not been identified, but Kardashian’s doctors considered that it might be from stress.
MEN’S BRAINS SHRINK FASTER THAN WOMEN’S; RESEARCHERS EXPLORE ALZHEIMER’S CONNECTION
A brain aneurysm is the ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain, which can leak or rupture, leading to bleeding, according to Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Adam Arthur, chairman of neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee, described an aneurysm as a weakness on the wall of an artery, like a little water balloon that forms off a hose.
Kim Kardashian poses during a photocall for the premiere of “All’s Fair” TV series in Paris on Oct. 21, 2025. The reality TV star recently revealed that she had been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. (Bertrand GuayAFP via Getty Images; iStock)
This is known as a hemorrhagic stroke, which can be life-altering and even fatal. Most aneurysms are small and not serious if they don’t rupture.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Arthur — who is also chief medical officer of Medtronic Neurovascular, a California company that produces medical devices that help treat aneurysms — noted that brain aneurysms are much more common in women.
KIM KARDASHIAN DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN ANEURYSM THAT DOCTORS ATTRIBUTE TO STRESS FOLLOWING KANYE WEST DIVORCE
This most likely has to do with genetics, although “there’s so much about the brain and about genetics that we don’t understand,” Arthur said.
Aneurysms are present in up to one in every 50 people, according to the expert, and many don’t require treatment or cause a problem.
Up to one in 50 people have a brain aneurysm, which is the ballooning of an artery in the brain. (iStock)
When they do become problematic, aneurysms can cause a sudden stroke, where a patient may experience the “worst headache of their life.” Arthur described this as a “very abnormal headache, often behind the eye.”
“That’s a very, very dangerous situation,” he said. “I believe that with Ms. Kardashian, it may be that they found it before it caused a stroke, and obviously that’s a blessing.”
While aneurysms form on the weak spots of arteries that are knit together before birth, some factors can make the event more common.
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This includes alcohol binge-drinking, nicotine exposure, certain genetic conditions, and the use of drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.
Drugs and nicotine are known to be “very bad” for aneurysm growth and rupture, since they tamper with blood vessel health, Arthur detailed.
A severe headache may occur if a brain aneurysm becomes problematic. (iStock)
The expert added that chronic stress has also been linked to brain aneurysms, noting that an overall focus on sleep, diet and exercise can help reduce the risk.
Knowing the family history for aneurysms is important, Arthur added, as it’s recommended to get a screening exam, or MRI, if two close relatives have had them.
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Although some aneurysms can be suddenly fatal when they lead to a stroke, people experiencing symptoms — typically an intense headache — should see a doctor for treatment options, according to Arthur.
If an aneurysm is found before it bleeds, minimally invasive surgery could be performed to avoid a stroke. Open surgery may also be an option, where a surgeon can pinch the aneurysm shut through an incision along the hairline.
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Smaller aneurysms in older patients can typically be monitored by a physician to ensure that they’re not growing or causing a larger issue, the doctor said.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., which “disables way more people than it outright kills,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“We do have ways of fixing aneurysms now that are pretty remarkable,” Arthur told Fox News Digital. “What we can do is put a metal mesh over the opening of the aneurysm or fill the aneurysm with a device and then let nature take its course — and so that blood then forms a clot and scars.”
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Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., adding that it “disables way more people than it outright kills,” according to Arthur.
Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report. Fox News Digital reached out to Kardashian for comment.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
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]]>The post Gray hair could play surprising role in cancer defense, study suggests appeared first on My Blog.
]]>A new study may have pinpointed how going gray is connected to one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.
Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, led by Dr. Emi K. Nishimura, found that pigment-producing stem cells in hair follicles respond to stress in dramatically different ways.
BREAKTHROUGH BLOOD TEST COULD SPOT DOZENS OF CANCERS BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR
Depending on their environment, those cells can either die off, which leads to gray hair, or survive and multiply in ways that could trigger melanoma, according to a university press release.
The findings were published Oct. 6 in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
A new study may have pinpointed how going gray is linked to one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. (iStock)
The team studied melanocyte stem cells, the cells that give hair and skin their color, using mouse models and tissue samples. In exposing these cells to forms of stress that damage DNA — such as chemicals that mimic UV exposure — the scientists observed how the cells behaved inside their natural setting.
SKIN DNA BREAKTHROUGH COULD LET 60-YEAR-OLD WOMEN HAVE GENETICALLY RELATED KIDS
Some of the cells responded to the damage by stopping their normal self-renewal process and turning into mature pigment cells that soon died. This left the hair without its source of color, producing graying.
In mice, damaged pigment cells sometimes stopped renewing and turned into short-lived mature cells, leading to graying hair. (iStock)
But when the researchers altered the surrounding tissue to encourage cell survival, the damaged stem cells began dividing again instead of shutting down. Those surviving cells accumulated more genetic damage, and, in some cases, started behaving like cancer cells.
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Additional experiments showed that certain signals from the cells’ environment — including one molecule called KIT ligand, which promotes cell growth — helped determine which way the cells went, the release stated.
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In other words, the same kind of cell could either fade out harmlessly or become the seed of melanoma, depending on the cues it received from nearby tissue.
The study shows how the body’s response to stress can mean the difference between gray hair and cancer. (iStock)
“It reframes hair graying and melanoma not as unrelated events, but as divergent outcomes of stem cell stress responses,” Nishimura said in the release.
Nishimura’s team described the process as a biological trade-off between aging and cancer, but that doesn’t mean gray hair prevents cancer.
Instead, it shows that when pigment cells stop dividing and die off, it’s the body’s way of getting rid of damaged cells, the researchers noted. If that process doesn’t happen and the damaged cells stick around, they could turn into cancer.
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The study was conducted in mice, but its implications could help scientists understand why some people develop melanoma without obvious warning signs, and how the natural mechanisms of aging could actually protect against cancer.
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For now, the researchers say the discovery shows how finely balanced the body’s cellular responses are and how small changes in that balance can mean the difference between a harmless sign of aging and a life-threatening disease.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.
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]]>The post Contaminated meat blamed for rise in common urinary infections, experts warn appeared first on My Blog.
]]>UTIs can occur with the introduction of bacteria, like E. coli, into the system, which can be caused by poor hygiene, sexual activity, inability to empty the bladder fully and other factors, according to experts.
New research from The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and Kaiser Permanente Southern California has estimated that nearly one in five UTIs in Southern California stem from contaminated meat with strains of E. coli.
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The researchers proposed that this poses a “hidden foodborne risk to millions of people” across the U.S., as noted in a press release.
In the study, which was published in ASM Journals, researchers collected more than 5,700 individual E. coli samples from patients with UTIs, as well as retail meat samples in the same neighborhoods.
Meat contaminated with E. coli poses a “hidden foodborne risk to millions of people,” the researchers claimed. (iStock)
A genomic modeling approach was used to estimate whether each bacterial strain originated in humans or animals.
It was determined that 18% of UTIs were linked to E. coli strains of animal origin, known as foodborne UTIs. The highest-risk strains were most often found in chicken and turkey.
Residents living in low-income neighborhoods had a 60% higher risk of foodborne UTIs in comparison to those in wealthier areas. Women and the elderly were impacted the most.
More investigation is needed to “distinguish foodborne transmission from other possible exposures” and to research other areas and infection types, according to the researchers.
Bloodstream infections were not tested in this study, which is important in monitoring how UTIs progress to more dangerous infections, like sepsis.
Women and seniors are most impacted by UTIs through foodborne contamination. (iStock)
Lance B. Price, senior author of the study and professor of environmental and occupational health at The George Washington University, commented in a statement that UTIs have “long been considered a personal health issue.”
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“But our findings suggest that they are also a food safety problem,” he went on. “This opens up new avenues for prevention, especially for vulnerable communities that bear a disproportionate burden.”
Price suggested that this problem occurs across the U.S., despite this first study being conducted in Southern California.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, the professor added that the rate of UTIs in this region was more than twice what had been detected in a previous study in Arizona.
“This is just one example of dangerous pathogens spreading to people through the food supply,” he said.
All meat should be completely cooked before it is consumed, according to experts. (iStock)
“They should also demand that food safety be a national priority — it’s impossible to make Americans healthy while making them sick with foodborne pathogens,” he said.
The George Washington researchers plan to explore interventions that could reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
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Meanwhile, to prevent sickness, Price recommends that people always assume that raw meat and poultry are contaminated with bacteria and to take precautions in the kitchen.
Safe practices include buying meat and poultry that is securely sealed, which can prevent leakage onto other groceries.
All meat and poultry should be thoroughly cooked, experts advise, and cross-contamination in the kitchen should be avoided. Hands and surfaces should be washed after preparing raw meat.
Sarah Little, vice president of communications for the Meat Institute in Virginia, wrote in a statement sent to Fox News Digital that this study makes “very big leaps without establishing actual exposure pathways.”
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“It does not account for other plausible sources, such as close contact with pets or transmission in dense urban environments, and doesn’t confirm whether participants even consumed meat or poultry,” she said.
“Because it’s limited to one community, the results can’t be generalized nationally. Meat and poultry remain safe, affordable and nutrient-dense foods when handled and cooked properly.”
Fox News Digital reached out to other U.S. meat associations for comment, including the National Chicken Council (NCC) and National Turkey Federation (NTF).
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
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]]>The post Teen hospitalized after swallowing up to 100 magnets purchased online: 'Rising concern' appeared first on My Blog.
]]>The teen, who suffered four days of stomach pain before being admitted to Tauranga Hospital, had ingested between 80 and 100 high-power magnets, each around 5×2 millimeters in size, according to a Friday report in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
“Accessibility to high-power magnets is a rising concern for our pediatric population, which may be due to the ability to purchase from online marketplaces at inexpensive prices,” the report states.
GUATEMALAN NATIONAL FREED WITHOUT BAIL IN THC GUMMIES CASE THAT SENT 12 MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS TO THE HOSPITAL
FILE PHOTO: A view of Tauranga Hospital is pictured here. The teen suffered four days of stomach pain before being admitted to Tauranga Hospital. (Google Maps)
An X-ray revealed four chains of magnets stuck together inside his abdomen. Surgeons operated on the boy, removing the magnets and damaged sections of his intestines. He was released from the hospital eight days later, according to the report.
Ingesting multiple magnets can cause life-threatening injuries. Surgical intervention, which is frequently required, can also lead to complications later in life.
New Zealand and Australia have both banned the sale of small high-powered magnets. However, enforcing those bans online is more difficult, the report states.
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FILE PHOTO: Surgeons are pictured using medical instruments. Surgeons operated on the boy, removing the magnets and damaged sections of his intestines. (iStock)
In this instance, the magnets were reportedly purchased from online marketplace Temu, according to the report.
A spokesperson for Temu told Fox News Digital it is investigating the incident and has reached out to the authors of the report for more details.
“We are sorry to learn about the reported incident and wish the boy a full and speedy recovery,” the Temu spokesperson told Fox News Digital in an email. “We take product safety very seriously and continuously monitor our platform to ensure sellers are complying with the safety regulations of the markets they are doing business in.”
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FILE PHOTO: The Temu logo is seen here. A spokesperson for Temu told Fox News Digital it is investigating the incident. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Temu has not been able to identify the specific product listing or confirm whether the magnets were purchased from its online marketplace, according to the spokesperson.
“Nonetheless, our teams are reviewing relevant listings to ensure full compliance with local safety requirements,” the spokesperson said. “Any products found to be non-compliant will be removed, and we will take firm action against any sellers found to have breached our platform rules or local regulations.”
Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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]]>The post 7 key behaviors that could shield your brain from Parkinson’s disease appeared first on My Blog.
]]>The incurable progressive disorder affects motor abilities and other nervous system functions, typically causing stiffness, tremors, balance problems and slowed movement, along with mood changes, cognitive decline and sleep disturbances.
Although Parkinson’s usually emerges after age 60, some early-onset cases do occur.
AIR POLLUTION MAY PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN COGNITIVE DECLINE THAN ANYONE REALIZED
While aging has been shown to be the biggest driver — and family history also increases the risk — research has shown that some lifestyle behaviors can help ward off or slow the onset of the disease.
“Today, even though it’s not possible to prevent Parkinson’s disease, maintaining a healthy lifestyle — staying physically active, eating well and getting enough sleep — can help protect overall brain health and may reduce the risk of various neurological disorders,” Prof. Dr. Pulat Akın Sabancı, professor of Neurosurgery at Istanbul University, told Fox News Digital.
Parkinson’s disease can cause stiffness, tremors, balance problems and slowed movement, along with mood changes, cognitive decline and sleep disturbances. (iStock)
Below, experts shared some of the most impactful prevention methods.
Regular exercise is strongly linked to a decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to Dr. Mary Ann Picone, the medical director at Holy Name Medical Center’s MS Center in New Jersey.
“Aerobic exercise can be neuroprotective and improve motor function,” she told Fox News Digital, as studies have shown that it lowers risk by 50%.
‘HARMLESS’ VIRUS FOUND LURKING IN PARKINSON’S PATIENTS’ BRAINS, NEW STUDY SHOWS
Picone recommends engaging in moderate- to high-intensity activities, such as walking or cycling, for a significant amount of time each week — at least 30 minutes daily.
“Aerobic exercise increases heart rate and helps brain neurons to maintain old connections and form new connections,” she noted.
A doctor recommends engaging in moderate- to high-intensity activities, such as walking or cycling, for a significant amount of time each week — at least 30 minutes daily. (iStock)
Weight training and resistance exercises are also beneficial, as well as activities that combine balance, agility and coordination, like Tai Chi or dancing, according to the expert.
“Research shows that getting the blood pumping helps the brain tissue build up protective mechanisms and do better on both cognitive and muscle control tests and often live longer,” she said.
Picone recommends eating a diet rich in antioxidants and plant-based protein sources — especially beans, nuts and tofu — as well as foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids. It is best to avoid processed foods, she advised.
A Mediterranean or MIND-style diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil and whole grains, has been linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease.
A Mediterranean or MIND-style diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil and whole grains, has been linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. (iStock)
“Foods that contain antioxidants, such as purple, red and blue grapes; blueberries; red berries, like strawberries; green, leafy vegetables, like broccoli, kale and spinach; and sweet potatoes, acorn or butternut squash are recommended,” Picone said.
Coffee and tea drinkers have a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, the doctor noted.
Exposure to certain environmental toxins, like pesticides and heavy metals, can damage neurons and increase the risk of Parkinson’s, according to Dr. George Michalopoulos, founder and chairman of The Neurologic Wellness Institute in Chicago.
“While it’s impossible to avoid all toxins, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure,” he told Fox News Digital. “Choose organic produce when possible, use protective gear if you’re working with chemicals, and drink filtered water to avoid contaminants.”
During deep sleep, the brain clears out waste products and repairs itself, Michalopoulos noted.
“Chronic sleep deprivation or conditions like sleep apnea can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s,” he said. “Stick to a consistent sleep schedule, avoid screens before bed and create a calming bedtime routine.”
EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL LINKED TO HIGHER DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY SHOWS
Dr. Vibhash Sharma, a neurologist and medical director of UT Southwestern’s neuromodulation movement disorders clinic in Dallas, Texas, reiterated the importance of quality sleep for Parkinson’s prevention.
“As poor sleep quality and chronic sleep deprivation are associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease, quality and adequate sleep is important for supporting brain repair and clearing abnormal proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease,” he told Fox News Digital.
Stress is a part of life, but chronic levels can take a toll on your brain, Picone cautioned.
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“It’s been linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are thought to play a role in Parkinson’s,” she said. “Finding ways to manage stress can help protect your brain and improve your overall health. Try mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing or even a daily walk in nature.”
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Keeping your brain active and staying connected with others can help build “cognitive reserve,” which may protect against neurodegeneration, according to Michalopoulos.
Try mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing or even a daily walk in nature, one expert suggested. (iStock)
“Activities that challenge your brain — like doing puzzles, reading or learning a new skill — are great for keeping sharp,” he told Fox News Digital.
Sabanci reiterated that lifelong learning, social connection and purposeful activity support brain resilience.
Smoking and heavy drinking have been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s, Michalopoulos warned.
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“Quitting smoking and moderating alcohol intake can go a long way toward protecting your brain,” he said.
The experts agreed, however, that none of these behavioral changes completely guarantees protection from Parkinson’s.
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“But taken together, they form a practical, low-risk approach to support brain longevity,” Sabancı said.
“Anyone with motor changes, loss of smell, REM sleep behavior disorder or persistent constipation should seek medical evaluation early.”
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
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]]>The post Transgender numbers continue to fall, plus blood test spots dozens of cancers appeared first on My Blog.
]]>POTENTIAL CURE – A new vitamin compound shows promise for reversing Alzheimer’s damage in the brain. Continue reading…
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]]>The post Hearing aids available over the counter for as low as $199, without a prescription, as 2017 law takes effect appeared first on My Blog.
]]>Where for decades it cost thousands of dollars to get a device that could be purchased only with a prescription from an audiologist or other hearing professional, now a new category of over-the-counter aids are selling for hundreds of dollars. Walmart says it will sell a hearing aid for as little as $199.
The over-the-counter aids are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss — a market of tens of millions of people, many of whom have until now avoided getting help because devices were so expensive.
“From a conceptual point of view, this is huge that this is finally happening,” said Dr. Frank Lin, director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He predicts it could take a couple of years for the new market to shake out as manufacturers and retailers get accustomed to selling aids and consumers become familiar with the options.
Hearing care experts say they are pleased to see the lower prices. Lin said he believes prices will fall further as more competitors enter the market in the next two years.
Prices and features will vary for the new OTC hearing aids — much as they do for prescription aids. A pair of prescription devices typically sells for $2,000 to $8,000. Some of the technology found in the pricier prescription aids will be available in the cheaper OTC aids.
The OTC aids cost less partly because they do not bundle the services of an audiologist for a hearing evaluation, fitting, and fine-tuning the device. Instead, the new devices are intended to be set up by the consumers themselves, although manufacturers will offer technical assistance through apps and by phone.
Some new companies have entered the market, including Sony. It will sell its lowest-cost, self-fitting OTC hearing aid for $999 at Best Buy and other retailers.
Walmart said it will offer an assortment of OTC hearing aids, including some at $199 to $299 per pair from the South Africa-based company hearX, which also makes Lexie devices. Initially, the devices will be available at Walmart stores in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. But the company expects to make them available nationwide soon.
Walgreens will offer the Lexie Lumen OTC hearing aid for $799 a pair. The offerings at Walgreens, CVS, Best Buy, and Walmart will also include a Lexie hearing aid developed in partnership with Bose.
Costco, one of the largest sellers of hearing aids dispensed through a hearing professional, would not reveal whether it will offer any over the counter.
De Wet Swanepoel, the co-founder of hearX, said its Lexie Lumen OTC hearing aid will allow consumers to program it to their needs. Other OTC devices will offer preprogrammed settings.
“There are a lot of products out on the market and there is going to be a need for a lot of education for consumers about what is the difference between devices,” he said.
Some consumers may want to see an audiologist either in person or online to get their hearing tested before buying an OTC aid, Lin said. An audiologist could also recommend which hearing aid is best for their kind of hearing loss. Traditional fee-for-service Medicare and most health insurers cover routine hearing tests. But Medicare and most private insurers don’t cover the cost of hearing aids, although many private Medicare Advantage plans do.
Consumers can also take hearing tests online or through an app on their phone or computer, Lin said.
Another factor that could fuel demand for the new devices is that the stigma of wearing a hearing aid is diminishing because people commonly use ear devices to listen to music.
More than 37 million American adults have trouble hearing, and only 1 in 4 adults who could benefit from a hearing aid have used one, federal health officials estimate.
The hearing aid industry has remained largely insulated from price competition because of consolidation among manufacturers, widespread state licensing laws that mandate sales through audiologists or other hearing professionals, and the acquisition of hearing professionals’ practices by device-makers.
Spurred by decades of complaints about the high cost of hearing aids, Congress in 2017 ordered the Food and Drug Administration to set rules that would enable over-the-counter sales, with hopes it would boost competition and lower prices. But the covid pandemic slowed the FDA effort, and last year President Joe Biden ordered the FDA to produce those rules. The final regulations were announced two months ago. Under the federal rules, the new category of hearing aids bypasses state dispensing laws.
Audiologists, who could lose business, caution that the new category won’t help people with severe hearing loss. And over-amplifying sound can damage hearing, said Sarah Sydlowski, past president of the American Academy of Audiology.
However, Nicholas Reed, an audiologist and assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, said the devices are likely less dangerous than listening to music with earbuds turned up too high. The regulations require the new aids to have safe maximum audio levels to help protect consumers’ hearing.
Tom Powers, a hearing aid industry consultant in New Jersey, said the new devices will be clearly labeled as FDA approved and consumers should watch for that. These are different from inexpensive personal devices that amplify sound but do not address other components of hearing loss, such as distortion.
Reed recommends looking for OTC hearing aids with generous return policies, exceeding a month. Consumers may want to try a device for a few weeks to see how it works. If one brand doesn’t work, they should try another.
Switching may be necessary, since it’s unclear whether consumers will get in-store help in selecting an aid without an audiologist. Some stores plan to provide assistance. Walmart said it would include information on its website to help people find devices that are right for them.
Reed also said consumers should look for devices labeled as “self-fitting” because it shows the companies have proved to the FDA that people can set up these devices themselves about as well as if they had professional help.
“If you are tech savvy, then I say jump right in,” Reed said, though noting “there is nothing wrong with talking to a trained audiologist.”
Nancy M. Williams, president of Auditory Insight, a hearing health care management consulting firm, said she reviewed eight major OTC hearing aid products, from $499 to $1,299. Some look like earbuds or are nearly invisible, while some look like traditional hearing aids that wrap around the ear. The OTC aids she reviewed largely have limited or no Bluetooth connectivity, a feature that allows users to customize the devices, and only about half have rechargeable batteries. But all eight allow the user to personalize the devices based on the results of their hearing test.
She recommends that people try at least three OTC aids to see which works best for them.
The American Academy of Audiology, a professional organization for audiologists, posted information online for consumers about OTC hearing aids, and the Hearing Loss Association of America, a consumer advocacy group, also has online advice.
Barbara Kelley, executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, said consumers should take their time looking at new options. “This is all going to be a little confusing,” she said. But the new options, she added, will lead to more people getting help with their hearing. “The benefits outweigh the risks,” she said.
KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.
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]]>Running and walking in water is an excellent form of physical therapy for people rehabilitating from hip, knee and back injuries and surgeries. It’s also an easy-on-the joints form of exercise for seniors and others who suffer from arthritis, and a recent study shows it can speed recovery from stroke faster than using a traditional treadmill.
It’s just an all-around good aerobic conditioner for athletes, too, sports medicine expert Dr. Naresh Rao, told CBS News. Rao is the Olympic Team USA Water Polo Physician for the 2016 Summer Games.
“We’ve been using hydrotherapy to help decrease any sort of gravity that can affect joint function,” said Rao, who is also with the department of family medicine at Plainview Hospital in Plainview, New York. “I personally prescribe it for knee issues and low back issues.”
Hydrotherapy uses a water-friendly treadmill that can be placed in a pool. Another method involves a specially designed treadmill tank.
Matt Johnson, a physical therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, told CBS News that the tank is basically a freestanding tub, about six feet long by three feet wide, with a motorized belt. The water height can be adjusted to the patient’s abilities. The buoyancy of the water helps someone who’s been injured to walk and run a little sooner than they’d be able to do on dry ground, he explained.
“In water, we can teach them sooner. They can really work on their gait, walk without pain, do exercises in water that you wouldn’t be able to do on land,” said Johnson.
He uses a HydroTrack Underwater Treadmill System – professional sports teams including the New York Yankees and the Miami Dolphins, have used it, too. The nice thing about it, said Johnson, is that people can step right into the tank at ground level and then the water fills up around them. It works like a lock on a canal, he said. So, even older patients with limited mobility and balance don’t have to negotiate getting down into a pool.
Johnson starts off recuperating athletes and patients in water somewhere between waist and chest height. The treadmill speed can be set anywhere from 0.3 to 7.1 miles per hour depending on how much resistance a person can handle.
“At waist height, it’s at about 50 percent of body weight. At chest height, it’s about 30 percent of body weight,” Johnson said, noting, for example, that a person with an injured knee who weighs 100 pounds who is running in waist-high water would only feel like 50 pounds on the bad knee.
“Taking some of that pressure off the knee helps them tolerate that knee injury longer,” said Johnson.
A recent study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation showed that water workouts might benefit stroke survivors. Researchers asked 21 patients who’d had a stroke within the past two months to undergo two treadmill exercise tests – one submerged in water and one on a regular treadmill. They gradually increased walking speed and slope over time until the patients couldn’t go any further. Walking on the underwater treadmill produced better measures when it came to maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), a reflection of heart and lung function during exercise, and metabolic equivalents, a measure of energy use.
“The study proposes a different, very innovative approach” to rehabilitation after stroke, said Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education at Northwell Health in Great Neck, New York.
Wolfe-Klein told CBS News she has tried water workouts and said you don’t even feel like you break a sweat even if your heart rate is up. “It’s a very pleasant way of achieving exactly what you’re trying to do – allowing a cardio-respiratory response,” Wolfe-Klein told CBS News.
She noted that medicine’s veterinary counterparts have been using water therapy for years with injured racehorses.
Budd Coates, training director at Runner’s World magazine, said runners don’t just plunge into water therapy when they’re injured; it’s a great conditioning method for healthy athletes, too. Some recreational swimming pools and homeowners with backyard pools have manual treadmills that are water-safe and can be plunked right in the water.
An alternative to a water treadmill: Some pool companies will install a water flow system you can work out against.
“It creates a water force and helps keep you jogging in place,” said Coates.
For those without access to a water treadmill, you can purchase a foam vest specifically designed for water jogging or use foam barbells to help keep you afloat. Some pools may loan them out, too.
Or, Coates suggested, just try it freeform with waist- or chest-high water to start. If you have trouble getting in out of a recreational pool, look for one that has a slanting beach-style entry into the water, or one with a robotic chair lift. Ask a pool lifeguard or certified swim instructor to help you.
If running’s not your thing, but the water looks inviting, Coates said there are also spin bikes that can be used underwater.
Coates said the beauty of water running (or even walking) is that it’s great for any age and any level of ability, from elderly stroke survivors to Olympic athletes.
Galen Rupp, the 2016 Rio Olympics men’s marathon bronze medalist, relies on it as part of his training.
“He and some of the other guys on the Nike team, it’s well known they take advantage of the anti-gravity treadmill and the aqua track,” Coates said.
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