Life expectancy

Novartis drug Afinitor everolimus helps advanced breast cancer women

Novartis drug Afinitor? helps women with advanced breast cancer live significantly longer without their disease progressing – A pivotal Phase III study shows Afinitor (everolimus) tablets plus exemestane, a hormonal therapy, more than doubled the time women lived without tumor growth (progression-free survival; PFS) and significantly reduced the risk of cancer progression by 57% versus exemestane alone in patients with advanced breast cancer.

Mild memory loss and thinking problems may impact life expectancy

Even mild cognitive impairment appears to substantially increase risk for death – Cognitive impairment, especially at the moderate to severe stages has an impact on life expectancy similar to chronic conditions such as diabetes or chronic heart failure, revealed by Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University researchers in a study “Cognitive Impairment: An Independent Predictor of Excess Mortality. A Cohort Study” published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Age plays too big a role in prostate cancer treatment decisions

Age plays too big a role in prostate cancer treatment decisions – Older men with high-risk prostate cancer frequently are offered fewer ? and less effective ? choices of treatment than younger men, potentially resulting in earlier deaths, according to a new UCSF study.

Life expectancy in US falls behind other countries

Despite highest health spending, Americans’ life expectancy falls behind other countries’ — Obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities and homicide ruled out as causes of failure of US to keep up with gains in life expectancy in other countries – America continues to lag behind other nations when it comes to gains in life expectancy, and commonly cited causes for our poor performance-obesity, smoking, traffic fatalities and homicide-are not to blame, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.

49% breast cancer patients adhere to hormonal therapy regimen

Fewer than half of breast cancer patients adhere to hormonal therapy regimen, study finds – A new study of nearly 8,800 women with early-stage breast cancer found that fewer than half ? approximately 49 percent ? completed their full regimen of hormone therapy according to the prescribed schedule.

Drinking less soda beverage may lower high blood pressure

LSUHSC researcher finds surprising link between sugar in drinks and blood pressure – Researchers have found that there is an association between sugary drinks and blood pressure and that by cutting daily consumption of sugary drinks by just one serving a day, people can lower their blood pressure.

Eye test for early detection of Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome

Study finds Alzheimer’s disease link in eyes of children with Down syndrome — Findings may lead to eye tests for brain disease in Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome – Researchers are going to develop an innovative eye test for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome. As they discovered the protein that forms plaques in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease also accumulates in the eyes of people with Down syndrome.

Natural vitamin E protects brain after stroke

Study reveals how one form of natural vitamin E protects brain after stroke – Blocking the function of an enzyme in the brain with a specific kind of vitamin E can prevent nerve cells from dying after a stroke, new research suggests.

Obesity in US population, more are overweight

Obesity will snuff out health benefits gained by smoking declines — University of Michigan and Harvard researchers find that the US population won’t live longer because even though they’ve quit smoking, more are overweight – If obesity trends continue, the negative effect on the health of the U.S. population will overtake the benefits gained from declining smoking rates, according to a study by U-M and Harvard researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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