Annual Report

Cardiovascular Disease Kills Almost One Million, 84 Percent Senior Citizens

American Heart Association Report Says Mexican Americans Most at Risk for Strokes

Dec. 31, 2004 - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) – still the nation’s No. 1 killer – claimed 927,448 American lives in 2002 and approximately 84 percent of those who died were senior citizens, 65 and older, according to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2005 Update released today. More... 12/31/04*

Macugen Effectiveness Fighting Macular Degeneration Supported by Trials

Dec. 30, 2004 – Macugen (pegaptanib), the recently FDA-approved treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has received more proof of its effectiveness in two recent clinical trials. AMD is the primary cause for vision loss in senior citizens. More... 12/30/04*

“The Aviator” Draws Attention to Anxiety Disorders in Older Adults

Until recently, anxiety disorders were believed to decline with age

Dec. 30, 2004 - "The Aviator," the new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, has introduced or reintroduced audiences around the world to the eccentric billionaire. They see Hughes' love of flight, his courtship of women, the power of his money, as well as his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Anxiety disorders are not uncommon in older adults. More about Anxiety in Elderly, OCD... 12/30/04*

Sudden Death From Stress Linked to Uneven Signals Between Brain, Heart

Dec. 27, 2004 - Sudden cardiac death from emotional stress, which kills about 60,000 each year in the U.S., may be triggered by uneven signals from the brain to the heart, according to a study by University College London scientists to be published in the January issue of Brain. More... 12/27/04*

FDA Urges Caution Using Cox-2 Inhibitors, Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

New advisory issued as the increase investigation; advice for physicians and patients issued

Dec. 23, 2004 - The Food and Drug Administration today issued a Public Health Advisory summarizing the agency's recent cautions and recommendations concerning the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug products (NSAIDs), including those known as COX-2 selective agents. Both are used by millions of senior citizens. More... 12/23/04*

Acupuncture Relieves Pain, Improves Function in Knee Osteoarthritis

Dec. 22, 2004 – Acupuncture does provide pain relief and improve function for older people with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a “landmark study” funded by two components of the National Institutes of Health. The report says acupuncture can serve as an “effective complement to standard care.” More... 12/22/04*

Christmas Day is Deadliest of the Year, Says 26-Year Study

Increasing number of deaths occurring during holiday season

Dec. 21, 2004 – Christmas is the deadliest day of the year, say researchers who examined records of 53 million deaths from natural causes over a 26-year period (1973-2001). Cardiac and non-cardiac deaths peak during Christmas and News Year’s, they say, and suggest it may be because people, many senior citizens, are delaying getting medical treatment because of the holidays. More... 12/22/04*

FDA Issues Advice on Use of Naproxen (Aleve) After Trial Halt

Dec. 21, 2004 - The FDA today released the following statement containing advice to senior citizens and others on the halting of the use of Aleve (naproxen) in a clinical trial involving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in elderly patients at risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. More... 12/21/04*

Aleve Suspended in Clinical Trial Due to Increased Heart Risk

Celebrex also suspended, although no problems seen in this trial

Dec. 21, 2004 – The use of Aleve and Celebrex was suspended yesterday by the National Institutes of Health in a national Alzheimer’s disease prevention trial, which involved senior citizens 70 and older who were considered at increased risk of AD. The researchers say use of Aleve (naproxen) at 220 mg twice a day indicated an “apparent increase in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events” in the elderly participants. There was no problem found with Celebrex (celecoxib) at 200 mg twice a day, but this drug was suspended due to problems noted in other trials. More... 12/21/04*

FDA Confirms They Asked Pfizer to Stop Celebrex Advertising

Dec. 21, 2004 – The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that on December 17 the agency asked Pfizer, Inc. to voluntarily suspend advertising on Celebrex during the time the FDA is obtaining and evaluating the new and conflicting scientific data on adverse events associated with the drug. Pfizer agreed with the request. More... 12/21/04*

Macugen Approved by FDA for Treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Dec. 21, 2004 - The Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced the approval of Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection), a new therapy to slow vision loss in people with the eye disease neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the major cause of vision loss in senior citizens. More...

FDA Delays Action on Celebrex, Waiting for More Info

Dec. 18, 2004 – Late yesterday the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement on the warning issued by Pfizer of possible heart problems caused by their drug Celebrex, which is taken my millions of senior citizens for pain relief, primarily that caused by arthritis. The FDA says they are taking no regulatory action now but will seek more information. More... 12/18/04*

NIH Halts Use of COX-2 Inhibitor in Large Cancer Prevention Trial

Dec. 18, 2004 - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced Friday that it has suspended the use of COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex™ Pfizer, Inc.) for all participants in a large colorectal cancer prevention clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). More... 12/18/04*

Celebrex Caused Increase Heart Problem Risk: Pfizer

Dec. 17, 2004 – Celebrex has been found to cause increased risk of heart problems, according to an announcement by Pfizer, maker of the painkiller. Often used by senior citizens with arthritis, Celebrex is in the same class as the Vioxx, the drug yanked off the market in September because of similar concerns. More... 12/17/04*

Pfizer Claims Celebrex Safety in September: Day Vioxx Recalled

Dec. 17, 2004 – On September 30, the day Merck & Co. announced the recall of its COX-2 drug, Vioxx, Pfizer issued a news release expressing confidence that Celebrex did not cause heart problems, as found in the case of Vioxx. More... 12/17/04*

Earlier Traumatic Experiences Damage Health of Senior Citizens

Dec. 13, 2004 – Traumatic experiences, like the death of a spouse or child, that are experienced before age 65 appear to cause damage to the health of people as the move past age 65. The damage appears to be worse, say researchers, if the traumas occurred in adulthood than if during childhood. More... 12/13/04*

Better Ways to Predict Heart Attacks Under Study

Dec. 1, 2004 - For far too many senior citizens, the first sign of heart disease is frightening chest pain, a rip-roaring heart attack, or a stroke. Why don't doctors have the equivalent of that old trick seen in countless Westerns — putting an ear to the train tracks to listen for the approach of the distant train? That question was raised recently when a prominent American not previously diagnosed with heart disease —President Clinton—had bypass surgery. The December issue of the Harvard Heart Letter looks at the trusted standby of heart disease risk assessment— the Framingham score — and newer tests that may (or may not) improve or supplant it. More... 12/01/04*

Older People More Susceptible to Blood Clots When Traveling

Nov. 30, 2004 – People over 60 and those obese – too often one in the same – are the most likely to suffer, and sometimes die, from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a vein deep within the muscles, usually in the calf or thigh. When the clot breaks up an enters the lungs in can cause a deadly pulmonary embolism, and this risk doubles for each 10 years after age 60. Sitting motionless for long periods of time – like traveling by car or plane– increases the risk of DVT. More... 11/30/04

Virtual vs Regular Colonoscopy Argued Again

Nov. 26, 2004 – The controversy over virtual colonoscopy vs standard colonoscopy was heated up this month by news releases from two medical groups. The radiologists praised a new study of the effectiveness of virtual, which was answered by a news release from the radiologists, saying standard colonoscopy is still the most accurate. More... 11/26/04*

Obesity: Study Links It With Atrial Fibrillation; CDC Says Earlier Info on Obesity Deaths Wrong

Nov. 24, 2004 – A new study says obesity may increase the risk of developing the heart rhythm disorder artrial fibrillation. But, on the other side of the coin, the AP is reporting that earlier government data saying obesity is about to overtake smoking as the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. contained statistical errors and probably overstated the problem. More, including other stories on obesity... 11/24/04*

Obesity in Older Adults Tied to Dozens of Health Problems

Nov. 22, 2004 – A study of over 73,000 older adults has found obesity is linked to a large number of poor health problems. Carrying extra weight was tied to 37 of the 41 health conditions studied in women and 29 of 41 conditions in men. More... 11/22/04*

Cancer Study Says Prostate Most Common for Men, Breast for Women: Lung Kills Most of Both

Nov. 22, 2004 – Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer found in men and breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women, but lung cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer for both genders, says a government study covering 92 percent of the U.S. population in 2001. More... 11/18/04*

Older Adult Diabetics Imposed an Estimated $133.5 Billion Cost in 1990's

Nov. 17, 2004 - Sick days, disability, early retirement, and premature death of diabetic Americans born between 1931 and 1941 cost the country almost $133.5 billion by the year 2000, according to a new estimate by researchers with the University of Michigan (U-M) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This analysis is the first to identify the staggering financial impact of diabetes on the economy using a single, consistent source of data. More... 11/17/04*

Acomplia (rimonabant)

Weight Loss “Miracle” Drug Passes Two-Year Test

May help seniors lose weight, increase good cholesterol

All 65 and Older on Priority List for Flu Shots Issued After Sudden Shortage Erupts

Oct. 6, 2004 – In response to the sudden news of a critical shortage in the supply of flu vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control in the Department of Health and Human Services has issued new guidelines concerning who should receive priority for the vaccinations this season, as has the American Medical Association. More... 10/06/04*

Flu Shot Crisis Erupts as Major Supplier Shutdown

Arthritis Suffers Still Hurt, Despite Advances in Treatment: New Study

Oct. 5, 2004 - Despite tremendous advances in treatments available for rheumatoid arthritis, a nationwide survey commissioned by the Arthritis Foundation shows that 70 percent of adults in the United States with RA still experience joint pain, stiffness and fatigue on a daily basis. It is estimated that 40 percent of those over age 65 suffer from some form of arthritis. More... 10/05/04*

Vioxx Withdrawn After Study Suggests It May Double the Risk of Heart Attack

Increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, found in test of arthritis drug

Sept. 30, 2004 – In a stunning announcement today, drug-maker Merck & Co. announced the withdrawal of the popular anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx from the market due to a study they were conducting that shows patients taking the drug face twice the risk of heart attack compared to those in the test taking a placebo. The FDA, that approved the drug in 1999, also issued a public health advisory and news release. It is used by many senior citizens for arthritis. More... 9/30/04*