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'How will I cope?' First, by reaching out *
My patient looked out her window in the early autumn evening thinking that life was not only good, but couldn't be better. [More]

86-year-old's 10-fatality crash sparks debate *
As she approaches her 80th birthday, Susan Dyck receives comments by other drivers on the streets of Yellowknife. But the remarks have nothing to do with her driving: It's her flashy, red, newly refurbished 1969 Volkswagen beetle that attracts the attention. [More]

Alzheimer's maze starts to unwind *
Teenager Sharon Moalem suspected his grandfather's Alzheimer's was linked to a buildup of iron in his brain. Years later, he proved it. [More]

Alzheimer's strikes 'Scotty' *
Canadian actor James M. Doohan, who played Scotty on the '60s Star Trek TV series, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, his agent confirmed Tuesday. [More]

Breakthrough sees brain cells talk to microchip *
Study using snails raises long-range hopes for repairing sight and restoring memory. [More]

Can lies be good medicine? *
Doctors must value the principle of informed consent, but they should go easy on truths that could destroy patients' peace of mind, says Oxford University's DANIEL SOKOL. [More]

Caring for chronically ill can kill, new study says *
Everyone knows that caring for a chronically ill loved one is stressful, but new research shows that the unrelenting demands of caregiving can be so stressful that it damages the immune system and can also cause premature aging. [More]

CoEnzyme Q10 reduces oxidative damage to nerve cells *
CoEnzyme Q10 may have a potential benefit as a therapeutic intervention for neurodegenerative diseases. [More]

Did you hear the one about the frontal lobe? *
Here is one more reason to dread getting older. Canadian researchers have found that as we age, we have more trouble getting jokes. [More]

Dying from the heat *
A month-long heat wave has taken the lives of as many as 5,000 elderly people in France, despite an enviable health system and a social safety net that is the pride of the country. What went wrong? The answer can be summed up in a word: indifference. [More]

Elderly struggle with giving up driving *
Baby-boomer kids ponder how to broach the subject. [More]

firstSTREET Online *
Innovation & Technology: See it here first. [More]

Flu season strikes early in West *
Flu season has hit Canada early, clogging emergency rooms in Edmonton and prompting calls from health officials across the country for people to get immunized as soon as possible. [More]

France in the hot seat *
The record-setting heat wave that swept across much of Europe in the first half of August caused thousands of deaths and widespread economic damage. But only in France did it turn into a national disaster, sparking public outrage over government inaction and ineptitude and raising serious questions about cherished French institutions. [More]

Google helps boost seniors' brain activity *
Searching the Internet may help middle-aged and older adults keep their memories sharp, U.S. researchers say. [More]

Grumpy old folks mostly myth, study suggests *
Aging may help us accentuate the positive and foster good feelings, a new study says. [More]

Health Canada approves Alzheimer's drug Ebixa *
A new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease has been approved by Health Canada. It doesn't cure the disease, but it can slow down its effects, giving patients more mental clarity. [More]

How Grandma got her groove back *
Retirement homes across the country are gearing up for a seniors boom, writes ALEXANDRA GILL, and the new facilities are out to shatter a few stereotypes about life after 65 [More]

Knowing when to get out from behind the wheel *
Physically and mentally declining seniors are more likely to have a serious crash than drivers who've had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel, two researchers from Alberta warn. [More]

Leading vitamin scientist faces fire over data *
A scientific firestorm has erupted over the work of Canadian researcher Ranjit Chandra, who won international acclaim for groundbreaking studies into multivitamins that he later used to promote his own nutritional supplement. [More]

Multivitamins don't prevent infections in older people *
At least 10 per cent of older people have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, which can lead to poor immunity and increased risk of infection. [More]

Nutritional supplements slow aging of brain *
A study published in the December 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found a correlation between nutritional supplement use and improved cognition later in life. Cognition is the mental process of thought, including perception, reasoning, intuition and memory. [More]

Research debunks ideas on life support *
Conventional wisdom has it that a patient's age, severity of illness and the amount of organ damage are the key factors to be considered when decisions are made in hospitals to withdraw life support [More]

Respect your elders . . . or else *
Something's happening here. With baby boomers becoming senior citizens, our very ideas about old age must change, says REGINALD STACKHOUSE [More]

Risk of suicide higher among ailing seniors, new research shows *
Having common medical conditions such as heart disease, emphysema and incontinence can markedly increase the likelihood that seniors will commit suicide, a new Canadian study reveals. [More]

Segway climbs New England's tallest peak *
It took six sets of batteries and three drivers, but a Segway scooter made it to the top of New England's tallest peak. [More]

Smart-home scenario coming soon *
An elderly man suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's disease turns on the stove and then wanders out of his kitchen... [More]

Statins 'may cut dementia risk' *
Scientists have found further evidence that taking commonly used cholesterol-lowering statins may protect against dementia and memory loss. [More]

The Medical Spot (Toronto) *** 1/2
This great resource for children of aging parents is a thriving Toronto business. [More]

Their little secret *
You've heard about child abuse. Now consider what happens when the kid grows up -- and the parent becomes frail. One out of every two battered children will eventually return the violence, writes MEG FEDERICO. [More]

Toll in French summer heat passes 14,000 *
The death toll in France from August's blistering heat wave was nearly 15,000, according to a government report released Thursday that exceeded previous estimates by 3,000. [More]

Vitamin D supplementation lowers fracture risk *
The May 11, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of fracture. [More]

Vitamins E, C cut Alzheimer's risk, study says *
People of retirement age who took supplements of both vitamin E and C daily saw their risk of Alzheimer's disease plummet by almost 80 per cent, a new study shows. [More]

Vitamins no protection against second stroke *
Stroke victims cannot ward off a second attack by increasing their intake of vitamin B, researchers in Canada, Scotland and the United States have found. [More]

Was that trademark smile the first sign of Alzheimer's? *
Until his death this week, former U.S. president Ronald Reagan was the world's most famous Alzheimer's sufferer. "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life," he wrote in his poignant farewell message to Americans when he was first diagnosed at 83. [More]

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'After 50 years, this is the least I can do for him' *
'He's lost so much weight now, I can pick him up under his arms and lift him into bed." [More]

Eight die as car plows through outdoor market *
A car driven by an elderly man plowed through a crowded farmers market Wednesday, killing eight people including a 2-year-old girl and injuring at least 45 others. [More]

Fabled Fountain of Youth: New drug might postpone old age *
Tests on hundreds of seniors have shown proof -- in principle -- that drugs might slow age-related decline in physical functioning; goal to help people live better, if not longer. [More]

French want answers on heat deaths *
Government faces anger over belated reaction to deaths of 10,000 citizens [More]

Memory lapses linked to high blood pressure *
A 'senior moment' something to worry about... [More]

Nicotine's good side *
Studies suggest the substance can help with Parkinson's, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's, but researchers are in no way recommending that you take up smoking. SIMON SMITH reports [More]

Old and can't spell *
For all those who fret that the number of times they spell "slough" as "slew" and "kohl" as "coal" is ballooning as they age, new research has a balm: Don't worry. What is happening is perfectly normal -- at least if you are an English speaker. [More]

Study explains disease, dementia link *
Canadian scientists have discovered why people infected with AIDS lose their memories and co-ordination, according to a new study that also outlines a promising way to prevent those signs of dementia. [More]