Medication Management in Senior Living
Best practices for supporting residents with medication management to help you work with seniors and their prescribers for improved health outcomes More
New Alzheimer’s drug: Game-changing or underwhelming?
When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, it appears that anxiety about cognitive decline is driving treatment decisions, rather than evidence. More
Researchers Address Dangers of Polypharmacy and Inappropriate Medication Use
n a foreword to Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety’s special issue, “The role of de-prescribing in polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use,” authors Dee Mangin of McMaster University and Doron Garfinkel of Israel Cancer Association, address the insidious and widespread effects of inappropriate medication use and polypharmacy (IMUP). More
Media misleads on MRI screening for breast cancer
Media coverage of a recent study is generating hype about supplemental screening for cancer for women with dense breasts. More
Clinic pitches unproven treatments to desperate patients, with tips on raising the cash
The Lung Health Institute markets to people with COPD and other conditions. More
Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug that could harm users, study warns
New research led by Dr. Pieter Cohen of Harvard Medical School documents five supplement brands for sale in the U.S. that contain various amounts of piracetam, a drug prescribed in European countries for cognitive impairment in dementia but not approved in the U.S. More
Health industry expects little change from heart study
Change is hard, especially in medical practice More
ISCHEMIA study validates conservative approach to heart disease
The ISCHEMIA trial found that for patients with stable coronary disease, stents and bypass surgery do not improve rates of mortality or heart attacks more than medical therapy. Will this study finally change cardiology practice norms? More
Calling for federal action, watchdog says there’s no evidence dietary supplements for infertility help women get pregnant
In letters to the FDA and FTC, a nonprofit said it found no evidence that 39 “fertility” supplements increase a woman's chance of conceiving. More
You’re told you have a ‘pre-disease.’ Here’s what that means.
Such a diagnosis shows screening results aren’t quite normal. But possible treatments can come with risks that outweigh benefits. More
Family Caregivers: Protect Your Loved Ones from Medication Overload
Tips on how to help loved ones determine medication excess More
The FDA must pull Makena off the market
Makena, a drug approved in 2011 to prevent premature birth, didn't work then and doesn't work now. The FDA should remove it from the market. More
A caregiver’s story of medication overload
In a recent feature article in Healthy Aging magazine, patient advocate Johanna Trimble describes what happened when her mother-in-law, Fervid, was transferred from her residential facility to a nearby health care center. More
Many older adults and caregivers unaware of drug risks, survey finds
Despite the prevalence of multiple medication use, a significant proportion of both older adults and caregivers were unaware that older adults should avoid certain medications. More
Are we ignoring the systemic factors behind “inappropriate” use of emergency care?
When we characterize ED visits as "inappropriate," we are essentially faulting patients for making the decision to go to the ED; however there is a lot more behind that decision than simply a patient's choice. More
“Do you want everything done?” How language impacts advance care planning
A recent study shows the impact of asking "Do you want everything done?" for critically ill patients and their family members. More
Breast center marketing pitch via reporter’s live-streamed mammogram was a bad idea
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is over for another year. But it’s not too late to reflect on, and learn from, one of the most troublesome breast center marketing ideas in recent memory. More
What we can do about “the other drug problem”
On "The People's Pharmacy" on NPR, Shannon Brownlee and Cynthia Boyd discuss drivers of and solutions for medication overload. More
Facebook’s “preventive health” tool has potential for overdiagnosis
Privacy isn't the only thing we should be worried about with Facebook's new preventive health tool More
Period-Tracking Apps Say You May Have a Disorder. What if They’re Wrong?
Apps like Flo and Clue are shifting from just tracking your health data to using it to make evaluations about your health risks. Their tools may not always be accurate. More