Could losing your hearing as you age be a harbinger of dementia? Maybe, suggests new research that found that older people who had trouble hearing were more likely to develop dementia down the road. But there’s good news with the bad: Hearing aids — which are now available over-the-counter at much lower prices — may…  read on >  read on >

Major surgery is a challenge for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), raising their odds of death within a year by 61%, new research shows. The researchers also found these patients incurred 13% higher health care costs in the year after their operation, compared to patients without the respiratory condition. “These increased risks and…  read on >  read on >

Fires started by people account for a majority of premature deaths related to inhalation of tiny smoke particles in the United States, a new study reveals. These blazes, which are increasing, led to 20,000 premature deaths in 2018. That was 270% more than in 2003, according to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge.…  read on >  read on >

New research out of California finds seniors are being treated in emergency rooms in significantly higher numbers for adverse side effects from cannabis consumption. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) said they studied the issue because they noticed more primary care patients ending up in the ER after using marijuana products. “While…  read on >  read on >