[CASHING IN--AND OUT] Cash reward boosts blood pressure med use, not outcomes
"People with high blood pressure were twice as likely to take their blood pressure medication regularly when offered daily chances to win cash rewards, yet they did not achieve better blood pressure measurements compared to people who were not offered financial rewards, according to a study reported at the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Scientific Sessions 2025 and published simultaneously in an AHA journal."
[VIDEO NOT REQUIRED] Text-based therapy as good as live video for depression
"Electronic message-based psychotherapy allows patients to exchange emails, texts, or voice or video messages with therapists and can be as effective as live video sessions for individuals being treated for depression, new research suggests. Researchers compared outcomes of 850 adults who received either message-based psychotherapy or weekly video-based psychotherapy through a commercial online mental health platform, Talkspace. "
[FALLING OUT] Reducing sleep drug use could decrease falls, improve longevity
"A new study from the University of Southern California found that reducing prescriptions of sleep medication in older adults could provide substantial health and economic benefits. Avoiding use of these medications among older adults would reduce lifetime incidence of falls by 8.5% and cognitive impairment by 2.1%, according to the study. It would also increase life expectancy by 1.3 months, which translates to 1.7 million life-years gained across the population—most of which would be spent in good health."
[ENVIABLE] Greenness tied to fewer hospital stays for mental health
"Higher levels of greenness were associated with lower risks of hospital admissions for mental disorders in an analysis of data from seven countries over two decades. The results suggest that this protective effect increases with greater exposure to greenness, with no clear threshold - evidence that can inform urban design and health policy to better protect mental health, say the researchers."
[DIY RELIEF] Unsupervised online tai chi curbs knee pain, boosts function
" A free online Tai Chi program (My Joint Tai Chi) developed by researchers from the University of Melbourne is effective in improving pain and function for people with chronic knee pain, recent research shows. Tai Chi is traditionally taught in person, often in groups that might involve cost, travel and scheduling. These barriers can make participation difficult, especially for people living in regional and remote areas, said lead author Julia Zhu, a physical therapist and PhD candidate at the university. The Melbourne team developed the program with a panel of expert Tai Chi instructors and people with arthritis to ensure it was effective and easily accessible."
[GET HELP] Counseling bests social strategies for reducing loneliness
"Interventions designed to reduce loneliness can be effective, but do not yet offer a complete solution to what is becoming a worldwide public health problem, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. "
[IT TAKES A TREE] Canopy cover could curb pedestrian fall risk
"Higher levels of tree canopy cover may help prevent injurious pedestrian falls, according to a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. They found that during summer months, streets and sidewalks where pedestrians fell and experienced an injury were less likely to be shaded by trees than matched control locations. "
[SHARE THE JOY] Sharing positive emotions benefit health of older adults
"Sharing happy moments with a partner may be good for older people’s health, lowering the level of the stress hormone cortisol in their bodies, a new study suggests,"
[TUNE IN] TV storylines spur end-of-life conversations
Active Aging Leading, connecting and defining the active aging industry since 2001. ICAA provides world class information, education, resources and tools to help health and wellness professionals be more successful with their clients age 50 plus
[MORE, NOT MORE OFTEN] Number of steps, not frequency, matter more for health
"[MORE, NOT MORE OFTEN] Number of steps, not frequency, matter more for health "
