Review: Efficacy and Safety of Testosterone for Older Adults With Functional Limitations

Close up of old man's hands holding wooden cane, seated

Testosterone is a leading candidate for preventing and treating age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, power, and physical function. In this review, Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers critically appraise several suppositions about using testosterone in older adults with functional limitations.

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Delirium Superimposed on Dementia During Hospitalization Has Complex Effect on Costs

senior male patient with IV

Tammy T. Hshieh, MD, MPH, and colleagues recently explored from a healthcare system perspective the direct costs of delirium in hospitalized patients with and without Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder.

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Brigham Study Reports Practicing Yoga May Prevent Frailty in Older Adults

Woman exercising while sitting in lotus position.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers recently reviewed 33 studies that reported how yoga affected individual metrics of frailty. They found that practicing yoga improved known predictors of longevity, such as walking speed and leg strength.

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Physicians’ Health Study Suggests Long-term Aspirin Use Could Help Preserve Mobility

man holding a glass of water and medication

Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers used the Physicians’ Health Study I to study the relationship between long-term aspirin use and self-reported walking speed. They report men who started aspirin use in middle age had greater probability of faster walking speeds in late life than men who reported low aspirin use.

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Study Quality in Geriatric Orthopedic Trauma Research

Bones ache on weather. Thoughtful mature male with grey hair resting on sofa leaning on stick feeling hard to move. Sad tired old man suffer of walking with limp need rehabilitation after leg trauma

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently conducted a scoping review to evaluate the characteristics of papers published in the field of geriatric traumatology. They say the overall quality of the existing literature is poor.

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The Brigham Presents Updates in Hypertension Among Older Adults at Medical Grand Rounds Panel

Doctor monitoring blood pressure of older male patient, hypertension concept

In this Medical Grand Rounds presentation, Naomi D.L. Fisher, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, joined a panel of colleagues from the Boston area to discuss recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension among older adults.

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Remote Physician Visits for Hospital-level Care at Home Generally Noninferior to In-Home Visits

Female patient speaking to doctor via virtual telehealth appointment on laptop

David M. Levine, MD, MPH, MA, and Jeffrey L. Schnipper, MD, MPH, of the Division of General Internal Medicine & Primary Care, and colleagues found patients who received predominantly remote physician care via videoconference had a noninferior number of adverse events compared with those who had only in-home care.

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Vitamin C Modestly Reduces Risk of New Gout in Men

Vitamin c oval tablets spilling out of pill bottle into a wooden spoon and onto wooden surface

In a large randomized trial, Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine, and colleagues determined vitamin C supplementation was associated with a lower risk of new gout diagnosis in adult men, whereas supplemental vitamin E had no effect.

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The Value of Geriatric Expertise in Care of Older Emergency General Surgery Patients

Young female nurse with mask looks down at older patient in wheelchair in front of bright window

In 2020, the Brigham launched a geriatric surgical service to improve outcomes and quality of care for older emergency general surgery patients. A paper details the care of patients at the service and the important role of geriatricians in serving this patient population, co-author Frances Y. Hu explains.

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