Herpes zoster, better known as shingles, is a debilitating rash and has the potential to cause chronic pain (post-herpetic neuralgia). The vaccine has proven to decrease the risk of getting shingles and of havi... continue reading  about  My mother, who is 91, had a mastectomy 30 years ago. Luckily, she is still in good health today. Is it okay for her to get a shingles shot now? It's hard to tell whether her immune system is weak or not.

After diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, national guidelines recommend annual mammography. Also, MD exams are recommended every six months for five years, then annually.If you have been taking endocrine... continue reading  about  How often should I have a mammogram? I am 77 years old and had breast cancer, and my mother died of breast cancer.

I am sorry to hear of your recent loss. The relationship between grief and depression is a complex one. The response to any significant loss (including bereavement) may involve intense sadness, changes in sleep... continue reading  about  My mom died a few months ago and dad isn't taking it well. He's lost interest in food, socializing, is not sleeping well, and has guilt about "unfinished business" in their relationship. How can I tell the difference between natural grief and depression?

Hearing loss has many causes and affects people at different times in their lives. If we look at hearing loss and aging, it is difficult to isolate hearing loss causes without looking at several factors: geneti... continue reading  about  Is there any research being done to help treat and prevent hearing loss? So many older people I know seem to be dealing with it.

This question undoubtedly is asked by patients every day. Truth be told, there are preventive measures that can slow down the aging process, but sadly there is no way to completely avoid or reverse the aging pr... continue reading  about  What can be done about aging, thinning skin on the arms and legs as we get older? Is there a best ingredient in over-the-counter products? This is happening despite excellent nutrition and otherwise very good health.

The clitoris never actually disappears, but it can become smaller over time after the loss of circulating female hormones with menopause. This is part of a normal condition with aging called urogenital atrophy.... continue reading  about  Does the clitoris disappear with age? After 70?

Hearing loss is not always inevitable for everyone. There are many factors that contribute to hearing loss and aging. The most common is noise exposure over many years. Noise exposure can be as slight as workin... continue reading  about  What can I do to prevent hearing loss as I get older? I have a family history of hearing loss and wonder if I can do anything to avoid it.

The most common signs of Parkinson's Disease include tremor, slowed movements (perhaps observed as stiffness), and unstable gait. So this is possible with your father. Speech difficulty, however, is less common... continue reading  about  I've been noticing slight tremors, some speech difficulties and stiffness in my 72-year-old dad. Could these symptoms be related to Parkinson's disease? How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in its early stages is often difficult, especially for a physician or healthcare provider who is unfamiliar with the patient. It is helpful to see the patient more than once... continue reading  about  I'm concerned that my 75-year-old mother may be showing signs of early Alzheimer's. Can you tell me what I should look for and what steps we should take?