A small study suggests that older adults with hearing loss may also be less physically active. Researchers looked at nearly 300 adults, ages 60 to 69, and found that those with hearing loss reported nearly 35 minutes of more sedentary activity each day than those without hearing loss.

They also reported that the hearing-impaired had 30 fewer minutes of light physical activity and six fewer minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise each day.

The reasons may include a sense of social isolation and greater tendency for depression.

Immunity to Cellular Aging

So-called "natural killer T-cells" are among the immune system's primary fighters against foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. But new research suggests they might also be able to go after senescent cells, which are partly responsible for many diseases of aging. Senescent cells are cells that no longer divide, possibly due to DNA dysfunction, stress or internal damage.

Scientists identified a subset of natural killer cells and an accompanying protein that accumulates in fat cells in obese mice. When they activated the protein, it turned on the associated NK cells, which then worked to clear out senescent cells linked to the rodents' obesity.

One result: Insulin sensitivity improved, and metabolism levels started to return to normal.

Body of Knowledge

A newborn baby's vision isn't great, about 5% acuity of adults, but it improves quickly, and by six months old, babies can see about as well as grown-ups.

Get Me That, Stat!

Females comprise of approximately 85% of all nurses. They are also twice as likely to die by suicide than females in the general population and 70% more likely than female physicians. The reasons are multiple, and include long hours with less autonomy than doctors, reduced staffing and the general increased demands on health care workers.

Counts

2.4 million: Number of emergency department visits in 2018 by adults aged 65 and older.

700,000: Number of resulting hospitalizations.

91: Percentage of ED visits involving unintentional falls and injury, with women 42% more likely to experience a fall injury than men.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Stories for the Waiting Room

Americans use online reviews for almost everything from books and bottle openers to cars and doctors. Well, in the case of doctors, maybe not all Americans. A survey of 2,000 people between the ages of 50 and 80 found that 40% had looked at reviews of doctors, but that was not their first priority.

The most important factors in choosing a doctor for these older patients were if the physician accepted their insurance, how long did it took to get an appointment and how easy it was to get to the clinic.

Doc Talk

Cauda equina: bundles of nerve roots resembling a horse's tail, located at the end of the spinal cord.

Phobia of the Week

Ephebiphobia: fear of teenagers.

Never Say "Diet"

The Major League Eating record for baseball-sized matzo balls is 21 in five minutes and 25 seconds, which is held by Eric Booker. Matzo balls are basically boiled dumplings made of eggs, a fat such as vegetable oil, water, matzo meal and sometimes seasonings.

Food for Thought

Propylene glycerol is commonly used in antifreeze, sex lubricants and prepackaged salads, where it helps keep contents looking and staying fresh. It's also used in food colorings and cake mixes.

Observation

"Money cannot buy health, but I'd settle for a diamond-studded wheelchair." — American writer, critic and satirist Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)

Ig Nobel Apprised

The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think. A look at real science that's hard to take seriously and even harder to ignore.

In 1997, the Ig Nobel Prize in biology went to an international team of scientists from Switzerland, Japan and the Czech Republic who measured people's brainwave patterns while they chewed different flavors of gum.

Sum Body

Q: How many human body organs or body parts can you name that come in pairs?

A: Eyes, ears, kidneys, lungs, ovaries, testicles, breasts, adrenal glands, arms, legs, nostrils. Additionally, there are multiple bones, nerves, blood vessels and tissues like tendons and cartilage that have duplicates for each side of the body.

Last Words

"My dear, before you kiss me goodbye, fix your hair. It's a mess." — Playwright, director and actor George Edward Kelly (1887-1974)

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: kinkate at Pixabay