En route to the TV, we got x-rays. And they say nothing good ever comes from TV.
You can thank a clumsy French scientist for keeping your forehead from the curb.
From radars to heat rays? Lazy, single men all over the world salute you, Raytheon.
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Loneliness is a serious problem because it can be as debilitating as a physical health issue. According to a study published in The New York Times, loneliness can result in an "increased risk of depression, cognitive decline, and illnesses like coronary artery disease."
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that loneliness is also associated with premature death.
"Loneliness is a common source of distress, suffering, and impaired quality of life in older persons," the study published in JAMA Internal medicine says.
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The study looked at 1600 participants with an average age of 71 and examined whether they were lonely or had healthy social lives. When the researchers performed a follow-up six years later, they found that 23% of lonely participants died within six years of the study, as opposed to only 14% of those who reported adequate companionship.
"The need we've had our entire lives—people who know us, value us, who bring us joy—that never goes away," Barbara Moscowitz, senior geriatric social worker at Massachusetts General Hospital, explained to The New York Times.
One of the major reasons why older people tend to thrive after moving into an assisted living environment is because they are more social. Older people may resist such a lifestyle change, but being around other people, especially those their age who have a similar lived experience, can help them live a happier, healthier life.
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The study underscores the fact that the gift of time and quality attention is one of the most important things that we can give to the senior citizens in our lives.
We can also assist the older people in our lives by helping them maintain relationships with others. Instead of just driving them to doctor appointments, take them on a trip to see a friend or relative, too.
Watching our older relatives go through age-related decline can be distressing. But the good news from this study is that it's not completely out of our control. By taking the time to foster healthy relationships with our older loved ones we can play an active role in promoting their longevity.
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