Flu Shot Cuts Stroke Risk, Says New Research
Falling in line with the CDC’s recommendation to get a flu shot annually, new research from the United Kingdom says that the shot can actually decrease the risk of stroke by 24% during flu season.
Benefits of Flu Shot 
Researchers at the University of Lincoln and University of Nottingham reviewed more than 47,000 patient records from 2001 to 2009. They compared cases of stroke and matched them up against control groups to determine what effect, if any, vaccination had on incidence.
After analyzing the thousands of records, they found a “highly significant association”[…]
Regular Walks Can Increase Brain Size, Study Says
Taking time out of your day for a walk has numerous benefits – preventing obesity, minimizing depression symptoms, and lowering blood pressure are just a few. New research says that regular walks may also help increase brain size and thereby, decrease the amount of aging in the brain.
Walking and Brain Size
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases is growing rapidly. At a time when the number of Alzheimer’s patients is expected to triple by 2050, it is crucial to understand different ways to help improve our brain function and reduce the risk of these diseases.
Researcher Dr. Kirk Erickson[…]
John Hancock Sees Increase in Long Term Care Insurance Sales
The insurance provider John Hancock reported positive 4th quarter results for their long term care division, including an increase in sales.
John Hancock 4th Quarter Results
Manulife, better known as John Hancock in the United States, released its 4th quarter earnings recently and showed an uptick in sales of Long Term Care Insurance, indicating positive changes ahead for the company.
The company as a whole reported $138 million in net income in the 4th quarter of 2013, compared to $148 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Manulife also reported $282 million in total revenue, compared to a much higher[…]
Unum Applies for Long Term Care Insurance Rate Increases in Connecticut
A Long Term Care Insurance provider recently applied for rate increases in the state of Connecticut.
Unum
Two divisions of Unum are seeking premium hikes for certain Long Term Care Insurance policies. Provident Life and Accident Company is one of them. They are asking for an increase of 65% of certain policies sold within the state between 2003 and 2009. The rate hike will apply to 260 individual policies.
Like many other companies, Unum and its subsidiaries have been faced with the increasing cost of health care, paired with the higher than expected claims rates.
Many Long Term Care Insurance providers have been forced[…]
Study Links Pesticide to Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the few that still has scientists stumped. Though studies have found various potential causes and influencers of the disease, there has been no strong consensus regarding the cause of the disease or a way to treat and cure it. Researchers have discovered yet another potential environmental cause for the disease, though, in a recent study.
Pesticide Exposure
The pesticide DDT may be partially responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Though the pesticide DDT is no longer used in the United States, as[…]
High Levels of Estrogen May Increase Dementia Risk
High levels of estrogen in older women may be a significant risk factor for dementia, according to new research.
French Study
Researchers in France were interested in the effect of estrogen on dementia risk and conducted a study to determine whether there was any connection. The researchers analyzed data from a previous study including more than 5,600 postmenopausal women aged 65 and older. They measured the estrogen levels of the women who participated in the study and used this data to form the baseline of their research.
Four years after the initial data evaluation, the researchers compared the estrogen levels of 543[…]
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