Older adults are at increased risk for delirium, a serious medical condition with sudden onset that causes fluctuating changes in thinking and behavior. Infections, dehydration, medication effects, poor sleep, surgery and hospitalization are some factors that can lead to delirium. Delirium is a medical emergency.

Vitamin D is best known for keeping bones strong and healthy. It helps the body absorb calcium, which helps prevents rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. Muscles need vitamin D to move, and the immune system needs the nutrient to fight off bacteria and viruses.

I love to watch black and white movies from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. However, a darker side of those entertaining musicals, dramas and screwball comedies is the way smoking features in the storyline.

That depiction of smoking was accurate for the time. According to a Gallup poll, about 45 percent of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes, cigars or pipes in 1954. Nowadays, people are more aware of the health risks of smoking. Recent statistics from the CDC indicate about 15.5 percent of adults smoke cigarettes.

Depression in older adults is not uncommon, yet there are many unfounded myths about it. Let’s dispel three of these, because believing them can delay or prevent timely treatment.

You may have heard about the power of music for those with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. But, did you know music is also beneficial for people living with other chronic conditions, such as Parkinson’s? Here are three ways music can improve the life of a person with the neurodegenerative disorder.

For older adults, gardening can be beneficial to their overall health and well-being. While some seniors may not have access to a garden or be unable physically to plant and weed, they can still enjoy the beauty and health benefits of indoor plants, specifically those that purify the air inside homes.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that develops slowly over time. About 10,000,000 people around the world (including 1,000,000 in the U.S. and 55,000 in Canada) live with Parkinson’s. This is a long-lasting condition (up to 20 years) that has no cure. However, medications and therapies are available to help people manage their symptoms better.

My office has a sensor that turns the light off after a prolonged absence of movement. The light sometimes switches off while I am busily clicking my computer keyboard. Yes, I’m working but seemingly inert. My usual response to “lights out” is to wave my arms above my head. Sometimes I just keep working in the dark. What I really should do is get up and move.

Staying hydrated is important for your body, especially your brain.

Here are four reasons to fuel your brain with water throughout the day: