A study reported in the November 15 issue of JAMA indicates that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may not be harmful to the prostate as has been previously thought.

Testosterone levels decrease with age and low testosterone can contribute to depression, sexual dysfunction, diminished lean body mass, muscle volume and strength, and reduced bone mineral density.

The new research indicates that testostrone replacement therapy has little effect on the prostate gland. Currently more than 2.3 million prescriptions for TRT are written for men over age 45.

Testosterone replacement therapy appears safe for prostate

If you’re not a “people pleaser”, if you have been called grumpy or disagreeable and you are over 60, it might be that your personality reflects greater intelligence.

A recent study on intelligence showed that having an open and extroverted nature in young adults (under 60) was commensurate with higher intelligence, as an open personality and eagerness to learn new things leads to greater knowledge.

But in the over 60 group, the most agreeable had the lowest IQs.

The study was conducted by Thomas Baker, MA of York University and Jacqueline Bichsel of Morgan State University in Baltimore.

“Agreeableness was found to have a contrary relationship with general knowledge suggesting that a disagreeable nature may go hand in hand with better vocabulary and knowledge retention in older age,” said Baker. This result supports previous research that suggests that those who are highly intelligent may be more aloof and independent.

Psychologist Denise Park, an expert on cognitive aging at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, states the findings may indicate that those with higher IQs may resent the way society treats the elderly and find it patronizing. She believes that higher IQ may be the cause of the appearance of a disagreeable nature, rather than the other way around.

Such people “have more of a sense of mastery and entitlement. So it could be high ability that’s causing their disagreeable quality and not vice versa.”

After 60, Crabbiest Are the Smartest

Grumpy Old Men Take Heart!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) has issued a warning about seven so-called “natural” products being sold on the internet as alternatives to impotence drugs. Marketed as natural, botanical preparations, these products state they are non-prescription or herbal alternatives to help men (and in some cases, women ) enhance sexual performance.

However, the FDA warns that these products do in fact contain one or both of two active ingredients in the prescription drugs, Viagra and Levitra. They caution that these products may be dangerous as the undeclared ingredients could interfere or interact with prescription medications taken for other serious medical conditions. Men who cannot take the prescription drugs due to other health concerns or medications, may be drawn to these products as they claim to be natural and to not contain the active ingredients of the prescription drugs that are FDA-approved.

For more information, go to the FDA website.

As always, be cautious and smart when surfing the net or purchasing products. It’s your health, your money and maybe even your life that is at stake.

How does this sound for a goal?  Implement programs and plans, as well as money to, ”iimprove the health and quality of life for older Americans at the community level.”  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning to do that and they are working with The Atlantic Philanthropies, and spending $15 billion to see it happens.  $15 BILLION – that’s with a B.  And that’s a lot of money.  But what may make it work is that involvement of senior citizens; their input could make all the difference.

HHS Launches $15B Senior Health Effort