Many older Americans undergo routine cancer screening tests even though guidelines recommend against them, according to a study published online this week by the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Medicare beneficiaries in 2012 will pay less than expected for their Part B premiums, which cover doctor bills and other outpatient treatments. The standard premium will be $99.90 a month, $6.70 less than Medicare had forecast earlier this year.

Add screening for depression and excessive drinking to the list of preventive services that Medicare beneficiaries can now get for free, thanks to new rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). And a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the high economic cost of alcohol abuse.

That’s several weeks earlier than it used to be. It concludes earlier, too, on December 7 this year. (The idea, Medicare officials have said, was to make sure that people who switch plans have their new ID cards by Jan. 1, when the plan changes kick in—something that didn’t always happen under the previous timetable.)

Seniors with low blood levels of B12 might be more likely to lose brain cells and develop problems with cognitive skills, according to a report released today in the journal Neurology.

People with diabetes appear to be at a significantly increased risk of developing dementia, according to a study published today in Neurology.

High cholesterol levels not only increases your risk of heart attack but also Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published this week in the journal Neurology.

The first study to look specifically at the links between smoking, blood pressure, weight and diabetes in middle age, and the way your brain changes as it ages, makes for troubling reading.

As temperatures and humidity rise across much of the U.S., people 65 and older are among the most vulnerable to heat stroke and heat exhaustion, according to the National Institute on Aging. That’s because the body’s ability to regulate temperature through blood circulation and sweat glands tends to decline with age.

Not likely—at least not on their own. But older people who have multiple signs of poorer overall health—like difficulty hearing, joint problems and ill-fitting dentures—may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, researchers say.

Increased colon-cancer screening prevented 66,000 colon-cancer cases and saved 32,000 lives between 2003 and 2007, according to a new report this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But those numbers could be even better: roughly a third of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 75 still aren’t up to date with their screening.

Measuring a spinal fluid protein might eventually help doctors detect Alzheimer’s disease early in people with slight memory problems, according to a study published online today in Neurology.

Buying a hearing aid has to rank among the most tedious of shopping experiences. To begin with, it's not an item that people are excited about buying. For another, these devices can cost thousands of dollars, and typically are not covered much—if at all—by insurance. There's jargon to understand, and tiny controls and batteries to master. And once you've got your aid or aids, it could take a month or longer for your ears and your brain to fully adjust. As hearing professionals are fond of saying, it's not like putting on a pair of prescription glasses.

Regularly consuming olive oil might help prevent a stroke, particularly if you’re 65 or older, suggests a study published online Wednesday in the journal Neurology.

Following a diet that’s low in saturated fat and quickly digested carbohydrates, such as doughnuts and white bread, could cut your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, suggests a study published today in the June issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.