Older adults taking 5 or more prescription drugs face higher risk of death, study finds

Older adults who take five or more prescription medications face a significantly higher risk of death compared to those taking fewer drugs, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The research highlights the growing concern over polypharmacy, the medical term for taking five or more daily prescriptions, and its long-term effects on aging populations.

Led by Dr. Alexander Chaitoff of the University of Michigan School of Medicine, researchers analyzed national survey data collected from 7,828 adults aged 65 and older between 1999 and 2016.

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Trained staff directly inspected participants' pill bottles to verify medication use over the previous 30 days, then followed them for an average of 8.5 years, according to a press release.

More than half of participants (54.3%) fell into at least one high-risk medication category. The largest group consisted of older adults taking five or more prescription drugs (polypharmacy).

Another group, 37.6% of those studied, used medications deemed risky for older individuals, such as drugs that can increase the risk of confusion or falls, the study revealed.

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Additionally, 11.4% took combinations of medications that are known to cause major drug-to-drug interactions.

After accounting for overall health and underlying conditions, taking five or more prescriptions was associated with a 38% increase in overall mortality risk. Each additional prescription medication added to a patient’s routine was linked to a 7% increase in death risk.

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Taking multiple medications has been shown to increase the likelihood of side effects, adverse drug reactions and accidental overdose, particularly as the liver and kidneys age and process drugs less efficiently, according to medical experts at Cleveland Clinic.

The total number of medications participants took was the strongest independent predictor of mortality, even after accounting for drug-to-drug interactions and potentially inappropriate prescriptions.

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These findings could help doctors determine which patients are the best candidates for "deprescribing," or carefully reducing or stopping unnecessary medications, the researchers stated.

The authors noted several limitations, including that the study focused strictly on community-dwelling older adults, excluding those living in nursing homes or assisted care facilities.

Additionally, medication use was documented during a single 30-day snapshot at the start of the study, meaning researchers could not track subsequent changes in prescriptions or evolving health conditions over time.

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Experts emphasized that observational studies show association rather than direct causation. Older adults taking higher numbers of prescriptions often suffer from multiple severe or complex health conditions, which independently carry a higher mortality risk.

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Daily eating habit linked to better brain health in older adults, new research suggests

Eating within a shorter daily window could help support brain health as people age, according to new research.

Preliminary findings presented at NUTRITION 2026 — the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting in Maryland — suggests that older women who ate within eight to nine hours per day saw slight cognitive improvement compared to those who spread their meals over about 12 hours each day.

The small six-month trial included 47 postmenopausal obese or overweight women aged 50 to 79. They were each advised to reduce their daily food intake by about 500 calories.

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The participants were divided into two groups. One ate in a time-restricted window within an average of 8.2 hours, usually from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The other group ate across a 12.3-hour window, according to a news release.

Both groups lost about 15 pounds over six months, but those in the shorter eating-window group performed better on cognitive tests measuring spatial planning and problem-solving.

The shorter-window group also showed fewer errors on memory and learning tests, but no meaningful differences in reaction time or multi-tasking ability.

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"These outcomes suggest a better ability to remember information during everyday tasks and reduce mistakes related to memory, attention and problem-solving," lead researcher Sue Shapses, Ph.D., a professor at Rutgers University and Rutgers-RWJ Medical Center, said in a press release. "Reductions in the eating window predicted greater improvements."

Although the pilot study included only a small number of participants, the researchers believe that time-restricted eating may support brain health by regulating circadian rhythm, reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health.

Losing weight alone can help "ward off some of the aging-related cognitive decline," according to Shapses.

"And these data suggest there may be additional benefits if you stop eating four hours prior to going to sleep and reduce food intake to eight to nine hours per day, compared to the usual eating window of 12 hours per day."

Women, as well as adults who are overweight or obese, tend to face a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia as they age, according to the researchers.

Lauri Wright, Ph.D., director of nutrition programs and associate professor at the USF College of Public Health, who was not involved in this research, reflected on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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"This is an interesting study because it suggests that when we eat may matter in addition to what and how much we eat," she said. "That suggests meal timing itself may have played a role, not just weight loss."

"The results are promising, but we need larger, longer studies before recommending time-restricted eating specifically to improve brain health."

Experts are still learning about how intermittent fasting affects the brain, although "several biological mechanisms are being considered," Wright noted.

"Giving the body a longer overnight break from eating may improve insulin sensitivity, reduce chronic inflammation, support healthy circadian rhythms and allow cells more time for repair and maintenance," she said. "Those processes are all linked to healthy brain aging."

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From a practical standpoint, eating within a shorter daily window often leads people to consume fewer calories, which can promote weight loss, according to New York-based certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco.

"We know that maintaining a healthy weight helps with virtually everything," she told Fox News Digital. "Eating within a restricted window helps people cut calories."

"When you fast or... have periods of time where you're not just eating throughout the whole day, it does help to lower markers of inflammation and certain sources of oxidative stress."

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Many people have reported "feeling better" when fasting, DeCicco noted — especially those who have inflammatory conditions, which can include neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

"When you're fasting, you're giving your organs a chance to rest, you're giving the digestive system a chance to ‘rest and digest,’" she added.

Intermittent fasting isn’t the only way to support cognitive health, Wright countered.

"Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, avoiding smoking, maintaining social connections and following an overall healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet, have much stronger evidence for protecting cognitive function over time," she said. "Think of meal timing as one potential piece of the puzzle rather than a magic bullet."

Intermittent fasting "isn’t appropriate for everyone," Wright warned, adding that she would advise against it for children and teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone with a history of an eating disorder, and people with diabetes who are taking insulin.

DeCicco agreed that fasting should be recommended and monitored by a medical professional, especially for those who take certain medications or have certain conditions.

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Weight-loss joke turns serious as 'cyclospora skinny' trend fuels health warnings

A social media trend dubbed "cyclospora skinny" is prompting warnings from medical professionals as Arizona health officials investigate 36 locally acquired cases of the intestinal illness.

Videos and jokes referencing the outbreak have spread across social platforms, with some users suggesting the parasite could be used as a rapid weight-loss method.

Medical experts emphasize that infection from Cyclospora cayetanensis, a foodborne intestinal parasite, is a painful illness.

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"Getting any kind of illness to purposely cause something like that is just a bad idea," Dr. Andrew Carroll, president of IntraCare and a physician in Chandler, Arizona, told Fox 10. "Plus, cyclosporiasis can be deadly. There are folks ending up in the hospital for long periods of time."

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic foodborne parasite that causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, according to Mayo Clinic.

The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with fecal matter, often linked to fresh produce such as berries, basil, cilantro and bagged salad mixes.

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The parasite infects the small intestine, causing prolonged, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal cramping and severe fatigue.

Infectious disease specialists emphasize that while weight loss can occur with cyclosporiasis, it results from fluid loss, muscle wasting and nutrient malabsorption — not healthy fat reduction.

Intentionally exposing yourself to Cyclospora — or ignoring symptoms of infection — can carry serious health risks, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Left untreated, a Cyclospora infection can persist for weeks or even months, cycling through periods of apparent improvement followed by relapses.

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Cyclospora cannot be detected through standard bacterial stool cultures and requires a specific laboratory test ordered by a physician.

Unlike many common stomach bugs that resolve on their own, severe or persistent Cyclospora infections typically require a prescription antibiotic, most often trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, to fully eliminate the parasite.

Severe diarrhea and vomiting can also lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and complications that are especially dangerous for children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, experts warn.

"With diarrhea, if you’re not able to control that part of it, you’re going to lose a lot of electrolytes, so you’re going to have problems with muscle cramps and headaches and all those sorts of things," Carroll said.

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"We’re really aware of dehydration in this state; you don’t want to get to the state where your heart just can’t pump enough blood because there is no water in there."

Medical professionals urge the public not to view parasitic infections as a weight-loss shortcut. Instead, experts from Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic recommend practicing safe food handling and seeking medical attention for persistent gastrointestinal symptoms.

"People who are influencers on social media, a lot of people listen to them," Carroll said. "There’s millions of followers for these people and even the most off-colored comment, or meant to be funny, could be considered something serious."

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"Especially to someone who might be dealing and struggling with their weight; they might think, ‘Hey, it might be a good idea,’ and it’s never a good idea."

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Shark Week puts shark bite survival in focus with ER doc's expert tips

While shark encounters are exceedingly rare, an unexpected bite can pose an immediate, life-threatening emergency.

In the critical first five minutes following an attack, swift action is the single biggest factor in survival.

Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, an emergency medicine physician based in South Carolina, broke down the vital steps bystanders and victims should take to manage the situation before professional medical care arrives.

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The first step is to get the victim onto land or a boat to prevent further bites and avoid drowning. Once out of the water, the focus can shift to bleeding control.

"Shark bites vary in intensity and severity, but the main issue that all of them share is the need to stop the bleeding," Perry told Fox News Digital.

Because shark teeth can easily tear through major arteries, veins and tendons, uncontrolled blood loss is the biggest immediate threat.

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For severe limb injuries, it's essential to apply a tourniquet, but many people fail to apply sufficient pressure. The tourniquet must be placed above the wound and tightened to the point where a pulse can no longer be felt, according to Perry.

For example, if a victim is bitten near the elbow, the tourniquet must be placed around the upper bicep and tightened until the pulse at the wrist disappears completely.

"It may be painful, but it is necessary," Perry noted.

This aligns with national trauma protocols from the American College of Surgeons' Stop the Bleed initiative, which emphasizes that effective tourniquet placement requires firm, tight compression to fully stop arterial blood flow.

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Tourniquets are temporary tools and should be used for as short a duration as possible, Perry cautioned. There is a maximum window of about two hours before tissue damage occurs from lack of oxygenated blood flow.

If someone is stranded in a remote area and immediate emergency transport is unavailable, Perry recommends using a pressure dressing.

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This involves folding gauze multiple times, placing it directly over the specific point of bleeding, and wrapping it tightly. While a pressure dressing does not eliminate blood loss as completely as a tourniquet, it carries a much lower risk of tissue necrosis (death) during prolonged waits.

Bystanders play a crucial role beyond physical first aid by helping the victim stay motionless and quiet. Panic increases heart rate and blood pressure, which accelerates blood loss, the doctor noted.

Loss of consciousness after a shark attack can have more than one cause, Perry said.

A sudden drop in blood pressure and the body's stress response may trigger fainting. If the victim was deep underwater and surfaced too quickly during the attack, unconsciousness could signal a pressure-related diving injury, such as arterial gas embolism or barotrauma, which requires emergency treatment.

While controlling blood loss is crucial in the first five minutes, long-term recovery involves fighting off severe marine bacteria.

Aquatic bites are notorious sources of aggressive skin and soft-tissue infections like cellulitis, Perry warned.

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Once a patient is resuscitated with fluids and blood products at a medical facility, aggressive antibiotic treatment usually follows.

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Carly Simon reveals the common condition that masked her Parkinson's diagnosis

Singer Carly Simon has revealed that her Parkinson's disease was initially mistaken for arthritis, highlighting how the two conditions can share similar symptoms, particularly in the early stages.

"My health issues began with arthritis in both knees and one hip. I had all three joints replaced, and at first, I thought the difficulty I was having walking was simply part of the long recovery process," Simon said in a statement shared with multiple media outlets on July 27.

"Eventually, there were periods when I could not walk without considerable help. My family and I knew that something more was going on. After an extensive evaluation at Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's."

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Arthritis is far more common than Parkinson's disease, affecting nearly 60 million U.S. adults compared with about 1.1 million Americans living with Parkinson's, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even so, about 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, making it a relatively common neurological disorder despite being far less prevalent than arthritis.

Arthritis primarily affects the joints and connective tissues, causing pain, inflammation, stiffness and structural damage, per the CDC. The most common types are osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear of cartilage) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease).

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that mainly affects the brain and nervous system, according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain gradually die or become impaired, affecting movement.

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Although the conditions can share mobility problems, arthritis is typically driven by painful joint inflammation, while Parkinson's primarily affects movement through changes in the brain, according to Dr. Guy Schwartz, a neurologist with Stony Brook Medicine in New York.

"Parkinson's disease can sometimes be misdiagnosed as arthritis, and vice versa," Schwartz, who specializes in Parkinson's disease, told Fox News Digital. "The one main symptom that they share is difficulty with walking — some kind of impediment, limitation or disability."

While arthritis and Parkinson's are fundamentally different diseases, health experts say they can share the following symptoms that can make diagnosis difficult.

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The two conditions can also occur in the same person, Schwartz noted, since both become more common with age. "I've definitely been challenged by individuals who come to me with these symptoms," he said. "Sometimes the examination is confounded by significant arthritis."

While many people may connect Parkinson’s with tremors, early signs of the disease usually include stiffness, slowness and changes in gait. 

In older adults who have been diagnosed with arthritis or have had joint replacements, those same symptoms can easily be attributed to joint disease or surgical recovery.

Some Parkinson’s symptoms are not typically seen in arthritis cases. People who experience the following signs should consult a neurologist, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

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While tremor is often considered a hallmark symptom, Schwartz cautioned that it isn't always present. "About a third of individuals with Parkinson's disease do not have a tremor," he said. "That's when the diagnosis becomes more challenging."

"In Parkinson's disease, dexterity becomes compromised because of slowness and stiffness," the expert added. "In arthritis, it's more of a mechanical issue, where the joints don't allow full range of motion."

The two conditions can be especially difficult to distinguish because both are largely diagnosed based on a patient's symptoms and physical examination rather than one definitive test, according to Schwartz.

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There is no single blood test or imaging scan that can definitively confirm Parkinson’s, as "very few things in medicine are 100%," he said.

However, newer diagnostic tools have emerged, including specialized imaging and skin biopsy testing. "We're still learning," the neurologist said, adding that a blood test may be on the horizon.

For now, diagnoses are made based on the following factors, per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Schwartz emphasized that early diagnostic uncertainty is not uncommon. "It's not unusual for there to be misdiagnoses," he said. "Sometimes seeing a patient over time helps — eventually the disease declares itself, and then it's easier to make the diagnosis."

Anyone experiencing persistent walking difficulties, stiffness or other symptoms that don't seem fully explained by arthritis should discuss them with a healthcare provider, who can determine whether a neurological evaluation is appropriate.

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Drink-spiking defense: New bracelet aims to expose drugs with a drop of your cocktail

A University of South Florida (USF) graduate student is developing a high-tech new way to stay safe in style.

Addison Bounds, a 22-year-old former USF beach volleyball player, co-founded Elora Armor, a brand that creates jewelry with a sensor designed to warn its wearer when dangerous substances have been slipped into their drinks.

The company plans to offer bracelets, pendants, keychains and potentially phone cases that can alert if a drink has been drugged, Bounds told Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

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Bounds co-founded the brand with Kira Robichaud, a friend with a science background who is helping lead a small team of women developing the technology.

The jewelry is designed to detect benzodiazepines, a common drug linked to drink spiking. After some of the liquid is dropped onto the electromagnetic sensor, an alert is sent through an app, revealing whether the drink has been tampered with.

"You just drop – whatever's on your finger is plenty – onto the surface of the product," Bounds said.

"You’ll receive a notification to your phone telling you if that drink is safe to consume or not, and if your drink has been spiked, your live location is immediately sent to your safety network that you've connected to the app."

Bounds shared that a friend of hers was drugged in high school and later found unconscious in a closet, where she had been assaulted.

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"It's like a really rude awakening ... there are people who really intend to do harm, and there isn't really anyone looking out for us except for ourselves," she said.

Bounds said she hopes to launch the bracelets in January 2028, ahead of the L.A. Olympics, with the goal to "stop drink spiking from happening in the first place."

Statistics on drink spiking in America remain limited, as it's difficult to measure and a national tracking system does not exist.

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However, a 2017 study of more than 6,000 college students at three universities found that 7.8% reported having been drugged without their knowledge or consent. The group included about 10% of the female students and 4% of the males.

Common drink-spiking drugs are often hard to detect and their effect can worsen when mixed with alcohol, according to the Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense Training. Drink spiking happens most commonly in busy social settings, making it more difficult to detect.

CVPSD warned to watch out for cues and symptoms that a drink may have been spiked and consumed. Those include rapid or unexpected intoxication, sudden behavioral changes, memory lapses, hallucinations, paranoia, and an unusual appearance or taste of a drink.

Physical symptoms can also include loss of balance, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting and trouble breathing.

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Some basic strategies for preventing drink spiking include never leaving your drink unattended, only accepting drinks from trusted people, using drink covers, avoiding communal containers, sticking with friends and being aware of your surroundings, experts say.

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More than 12,000 pounds of bacon recalled after USDA issues highest-risk alert

More than 12,000 pounds of imported smoked bacon have been recalled, according to an alert from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The not-ready-to-eat bacon, which is sold in three states, is produced by Maple Leaf Foods, Inc., located in Lisle, Illinois. It was distributed to grocery distributors and retailers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Fox News Digital reached out to Maple Leaf Foods requesting comment.

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The bacon was recalled because it was imported from Canada without undergoing a required U.S. import inspection, the USDA stated in its July 24 alert. 

The issue was discovered during routine inspection activities.

The USDA classified this as a Class I recall, its most serious category of recalls. 

The FSIS defines a Class I recall as a "health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

The Class I designation reflects the potential risk posed by the inspection failure, but does not indicate any confirmed illnesses linked to consumption of the bacon.

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The recalled products — produced on June 9, June 10, June 12, June 13 and June 15, 2026 — include the following, per the USDA alert. 

The recalled product has the Canadian establishment number "EST. 1" printed on the side of the package, and the health certificate "2026-S732971612" on the master case boxes, the USDA's alert states. 

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Anyone who has any of these products in their fridge or freezer should throw them away or return them to the place where they were purchased, health officials advised.

Consumers with food safety questions can send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

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