The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Archive for the 'Elderly' Category

    Review: Vitamin D supplements fail to change bone density

    Friday, October 11th, 2013

    vitamind-150x150Almost half of older adults take vitamin D with or without calcium.

    Researchers at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, in Australia, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

    Ginkgo biloba fails to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

    Monday, December 17th, 2012

    Researchers in France participating in the GuidAge Study Group assessed the long-term use of standardized ginkgo biloba extract in elderly adults with memory complaints. (more…)

    Reducing the rate and risk of falling

    Saturday, September 15th, 2012

    Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.

    This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)

    Review of art therapies in dementia care

    Thursday, September 13th, 2012

    There’s lots of interest, but nobody ever reviewed the evidence before this.

    Researchers at the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts, accepted the challenge. (more…)

    Support for exercise to preserve cognitive function

    Monday, February 27th, 2012

    Researchers at the Foundation of Public Health, Mutuelle Generale de l’Education Nationale, in Paris, reanalyzed data from the Women’s Antioxidant Cardiovascular Study (WACS), a cohort of women with prevalent vascular disease or 3 cardiovascular risk factors. (more…)

    Does Pilates improved balance?

    Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

    Researchers at the University of Tasmania, in Launceston, evaluated the effects of a Pilates on balance and function in community-dwelling elderly adults. (more…)

    Does losing weight reduce your risk of early death?

    Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

    Despite the reported benefits, weight loss isn’t always advised for older adults because some studies have associated weight loss with increased mortality.

    Researchers from North Carolina and Maryland, put this belief to the test. (more…)

    Demographics and the risk for high mercury levels?

    Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

    Using data from a study of pregnant women from an inland area in the US South, researchers at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, sought to understand the fish consumption habits and associated mercury levels. (more…)

    Exergaming for older adults

    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    At first, I was skeptical, but research suggests there are benefits.

    Researchers at Skidmore College, at Saratoga Springs, New York, studied the effects of stationary cycling virtual reality tours (“cybercycle”) on executive function and clinical status. (more…)

    Does yoga improve fitness in older adults?

    Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

    Researchers at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, reviewed the evidence to determine whether physical fitness and function benefits are achieved through the practice of yoga. (more…)

    CAM options to treat chronic constipation

    Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

    Chronic constipation is common among the elderly and women. Doctors prescribe various treatments, and patients often use over-the-counter remedies.

    Researchers at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario, reviewed the evidence and provide perspective. (more…)

    First study of Yerba Mate for osteoporosis

    Sunday, January 8th, 2012

    Drinking Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) tea is popular in Argentina and other South American countries.

    Researchers at the National University of Cuyo, in Mendoza, Argentina, measured effects of Yerba Mate as part of a program for osteoporosis prevention and treatment in postmenopausal women. (more…)

    CAM use among older Americans

    Sunday, December 18th, 2011

    In October 2010 the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducted a telephone survey. (more…)

    Nonpharmacological strategies for breathlessness

    Monday, December 5th, 2011

    Breathlessness (aka dyspnea) is difficult to manage in palliative care.

    Researchers in the UK reviewed and ranked the most effective nonpharmacological strategies. (more…)

    Reviewing the reviews of tai chi

    Sunday, November 20th, 2011

    Prof. Ernst and a colleague critically evaluated the systematic reviews of tai chi for any improvement of medical conditions or clinical symptoms. (more…)

    Vitamin D and the risk of falls in the elderly

    Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

    Researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

    Effect of smoking cessation on age-related macular degeneration in older women

    Monday, September 19th, 2011

    The results reported by researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in Los Angeles, California reinforce the recommendation to quit smoking — even for older women. (more…)

    Alcohol consumption and its effect on “successful aging”

    Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

    Studies have documented an association between moderate alcohol consumption and longevity.

    Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, studied whether moderate alcohol intake is associated with overall health and well-being in older age. (more…)

    Caffeine and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

    Sunday, August 7th, 2011

    One hundred years ago, German physician Alois Alzheimer described “eine eigenartige Erkrankung der Hirnrinde” (a peculiar disease of the cerebral cortex) in Auguste Deter, a 51-year-old woman who had severe memory, language, and behavior problems. His autopsy results revealed a dramatically shrunken brain and unusual abnormalities in and around brain cells (shown here in black).

    What’s this got to do with caffeine? (more…)

    Adding tai chi improves antidepressant drug therapy

    Saturday, June 25th, 2011

    During the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit Meeting, researchers at David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported that adding tai chi to escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex, Seroplex) treatment further reduced the severity of depression. (more…)