With the pandemic dominating the news cycle and social media posts 24/7, it’s easy to fall into a gloom-and-doom mode. So here’s something to snap you right out of that, even as you social distance, wash your hands a lot and keep a mask close by for outings. We found examples of good news on the health front, especially for aging-relating issues.
Reprogrammed Mouse Cells Resemble Human Ear Hair Cells
Hair cells in the inner ear, so named because of their hair-like protrusions that sense sound waves, are crucial for hearing. They’re also easily damaged by loud noises, such as all those high-decibel concerts. While these cells are currently impossible to repair in humans, researchers at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have reprogrammed a variety of mouse cell types into what they call induced hair cell-like cells. The reprogrammed cells resemble the real thing. If all goes well with the research, the cells will hopefully be valuable in the near future for testing against drug candidates to prevent or treat hearing loss, the researchers say. Studying these cells may also help experts understand how the hair cells become damaged to begin with, perhaps leading to ways to undo the damage.
“Lab-on-a-Chip” to Find Cancer
Cancerous tumors give off chemicals and other matter in our blood, and these clues could help find the disease early. University of Kansas researchers are studying a “lab-on-a-chip” blood test. About the size of a glass microscope slide, the device, called an EV-CLUE, works by taking a very tiny amount of blood from the person and pumping it into eight tiny channels in the device that can detect different cancer markers, says Liang Xu, MD, PhD, professor of molecular bioscience at the University of Kansas. For instance, one of the channels looks for an enzyme linked to cancer progression. In early tests, the device detected early-stage breast cancer or cancer that had spread 97% of the time. “Clinical trials [of the device] for lung cancer have started,” Xu says.
Helping Worn-Out Knees With Super Gel
Anyone with bad knees knows: when that cartilage cushioning your joints goes, it can really, really hurt. Now, Duke University researchers have developed what they say is a first—a cartilage-mimicking gel strong enough for your knees. If all goes well with its development, ”our hydrogel can eventually be used to resurface cartilage in most joints, such as knee, hip, ankle, finger, toe, shoulder,” says researcher Benjamin Wiley, PhD, professor of chemistry at Duke University. The hydrogel is a very tough solid, he says, so it will have to be incorporated into an implant that will attach the hydrogel to the bone. They’re working on that. And even though it’s an implant, the goal is to insert it in a simple, fast procedure, he says. Its properties, he says, make it an excellent candidate to replace damaged cartilage.
Catching Diabetes-Related Eye Problems, Saving Sight
If diabetes is not well-controlled, high blood sugar can lead to damage to the tissue in the back of the eye, your retina…and that can lead to blindness. Early detection and treatment can prevent that blindness, but not everyone has easy access to an ophthalmologist, especially among the minority populations often more prone to diabetes. Researchers have suggested using smartphones to take photos of the changes in the retina to catch problems early. Now, Indian and German researchers say they are developing an app that will allow a healthcare worker to use a smart phone to document changes in the retina, then transmit that information to an eye specialist to evaluate.
Your Turn!
Hearing issues? Diabetes? Joint issues? Brain health? Vision? Which area of physical health is most valuable or interesting to you, and why? Let us know in the comments so we can keep tab on developments – and let you know when there’s Good News!

COMMENTS
6 responses to “Good News on the Health Front”
Thank you for this information, it is good to know what’s being researched and particularly interested in hearing and knees, for m y parents, myself and future generations.
One topic that is rarely discussed is pelvic organ prolapse. It is a difficult problem that affects quality of life, especially in its more acute form. The surgical mesh used to lift the prolapsed organs caused infections, suffering and even death in some women. As a result, the FDA recently banned its use for that purpose. There is another type of surgery that is being proposed, but it’s hard for the patient to evaluate. A pessary can help, but it’s messy, requires some dexterity and has its own problems. It’s embarrassing for women to discuss. On the Mayo Clinic site, where there are support groups for different illnesses, there was none for POP.
Please let me know what reserch has been made for early detection of Alzheimer disease?
Very interesting. Now we just need to live long enough for these things to be available!
There is a need to discuss the cochlear implant given in older adults. I have a mom who is having devastating problems and I know it’s a result of the implant. Hearing issues became worse. She now has devastating headaches bon the right side where implant is. Doctors are useless now my mom is over 90 surgery to remove is impossible. Additionally a neighbor who is in her 70’s has the implant also. The side affects are total loss of taste! And smell. These surgeons should have enough data not to give false hope in seniors . This is seems works better with much younger patients. Not older ones!!
All the information is important to me.
I’m a breast cancer survivor. The hearing, vision, joint and diabetes topics are appreviated Thank you.
Sign Up for Newsletters
There’s always a lot going on in the Senior Planet universe. Get our newsletters to make sure you never miss a thing!
Sign Up Now
Join Senior Planet Community
Senior Planet Community is our social media platform designed specifically for older adult users. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, make new friends, and share resources all on a safe and ad-free platform.
Join the Conversation Today