Feature Channels: Seniors

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Research that is targeting the early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease has drawn national attention to the work of Michael Seidenberg, PhD, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and lead author of an article in the journal Neurology detailing a study that maps the brain activity of 69 healthy senior men and women, aged 65-85, including some at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, as they distinguish between famous and unfamiliar names.

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Investigators discover cellular mechanisms that may impact the decline of both innate and adaptive immune functions that increase the susceptibility to various infectious agents, cancer and diseases in the elderly say experts.

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Technological advances are being made every day, making many of our lives easier and allowing information to be more accessible and available. However for some people, such as the aging population, technological progress can in fact be more limiting.

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One of the many mysteries of Alzheimer's disease is how protein-like snippets called amyloid-beta peptides, which clump together to form plaques in the brain, may cause cell death, leading to the disease's devastating symptoms of memory loss and other mental difficulties.

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High blood pressure, evidence of arterial disease and markers of inflammation in the blood in middle age appear more common in individuals whose parents have Alzheimer’s disease than in individuals without a parental history of the condition, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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An epidemiological study finds that patients over age 65 with dementia have an increased risk of dying from complications of the flu. The obstacles to early diagnosis and treatment of flu among older patients with dementia include limited access to health care and inadequate testing practices, as well as patients’ difficulty communicating symptoms.

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Men and women become gradually less fit with age, with declines accelerating after age 45, according to a report in the October 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. However, maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI), not smoking and being physically active are associated with higher fitness levels throughout adult life.

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In this study published in the November journal Anesthesiology, researchers examine a concern common among Seniors and their caregivers – the occurrence of long-term cognitive decline following surgery or illness. Results are encouraging for Seniors headed to surgery.

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In a culture that values super-model-Barbie-doll-celebrity-of-the-moment ideals, how does a woman cope when dealing with a round belly, gray hair and flabby arms? The October issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource looks at American cultural pressure on youthful appearance and offers ways to accept the changes of aging -- wrinkles and all.

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A new study suggests predictable factors like exercise and control over eating play a role in maintaining weight loss, but so do factors in the home like fewer TVs and more exercise equipment.

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While more older adults than ever are using cell phones and computers, a technology gap still exists that threatens to turn senior citizens into second-class citizens, according to Florida State University researchers.

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In a surprising reversal of long-standing scientific belief, researchers at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida have discovered that inflammation in the brain is not the trigger that leads to buildup of amyloid deposits and development of Alzheimer’s disease.

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UCLA scientists found that middle-aged and older adults with little Internet experience were able to trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning after just one week of surfing the Web. The findings suggest that Internet training can stimulate neural activation patterns and could potentially enhance brain function and cognition in older adults.

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Weight loss may be more effective than weight maintenance in reducing knee osteoarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.

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Results from the first large study combining two commonly used osteoporosis treatments suggest that the combination of zoledronic acid and teriparatide could help reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.

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Managing a cancer diagnosis is difficult for any patient but it can be especially challenging for the older population. Two Geisinger Health System physicians are developing a geriatric cancer program to help provide specialized care to older cancer patients.

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Baby boomers may be popularly portrayed as whiners, complainers and narcissists, but a new study by University of Massachusetts Amherst psychology Professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne says the 50-somethings are getting a bad rap.

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Treating hypertension in adults 60 years old and older can help them live longer, healthier lives, according to an updated review.

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For the more than four million uninsured adults in the United States nearing retirement age, a serious illness often spells financial disaster, according to a recent study.

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Kidney specialists should weigh the potential quality of life for frail elders with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in opting for dialysis over more conservative therapies, a nephrologist and a palliative care specialist suggest in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Retirees who transition from full-time work into a temporary or part-time job experience fewer major diseases and are able to function better day-to-day than people who stop working altogether, according to a national study.

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Hospital emergency departments treated more than 2 million seniors for broken bones, head wounds, cuts and other injuries caused by falls in 2006 at a cost to hospitals of approximately $7 billion for emergency and subsequent inpatient care.

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University of Michigan mathematicians and their British colleagues say they have identified the signal that the brain sends to the rest of the body to control biological rhythms, a finding that overturns a long-held theory about our internal clock.

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The issues affecting people with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases—and those who treat them—were represented yesterday at a White House event hosted by President Barack Obama.

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As seniors may face additional complications from anesthesia, the best defense is to be Informed, have support and be prepared. The American Society of Anesthesiologists encourages patients and their caregivers to use these tips to prepare for their surgery.

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This study, appearing in Cell, provides details of a causal relationship between diet and mitochondrial function. It also provides the first genome-wide study of how proteins are translated under dietary restriction in any organism. Flies fed a low protein diet live longer because their mitochondria function better. The molecular mechanisms involved are conserved among many species – making the research relevant for human aging and diseases such as obesity, cancer and diabetes.

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The National Institutes of Health has awarded Rush University Medical Center approximately $5.5 million in grants to study how epigenetic changes – chemical modifications to genes that result from diet, aging, stress, or environmental exposures – define and contribute to memory formation and cognitive decline.

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A new study published in the Society for Vascular Surgery’s October 2009 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery reports that the elderly have better operative outcomes when endovascular repair, rather than open surgery, is used to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

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Oleocanthal, a compound in extra-virgin olive oil, alters the structure and increases antibody recognition of neurotoxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The structural change impedes the proteins’ ability to damage brain nerve cells, while increased antibody recognition may enhance immunotherapy-based treatments. The findings suggest that oleocanthal may have potential as a preventative and therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s.

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Hospital-at-home care may be a practical alternative to traditional hospital inpatient care for patients with acutely decompensated (suddenly worsening) chronic heart failure, according to a report in the September 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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A new study published in the medical journal Neurology suggests that impaired kidney function is a risk factor for cognitive decline in old age.

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Alzheimer's Disease, which affects 5.1 million people age 65 and older, is the most common cause of dementia in late life. Kathryn Douthit, Ph.D., is available to talk about counselors’ roles in reducing the number of future Alzheimer’s dementia cases and share helpful counseling intervention techniques that successfully postpone, if not prevent, these symptoms.

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Groundbreaking research on older adult falls identified multiple risk factors and strategies to reduce fall-related injury and death.

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Billions of dollars are spent yearly targeting the toxic peptide amyloid beta to thwart Alzheimer’s— but what if this is the wrong target? A UCLA argues just that and says that a better working hypothesis is the "myelin model."

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Inability to handle financial transactions or manage money may be an early indicator that a person with mild memory problems soon is likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Alzheimer’s Disease Center, part of the Department of Neurology.

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With 78 million baby boomers on the retirement horizon, gerontologists see quality of life for aging boomers as public imperative. National experts on aging will assemble to examine research and ways aging services can help keep older adults engaged and leading productive lives. Satellite uplink available on campus.

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Startling new statistics on the worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are being released today as countries across the globe join together in recognition of World Alzheimer's Day. McGill University has experts available for phone interviews.

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An innovative drug-delivery system – nanoparticles encapsulating nitric oxide or prescription drugs – shows promise for topical treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a new study by scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Sociology and Social Work will use a five-year, $1.9 million National Institute on Aging grant to study the ability of computer use and social media networking to enhance the quality of life of elderly adults through online social connections and easier access to health information.

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Older men who have recently lost their wives are more likely than still-married peers to be diagnosed with an STD. Erectile dysfunction drugs might up the risk as men respond to ads promising a new lease on lust.

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Older Americans have weathered the financial crisis relatively well, although many now expect to work longer than they did just a year ago, according to a University of Michigan study released on Capitol Hill today (Sept. 16).

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Older adults who continue or begin to do any amount of exercise appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability, according to a report in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research have found that the conserved protein d4eBP modulates cardiac aging in Drosophila (fruit flies). The team also found that d4eBP, which binds to the protein dEif4e, protects heart function against aging.

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U.S. hospitals spent roughly $56 billion in 2007 – 16 percent of their overall patient care costs – treating baby boomers ages 55 to 64.

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Baby Boomer expert, Emeritus Education Prof. Nancy Schlossberg (University of Maryland), looks at what couples can do when retirement or job loss causes family tension.

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Hairstylists may have a unique opportunity to help steer their elderly clients to needed health services, according to a small, exploratory study. More than 80 percent of stylists surveyed said that older clients often or always shared their problems during appointments.

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From a demographic standpoint, the problem that arises when aging farmers turn their operations over to corporations is long-term sustainability, for which family farming is better suited.

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With all the hype about beneficial antioxidants in everything from face cream to cereal bars, you'd think their targets---oxygen radicals---must be up to no good. It's true, the buildup of oxygen radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells contributes to aging and possibly to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

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Body mass index (BMI) readings may not be the best gauge of obesity in older adults. Instead, the ratio of waist size to hip size may be a better indicator when it comes to those over 70. Obesity is often associated with premature mortality.

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Sunday, September 13, is National Grandparents Day, and the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) recommends that people lovingly remind their grandparents to perform a skin self-examination. Simply provide your grandparents with the Academy’s free tools to help them examine their skin for any suspicious lesions that could be cancerous. It’s an easy way to detect the only cancer that can be seen on the surface of a person’s skin.