Gerontology News and Research

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Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging.

Regular intake of grapes may protect against early memory decline linked to Alzheimer's disease

Consuming grapes twice a day for six months protected against significant metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain in a study of people with early memory decline.

3 Feb 2017

Air pollution may greatly increase chance of dementia in older women

Tiny air pollution particles -- the type that mainly comes from power plants and automobiles -- may greatly increase the chance of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to USC-led research.

31 Jan 2017

Calorie restriction helps rhesus monkeys lead longer and healthier lives, report shows

Settling a persistent scientific controversy, a long-awaited report shows that restricting calories does indeed help rhesus monkeys live longer, healthier lives.

18 Jan 2017

Americans have shifted to self-directed programs for long-term care

The provision of long-term care in the U.S. has shifted from what was once a predominantly institutionally based system of care to one in which recipients can increasingly receive a range of both medical and supportive services at home and in the community, according to the latest edition of The Gerontological Society of America's Public Policy & Aging Report.

10 Jan 2017

Delirium can be deadly threat to long-term care residents, review finds

A comprehensive review of research published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association finds delirium to be an often-undiagnosed syndrome, affecting nearly 18 percent of long-term care residents, with a staggering 40 percent one-year mortality rate.

9 Jan 2017

Study examines how ApoE gene may function differently in infectious environment

You've likely heard about being in the right place at the wrong time, but what about having the right genes in the wrong environment? In other words, could a genetic mutation (or allele) that puts populations at risk for illnesses in one environmental setting manifest itself in positive ways in a different setting?

30 Dec 2016

Fly study shows RNA pathway plays major role in normal health and longevity

Humans and other animals carry rogue sequences of DNA in their genomes called transposable elements. To prevent passing TEs to their offspring, they employ the piRNA pathway in their reproductive organs to block the elements from being active in their sperm and eggs.

21 Dec 2016

Brain activity of healthy older adults could help predict risk of falling

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older Americans and all too often lead to physical decline and loss of independence.

7 Dec 2016

Study highlights importance of intimate, social relationships for older adults in assisted-living facilities

Intimate and social relationships remain important for older adults residing in assisted-living facilities, according to a recent study.

7 Dec 2016

Comfortable living conditions, independence can help elderly Chinese immigrants feel at home in the U.S.

Having comfortable living conditions and independence from their adult children can help elderly Chinese immigrants find a sense of home and life satisfaction in the United States, but the inability to speak fluent English makes them feel unsettled, according to a research study.

26 Oct 2016

UA neuroscientists receive $10.3 million grant to find cause for heightened risk of Alzheimer's in women

Why do more women than men get Alzheimer's disease? In their quest to find the answer, neuroscientist Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, and her collegues in the Center for Innovation in Brain Science at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, have been awarded a $10.3 million five-year Program Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.

21 Oct 2016

Scientists discover new method to assess senescence across biomedicine

Scientists have discovered a new way to look for ageing cells across a wide range of biological materials; the new method will boost understanding of cellular development and ageing as well as the causes of diverse diseases.

5 Oct 2016

Incorporating laughter into exercise program could provide health benefits to older adults

Incorporating laughter into a physical activity program that is focused on strength, balance and flexibility could improve older adults' mental health, aerobic endurance and confidence in their ability to exercise, according to a study led by Georgia State University.

15 Sep 2016

Wayne State receives NIH funding to advance brain aging research

Wayne State University has received a $3.6 million grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health for a project that will advance knowledge of brain aging, its relation to cognitive performance and the role of common vascular and metabolic risk factors in shaping the trajectories of aging.

15 Sep 2016

International conference on longevity to be held in Brussels for 3 days

The Eurosymposium on Healthy Ageing is an international event that provides a unique opportunity for researchers, government officials, biotech executives, entrepreneurs, and non-governmental institutions from around the world to meet, network, and forge new scientific collaborations.

9 Sep 2016

Research supports potential role for cognitive activity in prevention of Alzheimer's disease

Are there any ways of preventing or delaying the development of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of age-associated dementia? While several previously published studies have suggested a protective effect for cognitive activities such as reading, playing games or attending cultural events, questions have been raised about whether these studies reveal a real cause-and-effect relationship or if the associations could result from unmeasured factors.

25 Aug 2016

GSA selects Kali St. Marie Thomas as recipient of 2016 Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Kali St. Marie Thomas, PhD, MA, of Brown University and the Providence VA Medical Center as the 2016 recipient of the Carroll L. Estes Rising Star Award.

24 Aug 2016