Gerontology News and Research

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

Older adults with dementia more likely to be readmitted to hospital after discharge

About 25 percent of older adults admitted to hospitals have dementia and are at increased risk for serious problems like in-hospital falls and delirium (the medical term for an abrupt, rapid change in mental function). As a result, older adults with dementia are more likely to do poorly during hospital stays compared to older adults without dementia.

23 Feb 2018

Researchers explore how people with Alzheimer's disease use end-of-life medical services

Because people are now living longer and often healthier lives, the rate of some illnesses that are more likely to develop with age has risen. These illnesses include dementia. In fact, the number of us living with dementia was already 47 million worldwide in 2015. It could reach 131 million by 2050.

22 Feb 2018

Study reveals biological relevance of sex in effects of D-galactose induced aging

A research study by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in collaboration with the University of La Laguna demonstrates in mice the biological relevance of sex in the effects of accelerated ageing caused by a chronic treatment of D-galactose, a sugar found abundantly in milk and to a lesser extent in fruits and vegetables.

20 Feb 2018

Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity linked to more gray matter in older adults’ brains

Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity – such as house cleaning, walking a dog and gardening, as well as exercise – are associated with more gray matter in the brains of older adults, according to a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center.

14 Feb 2018

Four-pronged approach can lead to healthy aging for older adults

Want to live a long and healthy life? Of course. Well, that's not going to just happen. It'll take some effort – especially if you're already 65 or older.

13 Feb 2018

Study finds high level of mental well-being among middle-aged individuals

A recent study at the University of Jyväskylä has found a surprisingly high level of mental well-being among middle-aged individuals.

5 Feb 2018

Study finds link between neighborhood environment and physical activity of older people

A recently published study, conducted at the Gerontology Research Center of the University of Jyväskylä, found associations between features of natural environment in the home neighborhood and physical activity of older people.

29 Jan 2018

Aerobic exercise may improve cognitive symptoms in older adults at risk for AD

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills over time. It is the most common form of dementia in older adults.

27 Jan 2018

Personality changes occur early on during development of Alzheimer's disease, research finds

A key feature of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss and losing one's ability to think and make decisions (also called "cognitive ability"). Those changes can begin slowly, during a phase called "mild cognitive impairment" (or MCI). A variety of diseases can cause MCI, but the most common is Alzheimer's disease.

23 Jan 2018

ED-based geriatrics transition care nurse helps avoid hospital admissions

When older adults arrive at a hospital's emergency department (ED), they may face unexpected challenges. For example, they may become less able to function independently.

12 Jan 2018

Insilico Medicine develops new deep-learning based hematological human aging clock

Today, Insilico Medicine, Inc., a Baltimore-based company specializing in the application of artificial intelligence for drug discovery, biomarker development and aging research, announced a publication of a research paper titled "Population-specific biomarkers of human aging: a big data study using South Korean, Canadian and Eastern-European patient populations" in The Journal of Gerontology.

11 Jan 2018

Metabolic Syndrome could make it harder for older adults to respond to antidepressant therapy

Researchers suspect that having Metabolic Syndrome makes it harder for older adults to respond to therapies for depression.

11 Jan 2018

For elder health, trips to the ER are often a tipping point

Twice a day, the 86-year-old man went for long walks and visited with neighbors along the way. Then, one afternoon he fell while mowing his lawn. In the emergency room, doctors diagnosed a break in his upper arm and put him in a sling.

11 Jan 2018

Light-intensity physical activity linked to lower death rates among older women, study finds

Experts say that a lack of physical activity leads to age-related weakness and poor health in older adults. Official guidelines suggest that healthy older adults spend at least 2.5 hours every week doing moderate activity (such as brisk walking), or at least 1.25 hours per week doing vigorous exercise (such as jogging or running).

10 Jan 2018

Poor oral health contributes to frailty in older adults

Oral health issues are common among older adults. These issues include tooth loss, gum disease, tooth decay, and dry mouth.

4 Jan 2018

Blood pressure begins to decrease about 14 years before death, study finds

Blood pressure in the elderly gradually begins to decrease about 14 or so years before death, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine.+

5 Dec 2017

Tailored Activity Program for older veterans with dementia provides positive results

People with dementia often have behavioral symptoms. These include problems with memory, language, and decision-making abilities. People with dementia can also experience changes in mood, such as increased irritability, depression, and anxiety.

29 Nov 2017

PPI use not linked to increased risk of developing dementia

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines commonly prescribed to treat acid-related digestive problems, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD).

21 Nov 2017

Resistance training promotes environmental quality of life and sense of coherence in older people

Resistance training can promote environmental quality of life and sense of coherence in older adults. This was observed in a study carried out at the University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Finland, in co-operation with the Gerontology Research Center and the Neuromuscular Research Center.

21 Nov 2017

Heart disease risk factors linked to walking difficulties in people under age of 78

Problems with balance, walking speed, and muscle strength become more common as we age, and can lead to disability. In fact, studies show that for older adults, having a slower walking speed can help predict chronic illness, hospitalization, and even death.

21 Nov 2017

Gerontology News and Research

Older adults with dementia more likely to be readmitted to hospital after discharge

Researchers explore how people with Alzheimer's disease use end-of-life medical services

Study reveals biological relevance of sex in effects of D-galactose induced aging

Higher levels of lifestyle physical activity linked to more gray matter in older adults’ brains

Four-pronged approach can lead to healthy aging for older adults

Study finds high level of mental well-being among middle-aged individuals

Study finds link between neighborhood environment and physical activity of older people

Aerobic exercise may improve cognitive symptoms in older adults at risk for AD

Personality changes occur early on during development of Alzheimer's disease, research finds

ED-based geriatrics transition care nurse helps avoid hospital admissions

Insilico Medicine develops new deep-learning based hematological human aging clock

Metabolic Syndrome could make it harder for older adults to respond to antidepressant therapy

For elder health, trips to the ER are often a tipping point

Light-intensity physical activity linked to lower death rates among older women, study finds

Poor oral health contributes to frailty in older adults

Blood pressure begins to decrease about 14 years before death, study finds

Tailored Activity Program for older veterans with dementia provides positive results

PPI use not linked to increased risk of developing dementia

Resistance training promotes environmental quality of life and sense of coherence in older people

Heart disease risk factors linked to walking difficulties in people under age of 78

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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