Gerontology News and Research

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

Prevalence of frailty in older people varies by region and race

A large-scale survey of older Americans living at home or in assisted living settings found that 15 percent are frail, a diminished state that makes people more vulnerable to falls, chronic disease and disability, while another 45 percent are considered pre-frail, or at heightened risk of becoming physically diminished.

25 Sep 2015

WSU awarded nearly $1 million to train social workers and nurses in SBIRT

Wayne State University has been awarded nearly $1 million to train social work and nursing students to assess patients in primary care settings for substance abuse behaviors.

24 Sep 2015

Genes that may mitigate smoking damage and cancer identified

Smoking has been shown to have drastic consequences for lifespan and disease progression, and it has been suggested that cigarette exposure may impact the risk of death and disease via its acceleration of the aging process. Not all smokers experience early mortality, however, and a small proportion manage to survive to extreme ages.

10 Sep 2015

World expert panel recommends routine brain health screening for adults older than 70

A panel of world experts in aging convened at Saint Louis University recommended that everyone 70 and older should have their memory and reasoning ability evaluated annually by a doctor or health care provider.

10 Sep 2015

Smoking may not always shorten life, cause cancer

10 Sep 2015

Prenatal exposure to historical Ukraine Famine increases risk for Type 2 diabetes

Men and women exposed in early gestation to the man-made Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 in regions with extreme food shortages were 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

4 Sep 2015

Kyriakos S. 'Kokos' Markides selected as the 2015 recipient of GSA's Robert W. Kleemeier Award

The Gerontological Society of America -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Kyriakos S. "Kokos" Markides, PhD, of the University of Texas Medical Branch as the 2015 recipient of the Robert W. Kleemeier Award.

29 Aug 2015

Study: CPR usually saves lives on TV, but not in real life

If you think that performing CPR on a person whose heart has stopped is a surefire way to save their life, you may be watching too much TV.

29 Aug 2015

GSA selects Eric R. Kingson for 2015 Donald P. Kent Award

The Gerontological Society of America -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Eric R. Kingson, MPA, PhD, of Syracuse University's School of Social Work as the 2015 recipient of the Donald P. Kent Award.

29 Aug 2015

Mary Naylor named recipient of GSA's Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award

The Gerontological Society of America -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Mary Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, of the University of Pennsylvania as the 2015 recipient of the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award.

28 Aug 2015

Research reveals why older adults who undergo general anesthesia experience postoperative delirium

Newly published research from the Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine explains why up to half of older adults who undergo general anesthesia develop postoperative delirium - the sudden onset of confusion, aggression or agitated behavior that could progress to dementia. The findings indicate that older patients who are undergoing surgery may benefit from a less-potent, slower-acting anesthetic.

26 Aug 2015

Veritas Genetics obtains CE mark approval for myBRCA genetic screening test

Boston-based Veritas Genetics, a pioneer in accessible genetic screening for disease prevention and early detection, received its first European CE mark approval for the company's hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genetic screening test, myBRCA. Veritas introduced myBRCA, which sequences BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes using proprietary gene-targeting technology and Next Generation Sequencing, in North America in May 2015.

25 Aug 2015

Researchers uncover genetic circuit involved in obesity

Like many other conditions, obesity is caused by an interplay between genetic and environmental factors. While efforts to combat the obesity epidemic will need to include changes in diet and exercise, insights into the genes involved may also help with prevention and treatment.

20 Aug 2015

Vitamin D supplements may help reduce risk of falls in homebound elderly

Every year falls affect approximately one in three older adults living at home, with approximately one in 10 falls resulting in serious injury. Even if an injury does not occur, the fear of falling can lead to reduced activity and a loss of independence.

18 Aug 2015

Study: Out-of-home activities increase level of physical activity among older people

It is beneficial to stimulate older people to leave home to increase their level of physical activity, suggests the study of postdoctoral researcher Erja Portegijs. The study, conducted at the Gerontology Research Center of the University of Jyväskylä, showed that older people were more physically active on the days when they left home and went further away.

10 Aug 2015

The Journalists in Aging Fellows Program continues with renewed funding support

The Journalists in Aging Fellows Program, run jointly by The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and New America Media (NAM) since its launch in 2010, will continue thanks to renewed funding support from The Silver Century Foundation.

30 Jul 2015

Possible link discovered between common medications and falls in older men

Serious falls are more than twice as likely in older men who take medicines with anti-cholinergic properties - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

29 Jul 2015

New study estimates link between coffee consumption habits and incidence of mild cognitive impairment

A new study by researchers at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy, Geriatric Unit & Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy, and Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy, estimates the association between change or constant habits in coffee consumption and the incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), evaluating 1,445 individuals recruited from 5,632 subjects, aged 65-84 year old, from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA), a population-based sample from eight Italian municipalities with a 3.5-year median follow-up.

29 Jul 2015

Inflammation plays role in onset of delirium in older adults

Delirium is an acute state of confusion that often affects older adults following surgery or serious illness. Now a study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center confirms that inflammation - an immune response that develops when the body attempts to protect itself from harmful stimuli -- plays a role in the onset of delirium.

28 Jul 2015

Wayne State's Peter Lichtenberg receives award to identify older adults at risk of financial exploitation

Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University, won the Judge Edward Sosnick Courage to Lead Award for his extensive work to create ways of identifying older adults at risk of financial exploitation. The award is presented annually by the Oakland County SAVE (Serving Adults who are Vulnerable and/or Elderly) Task Force.

16 Jul 2015

Gerontology News and Research

Prevalence of frailty in older people varies by region and race

WSU awarded nearly $1 million to train social workers and nurses in SBIRT

Genes that may mitigate smoking damage and cancer identified

World expert panel recommends routine brain health screening for adults older than 70

Smoking may not always shorten life, cause cancer

Prenatal exposure to historical Ukraine Famine increases risk for Type 2 diabetes

Kyriakos S. 'Kokos' Markides selected as the 2015 recipient of GSA's Robert W. Kleemeier Award

Study: CPR usually saves lives on TV, but not in real life

GSA selects Eric R. Kingson for 2015 Donald P. Kent Award

Mary Naylor named recipient of GSA's Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award

Research reveals why older adults who undergo general anesthesia experience postoperative delirium

Veritas Genetics obtains CE mark approval for myBRCA genetic screening test

Researchers uncover genetic circuit involved in obesity

Vitamin D supplements may help reduce risk of falls in homebound elderly

Study: Out-of-home activities increase level of physical activity among older people

The Journalists in Aging Fellows Program continues with renewed funding support

Possible link discovered between common medications and falls in older men

New study estimates link between coffee consumption habits and incidence of mild cognitive impairment

Inflammation plays role in onset of delirium in older adults

Wayne State's Peter Lichtenberg receives award to identify older adults at risk of financial exploitation

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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