Gerontology News and Research

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

New software may help improve safety among senior drivers

Psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Research in Applied Gerontology are testing software to determine if it could help senior adult drivers avoid car crashes by improving their reflexes and reaction time

24 Mar 2010

Downsizing and demotions at workplace can be a health hazard for older people

Downsizing and demotions at the workplace can be a health hazard for people over age 50, according to research reported in a recent issue of the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences (Volume 65B, Number 1).

19 Mar 2010

MetLife data indicates middle boomers should be treated as separate demographic groups

For decades, American Baby Boomers have been characterized as a bloc of people who think and act as one monolithic generation. However, recent data from the MetLife Mature Market Institute®, show that Young, Middle and Older Boomers grew up during disparate “eras” and are now at different stages in their lives. They should, perhaps, be treated as separate demographic groups.

4 Mar 2010

Maintaining a sense of being younger gives an edge

The saying "You're only as old as you feel" really seems to resonate with older adults, according to research from Purdue University.

3 Mar 2010

Adult day health programs help senior participants maintain their health and independence

A recent study by San Francisco’s Institute on Aging documents that adult day health programs play a vital role in helping senior participants maintain their health and independence. Since the 1970s, adult day health care has been promoted as an alternative to nursing home care for seniors with chronic illness, disability, or dementia.

3 Mar 2010

Individuals with higher midlife BMI scores have lower cognitive ability: Study

The adverse affects of being overweight are not limited to physical function but also extend to neurological function, according to research in the latest issue of the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences (Volume 65A, Number 1).

24 Feb 2010

MetLife Mature Market Institute provides history of generations born since early 1900s

A series of publications from the MetLife Mature Market Institute provide a history of the generations born since the early 1900s. There are almost as many members of Gen Y (born 1977-1994) in the U.S. in comparison to the largest group, the Baby Boomers.

19 Feb 2010

AGHE to hold conference to discuss on gerontological and geriatric education and training

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education - the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America - will hold its 36th Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference from March 4 to 7, 2010, at The Peppermill in Reno, NV. This conference provides a forum for professionals in the field of aging to present their work and share ideas about gerontological and geriatric education and training.

18 Feb 2010

Study calls for improved decision-making in using feeding tubes in dementia patients

Researchers from Brown University and Harvard Medical School are calling for improved decision-making in the use of feeding tubes for hospitalized nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

10 Feb 2010

Toronto Rehab scientists develop SoleSensor to help older people stay on their feet

In an aging society, falling is a growing problem. Just one bad fall can mark the start of a downward spiral in an older person's health and quality of life. The cost of treating falls also puts a heavy burden on the health care system. Toronto Rehab scientists have developed a simple footwear insole called SoleSensor(TM), which has proven to improve balance and prevent falls.

10 Feb 2010

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

10 Feb 2010

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

9 Feb 2010

Poor handgrip strength linked to premature mortality, disability and other health complications in older people

Poor or declining handgrip strength in the oldest old is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only) http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj091278.pdf. The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years, classified as the oldest old.

9 Feb 2010

Strength of distal leg musculature contributes to SCK difficulty in older adults

Decreased muscle strength is associated with difficulty in performing functional activities such as stooping, crouching, or kneeling (SCK) in older adults, according to an observational study published in the January issue of Physical Therapy (PTJ), the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). These researchers found that adults with SCK difficulty had significant decreases in adjusted strength measurements of trunk extensor, knee extensor, and ankle flexion muscles.

2 Feb 2010

Humans' evolutionary advantage also makes them susceptible to cancer, dementia and heart disease

The same evolutionary genetic advantages that have helped increase human lifespans also make us uniquely susceptible to diseases of aging such as cancer, heart disease and dementia, reveals a study to be published in a special PNAS collection on "Evolution in Health and Medicine" on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

28 Jan 2010

Sanofi-aventis U.S. brings national experts together to help aging Americans with AFib

National medical and lifestyle experts have been brought together by sanofi-aventis U.S. to help aging Americans learn to live life more fully despite a serious and increasingly prevalent heart condition – atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of irregular heartbeat.

21 Jan 2010

Scientists identify fast-acting compound to improve cognitive function impairments

A fast-acting compound that appears to improve cognitive function impairments in mice similar to those found in patients with progressive Alzheimer's disease has been identified by scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Program in Drug Discovery.

13 Jan 2010

Interest in studying psychology on the rise

"I hope I will be able to touch the lives of people when they most need help and to offer them advice and guidance."

9 Jan 2010

Study suggests participating in volunteer activities may prevent frailty in older adults

Frailty is a geriatric condition marked by weight loss, low energy and strength, and low physical activity. UCLA researchers followed 1,072 healthy adults aged 70 to 79 between 1988 and 1991 to determine if productive activities - specifically volunteering, paid work and child care - prevent the onset of frailty.

9 Jan 2010

Data from national surveys shows few Americans receive consistent treatment for MDD

Only about half of Americans diagnosed with major depression in a given year receive treatment for it and even fewer - about one-fifth - receive treatment consistent with current practice guidelines, according to data from national surveys supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health.

6 Jan 2010

Gerontology News and Research

New software may help improve safety among senior drivers

Downsizing and demotions at workplace can be a health hazard for older people

MetLife data indicates middle boomers should be treated as separate demographic groups

Maintaining a sense of being younger gives an edge

Adult day health programs help senior participants maintain their health and independence

Individuals with higher midlife BMI scores have lower cognitive ability: Study

MetLife Mature Market Institute provides history of generations born since early 1900s

AGHE to hold conference to discuss on gerontological and geriatric education and training

Study calls for improved decision-making in using feeding tubes in dementia patients

Toronto Rehab scientists develop SoleSensor to help older people stay on their feet

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

Poor handgrip strength linked to premature mortality, disability and other health complications in older people

Strength of distal leg musculature contributes to SCK difficulty in older adults

Humans' evolutionary advantage also makes them susceptible to cancer, dementia and heart disease

Sanofi-aventis U.S. brings national experts together to help aging Americans with AFib

Scientists identify fast-acting compound to improve cognitive function impairments

Interest in studying psychology on the rise

Study suggests participating in volunteer activities may prevent frailty in older adults

Data from national surveys shows few Americans receive consistent treatment for MDD

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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