Geriatrics News and Research

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Tai chi exercise improves outcomes in older fallers

Recently, researchers compared the effects of tai chi to leg strengthening exercises (a physical therapy called "lower extremity training," or LET) in reducing falls. Falls are a leading cause of serious injuries in older adults and can lead to hospitalization, nursing home admission, and even death.

13 Mar 2016

Light therapy lessens depressive symptoms among cancer survivors

Light therapy decreased depressive symptoms and normalized circadian rhythms among cancer survivors, according to new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai presented today at the American Psychosomatic Society in Denver, CO.

11 Mar 2016

Hematopoietic reprogramming can lead to differentiated blood products for cell-replacement therapy

Building upon previous work, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai identified cells in the embryos of mice that are precursors to blood stem cells or hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

9 Mar 2016

Low level of physical fitness in early life associated with Type 2 Diabetes risk in adulthood

The combination of low aerobic capacity and low muscle strength at age 18 is associated with a three times greater risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in adulthood, according to new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai published online today in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

8 Mar 2016

NYU researchers develop new system to manage dementia care at home

Over two thirds or the home health care population consists of adults over the age of 65, approximately 36% have some form of cognitive impairment, including dementia. According to the Institute of Medicine, the number of home health care (HHC) providers qualified to properly care for the older adults, including those with dementia, is inadequate.

7 Mar 2016

Association for Gerontology in Higher Education announces new awardees

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education -- the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America -- is proud to announce its awardees.

3 Mar 2016

$Osteoporosis drugs linked to unusual fractures of the femur$

Osteoporosis drugs linked to unusual fractures of the femur

Osteoporosis drugs have significantly reduced the risk of bone fractures for millions of people, but also have been linked to unusual fractures of the femur (thigh bone).

2 Mar 2016

Homeless adults have more geriatric conditions than those living in homes

Homeless people in their fifties have more geriatric conditions than those living in homes who are decades older, according to researchers at UC San Francisco who are following 350 people who are homeless and aged 50 and over, in Oakland.

26 Feb 2016

Losing just 5% of weight has significant health benefits for patients with obesity

For patients with obesity trying to lose weight, the greatest health benefits come from losing just 5 percent of their body weight, according to a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

23 Feb 2016

Researchers examine impact of losing multiple senses on older adults

It's a well-known fact that aging can lead to losing one's senses: vision, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. In previous studies, researchers have learned about the consequences of experiencing a decline in a single sense. For example, losing senses of smell, vision, and hearing have all been linked to cognitive decline, poor mental health, and increased mortality.

22 Feb 2016

Antibody can give more precise information about Alzheimer's disease than regular radioactive tracers

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in passing an antibody through the blood-brain barrier to act as a tracer for PET imaging of the brain. This resulted in more precise information being obtained than with regular radioactive tracers. The study provides hope for more effective diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease and improvements in monitoring the effects of medication.

22 Feb 2016

Study: 94% of older adults in the U.S. have at least one sensory deficit

The first study to measure the full spectrum of age-related damage to all five senses found that 94 percent of older adults in the United States have at least one sensory deficit, 38 percent have two, and 28 percent have three, four or five.

18 Feb 2016

New AGS and NHTSA guide helps healthcare professionals promote safe driving for older adults

A newly updated guide from the American Geriatrics Society and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is putting healthcare professionals on the road to success for assessing and counseling older drivers.

17 Feb 2016

New measuring tool provides quantifiable data to improve diagnosis of frailty syndrome

The Telecommunications Engineer Nora Millor-Muruzábal has designed a new measuring tool that provides objective, quantifiable data to improve the diagnosis of frailty syndrome, a set of symptoms that render elderly people more vulnerable.

15 Feb 2016

Research summit to explore gender differences of female brain injuries

PINKconcussions and Georgetown University Medical Center, with support for the NCAA Sports Science Institute and US Lacrosse, are hosting the first summit to explore gender differences of female brain injuries including symptoms, treatment and recovery to develop a better model of care.

12 Feb 2016

Scientists find that daily dose of beetroot juice significantly improves exercise endurance, blood pressure

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have found that a daily dose of beetroot juice significantly improved exercise endurance and blood pressure in elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF).

11 Feb 2016

Higher intake of food-based vitamin D during pregnancy linked to reduced risk of allergies in children

Higher intake of foods containing vitamin D during pregnancy - but not supplemental vitamin D intake - was associated with reduced risk of development of allergies in children, according to a study led by an investigator from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

11 Feb 2016

Stopping driving may lead to faster declines in physical and mental health function among older adults

Driving a car is a key factor in independent living and life satisfaction for older adults. In the U.S., driving is considered an important aspect of personal freedom and gives people a sense of control over their lives. Most adults continue to drive as they age--in fact, 81 percent of people aged 65 and older hold a driver's license in this country.

7 Feb 2016

New AGS guidance aims to transform approaches to healthcare for older patients

New guidance from the American Geriatrics Society aims to transform approaches to healthcare for our increasingly diverse older population. Developed by a committee of experts in ethnogeriatrics (the study of how ethnicity and culture impact the health and well-being of older people), "Achieving High-Quality Multicultural Geriatric Care" outlines present health disparities and the need for sensitivity to culture and health literacy when working with older individuals.

5 Feb 2016

New drug cocktail may show promise in NSCLC patients

A drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for melanoma in combination with a common cholesterol-lowering drug may show promise in controlling cancer growth in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

3 Feb 2016