Aging News and Research

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First Edition: July 13, 2011

Today's headlines detail the next moves in the ongoing budget discussion, including a "last-choice option" proposed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and reports about how the health industry is lining up against possible cuts.

13 Jul 2011

ActiveRx introduces Fall Prevention Program for Medicare-eligible senior patients

ActiveRx Rehabilitation, a Chandler, Arizona-based wellness-oriented rehabilitation company specializing in active aging, is introducing a breakthrough Fall Risk Assessment and Fall Prevention Program for Medicare-eligible senior patients.

13 Jul 2011

Strength exercises boost bone density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Women with osteoporosis - a skeletal disease that erodes bone density, weakens bone strength and increases the risk of fractures - might think taking it easy is the best way to prevent bone breaks.

13 Jul 2011

WHO releases 2011 global status report on alcohol and health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its global status report on alcohol and health for 2011. Forum members largely agree with the discussion in the report of the serious health and societal problems associated with the misuse of alcohol, which contributes to accidents, many diseases, and premature deaths.

13 Jul 2011

Researchers discover mechanism that can protect from aging processes

Humans are getting older and older, and the number of people with dementia is increasing. The factors controlling degeneration of the brain are still mostly unknown. However, researchers assume that factors such as stress, accumulation of toxic waste products as well as inflammation accelerate aging. But, vice versa, there are also mechanisms that can - like a bodyguard - protect the brain from degenerating, or repair defective structures.

13 Jul 2011

OECD-report outlines rescue plan for welfare systems

The health care systems in the industrialized world suffers from the financial crisis and reduced economic growth. Innovation and development is the answer to the problems, according to a recent OECD-report which outlines a rescue plan for the welfare systems, were the increasing number of elderly and chronically ill is causing further pressure.

13 Jul 2011

New animal model for studying development of testicular germ cell tumors

A team of researchers from Spain and Switzerland have developed a new model for studying the development of testicular germ cell tumors by transplanting embryonic stem cells into the seminiferous tubules in mouse models, resulting in the development of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) that mimic the early stages of TGCT development.

12 Jul 2011

Health IT could give seniors independence, consumers more control

In this pair of articles, news outlets report on how technology is playing a role in health care.

12 Jul 2011

African-Americans with glaucoma have higher oxygen levels than Caucasians

Measuring oxygen during eye surgery, investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered a reason that may explain why African-Americans have a higher risk of glaucoma than Caucasians.

12 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: N.Y. health exchange stalemate; Dick Cheney's heart; vaccine debate refuses to die

Just in case you hadn't noticed, no one has elected Grover Norquist to anything. Still, he looms as a major obstacle to Congress reaching a deficit-reduction agreement needed to raise the federal debt ceiling. … what's revealing about Norquist's passionate advocacy against taxes is that it virtually ignores the main causes of bigger government: Social Security and Medicare.

12 Jul 2011

'The Aging Myth' achieves top rank in New York Times Best Seller List

In only its first week of bookstore sales, "The Aging Myth," by Joseph Chang, Ph.D., has already reached #2 on the New York Times Best Seller List for its frank look at aging and a scientific approach to understanding how to combat aging at the genetic level.

11 Jul 2011

Two UK universities to train researchers in palliative care

Almost 100,000 terminally ill people in the UK do not get proper care, according to a Government review which concluded that a new funding system would save millions of pounds and better serve individuals.

11 Jul 2011

New strategy may combat age-associated infertility and birth defects

A strategy that has been shown to reduce age-related health problems in several animal studies may also combat a major cause of age-associated infertility and birth defects.

8 Jul 2011

ACMG presents new guideline on genetic counseling, testing for AD

When is it appropriate to perform genetic testing for Alzheimer disease, and what information do patients need to understand their risk? The June issue of Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics presents a new practice guideline on genetic counseling and testing for AD.

8 Jul 2011

Longer looks: Shortage of HIV doctors; Oregon program builds on British model

Of the 3,155 U.S.-based members of the HIV Medicine Assn., 45% are older than 50, according to a March 17 Institute of Medicine report on HIV screening and access to care.

8 Jul 2011

Experiment to protect astronauts from bone loss during space travel

Astronauts lose a significant amount of bone mass during space travel and with long duration flights there is concern that this bone loss could lead to an increased risk of fractures.

7 Jul 2011

Fiscal problems could be mitigated by ART conceived children

In 2009, 1,547 ART children were born in public clinics in Denmark, projecting a net tax revenue of -224 million and -247 million in 25 and 50 years respectively. The authors of the study calculated that reductions of 30-50% in ART cycles following the new policy would lead to cost savings of -67 - -111 million for the Danish government in 2034.

6 Jul 2011

Air traffic pollution impacts growth and development of unborn children

A UK academic is calling for a nationwide study into the effects traffic pollution has on asthma sufferers after his own research in Cairo highlighted health problems in children who may even be affected while still in the womb.

6 Jul 2011

Maternal smoking cessation improves perinatal outcomes in children

Low birthweight is the most common negative outcome of smoking during pregnancy, but foetuses exposed to maternal smoking are also at risk of premature birth and the associated problem of brain damage, as well as congenital abnormalities such as cleft lip.

6 Jul 2011

Study highlights importance of mRNA translation in aging process

When researchers at the Buck Institute dialed back activity of a specific mRNA translation factor in adult nematode worms they saw an unexpected genome-wide response that effectively increased activity in specific stress response genes that could help explain why the worms lived 40 percent longer under this condition.

6 Jul 2011