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Two studies about oral health inequalities in older people published in IADR/AADR journal

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published two studies about oral health inequalities in older people and low income individuals.

25 Apr 2011

LABJ honors SCAN Health Plan for community outreach programs

SCAN Health Plan, the country's fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan, was among the healthcare organizations honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ) for its outstanding efforts in serving the community. The prestigious Healthcare Leadership Award ceremonies are conducted annually by the LABJ to recognize locally based companies whose community outreach programs help make the city a better place to live.

22 Apr 2011

Scientists discover special mechanism that delays ageing

Animals that reproduce asexually by somatic cloning have special mechanisms that delay ageing provide exceptionally good health. Scientists at the University of Gothenburg have shown how colony-forming ascidians can activate the enzyme telomerase, which protects DNA. This enzyme is more active also in humans who attain an advanced age.

22 Apr 2011

Study finds link between musical activity and high cognitive aging

A study conducted by Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist in Emory's Department of Neurology, and cognitive psychologist Alicia MacKay, PhD, found that older individuals who spent a significant amount of time throughout life playing a musical instrument perform better on some cognitive tests than individuals who did not play an instrument.

22 Apr 2011

Researchers discover new compound to fight against shingles

Researchers at the University of Georgia and Yale University have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles-a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists.

22 Apr 2011

Survey: Fewer U.S. seniors dying in hospitals

Meanwhile, The Seattle Times reports on an effort in Washington state to "clamp down" on unregulated elder-care referral businesses that promise to help families make arrangements for long-term care for aging relatives.

21 Apr 2011

Nature solves complex topological puzzles in DNA substrate recognition with elegant simplicity

A major discovery about an enzyme's structure has opened a window on understanding DNA repair. Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have determined the structure of a nuclease that will help scientists to understand several DNA repair pathways, a welcome development for cancer research.

21 Apr 2011

University of Freiburg launches new science portal, Surprising Science

The University of Freiburg is extending its communicative bounds with a brand new science portal, Surprising Science. Starting today, the university will regularly present exciting new research findings at www.surprising-science.de, some of them in multimedia form. The site will also provide comprehensive background information and news from daily life at the university.

21 Apr 2011

Scientists explore the role of microRNA that influences obesity-related traits

Eating more n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, commonly known as omega-3 fatty acids, may help carriers of a genetic variant on the perilipin 4 (PLIN4) gene locus lose weight more efficiently.

21 Apr 2011

Penn researchers explore the role of telomere caps in human aging

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are delving into the details of the complex structure at the ends of chromosomes.

21 Apr 2011

NHATS to begin enrollment for study on improving quality of life among the elderly

21 Apr 2011

Early musical study may provide cognitive benefits as we age

Those childhood music lessons could pay off decades later - even for those who no longer play an instrument - by keeping the mind sharper as people age, according to a preliminary study published by the American Psychological Association.

21 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Would Ryan plan save or 'assault' Medicare?; Controversial Kansas abortion law

Congressional Budget Office chief Doug Elmendorf dropped a bombshell on his Director's Blog this morning: federal spending on all health care programs will exceed $1 trillion this year. But when he turned to spelling out options for trimming that figure in the years ahead, he offered a limited and not very satisfying menu of choices, all of which involved doing less or charging people more.

21 Apr 2011

Enrollment begins in ‘National Health and Aging Trends’ study

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, will begin enrolling study participants to examine how current and future aging populations can lead fuller, healthier lives. The study, which begins data collection on May 1, 2011, is supported by the National Institute on Aging and is designed to help researchers understand changes in health and functioning among seniors, as well as the social and economic consequences of health and aging for individuals, families and society.

20 Apr 2011

Sustained participation of older people can prevent falls in care home and hospital settings

New research has indicated that more should be done to involve older people with interventions to prevent falls in care home and hospital settings.

20 Apr 2011

A cluttered brain doesn't remember

Lapses in memory occur more frequently with age, yet the reasons for this increasing forgetfulness have not always been clear. According to new research from Concordia University, older individuals have reduced learning and memory because their minds tend to be cluttered with irrelevant information when performing tasks.

20 Apr 2011

Alzheimer’s diagnostic guidelines released

Neurologists and experts have come up with a set of guidelines to better diagnose Alzheimer's disease in the clinic for the first time in nearly three decades. The advice also helps doctors identify the earliest signs of the degenerative condition, even before symptoms of memory loss begin. The hope is that they can help patients prepare early, and eventually treat, the disease.

19 Apr 2011

Effects of obesity on the brain: first evidence of sex-related differences

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19 Apr 2011

National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer's Association update new dementia guidelines

For the first time in 27 years, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease dementia have been revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages of the disease have been characterized to reflect a deeper understanding of the disorder.

19 Apr 2011

Well-controlled blood sugar levels linked to low risk of diabetic complications

A new study of older diabetes patients has found that well-controlled blood sugar levels were associated with a lower risk of major complications such as heart attacks, amputation and kidney disease, but the very lowest blood sugar levels were associated with a small but significant increased risk of death.

19 Apr 2011