Gerontology News and Research

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

Study: Staring at deep red light can significantly improve declining eyesight

Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new UCL-led study, the first of its kind in humans.

29 Jun 2020

Tiny protein in mitochondria has a big impact on health and longevity, study shows

A new study led by researchers at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is the first to demonstrate that a tiny protein has a big impact on health and longevity in both animals and humans.

24 Jun 2020

$Low physical function after hip fracture increases risk of bone deterioration$

Low physical function after hip fracture increases risk of bone deterioration

Low physical function and low muscle mass after hip fracture increased the risk for accelerated bone deterioration in older hip fracture patients.

15 Jun 2020

$Low physical function and low muscle mass increase risk for bone loss after hip fracture$

Low physical function and low muscle mass increase risk for bone loss after hip fracture

Low physical function and low muscle mass after hip fracture increased the risk for accelerated bone deterioration in older hip fracture patients. Acknowledgement of the risk factors is important for bone health and overall recovery.

15 Jun 2020

Physically inactive adults face high risk of major mobility disability

Having trouble getting around on your own--such as difficulty walking, climbing steps, or being able to get in and out of a chair--can lead to physical disability and losing your independence.

12 Jun 2020

Study examines link between physical activity and frailty among older adults

Frailty is the medical term for becoming weaker or experiencing lower levels of activity or energy. Becoming frail as we age increases our risk for poor health, falls, disability, and other serious concerns.

11 Jun 2020

Study links COVID-19-based loneliness with elevated psychiatric symptoms in older adults

Although social distancing is crucial in thwarting the spread of COVID-19, isolation and the ensuing loneliness may be severely detrimental for older adults.

9 Jun 2020

Physical activity positively associated with maintenance of muscle mass during menopausal transition

A large study of middle-aged women shows that age-related changes in skeletal muscle are part of everyday life for women in their fifties.

8 Jun 2020

Physical activity can help maintain muscle mass in midlife

A large study of middle-aged women shows that age-related changes in skeletal muscle are part of everyday life for women in their fifties.

5 Jun 2020

Older men exhibit less COVID-19 worries than others

Older men may be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because they worry less about catching or dying from it than women their age or than younger people of both sexes, according to a new study by Sarah Barber, a gerontology and psychology researcher at Georgia State University.

29 May 2020

For seniors, COVID-19 sets off a pandemic of despair

As states relax coronavirus restrictions, older adults are advised, in most cases, to keep sheltering in place. But for some, the burden of isolation and uncertainty is becoming hard to bear.

28 May 2020

Faulty ApoE4 gene increases risk for Alzheimer’s and for COVID-19

It has not been clear whether dementia worsens the infection or if it has resulted from the patient's old age and the severity of care home outbreaks. Now, a new study sheds light on the reason why people with dementia are at a high risk of developing severe disease caused by the coronavirus disease.

27 May 2020

Genes associated with dementia doubles the risk of developing severe COVID-19

Having a faulty gene linked to dementia doubles the risk of developing severe COVID-19, according to a large-scale study.

26 May 2020

New book demystifies the molecular biology of breast cancer

Breast cancer is known as one of the most deadly diseases among women. However, recent advancements in the imaging tools and diagnostic methods for breast cancer has improved the screening in the past few years.

15 May 2020

Fasting-mimicking diet plus vitamin C could be effective at treating some cancer types

Scientists from USC and the IFOM Cancer Institute in Milan have found that a fasting-mimicking diet could be more effective at treating some types of cancer when combined with vitamin C.

12 May 2020

Study exposes the unique challenges involved in kinship care

Today, more than 2.5 million U.S. grandparents are raising their grandchildren due to the opioid crisis and other social issues

6 May 2020

New study explores risks of inappropriate medications in older adults

"Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs)" are treatments that sometimes pose risks that outweigh their benefits, particularly for people who are 65 or older.

30 Apr 2020

Screening tool may help predict post-surgical complications in older cancer patients

As people age, cancer becomes an increasing health concern. Solid cancer tumors are cancers that don't affect the blood and instead form tumors, or growths of abnormal cells in certain parts of the body. These solid cancer tumors mainly impact people who are 65 and older.

30 Apr 2020

Seniors with COVID-19 show unusual symptoms, doctors say

Older adults with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, have several "atypical" symptoms, complicating efforts to ensure they get timely and appropriate treatment, according to physicians.

24 Apr 2020

Researchers find new way to identify genes implicated in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is known to involve interactions among many different genes, making it difficult to pinpoint the specific mechanisms. But now, researchers from Japan have found a new way to identify genes implicated in neurodegeneration in AD.

15 Apr 2020