Gerontology News and Research

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

The startling inequality gap that emerges after age 65

In an era when "deaths of despair" — from substance abuse and suicide — are on the rise among middle-aged Americans, those who reach age 65 are living longer than ever.

12 Mar 2020

Social isolation could be linked to increased inflammation in the body

Social isolation could be associated with increased inflammation in the body new research from the University of Surrey and Brunel University London has found.

5 Mar 2020

Exploring the intersection of immigration and aging

A new special issue of the journal The Gerontologist from The Gerontological Society of America explores how contemporary trends in immigration, migration, and refugee movement affect how people age and how societies care for aging people.

26 Feb 2020

New disabilities are common among older people after hospitalization

Older adults often face new disabilities after a hospital stay for a serious illness. Among the problems they may need to adjust to are difficulties with bathing and dressing, shopping and preparing meals, and getting around inside and outside the home.

24 Feb 2020

Diverse activities are key to maintaining cognitive function throughout adulthood

For many adults, the mid-30's is a busy time. There's often career advancement, the start of a new family and associated responsibilities.

18 Feb 2020

Study finds impact of frailty on long‐term outcomes after emergency surgery

Frailty is the medical term for becoming weaker or experiencing lower levels of activity/energy. Becoming frail as we age increases our risk for poor health, falls, disability, and other serious concerns. This can be especially true for older people facing surgery, up to half of whom are classified as frail.

11 Feb 2020

Cancer patients with dementia less likely to achieve a 'good death'

As the population ages, the number of cancer patients with dementia has increased. A recent study published in Geriatrics & Gerontology International found that cancer patients with dementia were less likely to achieve a "good death" than those without.

5 Feb 2020

First in-depth analysis of primate ovarian aging at single-cell resolution

Due to the modern tendency to postpone childbirth until later in life, a growing number of women are experiencing issues with infertility.

30 Jan 2020

Being rich adds years to your lifespan, study says

A team of researchers from the University College London as found that attaining a net household worth of about $636,791, when you reach 50 years old can add about nine disability-free years to your life, compared to the poorest people with $36,000 or less.

16 Jan 2020

What the 2020s have in store for aging boomers

Within 10 years, all of the nation's 74 million baby boomers will be 65 or older. The most senior among them will be on the cusp of 85.

16 Jan 2020

Study: People from South Asian background more likely to develop a physical disability

Men and women from a South Asian background are more likely to develop a physical disability and struggle with day-to-day physical activities throughout adulthood compared with their White British counterparts, new research published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences reports.

8 Jan 2020

Study explores the effect of antipsychotics on older hospitalized patients

Delirium (sudden confusion or a rapid change in mental state) remains a serious challenge for our health care system.

6 Jan 2020

Researchers evaluate the effect of intensive systolic blood pressure control in people aged 80 or older

The number of people who are 80-years-old and older is on the rise, and will account for nearly 10 percent of the whole U.S. population by 2050.

6 Jan 2020

Suppressing MSUT2 gene may protect people from Alzheimer’s disease

In the wake of recent disappointments over clinical trials targeting amyloid plaque build-up in Alzheimer's disease, researchers are focusing more attention on misfolded tau protein, another culprit in brain diseases that cause dementia.

18 Dec 2019

Aging can be a biggest risk factor for wide range of chronic diseases

Human life expectancy worldwide rose dramatically over the past century, but people's health spans -- the period of life spent free from chronic, age-related disease or disability -- have not increased accordingly.

18 Dec 2019

Brown, Insight Therapeutics partnership to accelerate research on flu vaccines for older adults

With support from a three-year $2.1 million agreement with Insight Therapeutics, a private company that focuses on the health care of older adults, a team of Brown University public health researchers will look to identify the most effective flu vaccines for elderly nursing home residents.

14 Dec 2019

New review explores relationship between yoga practice and brain health

Scientists have known for decades that aerobic exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain.

12 Dec 2019

Deep age predictors can help advance aging research

The deep age predictors can help advance aging research by establishing causal relationships in nonlinear systems.

5 Dec 2019

UC study highlights benefits of art intervention for people with dementia

University of Canberra researchers have shown that art gallery programs can improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia - and they've backed it up by testing study participants' saliva.

4 Dec 2019

Study: As married couples age, coping with their own health demands may take a mental toll

When they said their wedding vows, many of them promised to stand by one another in sickness and in health. But a new study suggests that as married couples age and develop chronic conditions, the daily demands of coping with their own health demands and those of their spouse may take a mental toll.

3 Dec 2019