Gerontology News and Research

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

Home neighborhood with higher walkability promotes physical activity among older people

A recent study, conducted at the Gerontology Research Center of the University of Jyväskylä, shows that walk-friendly environmental design may provide opportunities for physical activity in old age.

30 Mar 2017

Researchers find biological basis for financial exploitation in older adults

Older adults who have been scammed by friends, relatives or strangers seem to behave just like elders who have avoided rip-offs. They are able to balance their checkbooks.

29 Mar 2017

New report suggests older adults as powerful allies in addressing climate change

Older adults are powerful allies in addressing climate change, according to "Gray and Green Together: Climate Change in an Aging World," the latest edition of Public Policy & Aging Report (PP&AR) from The Gerontological Society of America.

28 Mar 2017

Pre-surgery information can help predict cognitive decline after postoperative delirium, study finds

Evidence suggests that experiencing delirium after surgery can lead to long-term cognitive decline in older adults.

15 Mar 2017

Resveratrol helps protect neuromuscular junctions from negative effects of aging, study shows

Scientists have discovered that resveratrol, a compound in the skin of red grapes and red wine, and metformin, a drug often prescribed to fight type 2 diabetes, have many of the neuroprotective benefits of a low-calorie diet and exercise.

7 Mar 2017

Urinary incontinence symptoms in middle-aged woman linked to lower levels of exercise

According to a study published in the distinguished journal PLOS ONE, urinary incontinence symptoms in middle-aged woman are linked to lower levels of exercise.

27 Feb 2017

‘Fasting-mimicking’ diet reduces risk factors for major diseases

What if you could lose weight and reduce your risk of life-threatening disease without any changes in what you eat -- other than a five-day special diet once every few months?

16 Feb 2017

Estrogen regulates specific exosome-packed microRNAs in blood circulation, study shows

A study at the Gerontology Research Center demonstrated that, in blood circulation, the exosome-carried messenger molecule profile differs between post- and premenopausal women.

15 Feb 2017

Older adults developing preference for LAT relationships

Since 1990, the divorce rate among adults 50 years and older has doubled. This trend, along with longer life expectancy, has resulted in many adults forming new partnerships later in life.

9 Feb 2017

UTA researchers use novel technique to provide additional insight into heart failure

Using a novel noninvasive technique, a team of researchers led by a professor at the University of Texas Arlington's College of Nursing and Health Innovation has been able to measure oxygen consumption in the legs of heart failure patients, providing additional insight into this syndrome.

8 Feb 2017

Regular intake of grapes may protect against early memory decline linked to Alzheimer's disease

Consuming grapes twice a day for six months protected against significant metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain in a study of people with early memory decline.

3 Feb 2017

Air pollution may greatly increase chance of dementia in older women

Tiny air pollution particles -- the type that mainly comes from power plants and automobiles -- may greatly increase the chance of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, according to USC-led research.

31 Jan 2017

Calorie restriction helps rhesus monkeys lead longer and healthier lives, report shows

Settling a persistent scientific controversy, a long-awaited report shows that restricting calories does indeed help rhesus monkeys live longer, healthier lives.

18 Jan 2017

Americans have shifted to self-directed programs for long-term care

The provision of long-term care in the U.S. has shifted from what was once a predominantly institutionally based system of care to one in which recipients can increasingly receive a range of both medical and supportive services at home and in the community, according to the latest edition of The Gerontological Society of America's Public Policy & Aging Report.

10 Jan 2017

Delirium can be deadly threat to long-term care residents, review finds

A comprehensive review of research published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association finds delirium to be an often-undiagnosed syndrome, affecting nearly 18 percent of long-term care residents, with a staggering 40 percent one-year mortality rate.

9 Jan 2017

Study examines how ApoE gene may function differently in infectious environment

You've likely heard about being in the right place at the wrong time, but what about having the right genes in the wrong environment? In other words, could a genetic mutation (or allele) that puts populations at risk for illnesses in one environmental setting manifest itself in positive ways in a different setting?

30 Dec 2016

Fly study shows RNA pathway plays major role in normal health and longevity

Humans and other animals carry rogue sequences of DNA in their genomes called transposable elements. To prevent passing TEs to their offspring, they employ the piRNA pathway in their reproductive organs to block the elements from being active in their sperm and eggs.

21 Dec 2016

Brain activity of healthy older adults could help predict risk of falling

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older Americans and all too often lead to physical decline and loss of independence.

7 Dec 2016

Study highlights importance of intimate, social relationships for older adults in assisted-living facilities

Intimate and social relationships remain important for older adults residing in assisted-living facilities, according to a recent study.