Gerontology News and Research

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

UAB's Continence and Urogynecology Care Clinics reaccredited with Center Of Excellence designation

The National Association For Continence has reaccredited the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Continence and Urogynecology Care Clinics as a Center of Excellence for Continence Care.

11 Feb 2014

Home-based hospice practices for hospitalized patients could improve end-of-life care

A study by researchers at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham says using home-based hospice practices for terminally ill, hospitalized patients could reduce suffering and improve end-of-life care.

23 Jan 2014

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals starts encenicline Phase 3 study in patients with Alzheimer's disease

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals, a company dedicated to developing a broad range of novel therapies for central nervous system diseases, today announced it has initiated COGNITIV AD, a Phase 3 clinical program evaluating its novel alpha-7 (α7) potentiator, encenicline-hydrochloride (EVP-6124), in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The program is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the FDA.

22 Jan 2014

Elderly people with high serum vitamin E levels less likely to suffer from memory disorders

Elderly people with high serum vitamin E levels are less likely to suffer from memory disorders than their peers with lower levels, according to a study published recently in Experimental Gerontology.

7 Jan 2014

Special journal issue provides new ways to address current struggles in geriatric medical education

Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, the Official Journal of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, has published Special Issue - Building Capacity in Geriatrics: Innovative Approaches in Medical Education to provide new and innovative ways to address the current struggles in geriatric medical education.

6 Dec 2013

Social activity maintains mobility and reduces mortality risk in older people

Social activity and health correlate in old age, but less is known about what explains this association. The results of a study carried out in the Gerontology Research Center showed that part of the association between social activity and mortality was mediated by mobility among older men and women.

28 Nov 2013

Improving the quality of cancer care among aging population

As 10,000 baby boomers reach 65 each day, the incidence of cancer is increasing, estimated to increase by 67% between 2010 and 2030, bringing attention to the nation's response to cancer care. Cancer is diagnosed at a higher rate, accounts for more survivors, and results in more deaths than in younger patients.

28 Nov 2013

$About 50% of hip fracture patients report barriers for mobility in home environment$

About 50% of hip fracture patients report barriers for mobility in home environment

About half of hip fracture patients reported barriers for mobility when entering the home or in the outdoor home environment. One year after the fracture, many people still experienced barriers, especially in the outdoor environment.

21 Nov 2013

Three press briefings about issues affecting aging population scheduled for GSA's upcoming meeting

Three press briefings designed to better inform reporters about issues affecting America's aging population have been scheduled for The Gerontological Society of America's upcoming 66th Annual Scientific Meeting.

13 Nov 2013

Researchers find reductions in depressive symptoms for older, younger veterans undergoing CBT-D

Researchers have found significant and equivalent reductions in depressive symptoms for both older and younger veterans undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression (CBT-D), according to an article published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences on November 11.

12 Nov 2013

Age-friendly NYC wins APHA's 2013 Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation

The American Public Health Association has recognized the vision and innovation of Age-friendly NYC with its 2013 Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation. The award will be presented to Dorian Block, Manager of Age-friendly NYC, during the APHA's Public Health Awards Reception and Ceremony on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

5 Nov 2013

Elderly people at increased risk for getting flu

Flu season lurks around the corner throughout the United States, and gerontologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say the elderly are at increased risk for getting the flu and often have a worse time coping with flu symptoms than do younger people.

24 Oct 2013

Certain blood pressure medications may reduce risk of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease

A Johns Hopkins-led analysis of data previously gathered on more than 3,000 elderly Americans strongly suggests that taking certain blood pressure medications to control blood pressure may reduce the risk of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.

17 Oct 2013

$Lack of balance confidence after hip fracture may affect mobility function$

Lack of balance confidence after hip fracture may affect mobility function

A fall and subsequent injury decreases a person's balance confidence and increases his or her fear of falling. People aged over 60 years who had sustained a hip fracture and had a lower sense of balance confidence, also experienced difficulty in walking outdoors and climbing stairs.

11 Oct 2013

GSA awarded $5M grant to launch Hartford Change AGEnts Initiative to improve health of older adults

The Gerontological Society of America has been awarded a $5 million grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to launch and develop the Hartford Change AGEnts Initiative, a multi-year project designed to create change in the practice environment that will improve the health of older adults, their families, and communities.

1 Oct 2013

Intentional weight loss can have positive health benefits in older adults

The medical community touts the importance of not carrying excess weight, but that has not always been the message delivered to older adults.

20 Sep 2013

UAB paper suggests that physical activity, exercise important for healthy aging

A clinical review from geriatricians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that mobility limitations are a litmus test for healthy aging and urges primary care physicians to take a more aggressive role in ascertaining the mobility of their older patients.

18 Sep 2013

Leading geriatrician asserts elimination of Medicare three-night hospital stay rule

Elimination of a Medicare rule that mandates a three-night hospital stay as a precondition for skilled nursing rehabilitation coverage could reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve patient care without increasing costs to the patient or the federal government, a leading geriatrician asserts in on online publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

17 Sep 2013

Kessler Foundation researcher honored for excellence in physical medicine and rehabilitation

Mooyeon Oh-Park, M.D., of Kessler Foundation was named 2013 "Teacher of the Year" in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. This award is given each year to a faculty member who demonstrated outstanding knowledge in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as dedication and skills in teaching.