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UrduA new poll looks at how grandparents are involved in their grandchildren’s lives, and how this relates to mental health and lonelines.
Tag: Older Adults
Medicare has a revolving door, study suggests
One of the biggest decisions older adults and people with serious disabilities face each fall is which type of Medicare to enroll in. If they change from one to the other, a new study finds, they may be entering a revolving door and find themselves changing again in the future.
Most older adults don’t trust AI-generated health information — but many aren’t sure what to trust
A new poll shows 74% of older adults would not trust online health information if it were generated by artificial intelligence, and that 20% have little or no confidence they could spot health misinformation if they came across it on the internet.
The Family That Gets Vaccinated Together, Stays Healthy Together
As flu season ramps up, infectious disease experts at Cedars-Sinai are urging everyone in the community, from infants on up, to get their flu shots.
The silent threat of sarcopenia among elderly type 2 diabetes patients
A recent study highlights the increased risks faced by elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who also suffer from sarcopenia, a condition of age-related muscle loss. The findings indicate that these patients are significantly more likely to experience severe disability, rehospitalization, and even death compared to those without sarcopenia. This research underscores the importance of early detection and intervention in managing sarcopenia, aiming to improve health outcomes and quality of life for elderly diabetics. It provides crucial insights into the growing challenge of sarcopenia within this population.
U-M drug cost researcher available to comment on $2 Medicare drug list
The federal agency that oversees Medicare just announced a proposed initiative that could lead to a large number of generic prescription drugs costing older Americans just $2 per refill as soon as 2027. The proposal, for a model program that…
Community-Based Programs in Senior Centers May Lower Health Care Use and Costs for People with Dementia
Living with dementia in communities with senior centers providing access to adult day health and social services was associated with fewer hospitalizations and lower health care use and Medicare costs, according to researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
COVID-19 hits older adults hardest; which ones want the updated vaccine
A poll of people over the age of 50 shows that just under half are likely to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, though those in the highest-risk age groups are more likely.
Cannabis and older adults: Poll shows current use patterns, beliefs and risks
One in 5 older adults used cannabis products that include THC in the last year. Among them, 20% said they drove within 2 hours of using cannabis, and a similar percentage said they experience at least one potential signs of addiction.
Hot Streets, Historic Bias: Effects on Neighborhood Walking in Older Adults
Redlining from the 1930s, marked minority and low-income neighborhoods as “hazardous,” which influenced mortgage and insurance decisions. Results show that redlined areas have less greenspace and more pavement, intensifying urban heat. While higher temperatures generally decreased walking in “still desirable” or “best” neighborhoods, this effect was not significant in “definitely declining” or “hazardous” areas, possibly due to greater reliance on walking for essential activities. Findings underscore the lasting impact of discriminatory policies on environmental vulnerability and physical activity.
Heat Wave Media Alert: Cedars-Sinai Experts Available
Cedars-Sinai physicians are available to discuss how to prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke, how to best cool down and how to care for older adults. Sonja Rosen, MD, chief of Geriatric Medicine, says “older adults who have chronic lung or heart…
Growth from Adversity: How Older Adults Bounced Back from COVID-19 Pandemic
The study highlights the remarkable resilience of older adults (median age 86) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to their routines led many to discover new hobbies like gardening and painting and explore virtual activities such as online yoga.
As election approaches, national poll shows which health topics concern older adults most
A new study shows what issues top older adults’ lists of health-related concerns going into this November’s election. Five of the top six issues that the highest percentage of older adults reported being very concerned about have to do with the cost of different kinds of health care.
Alcohol Use in Older Adults Doubles Risk of Brain Bleeds from Falls
Little is known about the association between the frequency of alcohol use and the severity of injuries sustained after a fall in older adults. A study of 3,128 older adults who underwent an initial head CT scan in the emergency department after head trauma from a fall shows that occasional alcohol use was associated with double the odds of a brain bleed when compared to patients with no alcohol use. Daily alcohol use was associated with 150% increased odds of a brain bleed.
Caregiving: Poll reveals who’s providing care and who they’re caring for
More than 1 in 4 people age 50 and older helps take care of at least one family member or friend who has a health problem or disability, a new poll finds. It also examines who’s more likely to be a caregiver, and who they’re caring for.
Older adults want to cut back on medication, but study shows need for caution
More than 82% of Americans age 50 to 80 take one or more kinds of prescription medication, and 80% of them say they’d be open to stopping one or more of those drugs — with major differences among people with different health conditions.
Exercise More, Sit Less to Manage Frailty and Hypertension Risk in Aging
A new study of middle-age and older adults looks at sex differences in frailty levels and their link with heart health. The findings suggest that moving your body more through regular exercise and sitting less can help keep both heart disease and frailty at bay as we age.
Marital separation, reconciliation, and repartnering in later life
Abstract Objective The growth in gray divorce raises new questions about the marital dissolution process experienced by older adults. Our goal was to assess patterns of reconciliation among couples following marital separation, treating forming a union with a new partner…
An unequal toll of financial stress: Poll of older adults shows different impacts related to health and age
Inflation rates may have cooled off recently, but a new poll shows many older adults are experiencing financial stress – especially those who say they’re in fair or poor physical health or mental health, as well as women and those age 50 to 64. A sizable minority report issues with health care costs.
Keeping us young? Grandchild caregiving and older adults’ cognitive functioning
Abstract Objective This study investigates longitudinal associations between providing care to grandchildren and cognitive functioning. It also examines heterogeneity in these relationships. Background Grandchild caregiving may support older adults’ cognitive functioning by providing social engagement and emotional meaning. However, studies…
Balancing Act: Novel Wearable Sensors and AI Transform Balance Assessment
Traditional methods to assess balance often suffer from subjectivity, aren’t comprehensive enough and can’t be administered remotely. They also are expensive and require specialized equipment and clinical expertise.
Study Challenges ED Protocols for Geriatric Head Injuries and Blood Thinners
Out of 3,425 patients enrolled in the study, 0.4% (13 patients) experienced a delayed intracranial hemorrhage, a significantly lower rate than previously reported (7.2%).
‘Fit2Drive’ Transforms Assessing Older Drivers with Cognitive Decline
With the help of an evidence-based calculator called “Fit2Drive,” researchers have made it easy to administer and evaluate an in-office test to predict an older individual’s probability of passing an on-road driving test. Based upon brief, easily administered cognitive tests, Fit2Drive provides an objective estimation of the ability to drive for those with cognitive concerns. Results show that the Fit2Drive algorithm demonstrated a strong 91.5% predictive accuracy.
Racial/ethnic differences in living arrangements, distant relations, and later-life mental health
Abstract Objective This research investigates associations between living arrangements and older adults’ depressive symptoms and whether these associations are moderated by extended family, friends, and neighborhoods for White, Black, and Hispanic older adults. Background The drastic marriage and kinship decline…
JMIR Aging Announces New Theme Issue on Digital Ageism
JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new theme issue titled “Addressing Digital Ageism in the Modern Era” in its premier open access journal JMIR Aging
Subtle cognitive decline precedes end to driving for older adults
Even slight cognitive changes can affect an older person’s decision to stop driving, according to a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings suggest that routine cognitive testing — in particular, the kind of screening designed to pick up the earliest, most subtle decline — could help older adults and their physicians make decisions about driving that maximizes safety while preserving independence as long as possible.
Thinking outside the doctor’s office: Poll looks at older adults’ use of urgent care, retail clinics and more
Most older adults have embraced non-traditional sites for getting medical care that didn’t exist when they were younger, a new poll suggests. In the past two years, 60% of people age 50 to 80 have visited an urgent care clinic, or a clinic based in a retail store, workplace or vehicle.
Medicare pays for message-based e-visits. Are older adults using them?
E-visits have become a regular part of everyday health care for some of the 30 million older Americans who have traditional Medicare. About 1% of them have used asynchronous patient portal messaging in a way that prompted their doctor or other health care provider to bill Medicare for their time.
Skin Wetting Helps Cool Older Adults in Very Hot, Dry Weather
Spraying the skin with water helps reduce core and skin temperature in older adults during extremely hot and dry weather.
Regular Exercise Prevents DNA Damage with Aging
Regular aerobic exercise later in life prevents genomic instability characterized by DNA damage and telomere dysfunction
Despite dwindling resources, many older adult Israelis exhibited impressive resilience during the initial period of the Israel-Hamas war, Bar-Ilan University study finds
Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Bar-Ilan University Prof. Amit Shrira led a study measuring acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Israelis between November-December 2023, shedding light on the impact of the conflict on mental health across generations.
In sickness and in health, older couples mostly make Medicare moves together
Older Americans who enroll in Medicare, or change their coverage, do so as individuals, even if they’re married or live with a partner. But a new study suggests the need for more efforts to help both members of a couple weigh and choose their options together.
The Perceived Meaning of Traumatic Brain Injury for Older Adults: A Longitudinal-Multiple Case Study
Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to explore the perceived meaning of traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the first-year postinjury among older adults and to explore if and how meaning changes. Design A longitudinal multiple-case study design was…
Wrist Device That Monitors Activity Could Help Provide Early Warning of Alzheimer’s
Monitoring daily activity patterns using a wrist-worn device may detect early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
An aspirin a day? Poll of older adults suggests some who take it may be following outdated advice
One in four older adults take aspirin at least three times a week, mostly in hopes of preventing heart attacks and strokes, a new poll shows. But many people aged 50 to 80 who said they take aspirin may not need to because hey don’t have a history of cardiovascular disease.
Does trying to look younger reduce how much ageism older adults face?
How do ageism and positive age-related experiences differ for people who have tried to look younger, or feel they look younger, than they actually are? A new study examines this and the relationship with health.
Older adults rely more on trust in decision making. It could open them up to scams.
Elderly adults lose billions to financial scams by people they trust every year. New psychological research suggests this vulnerability could be linked to older adults’ overreliance on initial impressions of trustworthiness.
Music may bring health benefits for older adults, poll suggests
Three-quarters of people age 50 to 80 say music helps them relieve stress or relax and 65% say it helps their mental health or mood, according to the new results from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. Meanwhile, 60% say they get energized or motivated by music.
Worries about costs, time off work and COVID-19 kept some older adults from having surgery
When it comes to having surgery, older adults don’t just base their decision on how much pain they’ll feel and how quickly they’ll recover, a new study finds.
Residents of Rural ‘Glades’ Take a ‘Leap of Faith’ to Combat Dementia
Compared to urban dwellers, racially/ethnically diverse older adults face up to an 80 percent greater risk of cognitive impairment in older age, and 2.5 times potentially preventable Alzheimer’s-related (ADRD) hospitalizations.
New COVID-19 vaccine a good value for U.S., U-M team finds
A cost-effectiveness analysis for the updated COVID-19 vaccine prepared for the CDC’s vaccine panel shows cost savings from vaccinating people over age 65, and good value from vaccinating adults of all ages.
Canadians with peptic ulcer disease faced mental health challenges during COVID-19 pandemic
The risk of depression among those with peptic ulcer disease was higher among women, those who felt lonely, those with functional limitations, those whose income did not satisfy their basic needs and those who experienced pandemic-related stressors
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder Improves Quality of Life in Men and Women Aged 60+, Study Finds
Adults aged 60 and older reported better overall health and quality of life after treatment for their alcohol use disorder, according to a new study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.
GW Experts Available: CDC Report Finds Older Adults Make Up Two-Thirds of Covid-19 Hospitalizations
WASHINGTON (October 11, 2023) – According to a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults 65 and older accounted for nearly two-thirds of Covid-19 hospitalizations in the United States this year, 61% of intensive care unit admissions and…
New $81M NIH grant will help U.S. answer urgent need for better dementia care
Fueled by new five-year funding expected to total $81 million from the NIH’s National Institute on Aging, a multi-institution team will work to improve understanding of the health care workforce that cares for people with dementia, through surveys and other methods that will produce data for clinicians, researchers, policymakers and others to use.
Should older adults with fewer years to live keep getting cancer screenings? Poll explores attitudes
A majority of older adults disagree with the idea of using life expectancy as part of guidelines that say which patients should get cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies, a new poll finds.
Primary care intervention reduces hypoglycemia risk from type 2 diabetes overtreatment in older adults
A newly published quality improvement study shows how a simple intervention by health care providers reduced the number of older adult patients with type 2 diabetes at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by almost 50% and led to de-escalation of diabetes medications that cause hypoglycemia in 20% of patients.
How can we preserve our cognitive health as we age?
National Healthy Aging Month (September) is underway. Professor Liz Stine-Morrow, a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studies the conditions and strategies that augment cognitive health and make us effective…
Ability to drive a car influences quality of life of older adults in Japan
Physical health and cognitive function declines as we age. Aging impacts people’s ability to perform routine tasks, which affects their well-being and sense of independence.
High levels of depression found among Canadian older adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Older adults who have had cancer had a high risk of experiencing symptoms of depression during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic according to a new study published in Cancer Management and Research.