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Gerontology & Geriatrics news

Arthritis & Rheumatism

Analysis isolates population aging as primary driver of musculoskeletal disorders

Novel research shows that in approximately one third of countries and territories worldwide, population aging was the largest contributor to the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders from 1990 to 2021.

Psychology & Psychiatry

International research finds emotional support can help prevent depression in later life

An international study led by Dr. Suraj Samtani and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has found that emotional support, such as having someone to talk to when feeling stressed, is linked to significantly lower ...

Health

Green-Mediterranean diet may slow brain aging

Following a green-Mediterranean diet—which includes green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai—is associated with slower brain aging, according to a study.

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

For migrants, dementia can mean losing a language—and a whole world

You may have lived in Australia for most of your adult life, speaking English every day. But if you acquired the language later in life and then develop dementia—a brain condition that affects thinking, memory and everyday ...

Neuroscience

Tinnitus linked to cognitive impairment in older adults

In adults aged 60 years and older, tinnitus, especially severe and prolonged tinnitus, is significantly associated with cognitive impairment, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in Brain Sciences.

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Study of identical twins links faster aging to memory decline

New research from University of Virginia psychologists has found that "epigenetic clocks"—tools scientists use to estimate a person's biological age—can predict cognitive decline. The study, which focused on middle-aged ...

Overweight & Obesity

Weight change may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults

Adults over 65 whose weight decreases or fluctuates by more than 5% may experience faster cognitive decline, according to researchers in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State. The team has published its findings ...

Health

Meal timing in later life may matter for health and longevity

As we age, what and how much we eat tends to change. However, how meal timing relates to health remains less understood. Researchers at Mass General Brigham and their collaborators studied changes to meal timing in older ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Why gait quality matters as you age

Walking is one of the most important things we do for our quality of life. In fact, research shows it contributes more than any other physical activity to how well we live day to day. Yet one in three people over the age ...

Genetics

'Barcodes' written into DNA reveal how blood ages

A study in the journal Nature explains how age reshapes the blood system. In both humans and mice, a few stem cells, or "clones," outcompete their neighbors and gradually take over blood production. The blood stem cell reservoir ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

All exercise is important for the health of older adults, says study

Physical activity helps protect older adults against disease. A new study reveals that the health benefits also apply to those who exercise less than the recommended amount. The research is published in The Journal of nutrition, ...

Health

The DIY guide to checking how well you're aging

A few years ago, a social media trend challenged people to see if they could stand up from the floor without using their hands. Now, it's all about how long you can balance on one leg while brushing your teeth. These quirky ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Audiologist-fitted hearing aids outperform over-the-counter ones

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids (HAs), in which audiologists provide limited services, are effective, but do not achieve the same outcomes as HAs fitted by audiologists (AUD service model), according to a study published ...

Health

Feelings of frailty can set in as early as age 40

Loneliness, feeling older than your age and a negative attitude to aging are all associated with early stages of frailty, even in people as young as 40, new research reveals. The research is published in the journal BMC Public ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Loss of smell linked to higher risk of death and dementia

A new study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery has found that deficits in the sense of smell, known as olfactory impairment, are significantly associated with increased mortality in older adults. ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Increasing differences in older people's COVID-19 protection

Among older people in Sweden, vaccination against COVID-19 has shifted from a high and uniform level when the first vaccinations were provided to more uneven levels today. A national study shows both regional and socioeconomic ...

Medical economics

When health care providers go bankrupt, patients pay the price

U.S. health care organizations are filing for bankruptcy at record rates as they increasingly rely on risky debt, leading to increases in staff turnover and harm to patients—particularly elderly ones living in nursing homes.