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Gerontology & Geriatrics news

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Tracking with care: The ethics of using location tracking technology with people living with dementia

Imagine you're 83 years old, living with dementia in a long-term care home. Lately, your caregivers keep asking you to wear a bracelet on your wrist 24/7. They say it's for your safety, so they can locate you quickly when ...

Genetics

Why important genes 'go quiet' as we get older

The human gut renews itself faster than any other tissue: every few days, new cells are created from specialized stem cells. However, as we get older, epigenetic changes build up in these stem cells. These are chemical markers ...

Inflammatory disorders

Chronic pruritus prevalent among older adults

Chronic pruritus is prevalent among older adults and is associated with moderately impaired pruritus-specific quality of life, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in Acta Dermato Venereologica.

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Malfunctions in mitochondria found to influence skeletal aging

An interdisciplinary research team led by Professor Dr. Bent Brachvogel has examined how mitochondria influence the premature aging of the skeleton. Mitochondria play a key role in the production of energy by way of cellular ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Gaps in flu treatment for high-risk adults found in multi-state study

A multi-state study reveals that many high-risk adults diagnosed with influenza (flu) in emergency departments and urgent care centers are not receiving timely antiviral treatment. Researchers found that only slightly more ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Key enzyme in lipid metabolism linked to immune system aging

Our immune systems weaken as we get older, making fewer cells that fight infection and help us recover from illness and injury. Scientists aren't completely sure why. They may have a better idea now, however, thanks to a ...

Genetics

Supercharged mitochondria spark aging-related blood disorders

As we age, blood stem cells, the essential source of new blood cells in the body, can accumulate genetic mutations. These mutations can give the cells a growth advantage, laying the foundation for developing serious health ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Off the road: One in four seniors quit driving due to sight issues

Older drivers with vision impairment are dramatically more likely to stop driving or avoid challenging road conditions—with severe cases four times more likely to give up driving altogether, a national University of Michigan ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Technology use by older adults linked to reduced dementia risk

As the first generation that interacted with digital technology reaches an age where dementia risks emerge, scientists have asked the question: Is there a correlation between digital technology use and an increased risk of ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Being married linked to increased risk of dementia—new study

Would you believe me if I told you that staying single or ending your marriage could lower your odds of getting dementia? A new study led by researchers at Florida State University somewhat shockingly suggests that unmarried ...

Health

Social isolation linked to poor diet in older women

A new UBC study finds that persistently isolated older Canadian women are more likely to fall short of recommended fruit and vegetable intake, leading to poorer overall diet quality.

Medical economics

Does financial literacy decline with age?

Older adults with declining financial and health literacy are at risk of making mistakes that could significantly impact their well-being. They could, for instance, make wrong decisions on when to claim Social Security payments, ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders

Early Parkinson's symptoms often mistaken for normal aging

Parkinson's disease is often seen as a condition that primarily affects older adults. In reality, it can impact people at any age, with 10–20% of cases appearing before the age of 50, and about half of those are diagnosed ...