Trouble falling asleep at bedtime or in the middle of the night? It could impact your risk for developing dementia
"Adding to the growing body of evidence on sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment, new research finds significant links between three measures of sleep disturbance and the risk for developing dementia over a 10-year period. The results, reported in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, associate sleep-initiation insomnia (trouble falling asleep within 30 minutes) and sleep medication use with higher risk for developing dementia. The investigators also found that people who reported having sleep-maintenance insomnia (trouble falling back to sleep after waking) were less likely to develop dementia over the course of the study."
Understanding what makes senior towns in Iowa “smart”
"With the youngest baby boomers sliding into retirement, adults aged 65 and older are expected to outnumber children by 2030. The demographic shift will be a first in U.S. history. But many rural areas, especially in the Midwest and Great Plains, are already experiencing this."
Exercising at least once a month linked to better brain function in later life
"Exercising at least once a month at any time in adulthood is linked to better cognitive functioning in later life, a new study led by UCL researchers has found."
Risk of cancer remains high for women over 50 with genetic BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
"Although genetic mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are associated with a younger onset of breast and ovarian cancer, women with these genetic mutations continue to face a high risk of cancer incidence after age 50, even if they have not been previously diagnosed with cancer. This is according to a new study led by Kelly Metcalfe, a professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing"
Adding antipsychotic med to antidepressant may help older adults with treatment-resistant depression
"For older adults with clinical depression that has not responded to standard treatments, adding the drug aripiprazole (brand name Abilify) to an antidepressant they’re already taking is more effective than switching from one antidepressant to another, according to a new multicenter study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis."
Ochsner Health neuropsychologist publishes playbook on implementing value-based dementia care
"The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst recently published an article by Ochsner Health neuropsychologist R. John Sawyer, PhD along with Ashley LaRoche, CCRC, Sakshi Sharma, MS and Carolina Pereira-Osorio, MS. Making the Business Case for Value-Based Dementia Care is an in-depth look at the critical need for value-based care models for patients with dementia and their caregivers."
[OM POWER] Yoga may prevent frailty in older adults
"To investigate whether the mind-body power of yoga can improve frailty, which is estimated to affect up to half of individuals over age 80, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues recently reviewed randomized controlled studies of yoga that included a total of 2,384 participants over 65. Their findings suggest that yoga boosts essential physical capabilities, such as walking speed and the ability to rise from a chair, which are associated with reduced frailty and increased lifespan."
[NOT WEARING OUT] Wearables market is skewing older
"The smart wearables market is growing older, according to the latest research by eMarketer. Close to a third of smart wearable users will be over age 55 by 2026 – close to double the number of users in 2019. “In the next three years,” predicts Chief Analyst Yoram Wurmser, “users ages 45 and older will gain share; the older the demographic, the faster the growth.”"
[CUT CALORIES] Caloric restriction can slow pace of aging
"In the first randomized controlled trial of its kind, researchers have shown that caloric restriction can slow the pace of aging in healthy adults. The CALERIE™ (Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy) intervention slowed the pace of aging as measured by participants’ blood DNA methylation using the algorithm DunedinPACE (Pace of Aging, Computed from the Epigenome). The intervention demonstrated a 2%-3% slowing in the pace of aging, which in other studies translates to a 10%-15% reduction in mortality risk, an effect similar to a smoking cessation intervention. "
[WILLFUL?] 50% of Canadians don’t have a will
"Half of Canadians say they don't have a last will and testament, including one-in-five ages 55+, according to new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute. As expected, younger Canadians are less likely to have one, with four-in-five younger than 35 saying they do not have a will -- but even half of those between the ages of 45 and 54 say the same."
[GO AGE-DIVERSE] Intergenerational living gains traction
Active Aging Leading, connecting and defining the active aging industry since 2001. ICAA provides world class information, education, resources and tools to help health and wellness professionals be more successful with their clients age 50 plus
Pets create ‘pawsitive’ change for people in aged care
"Furry, finned, or feathered, our family pets come in all shapes and sizes. But while these friendly faces keep us company at home, it’s a very different story for people in aged care – many of whom must relinquish their beloved pet as a condition of entry."
[HEARTFELT] Workout rewards donated to the American Heart Association
"Paceline, a company that rewards people for working out through its app and cash-back credit card, announced on February 14 an initiative to support the American Heart Association. From now through the end of the year, the company will offer its app users the opportunity to donate their weekly reward - earned when hitting a streak of 150 elevated heart rate minutes - to the American Heart Association’s Life Is Why™ fundraising campaign, up to $100,000."
[AT A LOSS] Costs of death tallied
"Empathy, a platform that helps families navigate the journey they face after the loss of a family member or friend, recently released its 2023 annual report, The Cost of Dying. The report offers insights into the costs of a death in the family in the US today, with a special focus on its impact on employees' sense of well-being in the workplace. The report includes key findings on the financial, logistical, and emotional impact loss has on bereaved families, as well as reflections from a dozen experts in the end-of-life space."
[FAT, TAKE 2] Consensus: obesity a chronic disease
"Six US organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of obesity have collaborated to develop a consensus statement on obesity, considered a complex, chronic disease that impacts nearly 42% of adults and 19% of children and adolescents. The collaboration aims to address the various roadblocks that the organizations face when addressing efforts to improve access to obesity treatment and reduce weight stigma and bias surrounding the disease."
[GET ZZZs] Disrupted sleep may boost heart disease risk
"Sleep irregularity — chronically disrupted sleep and highly variable sleep durations night after night — may increase the risk for atherosclerosis, according to a study led by Kelsie Full, PhD, MPH, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center."
[SINE QUA NON] “Fitness is Essential” launches for communities
"The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), representing more than 15,000 community gyms and fitness facilities across the US that serve more than 25 million members, announced last week (February 23) the launch of its Fitness is Essential campaign, in collaboration with the White House Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition. The campaign aims to educate people about the broad, positive effects of physical activity and fitness on mental and physical well-being. "
Retirement-age workers stick around if businesses keep investing in them
"Employers can avoid worker shortages and hold on to knowledge reservoirs by engaging retirement-age workers with opportunities to learn and develop their skills"
Coconut sugar may lower blood pressure, artery stiffness in older adults
"A first-of-its-kind study finds a natural coconut sugar may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving blood vessel health and managing high blood pressure. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology."
Loneliness in later life lessens when older adults spend many hours volunteering
"Volunteering not only fulfills a sense of purpose for older adults by helping others, it also can alleviate loneliness, especially when volunteering more than 100 hours per year, according to a University of Michigan study."
Nursing home experts unveil path toward quality improvements
"Society of America focuses on specific recommendations from the 2022 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report “The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality” — and describes how relevant stakeholders can move those recommendations into action."
Online storytelling improved people with dementia’s quality of life during Covid-19 lockdowns
"The academics translated a storytelling method known as ‘TimeSlips’ into Spanish for the first time and reworked it for delivery on Zoom when Covid-19 halted their research and face-to-face practice. Although this adaption was an urgent response to the pandemic, the study’s findings have ongoing relevance given the high levels of social isolation typically experienced by people living with dementia. "
