[PREHAB PERKS] Optimizing exercise, nutrition pre-surgery boosts outcomes
"Prehabilitation programs — structured exercise, nutrition and other support provided before surgery to improve health — can reduce postoperative complications by almost half and shorten hospital stays by 11%, a recent review suggests. The review included 23 randomized controlled trials involving more than 2,100 individuals who participated in prehabilitation programs."
[UPFs FOR NEVER] UPFs negatively impact the brain's ability to focus
"A diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can negatively impact the brain's ability to focus and increases the risk of developing dementia, even in people who otherwise eat healthfully, a recent analysis suggests. The researchers considered UPFs as everyday products like soft drinks, packaged salty snacks, and ready-made meals – essentially anything that’s not fresh whole foods."
[CONNECT NATURALLY] Nature-based group activities curb loneliness, and more
"Nature-based group activities can reduce loneliness, improve sleep and cognition, and increase a sense of connection to nature in older adults living in long-term care (LTC) settings, according to a study from the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital."
[ARE YOU READY?] Lifestyle, not age, predicts smart-home success
"Distinct lifestyles, not chronological age, dictate how older adults accept and use smart home technologies for aging-in-place, a recent survey study suggests. For the study, researchers from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid surveyed older adults across Spain, focusing on residentially based lifestyles – that is, a combination of daily habits, living environments, and social engagement levels."
[AGE IS A NUMBER] Brain gains possible at any age
"Cognitive decline is not an inevitable part of aging, and adults across the entire lifespan can measurably improve their brain performance through targeted brain-healthy practices, a new study suggests. "
[AM I BLUE?] Researchers set a formal definition for "blue zones"
"An international team of longevity scientists recently reached agreement on a formal scientific definition for a “blue zones” region, establishing a measurable standard for places where people live the longest. The new criteria are intended to replace loose popular usage with a definition grounded in validated demographic evidence and transparent review."
[A MIXED BAG] Loneliness affects memory but doesn't spur decline
"Feeling lonely may affect how well older adults remember things, but it does not appear to make memory decline happen faster over time. This conclusion comes from a large European study that followed 10,217 adults between the ages of 65 and 94 from 12 European countries from 2012 to 2019."
[BALLOT BENEFIT] Voting linked to longer life
"Voting predicts a lower risk of mortality for up to 15 years among older adults, according to an analysis of data from 7,708 participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, (54% women) and voting records. "
[WAKE UP!] Too much napping may signal health problems
"Naps may be an easily trackable warning sign of underlying conditions or declining health among older adults, a new study suggests. Researchers followed 1,338 older adults for up to 19 years to track napping habits and associated mortality rates. The mean age of participants was 81 and 76% were women. "
[MONEY HEIST] 41% of 50+ adults have lost money to scams
"Forty-one percent of adults ages 50+ years have had money stolen due to fraud, according to a recent AARP report summarized by fraud writer Jessica McMaster. The figures are based on a survey of 1,696 US adults designed to assess their understanding and awareness of various types of scams."
