Scientific research
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Topic- Cognitive health
Beyond "big": health benefits of resistance training
Most exercise guidelines for good health emphasize aerobic training (AT) -- specifically, about 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous AT weekly. By contrast, resistance training (RT), while acknowledged as being beneficial, is recommended twice weekly. However, the authors of this study propose that the health benefits of RT are underappreciated, noting both established and emerging evidence that it can, in many respects, elicit similar health benefits to AT. When combined, they suggest, AT and RT may yield optimal health benefits versus performing either exercise exclusively.
moreCognitive health
Social connections tied to slower cognitive decline
Good social connections -- i.e., living with others, weekly community group engagement, interacting weekly with family and friends, and never feeling lonely - are associated with slower cognitive decline, according to a recent global study. Active-aging professionals may intuitively know this, but having an evidence base is important.
moreCognitive health
Sleep "essential" for heart and brain health: AHA
The American Heart Association recently added sleep to its "Life's Simple 7" checklist as an eighth metric of cardiovascular health, transforming the checklist's name to "Life's Essential 8." Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health evaluated the addition of sleep for predicting future cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a study of about 2,000 middle-aged to older adults (mean age, 69; 54%, women) who participated in a sleep exam and provided comprehensive data on their sleep characteristics in an ongoing US study of CVD and CVD risk factors. Taken together, the findings highlight the benefits to active-aging organizations of prioritizing sleep -- and conditions conducive to better sleep -- for members and residents.
moreCognitive health
Menopausal symptoms linked to brain health
Women who experience more hot flashes and night sweats during menopause may have more of a brain biomarker called white matter hyperintensities, according to a new study. White matter hyperintensities are tiny lesions visible on brain scans that become more common with age or with uncontrolled high blood pressure. These brain biomarkers have been linked in some studies to an increased risk of stroke, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
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Tech: Robotic pet improves mood, behavior, cognition in dementia
While pet therapy is known to be a cost effective and therapeutic intervention for improving mood and behavior in older adults, little is known about pet therapy in people with mild-to-moderate dementia. So, researchers at Florida Atlantic University tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition over the course of 12 visits in an adult day center.
moreCognitive health
Using internet in retirement boosts cognitive function
Researchers recently examined the cognitive function of retired people using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). They found that post-retirement internet usage is associated with substantially higher scores on tests. This is one more reason to encourage and provide opportunities for your constituents to increase their internet use.
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