Articles tagged with Older Adults
Researchers are exploring the effectiveness of telephone support groups for older adults with HIV. A new four-year study aims to test the benefits of this approach in treating depression and other mental health issues among seniors with HIV.
Older adults with low vitamin D levels are at increased risk for poor physical performance and disability. The study found a significant relationship between low vitamin D levels and poorer physical performance, with results holding true even after adjusting for other variables.
Research shows that elderly patients (90+ years) who receive recommended treatments for acute coronary syndromes have better survival rates, but at a higher risk of bleeding complications. Guidelines must be balanced to balance survival benefits with increased bleeding risk.
A study of 4,681 older adults found that those with high levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes over a 10-year period. The researchers followed participants for 10 years, tracking changes in depressive symptom scores and the development of diabetes.
A recent editorial by Dr. Malaz Boustani suggests that primary care physicians should not assess the safety of older drivers due to resource constraints and potential conflicts of interest. The editorial is based on a survey of Canadian family physicians, who reported low confidence in assessing driving fitness.
Researchers at MIT have developed a humanoid robot called Domo that can adapt to new environments, grasp objects, and interact with humans. The robot learns from its experiences and can perform tasks like putting away dishes, which could help elderly or wheelchair-bound people.
A $2.5 million grant will expand Care Management Plus, a technology-intensive primary care model that reduces hospitalizations and improves health outcomes for older adults with chronic illnesses. The program has shown promising results in initial studies, including better blood sugar control and reduced mortality rates.
A study published in Neurology found that blood pressure rates during periodic leg movements rose significantly in people with untreated RLS, increasing cardiovascular risk. The study also showed that age and disease history are key factors contributing to these increased blood pressure changes.
A new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that patients who received regular preventive health exams were more likely to get recommended cancer screenings. The study showed that colon cancer screenings and prostate-specific antigen tests increased by three times in the checkup group compared to those without a checkup.
A new UCLA study found that practicing Tai Chi chih alone boosts immunity to a level comparable to the standard vaccine against shingles. Combining Tai Chi with the vaccine results in a clinically relevant boost and added benefits for middle-aged adults.
Research by Michael Kisley and Stacey Wood found that older adults exhibit a better balance in processing emotional information, as they tend to pay equal importance to both positive and negative images. This change in emotional priorities develops gradually from age 18 to 80.
A University of Alberta study reveals that older adults feel less confident about their computer knowledge due to memory issues and health problems. The research highlights the importance of adapting computer technology to accommodate vision, hearing, and motor skills impairments.
A study found that undocumented immigrants with pregnant women account for 48,391 Emergency Medicaid cases, with 99% being Hispanic and 95% female. This trend indicates an increasing burden on publicly funded healthcare, necessitating improved services such as comprehensive contraceptive care and chronic disease management.
As people age, their neurons must speak more loudly to muscles to achieve precise control, leading to poorer physical responses and increased falls. Exercise, such as weight training, can increase firing rates and preserve motor capacity in older adults.
A University of Virginia study suggests that older adults are more likely to commit suggestibility errors, where they believe an event occurred when it was suggested, and have high confidence in their recollections even if wrong. This has significant implications for the reliability of older persons' eyewitness testimonies in courtrooms.
New research found that older adults gain fat and lose lean mass each year until age 80, contributing to disability. The study also revealed that those born later experienced higher body fat percentages, highlighting the impact of the obesity epidemic on aging
The number of very elderly beginning dialysis increased from 1996 to 2003, with one-year survival rates remaining at around 50%. Ambulatory techniques for diagnosing sleep apnea were found to be as effective as polysomnography.
Researchers have made new discoveries about cerebellar functioning in rats, shedding light on how the brain controls movements. The study found that specific modules of the cerebellum regulate reflex functions during walking and adapt to situations.
Researchers investigated how specific body characteristics affect the elderly's ability to regulate temperature during cold stress. The study found that certain traits, such as percent body fat and skeletal muscle mass, become more important with age, suggesting changes in the body's thermoregulatory responses.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found no association between benzodiazepine use and hip fractures among the elderly. The study, which analyzed data from over 90,000 Medicaid recipients, suggests that policies limiting sedative prescriptions may need to be reexamined.
A review found that growth hormone had minimal effects on body composition but increased rates of unhealthy side effects, diabetes, and adverse events. The use of GH for anti-aging in healthy adults is not recommended due to the lack of evidence and potential risks.
A review of human growth hormone use in healthy elderly people found minimal benefits and high adverse events. Narcotics are often prescribed for chronic back pain but have poor efficacy data and high abuse rates. Meanwhile, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved HIV survival rates among those diagnosed since 2000.
A survey found that more than two-thirds of informal caregivers for disabled older adults at the end of life reported feeling rewarded, despite providing over 40 hours of care per week. These caregivers often experienced emotional, physical, and financial strains but also derived benefits from the person they were caring for.
Researchers suggest that mental training and physical activity can protect against declines in cognition, including memory, language, and abstract reasoning. A recent study involving over 3,000 participants found immediate improvements in memory and sustained benefits after five years.
A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive training improved cognitive function in well-functioning older adults, with benefits lasting up to 5 years. However, the impact on daily functioning was limited, with only the reasoning group showing significant improvements.
A new study found that short-term cognitive training can offset the expected decline in older adults' thinking skills, with benefits persisting for up to five years. The study showed improved performance in everyday tasks such as meal preparation and managing finances.
An observational study found that elderly men who received treatment for localized prostate cancer survived significantly longer than those who did not. The study suggested a reduced risk of mortality associated with active treatment in the elderly Medicare population.
A new study reveals that a balance training program focusing on increasing step length and speed is more effective at improving mobility and balance than tai chi. The program resulted in greater improvements in measures such as the timed up and go test and maximal step length test.
A recent study by Thomas Jefferson University researchers shows that providing extra support to caregivers can lead to less depression and increased use of adult day services. This approach also reduces the need for nursing home placements.
A Temple University study found that regular church attendance slows pulmonary function decline among men and women over 70. The study suggests that religious engagement provides social contact, emotional support, and psychological well-being, potentially benefiting health.
A large-scale review of bariatric procedures in older adults found significant increases in complications and mortality rates compared to younger patients. The study, which analyzed over 25,000 procedures, suggests that weight-loss surgery should be limited to those under 65 years old.
A new study found that rote learning can improve memory in seniors after an intensive period of memorization followed by a six-week rest. The volunteers exhibited improved memory performance, correlated with metabolic changes in the brain.
The Advancement of Geriatrics Education (AGE) Project will integrate geriatrics into HMS curriculum and provide education to medical and surgical residents, as well as practicing physicians. The program aims to expose physicians to the unique concerns of older individuals and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
A multicenter pilot study found that structured physical activity improved physical functioning in sedentary elderly individuals. Participants who exercised regularly showed significant improvements in walking distance and reduced risk of major mobility disability.
A pharmacy care program for elderly patients increases medication adherence, resulting in improved health outcomes. The study found that the program was associated with significant improvements in systolic blood pressure and sustained medication adherence.
Researchers developed a seven-point system to gauge the seriousness of heart failure in elderly patients. The system estimates patient survival based on factors such as advanced age, coronary artery disease, and low blood pressure.
Researchers have confirmed that veins stiffen as we age, a change that may contribute to high blood pressure. Regular exercise training may help maintain vein flexibility. The study, led by William Farquhar from the University of Delaware, recruited healthy young and older adults and monitored their blood flow.
A recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that varenicline was well-tolerated and effective in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms in elderly smokers. The researchers reported mild adverse reactions, including nausea, but no participants withdrew from the study.
A Mayo Clinic study of 144 participants found that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplements had no effect on age-related changes in body composition, physical performance, or quality of life. The study's findings contradict previous reports and suggest that DHEA should be treated as a regulated drug.
A study of 1,911 adults found that visual impairment significantly increases the risk of hearing loss, with both conditions affecting physical and mental domains. The two impairments share common risk factors, including oxidative stress, smoking, and atherosclerosis.
Physicians can now provide personalized exercise recommendations using the FITT-PRO guidelines, which include frequency, intensity, type, time, and progression. Regular physical activity has been shown to benefit people of all fitness levels, particularly seniors who have limited access to information.
Researchers at McMaster University found that seniors can re-learn multi-tasking with practice, achieving levels similar to younger participants. The study showed that training improved performance in both older and younger subjects, with benefits lasting up to three months later.
A new study published in JCSM found that brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) significantly improves sleep quality and daytime symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults. The study showed a 71% favorable response rate among BBTI participants, compared to 39% in the control group.
Behavioral therapies produce reliable changes in bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and children, with 82% of children benefiting from treatment. For women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), early diagnosis and treatment can reduce healthcare costs and improve sleep quality.
A Kent State University study develops a web-based intervention to alleviate depression in caregivers and stroke survivors through peer and professional support. The innovative program aims to improve the psychological well-being of both individuals concurrently.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that long-term lead exposure is linked to cognitive decline in older adults. The researchers tested 985 participants and found higher tibia lead levels were consistently associated with worse cognitive performance on tests, equivalent to two to six years of aging.
Researchers found that one-third of older adults struggle with bathing, highlighting the need for bathroom safety features and education. The study recommends installing shower curtains instead of glass doors and providing proper instruction on built-in safety features.
A team-based approach to treating depression in primary care significantly reduces suicidal thoughts in older adults, with patients receiving IMPACT care being half as likely to report suicidal thoughts even up to 12 months after treatment. The study also shows improved physical functioning and quality of life for patients.
A study of 120 older adults found significant memory problem complainants had reduced gray matter density in the brain, even without a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. This suggests that memory complaints may indicate an early 'pre-MCI' stage of dementia.
A study found that reducing contrast material injection by at least 10% in elderly patients undergoing CT exams of the pancreas and biliary region can decrease costs and complications. This reduction was achieved without affecting image quality.
According to researchers at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, healthcare in America has been cost-effective overall. The study found that improved healthcare contributed significantly to increased life expectancy, with 70% of gains attributed to reductions in cardiovascular disease deaths.
A new study found that open-mindedness predicts higher intelligence in young adults, while disagreeableness is linked to better vocabulary and knowledge retention in older age. Conscientiousness also plays a role in strong short-term memory and visual processing in older adults.
A recent study published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that never-married individuals are 58% more likely to die between 1989 and 1997 compared to their married peers. The 'never married penalty' is higher for those in excellent health, but not among the poor or elderly.
A recent study found that extreme heat increases mortality risk among the elderly, diabetics, and African Americans. The research analyzed 7.8 million deaths across US cities from 1989 to 2000, revealing a significant association between extreme temperatures and cardiovascular-related deaths in African Americans.
A recent study published by the American Heart Association found that severe sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of ischemic stroke in older adults. The study analyzed data from over 390 participants aged 70-100 and discovered that those with severe sleep apnea were 2.5 times more likely to experience a stroke.
New research from Ohio State University finds that severe heat waves are particularly deadly in neighborhoods without businesses to draw older people out of their apartments. The study analyzed data from the 1995 Chicago heat wave and found higher-than-average mortality rates in areas with run-down, liquor-focused businesses.
A study found that drinking flavanol-rich cocoa improved blood vessel function in both young and older adults. This suggests that flavanol-rich cocoa may be a useful dietary approach for maintaining endothelial vessel function, particularly in the aging population.
A new drug, eszopiclone, has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce daytime napping in elderly patients with insomnia. The study found that eszopiclone significantly reduced wakefulness after sleep had begun and improved sleep efficiency and total sleep time.
Sleep disturbance in the elderly is associated with decreased memory, impaired concentration, and impaired ability to function. Geriatricians recommend addressing sleep problems through lifestyle changes, such as keeping a diary to track sleep patterns, and trying daytime walks and environmental adjustments to improve sleep quality.
A computer card game called FreeCell has been adapted to detect early signs of dementia by assessing players' planning and efficiency. Researchers found that the game can distinguish between cognitively healthy elders and those with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting potential for early treatment strategies.