Gerontology
Walkies! The influence of dogs on the sedentary elderly
June 21st, 2017 Elderly people with dogs appear to meet internationally recognised exercise goals simply by walking their pet, suggests a small UK study. Researchers matched 43 older adults with dogs to another 43 without dogs and measured their time spent...
Regular exercise significantly boosts brain power in the over 50s
April 26th, 2017 A combination of aerobic and resistance exercises can significantly boost the brain power of the over 50s, finds the most comprehensive review of the available evidence to date, by Australian researchers. The improvement occurs irrespective of the...
Weak grip a strong predictor of metabolic disease and disability
April 19th, 2017 A simple test to determine a person's grip strength is a robust predictor of developing metabolic disorders in middle or older age, a cross-continental study has found. The test locations, demographics and methodology all were selected for a...Poor smell linked to increased risk of dying
In a Swedish study of adults aged 40 to 90 years who were followed for 10 years, poor smell was linked with an increased risk of dying. During the study, 411 of 1,774 participants (23%) died. After controlling for demographic, health-related and...
Assessing effect of exercise and supplements on muscle mass and function
March 15th, 2017 Physical exercise has a positive impact on muscle mass and muscle function in healthy subjects aged 60 and older but the interactive effect of dietary supplementation appears limited among well-nourished subjects, found a large systematic...People who care for others live longer
Older people who help and support others live longer, found a multinational study. And grandparents who care for their grandchildren on average live longer than grandparents who do not. The study was conducted by researchers from the University...
Having babies later in life associated with increased longevity
November 23rd, 2016 Women who had their first child at age 25 or older were more likely to live to age 90 and women with two to four full term pregnancies were also more likely to live at least nine decades, found a large, 21-year University of California study. The...The Italian village that is a centenarian haven
Acciaroli in south-west Italy is no ordinary place. It is home to an extraordinarily high number of centenarians and one of the reasons might be the unusually good blood circulation of the elderly in the village. The Independent reports that more...Less than a third of the aged regain full function after a hip fracture
After a hip fracture, less than a third of older people return to being as physically active and independent as they were before, found a University of California study. The odds are even lower for the very old and those with dementia or other...Seniors 'anything but retired' from sex – study
A University of Illinois study of older adults, aged 50 and above, found that though some were abstaining from sexual activity due to health conditions or loss of interest, others refused to renounce sexual activity and are finding their golden...Low vitamin D link to cognitive decline risk in Chinese elderly
Research has associated low vitamin D levels with increased subsequent risk of cognitive decline and impairment in the Chinese elderly. Produced primarily in the skin upon exposure to sunlight, vitamin D is necessary for maintaining healthy bones...Fewer calories in the non-obese reduces inflammation
Restricting calories by 25% in healthy non-obese individuals over two years, while maintaining adequate protein, vitamin, and mineral intake, can significantly lower markers of chronic inflammation without negatively affecting other parts of the...Healthy diet reduces impairment in women as they age
In a large study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers found an association between women who maintain a healthy diet and a reduction in the risk of developing impaired physical function as they age. “Little research has been...Overall health predicts mortality better than age
Age plays almost no role in accounting for differences in older people's health and well-being, according to a large University of Chicago study.
Wearable technology to identify frailty in the elderly
May 11th, 2016 Researchers have developed a wearable technology, using sensors found in cellphones, to rapidly and accurately assess biomarkers of frailty such as slowness of motion, weakness, and exhaustion. The 20-second upper arm extension test (called upper...