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Gerontology & Geriatrics news

Genetics

Q&A: How cryptic mitochondrial DNA mutations reveal a hidden layer of the aging process

New research published in Nature Communications into hidden mutations in mitochondrial DNA has uncovered how high mutational levels coincide with later life and link to aging markers.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Known risk factors alone do not explain disease accumulation, finds study

As the population ages, multimorbidity, or when a patient has multiple diseases at once, is becoming increasingly common. The onset of one disease increases the risk of developing other diseases, making it necessary to investigate ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

How intestinal bacteria influence aging of blood vessels

The aging of the innermost cell layer of blood vessels leads to cardiovascular diseases. Researchers at UZH have now shown for the first time that intestinal bacteria and their metabolites contribute directly to vascular ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Why gait quality matters as you age

Walking is one of the most important things we do for our quality of life. In fact, research shows it contributes more than any other physical activity to how well we live day to day. Yet one in three people over the age ...

Genetics

'Barcodes' written into DNA reveal how blood ages

A study in the journal Nature explains how age reshapes the blood system. In both humans and mice, a few stem cells, or "clones," outcompete their neighbors and gradually take over blood production. The blood stem cell reservoir ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

All exercise is important for the health of older adults, says study

Physical activity helps protect older adults against disease. A new study reveals that the health benefits also apply to those who exercise less than the recommended amount. The research is published in The Journal of nutrition, ...

Health

The DIY guide to checking how well you're aging

A few years ago, a social media trend challenged people to see if they could stand up from the floor without using their hands. Now, it's all about how long you can balance on one leg while brushing your teeth. These quirky ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Audiologist-fitted hearing aids outperform over-the-counter ones

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids (HAs), in which audiologists provide limited services, are effective, but do not achieve the same outcomes as HAs fitted by audiologists (AUD service model), according to a study published ...

Health

Feelings of frailty can set in as early as age 40

Loneliness, feeling older than your age and a negative attitude to aging are all associated with early stages of frailty, even in people as young as 40, new research reveals. The research is published in the journal BMC Public ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Increasing differences in older people's COVID-19 protection

Among older people in Sweden, vaccination against COVID-19 has shifted from a high and uniform level when the first vaccinations were provided to more uneven levels today. A national study shows both regional and socioeconomic ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Loss of smell linked to higher risk of death and dementia

A new study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery has found that deficits in the sense of smell, known as olfactory impairment, are significantly associated with increased mortality in older adults. ...

Medical economics

When health care providers go bankrupt, patients pay the price

U.S. health care organizations are filing for bankruptcy at record rates as they increasingly rely on risky debt, leading to increases in staff turnover and harm to patients—particularly elderly ones living in nursing homes.

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Back into the closet: Is aged care failing LGBTI+ people?

Many older LGBTI+ people feel pressure to "straighten up" and "blend in," concealing their identities to feel safe in aged care facilities, say researchers at the University of South Australia.

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Indigenous views of elderhood offer lessons on aging

A new study by researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa examines how Indigenous communities define elderhood, and how this role supports healthy aging. Led by Yu-Chi Kalesekes Huang and Kathryn Braun of the Thompson ...