Last update:

Gerontology & Geriatrics news

Overweight & Obesity

Abdominal obesity and muscle loss increase the risk of death by 83% after age 50, study finds

A study by researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil, in partnership with University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom, concluded that the combination of abdominal fat and muscle loss ...

Arthritis & Rheumatism

Study uncovers beneficial relationship between gardening and osteoarthritis

Gardening/yardwork is one of the few forms of leisure physical activity that people tend to do more as they age. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and a major cause of disability that also tends to occur ...

Health

Key chemical in dark chocolate may slow down aging

A chemical found in dark chocolate could slow the rate of biological aging. Research from King's College London has found that the chemical theobromine, a common plant compound that comes from cocoa, could have anti-aging ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

A mitochondrial protein may hold the secret to longevity

As life expectancy continues to climb globally, the focus of many people has moved from longevity alone to living in good health. This has drawn attention to the need to extend "healthspan," the period during which an individual ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

An innovative tool helps measure healthy aging

A Florida State University researcher is part of a pioneering team that has developed a new measure to understand and support healthy aging, with the potential to change how health care workers, employers and policymakers ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

Who are the loneliest Americans?

Middle-aged Americans are most likely to feel the pinch of loneliness in their lives these days, a new AARP survey has found.

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Age-related muscle wasting tied to cell recycling defect

Two related studies published today in Nature Metabolism show that a specialized intracellular recycling mechanism—chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)—is essential for muscle health.

Diabetes

Diabetes drugs may help older adults slow frailty

A new study shows that older adults with type 2 diabetes who start treatment with sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors—such as empagliflozin (Jardiance) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga)—or glucagon-like peptide-1 ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

When a hearing aid isn't enough

Hearing loss among older adults remains vastly undertreated. Federal epidemiologists have estimated that it affects about one in five people ages 65 to 74 and more than half of those over 75.

Neuroscience

Suspenseful movies shed light on aging and memory

As horror enthusiasts queue up their favorite Alfred Hitchcock films to welcome in the Halloween season, Brock University researchers have turned to the master of suspense for a different reason—to better understand how ...

Medical research

Blood analyses in dogs could provide insights into human aging

Lab-based studies have provided lots of information on the biology of aging, but it's unclear how lab discoveries apply to aging in the real world. Research in Aging Cell provides insights into aging based on studies in dogs.

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Stiff arteries may amplify early memory decline in older adults

Findings from the multisite IGNITE clinical trial suggest that arterial stiffness, which occurs when large blood vessels lose their natural flexibility, may be linked to greater injury effects to brain nerve fibers in older ...

Gerontology & Geriatrics

Bucket list wishes can make final days meaningful

Whether it's taking a trip to Disneyland or sharing a meal with a loved one, fulfilling a "bucket list" wish near the end of life offers more than fleeting joy. A new study from The University of Texas at Arlington finds ...

Oncology & Cancer

Graying hair may reflect a natural defense against cancer risk

Throughout life, our cells are constantly exposed to environmental and internal factors that can damage DNA. While such DNA damage is known to contribute to both aging and cancer, the precise connection—particularly how ...

Immunology

A missing protein may hold key to rejuvenating aging blood cells

As our hair goes gray and our muscles weaken with age, our immune system also changes. In particular, the stem cells that become blood or immune cells can develop mutations, potentially leading to cancers or other dysfunctions.

Gerontology & Geriatrics

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise

As we age, keeping our bodies active helps us stay healthier for longer and protects against chronic disease. We can also exercise our brains to prevent age-related mental decline with activities like reading aloud, writing ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Internal migrants in the U.S. age with fewer disabilities, study finds

A groundbreaking study analyzing data from over 5 million older Americans has found that those who migrate within the U.S. have significantly better health outcomes than those who remain in their birth state, offering compelling ...