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Geriatric palliative care news

Examining perceived changes in extreme weather among older people

Older people in Austria widely perceive an increase in extreme weather since their childhood. Yet how strongly they notice these changes depends on their social position, where they live and how they relate to environmental ...

Vitamin D and calcium supplements may not protect against bone fractures, large new study suggests

For years, many people have taken calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep their bones strong as they age. Walk into any pharmacy or supermarket and you'll find shelves full of products promising to support bone health, ...

How quickly older adults can take a step may predict longevity

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have found that how quickly an older adult can execute a voluntary step—especially when distracted (concurrently performed cognitive task)—may serve as a valuable ...

Dementia care: Re‑envisioning the role of music

As a certified music therapist, I have observed firsthand the many ways music can bring meaning and beauty into people's lives, even under very difficult circumstances. Much of my clinical work and research has occurred in ...

At 85 and healthy? Why more medicine may do more harm

When a patient has made it to 85 years old in reasonable health, their instinct—and often their physician's—is to redouble prevention efforts, optimize every number and close every gap. I want to argue the opposite.

Statin use linked to lower risk of frailty in older veterans

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have demonstrated that older U.S. veterans who initiated statin therapy were significantly less likely to develop frailty over time, suggesting that the cholesterol-lowering medications ...

Life after work: Why social connections matter

Social networks may help protect cognitive functioning in later life, particularly among older adults who are no longer working, according to a new IIASA-led study. Drawing on data from 27 European countries, the researchers ...

Treasure trove of data on aging now publicly accessible

One of the most important gerontological data sets has been opened to the research community. The data of the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) are accessible via the Research Data Center of the Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID). ...

'The Pitt' informs, educates viewers, study says

Gritty medical drama "The Pitt" has made a big difference in the way patients and families understand dicey issues like organ donation or end-of-life decision making, a new report says.

Blood test reveals risk of multimorbidity in older adults

A small set of common blood biomarkers predicts which older adults will develop specific combinations of chronic diseases—and how quickly, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in Nature Medicine.

AI-powered wearable boosts preventative care for elderly

University of Arizona researchers in the Gutruf Lab have developed a comfortable, easy-to-use wearable device that incorporates artificial intelligence to detect subtle warning signs of frailty, signifying a leap forward ...