https://medicalxpress.com/gerontology-geriatrics-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Geriatric Palliative Care In December 2024, the share of South Koreans ages 65 and older surpassed 20% for the first time, making it what demographers like us call a "super-aged society." By August 2026, that share had risen further to 22.1%. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-south-korea-tackling-superaging-problem.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:20:14 EDT news708684122 Researchers are urging families to start conversations about driving retirement years before an older person is forced off the road, warning that waiting for a crash or near miss can make the transition harder. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-car-keys-grief-older-australians.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:20:02 EDT news708681541 People are living longer, reshaping what it means to grow old. By the late 2060s, an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide will be 60 or older—more than the number of people who are under 18. The population ages 80 and older is expected to grow even faster, more than tripling between 2023 and 2060 to about 545 million. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-older-americans.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:00:01 EDT news708599821 Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that environmental conditions where World Trade Center responders live may influence their long-term physical and mental health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-frailty-ptsd-depression-decades.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:00:05 EDT news708270901 Much of the progress in Alzheimer's disease research in recent years has focused on preventing or slowing the disease in its earliest stages. But for millions of people already living with advanced dementia—and the families caring for them—another question remains: How can we make life better now? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-caregiver-resource-focuses-quality-life.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:20:01 EDT news708262298 For Judy Donnelly, participating in a UConn Health research study meant driving from Windham to Farmington, drinking four packets of a supplement each day and undergoing a comprehensive series of tests designed to measure everything from her strength and body composition to her cognitive function. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-ketone-supplement-trial-aging-older.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:20:04 EDT news708262484 A new Ontario-wide study reveals that common medications, from statins to iron supplements, are quietly setting off prescribing cascades that leave older adults unknowingly taking drugs to treat side effects of other drugs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-potentially-drug-combinations-older-adults.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:30:01 EDT news708257281 A team led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators has identified a protein that may hide aging cells from the body's immune system, allowing them to build up and contribute to age-related health problems. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-blocking-protein-buildup-aging-cells.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:21 EDT news708104462 New research exploring how people cope when a family member chooses assisted dying highlights the "roller coaster" of emotions they often experience. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-sadness-relief-families-cope-dying.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:06 EDT news708250741 As aging populations drive rising global health care demands, finding scalable ways to prevent cognitive decline has become a public health priority. While intensive clinical trials have shown that multidomain lifestyle interventions can protect brain health, translating these resource-heavy protocols into everyday municipal practice remains challenging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-month-community-attention-diet-scores.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:40:01 EDT news707722222 Research continues to improve knowledge and understanding, but translating this research into clinical practice remains a challenge. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-approaches-crucial-aged.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:40:03 EDT news707724841 A new University of Liverpool–led study has highlighted widespread fragmentation between health care and social services for people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers across eight European countries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-highlights-fragmented-dementia-health-social.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:09 EDT news707654941 Level of education is the socioeconomic factor most strongly associated with survival rates after acute hip surgery. This is shown in a Linköping University study of 58,000 people. The results can be used to better identify patients who may need more support after surgery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-strongly-linked-survival-hip-fracture.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:00:12 EDT news707562541 A new study published in Nature Aging on Aug. 25 reports that a single gut bacterium—Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum (BP)—together with a small molecule it produces, 5-aminovaleric acid betaine (5-AVAB), can alleviate multiple hallmarks of aging and extend healthy lifespan in mice, opening a promising avenue toward healthier aging in humans. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-gut-bacterium-metabolite-delay-aging.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:40:10 EDT news707492581 Researchers have evaluated a novel smart wheeled walker designed to enhance mobility and safety for aging populations. Published in JMIR Aging, the randomized crossover trial revealed that the smart wheeled walker significantly improved walking speed, reduced exertion and boosted dynamic balance compared with a traditional 4-wheeled rollator. The study was led by Dr. Phurichaya Werasirirat, Dr. Pornpimol Muanjai, Dr. Oranat Sukkho, Dr. Nongnuch Luangpon and Dr. Juntip Namsawang from the Department of Physical Therapy at Burapha University in Thailand, alongside Dr. Audrius Snieckus from the Lithuanian Sports University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-smart-walker-boosts-efficiency-dynamic.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:20:08 EDT news707483647 A study conducted at the University of Helsinki indicates that the total number of people with dementia will grow significantly in the coming years, and the number of those living at home may even more than double after 2018. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-people-dementia-home.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:40:07 EDT news707483221 Older adults living with several chronic diseases, a condition known as multimorbidity, may respond differently to interventions aimed at preventing disability, depending on the combination of diseases they have. A new study, published in Nature Aging and led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome, suggests that looking at patterns of multimorbidity, rather than individual diseases alone, could help make prevention more personalized. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-disease-profiles-reveal-uneven-benefits.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:00:10 EDT news707396402 Once relegated to the counterculture, psilocybin—the psychoactive compound in "magic mushrooms"—has been receiving renewed scientific attention. A growing body of research points to its potential for treating depression, addiction and end-of-life distress, prompting several countries to loosen regulations and greenlight clinical use. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-magic-mushrooms-palliative-clinicians-keen.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:00:04 EDT news706869011 In a tale of identities as divergent as "The Prince and the Pauper," a well-known cancer-causing gene also influences cells in a zombie-like state meant to prevent cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-hidden-role-cell-senescent-cells.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:00:05 EDT news707140501 Scientists are making progress in developing new cancer treatments, but a patient's experience with cancer is shaped by more than medicine. A new sociological study finds that conflicting medical, work and family timelines compound inequality, draining resources and displacing goals for even the most advantaged patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-sync-demands-cancer-patient.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:20:01 EDT news707117222 Latino Americans are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than white Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-dementia-coloradans.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:06 EDT news707042582 Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) poses an increasing global burden for older adults, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-acute-myeloid-leukemia-impacting-older.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:40:07 EDT news706888921 A Swedish population-level study has found that people with a comprehensive understanding of palliative care are more likely to prefer end-of-life care at home or in a hospice. Among individuals with less understanding about palliative care, hospital care is preferred. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-palliative-life.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:20:06 EDT news706797170 The Lancet HIV Commission on Aging's 2026 report highlights how profoundly the global HIV epidemic is changing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-aging-hiv-global-highlights-health.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:20:07 EDT news706793942 Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy aging and even predictors of longevity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-mobility-insights-crystal-ball.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:20:01 EDT news706613940 Implementing an intersectoral, telemedicine-based intervention in nursing homes did not lead to a statistically significant reduction in patient hospitalizations, according to a prospective, multicenter cluster-randomized trial led by John Grosser, Sophie Pauge, Birthe Aufenberg and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Greiner from the Department of Health Economics and Health Care Management at Bielefeld University. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-telemedicine-intervention-nursing-home-hospitalizations.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:40:01 EDT news706528878 Japan has one of the world's fastest-aging populations, but maintaining independence into very old age remains a growing public health challenge. Nearly 60% of Japanese adults aged 85 years and older already receive support through the national Long-Term Care Insurance system, highlighting the need to identify people at risk before disability develops. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-blood-proteins-flag-disability-years.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:40:08 EDT news706533661 As the prevalence of dementia increases, family members continue to be the primary caregivers for loved ones coping with the disease. Some of the most distressing aspects of dementia are behavioral symptoms—such as agitation or aggression—which are common across disease types and stages. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-app-based-dementia-caregivers.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:00:03 EDT news706508101 Loneliness and social isolation are widely recognized as harmful to older adults' health, yet frontline care workers have long lacked a simple, objective way to identify those most at risk. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a set of community-based, preventive approaches to address social frailty among seniors, including a new screening tool and nature-based interventions in care facilities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-hong-kong-screening-tool-social.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:40:04 EDT news706438241 Maintaining activities of daily living (ADLs) is important for terminally ill cancer patients, and dependency is associated with psychological distress. However, evidence for rehabilitation remains scarce in this setting. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-efficacy-terminally-ill-cancer-patients.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:40:11 EDT news706438466