Aging
We all have an age but we also know time is a relative abstract construct based on real dimensions in the physical world; a day is different on Mars than it is on Earth. We know our birthdays and how old we are but it does not tell us how long we might live.
Some people age faster than others and a new study hopes to be able to measure the transcriptome, gene expression, and create a true way to read biological clocks. This study was with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, and worms are not little people, but for the last four decades it has become vital for studying DNA and…
We're living longer than ever, but that means we now have to think about new issues that were uncommon when life expectancy was low.
Muscles shrink and their strength dwindles as we age. When that is excessive, the condition is called sarcopenia, and it affects every third person over the age of 80, reducing mobility, autonomy and quality of life.
There may be hope in the form of a well-known drug, Rapamycin, that can delay the progression of age-related muscle weakness.
The causes of sarcopenia are diverse, ranging from altered muscle metabolism to changes in the nerves…
82% Of Baby Boomers Are Experienced Enough Not To Trust Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’ COVID-19 Vaccine Claims
Hank |
Only 16 percent of Americans believe that Russia leapfrogged American scientists and successfully created a viable COVID-19 in a recent survey. They may be the same 16 percent who believe Russian propaganda sites like Russia Today and Sputnik when it comes to food: that Russia became the world leader in "organic" food with a press release saying they were; and energy, where Russia funds environmental groups to undermine natural gas so they can control Europe using a strategic resource while Germany can claim they have a larger percent of "renewable" energy domestically than would be possible…
Data from 737,839 people with dementia find that 73.5 percent of them filled at least one prescription for an antidepressant, opioid painkiller, epilepsy drug, anxiety medication or antipsychotic drug in a one-year period.
The percentages generally were even higher among women, non-Hispanic white patients, people in their late 60s and early 70s, and people with low incomes.
The problem; there is no evidence they work, they are not approved for off-label use in dementia, and some of the drugs have been linked to worse cognitive symptoms in old adults.
Nearly half of those in…
As time passes, our fertility declines and our bodies start to fail. These natural changes are what we call ageing.
In recent decades, we’ve come leaps and bounds in treating and preventing some of the world’s leading age-related diseases, such as coronary heart disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
But some research takes an entirely unique view on the role of science in easing the burden of aging, focusing instead on trying to prevent it, or drastically slow it down. This may seem like an idea reserved mainly for cranks and science fiction writers, but it’s not.
The…
It’s a common assumption that exercise in older people is difficult and dangerous, so it’s perhaps best avoided. But this is often not the case – even if these ideas are ingrained in society. Research has repeatedly shown that exercise in older adults is linked with lower disease risk, reduced risk of falls, and better overall health.
But misconceptions about age and exercise still exist – and it’s not difficult to see why. Exercise recommendations, even from health authorities, are often based on age. But if you look closer, you notice that these recommendations are often identical to those…
Surveys are not behavior but if surveys are any indication, elderly people are not willing to self-isolate, even knowing they are at greatest risk of getting COVID-19, the newest mutation of the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, and and spread worldwide.
Survey results from 27 countries find that elderly people are not more compliant with COVID-19 preventive measures and not more willing to isolate when asked, even though it is established that older adults appear are far more likely to be hospitalized or die from the disease.
The paper was written using survey results…
When it comes to COVID-19 deaths, the elderly and those with certain pre-existing conditions are at greater risk, just like they are in any disease that can cause respiratory distress.
Yet demographers are beginning to break down those numbers to highlight disparities in outcomes. A new paper finds that even though men and women are equally likely to contract the virus, men are significantly more likely to suffer severe effects and die.
What might explain it? Co-morbidities are certainly a factor, though deaths in people of color are higher than in Caucasian-Americans and co-…
Hank |
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the 2019 form of the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China and has caused the COVID-19 disease worldwide, there has been concern about protecting those with preexisting conditions, which will be many seniors. Though the risk is negligible in young people, since coronavirus is in the same family as the common cold anyone can carry it without being symptomatic and that means extra precaution is being taken regarding the elderly.
Yet social isolation can be harmful as well. If you've ever watched the television show "Alone", you know even the ablest…
Many adults have some degree of osteoarthritis, up to 15 percent of those over age 60, but less well known is that degenerative joint disease (DJD), where the protective cartilage that cushions the end of the bones wears down over time, affects a high proportion of pet cats of all age groups, but particularly those 10 years of age and over.
A new study provides a Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Checklist to help veterinarians and owners to identify cats experiencing DJD-associated pain.
The team behind the new checklist were concerned that feline DJD remains under-…