Aging Information for Senior Citizens by SeniorJournal

November 16, 2006 - Fall-related death rates for men and women 65 years and older increased significantly from 1993 to 2003, according to a report released today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Read more...

November 14, 2006 – Men who want to live to at least age 85 now have a specific strategy that will help them get there – but they need to start at age 54 to exactly fit this model. But give or take a few years probably does not change the formula proposed by this research, which says avoiding smoking, excessive drinking, hypertension and being overweight should just about achieve the goal. One problem, if you are not married you just probably are not going to make it to 85. Read more...

Factor in high blood pressure, which affects about 65 million Americans, most of them older adults

October 31, 2006 - As if creaking joints and hardening of the arteries weren't bad enough, a research team from the University of Delaware and the Christiana Care Health System in Newark has now confirmed that even our veins stiffen as we age. Read more...

October 24, 2006 – A study released yesterday found that falls by male senior citizens may be due to low testosterone levels. A study released today, however, makes matters even worse. It says testosterone levels in older Americans have been declining steadily over the last twenty years, and does not appear to be just the result to getting older. Read more...

Naked Mole-Rat in News Again as Scientists find Longevity Champs have Slower Metabolism

These old rats studied for years still not giving up secret of long life

October 10, 2006 - The world’s longest living rodent – the naked mole-rat – is in the research news again today as scientists continue to probe for the secret to its longevity. The latest study of the hairless tunnel-dweller suggests that the thyroid may hold the answer to why they live 10 times longer than most regular mice. They found that the naked mole-rat has significantly lower levels of thyroid hormone, which speeds metabolism, and hope this leads to the secret of aging. Read more...

Naked Mole-Rat May Hold Answer to Longer Life but Not Giving It Up, Yet

Researchers say they may change oxidative stress theory of aging

October 9, 2006 - Those of us most like the naked mole-rat may outlive our contemporaries as does this friendly furless guy that lives in the total darkness of underground burrows, yet holds the world longevity record in the rodent kingdom. Why do they live so long? Scientist have long studied that question without success, but a new study says they show much higher levels of oxidative stress and damage and less robust repair mechanisms than the short-lived mouse, findings that could change the oxidative stress theory of aging, say the scientists. Read more...

Women's Skin Ages Faster than Men's, Says New Test to Measure Skin Aging

October 3, 2006 - Physicists and medical researchers for the first time have demonstrated a new technique that non-invasively measures in real time the level of damage to the skin from sun exposure and aging, and initial results suggest that women’s skin ages faster than men’s. Read more...

Sleep Studies of Older People Find Behavioral Treatment Helps Insomnia; Women Endangered by Restless Legs

October 2, 2006 - Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) is probably something most senior citizens have never heard about, but a small study indicates it appears to be a promising intervention for older adults who suffer from insomnia, which is about half of all Americans over age 60. And, for older women, periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS), a common condition in older women, has been found to lead to long-term health problems. Both studies are reported in the current edition of the official journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Read more...

Senior Citizen Health & Medicine

Sleep Evaluation Should be Routine Medical Care Says Editorial

Good sleep should be considered an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, as much as exercise and nutrition

September 18, 2006 - Sleep is an integral part of health, and assessment of sleep habits should be a standard part of medical care, according to an editorial in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, which is devoted to studies of sleep and health. The magazine is one of the Journal of the American Medical Association/Archives journals. Read more...

Aging News for Senior Citizens

Advice for Senior Citizens on Finding a Good Night's Sleep

So many senior citizens complain of sleep problems that it has become associated with natural aging. Research finds, however, that sleep problems grow with the accumulation of illnesses, not years.

By National Institute on Aging

September 18, 2006 - Since he retired, Edward dreads going to bed at night. He’s afraid that when he turns off his light he will just lie there with his eyes open and his mind racing. “How can I break this cycle?” he asks. “I’m so tired – I need to get some sleep.” Read more...

Almost Half of Adults Seeking Sleep with Alternative Therapy Say It Works

Studies say a majority of senior citizens have sleep problems

September 18, 2006 - More than 1.6 million U.S. adults are estimated to use complementary and alternative therapies to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping, and almost half say it helps them sleep but a clear majority says it is beneficial to their health and well-being. Read more...

Wear and Tear of Stress and Disease Really Determines Age

Healthy 100 year olds cope by acceptance, not worrying and taking one day at a time

August 11, 2006 - Age may be more related to reactions to stress and the absence of disease rather than to a person's chronological age, say researchers. And healthy aging is a good bet, if stress can be moderated along with adopting an active, healthy lifestyle, according to researchers who looked at centenarians. This finding will be presented at the 114th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA). Read more...

Higher Blood Pressure is Latest Clue to Walking Problems in Senior Citizens

Harvard Health Letter identifies other causes of balance loss in elderly

Aug. 1, 2006 – Difficulty in walking has been associated with increased risk of dementia and death. A new study, however, finds higher blood pressure may be a factor in the decline of walking ability in older people. And, the Harvard Health Letter says there are several other disorders than can rob senior citizens of their balance. Read more...

Women Fighting Aging Skin are Most Frequent Users of Cosmetic Treatments

Dermatologists hear what women want and what they are getting

July 27, 2006 – Women are the most likely to seek cosmetic treatments from dermatologists and their most common request is treatment for wrinkles – aging skin on the face and body. Speaking today at ACADEMY ’06, the American Academy of Dermatology’s (Academy) summer scientific meeting, dermatologist Marian E. Northington, M.D., F.A.A.D., of Birmingham, Ala., discussed the most frequent requests women make in the dermatologist’s office and the procedures dermatologists regularly recommend. Read more...

New Face Lift Method Restores Aging Skin with Minimally Invasive Procedure

Dermatologist says it restores sagging facial skin without heavy lifting

July 27, 2006 - As the aging process begins, the skin starts to thin and it loses its ability to maintain its firmness. Changes in underlying support structures appear as sagging, deep creases, folds and wrinkles. Until recently, the only way to reduce those problems and tighten the skin was a facelift, which must be done in a hospital or surgical center under general anesthesia and can have a long recovery period. But now there is a technique that can provide many of the same advantages of a facelift without the downtime and risks. Read more...

Sleep Problems are Not a Normal Part of Aging and May Not Require Medicine

Doctors should try changing patient's routines before medications

July 24, 2006 - Help may be available for the more than 50 percent of older adults who have difficulty sleeping and have come to accept their problem as part of growing older, according to Saint Louis University geriatricians. Read more...

Senior Citizens Who Give Up Driving may take Express Lane to Nursing Home

'Taking the keys has serious consequences for older drivers'

July 19, 2006 - Although the slower driving habits of some seniors often steam impatient younger motorists, researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found that elders who stay behind the wheel are less likely to enter nursing homes or assisted living centers than those who have never driven or who have given up driving altogether. Read more...

People Sleep Even Less Than They Think

Study finds people seem to be sleeping less and less

July 4, 2006 - A study of the sleep characteristics of 669 middle-aged adults found that people sleep much less than they should, and even less than they think. Published in the July issue in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study also found that blacks sleep less than whites, men sleep less than women, and the poor sleep less than the wealthy. Read more...

Arthritis Treatment May Prevent, Erase Aging Spots on Skin

July 3, 2006 - For many older women, accumulated sun exposure has already permanently damaged their skin cells, causing them to overproduce pigment that shows up as unsightly dark splotches and uneven skin tone over time. But new research indicates that glucosamine - a compound best known for treating arthritis – can actually help stop the formation of new age spots, and help fade existing ones. Read more...

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder May Lead to Dementia, Parkinson's

Acting out vivid dreams may forewarn of more serious illness

June 19, 2006 –Mayo Clinic sleep medicine specialists have found that almost two-thirds of patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) develop degenerative brain diseases, like Parkinson's and dementia, by approximately 11 years after diagnosis of RBD. It is another disturbing finding for many seniors who are the most in fear of dementia and frequently worry about their sleep. (Senior citizens often complain of sleep problems and it has become associated with natural aging. Research , however, finds sleep problems grow with the accumulation of illnesses, not years. Read more about REM sleep and senior citizens below this news report.) Read more...

Senior Citizens to Die in Car Crashes at Higher Rate

Older people, women in particular, are more susceptible to injury than younger people

June 14, 2006 – Senior citizens will die in car accidents at a higher rate in the years ahead as America’s 75 million baby boomers age, grow more frail and continue to drive, according to a new study. Already, seniors age 65 and over are second-most likely to die in car accidents, after young people aged 15-24, according to a National Institute on Aging report on America’s elderly, "65+ in the United States: 2005," released March 9. Read more...

Hope I die before I get old? Wrong Idea!

Attitudes about aging contradict reality - people become happier over time

June 13, 2006 - Back when he was 20 years old in 1965, rock star Pete Townshend wrote the line "I hope I die before I get old" into a song, "My Generation" that launched his band, the Who, onto the rock 'n' roll scene. But a unique new study suggests that Townshend may have fallen victim to a common, and mistaken, belief: That the happiest days of people's lives occur when they're young. Read more...

Women Age Faster but Live Longer - Is Testosterone the Cause?

Males allocate resources to intrasexual and intersexual competition

June 5, 2006 - It has been widely assumed that men age earlier than women, as evidenced by their higher mortality rates and shorter average life spans. But three Northern Michigan University biology professors contend that the opposite is true. They say theory and data suggest that females begin to exhibit signs of physiological decline earlier than males, and that higher mortality figures are not necessarily correlated with the rate at which we age. Read more...

Low Calorie Diet Wins over Exercise in Extending Life Up to 50 Percent

Diet and exercise prevent of age-related disease, but reducing calories needed to slow aging

May 31, 2006 – If you prefer dieting to exercise, you may be in luck, assuming you, like most senior citizens, are seeking ways to live longer. A new study found that only calorie restriction – not exercise – increases the maximum lifespan up to 50 percent. Read more...

Older Women Who Sleep Least Gain Most Weight

Appetite and diet not accounting for weight gain in women who sleep less

May 23, 2006 - Women who sleep 5 hours or less per night weigh more on average than those who sleep 7 hours, according to a study of middle-aged women to be presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference today. Read more...

Cutting a Few Calories, Taking Short Walks May Reverse Aging Damage

Study shows it can even reverse aging cell and organ damage

May 8, 2006 - A lifelong habit of trimming just a few calories from the daily diet can do more than slim the waistline - a new study shows it may help lessen the effects of aging. Scientists from the University of Florida's Institute on Aging have found that eating a little less food and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage in rats. Read more...

Sore Feet a Sure Sign of Aging

FDA Consumer Magazine explores the problems and solutions

April 21, 2006 – There is probably nothing more common for aging Americans than sore feet. Although some foot problems are inherited or come with injuries, many more are caused by the years of wear and tear senior citizens have given them. "Taking Care of Your Feet," is the cover story in the current issue (March-April 2006) of the FDA Consumer Magazine, which discusses common problems many seniors experience with their feet and some things that may help. Read more..

Sleeping Pills May Be Dangerous for Senior Citizens

Medical school doctor suggests alternatives

April 6, 2006 – Getting a good night sleep is a common problem for older Americans but they should not, however, reach for the sleep medication, says a specialist – these drugs are twice as likely to cause harm to a senior patient as they are to help them sleep better. Read more...

Evidence Mounts of Dire Consequence of Loneliness for Older Americans

Latest study says it leads to high blood pressure, heart risk for those over 50

March 28, 2006 – A growing list of studies are pointing to the deadly impact of loneliness, particularly on senior citizens. The latest says loneliness is a major risk factor in increasing blood pressure in older Americans and could increase the risk of death and stroke or heart disease. Although this study was of people between the ages of 50 and 68, the problem increases with added years, which indicates it is more severe for senior citizens age 70 and older. A study last year found nearly 60 percent of the elderly in this group are experiencing some form of loneliness. Read more...

Walking Safely After Age 70 Requires More Attention, Thinking - So They Say

Editor's Note: I'm not really buying a lot of this research that says senior citizens have difficulty walking safely after reaching age 70. I'm sure it's true for a few, but I see more seniors everyday playing tennis, running, jogging and doing other activities that require a fast gait. Many of these are well into their 90s. - TS

Researchers see slow gait (senior shuffle) as significant risk for falls

March 27, 2006 - Psychologists wanting to help old people safely cross the street and otherwise ambulate around this busy world have found that from age 70 and up, safe walking may require solid "executive control" (which includes attention) and memory skills. For the old, slow gait is a significant risk factor for falls, many of which result in disabling fractures, loss of independence or even death. Read more...

Less Than Half Say They Are Healthier Than Parents at Same Age

Parade Magazine poll explores American attitudes on health and aging

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

March 17, 2006 – The lead sentence in this news release says, "Nearly half (48 percent) of Americans say they are in better health now than when their parents were their age." At quick glance a reader may think – "That's not news - everybody knows health and longevity continue to improve." But, wait. Let's turn that sentence around to say the same thing from a different view – "Less than half (only 48 percent) say they are in better health…" Now that's news. Most Americans are not sure they are healthier than their parents at the same age. Read more...

Prisons Not Safe for Vulnerable Senior Citizens

One third of U.S. prison population to be senior citizens by 2030

March 13, 2006 - Indicating that today's prisons discriminate against senior citizens confined there, a new study shows the inmate population, just like the outside world, is aging rapidly but prisons have not adapted to the physical and mental challenges faced by geriatric prisoners. Older women prisoners, the subjects of this research, are having a difficult time coping with the demands of daily living. Read more...

Ten Simple Steps to Revolutionize Old Age Proposed by European Meeting

'Citizen Contract' will help Europeans stay healthy, vibrant longer

March 8, 2006 – Citing a growing body of research that suggests chronic illness is not an inevitable consequence of aging, as has long been believed, but more often the result of poor lifestyle choices that we're perfectly free to reject, an international meeting announced the launch of a Citizens Contract, which they say will help Europeans to stay healthy and vibrant for longer. The contract for aging proposes 10 "simple steps." Read more...

Seniors Not the Most Lonely in Australia

Loneliness peaks in 40s in Australia with those over 50 the least lonely

March 8, 2006 - People didn't necessarily get lonelier as they get older. At least that is the opinion of researchers looking at Australians has concluded – an opinion in conflict with results of U.S. studies. In Central Queensland, they found that among those adults 20 and older, loneliness begins to increase to a peak between 40 and 49. The least lonely were people age 50 and older. Read more...

Elderly White Americans More Likely Than Blacks to Die Soon After Spouse

Study finds no 'widowhood effect' among blacks

March 1, 2006 – The "widowhood effect" -- the increased probability of death among new widows and widowers -- is large and enduring among elderly white couples but undetectable among black couples, suggesting that blacks may somehow manage to extend marriage's well-documented health benefits into widowhood. The new research from Harvard University studied 410,272 elderly American couples. Read more...

Experts Find Keys to Healthy Brains for Aging Americans

National Institutes of Health moves forward on "healthy brain" project

Feb. 21, 2006 – A panel of experts seeking ways aging Americans can keep their brains healthy, has zeroed in on education, cardiovascular health, physical activity, psychosocial factors and genetics as key factors associated with brain health as people age. In their report to the National Institutes of Health, they said research aimed at directly testing the effectiveness of interventions in several of these areas deserves further attention. Read more...

Longer Life Will Add Host of Social, Economic Challenges

Between 2010 and 2030 age of death may increase by 20 years with anti-aging therapies

Feb. 20, 2006 - In the 21st century, state-of-the-art anti-aging technologies may extend human lifespans at an unprecedented rate, bringing with them a host of social and economic challenges, says biologist Shripad Tuljapurkar of Stanford University. Read more...

Never Dying? Scientist Envisions Therapies Creating Longevity Escape

Experts at AAAS briefing don't all agree on the outer limits of the human lifespan

Feb. 20, 2006 - Imagine living to age 1,000 in a middle-aged body. Fantasy? Yes, for now. But recent genetic and molecular biological discoveries have dramatically extended the lifespan of several experimental animals, including mice and worms, and could have potential applications for increasing longevity in humans. One scientist sees the possibility of adding 25 years with 25 years of new therapies. Read more...

Simple Test for Seniors, Boomers to Rate Risk of Dying in Four Years

Researches say all 50 or over can do it by answering just 12 questions

Feb. 16, 2006 - Researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center have created an index that is 81 percent accurate in predicting the likelihood of death within four years for Baby Boomers and senior citizens age 50 and older. See charts below for taking test, life expectancy tables, determining body mass index). Read more...

Senior Citizens Slow Cognitive Decline by Learning New Things

Feb. 16, 2006 – If you think you are too old to learn new skills - by golly, think again. New research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shows that training re-ignites key areas of the brain, offsetting some age-related declines and boosting performance. Read more...

Hearing Ability as We Age is Determined by Hormone

Gene therapy may be way to correct the problem of potassium imbalance

Feb. 10, 2006 – Why do senior citizens lose their hearing? It is their hormones, well, actually one hormone – aldosterone – says a new study. Researchers have linked this hormone, known to adjust levels of key brain chemicals, to the quality of our hearing as we age. The more of the hormone that older people have in their bloodstream, the better is their hearing. And, the less of the hormone they have, the worse is their hearing. Read more...

New Hair Replacement System Works for Elderly, Too

Research says new system gives all patients a shot at "good hair"

Feb. 6, 2006 - More than half of all men and one third of all women in the United States are going bald. But in the past, hair transplantation procedures were not designed for everyone. The elderly, for example, were often excluded due to poor hair quality. Now, new technology has arrived to give all patients a shot at "good hair," according to a study published by James Harris, M.D. Read more...

Senior Citizens Can't Walk and Chew Gum: Study Implies It's No Joke

Brain scan researchers say they found what causes seniors to be distracted

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

Feb. 6, 2006 – Okay, fellow senior citizens, if you can read this without getting distracted, you will learn the reason some scientist say we have "reduced ability to ignore distracting or irrelevant information." Well, let me tell you what they say right up front – "Activity in the medial frontal and parietal regions stays turned on while activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex decreases." There you have it, if I haven't lost you to some distraction. Read More...

Slower Reaction Times Linked to Higher Death Risk for Old People and Young

By Lise Millay Stevens, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service
Jan. 23, 2006 - Slower reaction times and poorer memory are associated with a greater risk of dying in young and old people, a new study shows. Read more...

How Do Seniors Define Successful Aging?

Older adults perspectives on healthy aging surprises many

Jan. 18, 2006 - Understanding how older adults define successful aging is a critical component to the well-being and quality of life for this burgeoning population. A study published in the January edition of The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry concluded that despite having chronic illnesses and some disability most community-dwelling senior citizens saw themselves as aging successfully. Read more...

Senior Citizens Enjoying Health, Life Much Longer than Expected

Most common health problems reported were poor vision, hearing loss and mood

Dec. 28, 2005 - Older Americans enjoy good health for a longer period than previously realized, and many factors that compromise health in the elderly can be modified to maintain their health, according to recent findings from a large multi-university study led by Duke University Medical Center. Consequently, researchers said, physicians should understand that long spans of illness and disability are not necessarily part of normal aging. Read more...

Elders Donate Their Cars, Get Free Rides

For donating their cars seniors receive free rides based on value

By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Dec. 21, 2005 - As his health declined, Irving Anzmann of Portland, Maine, decided it was no longer safe to drive. But he still needed to visit a dialysis center three times a week. It was there that he learned about a local service for the elderly that would give him and his wife door-to-door rides in exchange for donating their car. Read more...

Scientist Find Genes Associated with Reaching Age 90 with Sharp Mind

Dec. 12, 2005 – Want to live to age 90 while maintaining a sharp mind? Gene researchers say APOE E2 good, APOE E4 bad. Scientist who presented their findings related to reaching 90 with preserved cognition today at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology also identified novel genetic regions associated with successful aging, including DYS389 and DYS390. Read more...

Successful Aging is Simply 'Mind over Matter' Says New Study

Optimism and effective coping styles are found to be more important to aging

Dec. 12, 2005 - A study released today suggests that the perceptions of senior citizens about the aging process depend not on disease or physical disability, but rather on attitude and coping style. Read more...

Most Americans Hope to Live Past 85, But Don't Expect It

Dec. 9, 2005 - Most Americans (58%) hope to live past age 85, although only 43% think they actually will, according to a new national poll released today by Research!America and PARADE magazine. The average age to which those polled want to live is 88, but the average age to which they think they will live is 82. Read more...

Gerontology Students Experience Instant Aging

Purdue students get "fresh look" at growing old

Dec. 7, 2005 - Young graduate students in Karen Fingerman's gerontology class got a new sense of what it means to grow old when they looked in the mirror and saw an older person looking back. Read more...

'Survival' Genes Hold Key to Healthy Brains in Elderly, Babies

Dec. 5, 2005 - Completing a daily crossword and enjoying a range of activities and interests has long been accepted as a recipe for maintaining a healthy brain in older age, but the reasons for this have never been clear. Now, scientists at the University of Edinburgh are are finding clues as they seek to identify brain's 'survival' genes which lie dormant in unused brain cells, but are re-awakened in active brain cells. Read more...

New Digital Technology Introduced to Enhance Phones for Hard of Hearing

Nov. 30, 2005 – A leading manufacturer of products for the hard of hearing announced today a new digital technology that "will make phone conversations markedly clearer for millions of individuals." Clarity, a division of Plantronics Inc., introduced Digital Clarity Power (DCP) to coincide with the December 3 observance of the UN International Day of Disabled Persons to emphasize the "enormous impact" the technology will have on individuals around the world with hearing loss disabilities. Read more...

Battle Against Memory Loss in Seniors Gets New Funding

Initiative calls for innovative, high-payoff ideas to solve age-related memory loss

Nov. 30, 2005 – The battle against memory loss by senior citizens just received reinforcements from a former nurse and wife of the late chairman of 3M company who wants to know why memory fades as we age. The Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute has awarded $375,000 to spur more research. Read more...

Senior Citizens Do Shrink – Just One of the Body Changes of Aging

Shrinking height, pot belly, pencil legs - it can be prevented

Nov. 28, 2005 - As we age, we experience decreases in everything from hair and hearing to memory and muscle. Height is also on the list. Starting at about age 40, people typically lose about half an inch each decade, with some faster shrinkage after age 70. Senior citizens may shrink as much as three inches. Read more...

Most Senior Citizens Experience Loneliness, Say Researchers

Study due in January finds friends more important to mental health than family

Nov. 21, 2005 - As the holidays approach, loneliness becomes the spirit of Christmas present for all too many older people. Nearly 60 percent of more than 500 senior citizens age 70 or older in this study experience some form of loneliness, according to University of Michigan researchers. And, in a study to be released in January, they find friendships are more important than family relationships in predicting good mental health of seniors 60 and older. Read more...

Australian Study

Current Seniors May Be Last to Age Gracefully as Boomers Fight to the End

Nov. 9, 2005 - Australian society's obsession with looking younger is set to collide with the reality of aging, a University of Queensland researcher warns. The current fixation with trying to postpone aging is increasing and the current senior citizens may be the last to age gracefully, says researcher Mair Underwood, who will present her study at the Emerging Researchers in Ageing (ERA) 2005 conference in Brisbane this week. Read more...

Sleep Survey Shows Seniors Sleeping Better Than Boomers

Nov. 3, 2005 – About 25 percent of adults 50 and older told a Gallup survey they have a “sleep problem.” Interestingly, the new survey for the International Longevity Center-USA (ILC) shows it is senior citizens 65 and older who are most likely to get a “good nights sleep.” Read more...

Seven Lessons You Can Learn From Your Aging Body

Emotional, Spiritual Riches of the Aging Body Explored in New Book

By Pat Samples,
Author of Body Odyssey: Lessons from the Bones and Belly

Oct. 25, 2005 - Want to feel more at ease in your body? Too often we rush through our days, barely noticing the warnings our bodies give us or even the pleasures they experience. What might they have to tell us if we listened to their wisdom? Read more...

Botox Substitute Without Needles May Be on the Way

Scientist find success with skin absorption of oat beta glucan

Sept. 29, 2005 – The battle against the wrinkles and lines of aging skin has received a scientific boost, thanks to an innovative study that is the first to show that oat beta glucan can penetrate the skin despite years of doctors and scientists believing that the large molecule was too big. Beta glucan has been considered helpful in healing wounds and smoothing skin, but this discovery can enhance its use and possibly its use as an alternative to Botox. Read more...

Shrinking Bones Could Be Why You Look Older

Sept. 25, 2005 - Blame your bones if you think you look older. Gravity may be pulling at your skin, but the shrinking of facial bones plays a surprisingly significant part in facial aging, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2005 conference in Chicago. Read more...

Senior Citizen Memory Loss Due to Irrelevant Distractions in Aging Brain

fMRI study confirms brain changes with aging, provides new diagnostic tool

Sept. 12, 2005 - The short-term memory problems that accompany normal aging are associated with an inability to filter out surrounding distractions, not problems with focusing attention, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Read more...

Senior Citizens Are Not Rude, Just Have Uninhibited, Aging Brains

Sept. 9, 2005 – If you are a senior citizen and sometimes wonder why people think you are rude, it may be because you are. Seniors seem to be prone to this malady, according to new research, that says changes in brain function as we age may explain our lack of tact. Read more...

Anti-Cancer Drug May Hold Potential for Treatment of Aging

A potential therapy for children suffering from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Aug. 30, 2005 - A class of experimental anti-cancer drugs also shows surprising promise in laboratory studies for treating a fatal genetic disorder – progeria - that causes premature aging in children. The discovery, scientist hope, may also shed light on treatment for aging and atherosclerotic disease for senior citizens and other adults. Read more...

Discovery of How Klotho Gene Works Could Lead to Anti-Aging Therapy

Klotho works on insulin: making an animal resistant to insulin increases its lifespan

Aug. 26, 2005 – Led by one of the scientist that first discovered and named the Klotho gene in 1997, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered that a protein prolonging life in mice works by controlling insulin, a discovery possibly significant in developing anti-aging therapy, says Dr. Makoto Kuro-o. Read more...

Study of Successful Aging Points to Active Learning

Adult learning specialist shares what he learned, wants your help

By Roger Hiemstra
Professor Emeritus, Elmira College & Syracuse U.

Aug 25, 2005 - In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I followed the lives of 30 active learners (18 women and 12 men). All were over the age of 67 and two were over 90, when I began the study. It was a fascinating journey and I learned much about what it takes to live rich and fulfilling lives. Read more...

Implants for Missing Teeth Popular with Senior Citizens

Longer retention of teeth is creating new needs, greater demand and $3.5 billion market

Aug. 25, 2005 – Dental implants – an artificial root for holding a replacement tooth – has spurred a boom for the dental profession. Many predicted the demise of dentistry with the vast progress in protecting children from cavities, but they failed to consider the longer life of the population and the retention of teeth by senior citizens. Implants for the loss of a tooth have become the fastest growing segment of the dental market. Read more...

National Program Launched to Help Low-Income Get Hearing Aids

AUDIENT says it provides greatly discounted prices on new digital hearing aids

Aug. 20, 2005 – A new non-profit organization is stepping up to assist the nine millions Americans, primarily senior citizens, who need hearings aids but cannot afford them. The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing in Seattle, Washington - the largest cornea transplant center in the U. S. and provider of donated hearing aids and other services for more than 40 years - launched AUDIENT earlier this year. Read more...

Senior Citizens Who Master Computer Have Less Depression

Aug. 18, 2005 – Senior citizens who become adept at using a computer appear to have fewer depressive symptoms than those older adults who aren’t so technologically connected. Read more...

Seniors Try So Hard to Hear They Forget What They Heard

Aug. 13, 2005 – Senior citizens with hearing problems may try so hard to hear they can’t remember what they heard. That is what a new study by Brandeis University researchers concluded. Read more...

Submissions Sought On Learning Among Older Adults

New journal to be published by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

July 28, 2005 – Reports on original research and “thoughtful and engaging commentary” related to learning among older adults is being sought by a new academic journal - The LLI Review, The Annual Journal of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes. Read more...

Administration on Aging Releases 2004 Annual Report

July 21, 2005 – The Administration on Aging, which was established by the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1965, has released their annual report for 2004. An agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it was created to serve as the federal governments focal point and lead agency for older persons and their concerns. Read more...

What Do You Know About the Aging Process?

Many senior citizens are as ill informed about aging as most younger people

July 15, 2005 - SeniorJournal.com today begins a series of daily quizzes about the aging process that have been developed by Roger Hiemstra, Professor, Adult Education, Elmira College and Professor Emeritus, Instructional Design and Adult Learning, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Read more...

Do your shoes match

Aging Feet Get Longer, Wider, Flatter, Thinner

July 11, 2005 - If style is the main objective when you select shoes, your feet may suffer, especially as you age. Over time, your feet become wider and longer and the natural padding under your heel and forefoot thins. Years of use also flatten your arches and stiffen your feet and ankles. Aging boomers and senior citizens need to match their shoes to these changes. Read more...

Watching More TV Increases Seniors' Negative Views Of Aging

June 28,2005 - The more senior citizens watch television, the greater their negative images of aging may be, but maintaining a diary of viewing impressions increased their awareness of the negative stereotyping on television, researchers at Yale report in the Journal of Social Issues. Read more...

Eye Damage More Likely for Senior Citizens Due to Stiffening Lens

June 23, 2005 – Senior citizens are more likely to suffer eye damage in accidents or other trauma, because of the increasing stiffness of the aging eye. Researchers at Wake Forest-Virginia Tech School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences offer their recommendations for protection. Read more...

Insomnia Study Focuses on Medications That Work and Don’t Work, Wants Behavioral Therapy

National Institutes of Health concludes detailed look at insomnia

June 16, 2005 - Many of the medications widely used to manage chronic insomnia have not yet been rigorously evaluated for long-term use, according to an independent scientific panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health. The final draft report of the panel, which resulted from probably the most detailed look at the causes and cures for insomnia, which plagues millions of senior citizens, was released last night. Read more, including full draft report...

Shrinking Brains of Aging Do Not Impact Mental Abilities: New Study

June 10, 2005 – As people pass into their 60’s the brain usually begins to shrink but new research says this shrinkage has no impact on the individual's capacity to think or learn, which challenges conventional views. Read more...

Mysteries of Insomnia to be Explored by National Institutes of Health Conference

June 4, 2005 – Insomnia is a mysterious sleep problem that primarily effects senior citizens and late boomers. It has been frequently in the news recently with new treatments and new drugs. Now the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has called a State-of-the-Science Conference on the Manifestations and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults to try and unravel some of the mystery. Read more...

Insomnia Patients Being Taught How to Sleep

June 2, 2005 – Insomnia drugs have been much in the news recently but Baby Boomers and Senior Citizens who have trouble sleeping - about half - may want to try another approach being used by doctors at the University of Michigan Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. They are teaching people how to sleep. Read more...

FDA Magazine Offers Sound Advice on Age-Related Hearing Loss

May 23, 2005 – One-third of those between the ages of 65 and 75 has hearing loss and after age 75 it is about half. Most age-related hearing loss is irreversible but there are ways to compensate. The cover story in the Food and Drug Administration's flagship publication, FDA Consumer magazine, which was just named the Best National Magazine in the 2004 National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil Competition, explores the causes and options for those with presbycusis. Read more...

New Center Looks At Depression in the Aging Body

The Rochester center is focused on mind-body interactions and aging

May 19, 2005 - The newly formed Rochester Center for Mind-Body Research (RCMBR) today launched its first three pilot programs to explore how depression, personality and stress contribute to disease in the aging body. The announcement coincides with the center’s annual board meeting, research presentation day and the kick-off of a mind-body lecture series. Read more... links to more about depression in senior citizens.

Long-Term Stress Is Why Some Senior Citizens Have Poor Memories

May 18, 2005 – A new study says the negative effects of long-term stress are the reason why some older adults show poor brain function and perform poorly on memory tests. Read more...

Older Adults With Insomnia Report Falling Asleep Faster with Ramelteon

Another new sleep drug fighting for FDA approval focuses on senior citizens

May 12, 2005 – The FDA approval of the sleep-aid Lunesta created excitement among the millions of senior citizens who have problems with sleeping. Now, there is a new drug fighting for approval that has just completed a clinical study focused on older people. Ramelteon, the researchers say, “Significantly reduced time to fall asleep in older adults with chronic insomnia.” Read more...

Administration on Aging “You Can” Program Reaches Goal of 2,000 Partners

AoA Announces Mini-Grants to Prevent Elder Abuse

May 11, 2005 – The Administration on Aging yesterday announced reaching its two-year objective to enroll 2,000 partners in the “You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging” program and the agency also awarded six small grants for the development and testing of interventions to reach “underserved and isolated” elderly at risk of elder abuse. Read more...

Can Sign Language Help Find the Word You Want to Recall

May 10, 2005 - Can't find the right word? What senior citizen has not faced this problem? Researchers suggest older people should start moving their hands when they talk. It may help you find the word you are trying to recall. Read more...

Sleep Help

Restless Legs Syndrome Gets It’s First FDA Approved Treatment

Requip was first approved to treat Parkinson’s disease in 1997

April 9, 2005 - The Food and Drug Administration has approved Requip (ropinirole) to treat moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), an ailment that often strikes senior citizens. The drug was first approved for Parkinson’s disease in 1997. Read more...

Dermatologists Begin Free Skin Cancer Screening Nationwide

Senior citizens are frequent victims from many years in the sun

May 3, 2005 – Yesterday was Melanoma Monday, which was the kick-off for free skin cancer screening by dermatologists in many local communities. The program will continue throughout the year and includes training on how to conduct skin self-examinations and learn about the most common form of cancer -- skin cancer. The underlying cause of skin cancer in older people is often the accumulated damage of many years of excessive exposure to the sun. Read more...

Healthy Vision Month

Tips for Older People to Maintain Visual Abilities

May 2, 2005 - Are you like many senior citizens having a harder time reading small print, navigating dimly lit hallways, or attending public gatherings? Age-related vision loss could be the cause. May is Healthy Vision Month and the American Foundation for the Blind offers these strategies and devices that may help older people with vision loss to maintain their independence and quality of life. Read more...

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Offers Hope for Treatment of Age-Related Blindness

April 27, 2005 – Researchers may have stumbled on a drug treatment that will stop the development of age-related macula degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in senior citizens and all people over 55. In a study of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, they were found to be 10 times less likely to develop AMD. Read more...

Few Older Americans Better Off Than Last Year, Says AARP Survey

Senior Citizens relying more on their Social Security checks

April 25, 2005 – AARP today released their second annual quality of life survey that examines the health and welfare of America’s 50+ population and it contained devastating news about the welfare of senior citizens. AARP focused on the increased reliance on Social Security, but the news that only small minorities of seniors feel they are better off than last year is even worse. Read more...

Finally, good news about getting old

Surprising Decrease in Surgical Infection Risk After 65

No infections found in patients older than 95

April 14, 2005 - Contrary to what most may think, advanced age does not increase the risk of surgical-site infections, according to a large long-term study reported in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. The study, which involved prospectively collected data on thousands of patients in multiple hospitals undergoing various surgical procedures, found that the infection risk increased by about 1 percent per year between the ages of 17 to 65 years but then decreased by about 1 percent per year after age 65; indeed, there were no surgical site infections in patients who were older than age 95. Read more...

Lunesta Sleep Aid Available in 24 Hours to Any Pharmacy, Company Reaffirms

New study released today affirms earlier conclusions, shows no recurrence, withdrawal

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

April 11, 2005 - Lunesta is listed in the national pharmacy order management system, and is available to pharmacies within 24 hours of ordering it. This confirmation came in response to our request for more information after several readers contacted SeniorJournal.com saying they could not find the new sleep aid at their local pharmacy. Read more...

Finding Lunesta Leaving Many Seniors Sleepless

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

April 10, 2005 - We have published several news releases by the maker of the new sleep aid, Lunesta, saying the prescription medicine is available nationwide. The latest ran on Thursday (see box) but we are still getting complaints that it cannot be found. This is an email from a reader on Friday: ...Read more

Lunesta: New Insomnia Drug Now Available in Most Pharmacies, Company Says

Information to SeniorJournal.com says clinical trials prove value of long-term use for senior citizens

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

April 7, 2005 – There has been general confusion about the availability of the new prescription sleep aid, Lunesta, that was approved by the FDA late last year but has been slow to reach the market. The company, Sepracor, Inc., issued a news release today saying it is now available in “most pharmacies nationwide.” Many senior citizen insomnia suffers have been eager for the non-narcotic drug that is the first sleep aid approved for long-term use. Read more...

Science of Aging is Focus for Six-Week Mini-Med School at Smithsonian

April 5, 2005 - Some of the eternal questions of life — how and why we age, why some people age faster or live longer, and what can be done to fight the diseases and disabilities associated with old age — will be explored by distinguished scientists in a provocative Spring 2005 "Mini-Med School" cosponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Office of Science Education at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Smithsonian Associates. Read more...

Senior Health Site by NIH Now Has Section on Sleep

April 5, 2005 – Sleep patterns change is people age but the National Institute for Health says waking up tired or disturbed sleep are not a normal part of aging. Recognizing the importance of sleep for older Americans, the agency has added a section on sleep to their Website on senior health. Read more...

Now All Causes of Varicose Veins Can Be Treated Nonsurgically

April 4, 2005 – Varicose veins occur in two of every three people 50 and older, and for these sufferers there is good news from the 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, where a study has been presented saying all causes of varicose veins can now be treated by laser and the researchers report a 96 percent success rate. Read more...

Sleep Forum Warns of Epidemic on First Insomnia Awareness Day

National Sleep Foundation releases 2005 Sleep America Poll

March 30, 2005 – The first Insomnia Awareness Day was greeted today by an alarm from the Save Our Sleep (S.O.S.) Forum of epidemic levels of insomnia in America and the health repercussions that can stem from it. The Forum urges the public to “wake up” to the potentially devastating consequences of this untreated sleep problem. Read more...

New Long-Term Sleep Aid Lunesta Available Nationwide by April 1

Senior citizens expected to be a major market – 2 of 3 have sleep problems

March 30, 2005 – Two out of three older adults have sleep problems, according to the National Sleep Foundation, but help may have arrived just around the corner at the local pharmacy. Lunesta, the new insomnia drug approved by the FDA in December, is due to be available nationwide by April 1, according to. Sepracor Inc., maker of the drug. Read more...

March 14, 2005 - College seems to pay off well into retirement. A new study from the University of Toronto sheds light on why higher education seems to buffer people from cognitive declines as they age. Brain imaging showed that in older adults taking memory tests, more years of education were associated with more active frontal lobes – the opposite of what happened in young adults. It appears possible that education strengthens the ability to “call in the reserves” of mental prowess found in that part of the brain. Read more...

Alcohol Drinking Declines As People Age; Elderly Show Faster Decline

Feb. 23, 2005 – As we age we drink less alcohol, or at least that is what a new study reports. The research also claims that in their study the people born in earlier years showed a faster decline than those born in more recent years, suggesting that negative health effects of alcohol could increase in the future. Read more... including more stories about senior citizens and drinking.

Hearing Loss in Aging May Not Be Ear Problem; Just an Old Brain

Feb. 22, 2005 – Losing your hearing as you grow older may not be a problem with your ears. Older people whose ears are in fine shape may have trouble hearing because their brain is aging, conclude researchers who are finding problems in the way our brain processes information as we age. Read more...

Older People Focus on Feeling Good About Memories, Decisions

Feb. 6, 2005 – Older people tend to erase the bad stuff and highlight the good stuff when remembering their choices in life. In making current decisions, senior citizens are more focused on feeling good about their choices, while young people are trying to learn as much as they can about each option. It seems to be all about feeling good, researchers suggest. Read more...

Seniors Beat Youngsters at Grasping the Big Picture

Feb. 5, 2005 – Senior citizens are faster and better than young adults in grasping the big picture, according to research released this week. “The belief that older people perform slower and worse than young people has been proven wrong, the psychologists report. Read more...

Pentapeptides the Latest Star in Fight Against Wrinkles

Newly-Discovered, Cheaper, Alternative To Surgery, Over-the-Counter – Wow!

By Tucker Sutherland, editor

Jan. 22, 2005 – We are well aware that some of the best read stories on SeniorJournal.com are about new ways to slow aging - in particular, new innovations to keep our faces looking young. The hottest new products to get our attention are over-the-counter creams for removing wrinkles that contain a group of amino acids called “pentapeptides.” There is not yet a lot of information available but we found some promotion and a video produced for Proctor & Gamble that says this really works. Read more...

Blood Pressure Regulating System May Play Role in Aging

Nov. 22, 2004 - The same system that regulates blood pressure may also play a role in aging, suggesting a "whole new mechanism" involved with aging, according to new research from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. More... 11/22/04*

Scientists Say They Know Why Older Adults Have Trouble Learning New Tricks

Nov. 16, 2004 - Aging can erode aspects of memory that require control while leaving more automatic, learned behavior preserved. The new research suggests that new learning requires control, whereas past habits are relatively automatic. This may help explain why it can be so hard for older adults to "learn new tricks" and maintain them over time. More... 4/11/16*

How Fast We Age May Be Determined by a Couple of Proteins, How Much We Eat

Nov. 5, 2004 – Limiting your calorie intake as a way to stay young has received new support from research that focused on cellular aging and pin-pointed two proteins that seem to predict who stays young and who gets old. More... 11/05/04*

Study of Elderly Shows Optimist Have Lower Risk of Death

Nov. 2, 2004 - Patients who described themselves as highly optimistic had lower risks of all-cause death, and lower rates of cardiovascular death than those with high levels of pessimism, according to an article in the November issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. More... 11/02/04*

Faces Age Due to Loss of Fat, Sun More Than Gravity

Oct. 12, 2004 - To the surprise of many people, the loss of fat and sun exposure play a bigger role than gravity in aging the face, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery 2004 conference in Philadelphia. More... 10/12/04*

Quickie Face Lifts Gain in Popularity to Fight Aging

Barbed sutures, wrinkle fillers give patients more innovative, non-surgical options, say plastic surgeons

Oct. 9, 2004 - Patients without time for a facelift or intimidated by surgery are turning to more minimally invasive options that produce effective results. Barbed sutures, ultrasonic body contouring and soft tissue fillers were the choice in 7 million procedures last year, up 43 percent from the year before. More... 10/09/04*

Sept. 13, 2004 – Two new studies show we age better when we are happy and free of negative images of aging. The authors say social and environmental factors are important in how people age. More... 9/13/04*

Sept. 13, 2004 - Unlike younger recreational gamblers who show high rates of alcohol use and abuse, depression, bankruptcy and incarceration, there appears to be an association between recreational gambling and good health among elderly persons. More... 9/13/04*

Sept. 11, 2004 — Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis will head an ambitious study of people who live exceptionally long and healthy lives to identify the factors that account for their longevity. More... 9/11/04*

Teetotalers, Frequent Drinkers Most Like to Suffer Cognitive Impairment in Old Age

Sept. 3, 2004 – Middle age people who drink several times a month and non-drinkers are twice as likely to have “mild cognitive impairment” in old age as are those who drink less than once a month, according to a new British study. More... 9/03/04*

Aug. 27, 2004 - Methods used for studying the aging of complex equipment can be used to better understand the aging of humans, according to biologists, who say our bodies function best at about 10 years old and if we could hold that rate we may live to be 5,000. More... 8/27/04*

Aug. 24, 2004 – High blood pressure is increasing rapidly in the U.S. and a major reason is the increase in the number of older Americans – the vast majority develop hypertension. More... 8/24/04*

Aug. 23, 2004 – Only months old, the Successful Aging Initiative established by The Cleveland Foundation, says their program is emerging as a model for cities seeking resources to serve the explosion of older adults. More, including link to quiz on aging... 8/23/04*

July 29, 2004 - If looking your age doesn’t sound appealing to you, a chemical peel could be your secret weapon in erasing the tell-tale signs that go hand in hand with growing older. Whether you opt for a superficial chemical peel or a deep peel that penetrates several layers of the skin, the introduction of newer peeling agents are giving dermatologists more options than ever to treat fine lines, sun damage, mild scarring, and even some forms of acne and pigmentation disorders safely and effectively. More... 7/29/04*

July 29, 2004 – Several new skin fillers have recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and they have become the current rage in anti-aging products for senior citizens wanting to remove wrinkles. More... 7/29/04*

Damage is a result of trauma to the physical structure of the hair that occurs every day

July 29, 2004 - While there are many causes of hair loss – including disease and genetic predisposition – the most common reason men and women lose their hair is due to poor cosmetic grooming practices. Coloring, styling, brushing and even scratching can all add up to damaged hair. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to get your hair back on track. Read more...

April 20, 2004 – What are Americans willing to give up for a drink from the “Fountain of Youth?” Not sex, for those 18 to 64, and not coffee for those over 64. More... 4/20/04*

April 13, 2004 -Yoda, the world's oldest mouse, celebrated his fourth birthday on Saturday, April 10, 2004. At 1,462-days-old, Yoda is now the equivalent of about 136 in human-years. The life span of the average laboratory mouse is slightly over two years. The dwarf mouse lives in quiet seclusion with his cage mate, Princess Leia, in a pathogen-free rest home for geriatric mice belonging to Richard A. Miller, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of pathology in the Geriatrics Center of the University of Michigan Medical School. More... 4/13/04*

April 9, 2004 - In an effort to encourage additional financial support for their programs, the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) has launched a new digital donor initiative and created a unique Web site, NCOAHelps.org, as a centerpiece for an online donor campaign. More... 4/09/04*

Feb. 13, 2004 - An observational study in this week's issue of THE LANCET sheds more light on the theory that aging is associated with a shortening of chromosomes in somatic (ie. non-reproductive) cells. Results of the study suggest that the gene responsible for telomere shortening is inherited via the X chromosome. More… 2/13/04*

Jan., 2004 - The battle of the researchers over how much sleep humans need continues with the lastest study saying people live longer if they sleep seven hours, rather than the often recommended eight hours. - or less than 4.5 hours. More...1/10/04*