Category: Longevity News 2012

10/24/2012 - The Island Where People Forget to Die

In 1943, a Greek war veteran named Stamatis Moraitis came to the United States for treatment of a combat-mangled arm. He’d survived a gunshot wound, escaped to Turkey and eventually talked his way onto the Queen Elizabeth, then serving as a troopship, to cross the Atlantic. Moraitis settled in Port Jefferson, N.Y., an enclave of… Read more 10/24/2012 - The Island Where People Forget to Die

10/19/2012 - Alzheimer’s Prevention Seen Promising as Drug Cures Fail

Three studies set to explore the use of experimental drugs that may become the first to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease aren’t looking to cure the illness. Their goal is to prevent it altogether. Read the full article at the San Francisco Chronicle.

10/19/2012 - New Dementia Diagnostic Exams and Gene Findings Bode Well for Treatment

Today it is possible to diagnose dementias more accurately than ever before, thanks to improvements in behavioral assessment tools, imaging techniques, gene testing and data collection and analysis, according to Bruce L. Miller, MD, a behavioral neurologist and professor of neurology at UCSF. Read the full article at UCSF.

10/17/2012 - Carbs, Sugar Linked With Cognitive Impairment Risk In Elderly: Study

A Mayo Clinic study of 1,230 people between the ages of 70 and 89 found that those who eat food high in carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. The danger also rises with a heavy-sugar diet. Read the full article at Huffington Post.    

10/17/2012 - Home Health Aides Often As Old As Their Clients

As America ages, its 2.5 million home health workers are graying right along with the clients they care for. And by all accounts, these older workers are especially well suited to the job. Read the full article at National Public Radio (NPR).

10/17/2012 - Get Up. Get Out. Don’t Sit.

Just as we were all settling in front of the television to watch the baseball playoffs, two new studies about the perils of sitting have spoiled our viewing pleasure. The research, published in separate medical journals this month, adds to a growing scientific consensus that the more time someone spends sitting, especially in front of… Read more 10/17/2012 - Get Up. Get Out. Don’t Sit.

10/14/2012 - A Risky Lifeline for the Elderly Is Costing Some Their Homes

The very loans that are supposed to help seniors stay in their homes are in many cases pushing them out. Reverse mortgages, which allow homeowners 62 and older to borrow money against the value of their homes and not pay it back until they move out or die, have long been fraught with problems. But… Read more 10/14/2012 - A Risky Lifeline for the Elderly Is Costing Some Their Homes

10/10/2012 - How in the World Will We Care for All the Elderly?

All over the world, people are living longer than ever before and posing caregiving challenges that span the globe. We think of this phenomenon as particularly true of wealthy “first world” countries like the United States. But it’s not. Read the full article at The New York Times.

10/15/2012 - Baby Boomer Spending Habits: Here's What's Really Hurting Their Retirement

Are boomers spending too much and hurting their chances at a comfortable retirement? A study by the National Center for Policy Analysis investigates the spending habits of baby boomers who many say are no where near ready to retire. While the blame on the lack to retirement-ready boomers is often placed on sub-par 401(k) and… Read more 10/15/2012 - Baby Boomer Spending Habits: Here's What's Really Hurting Their Retirement

10/14/2012 – A Risky Lifeline for the Elderly Is Costing Some Their Homes

The very loans that are supposed to help seniors stay in their homes are in many cases pushing them out. Reverse mortgages, which allow homeowners 62 and older to borrow money against the value of their homes and not pay it back until they move out or die, have long been fraught with problems. But… Read more 10/14/2012 - A Risky Lifeline for the Elderly Is Costing Some Their Homes