California’s Aging Population: Not Forever Young

Currently the sixth youngest state, California will soon begin aging faster than the nation. According to the State’s recently released Interim Population Projections, the number of old people in California, those age 65 and older, will double over the next twenty years from 4.3 million in 2010 to 8.4 million in 2030.

6/12/2012 - Common genetic Alzheimer’s risk factor disrupts healthy older women’s brain function, but not men’s

For every two men diagnosed with Alzheimer’s there are three women who have it. The primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s is, of course, old age – and it’s true that women tend to live longer than men. But even after correcting for this longevity difference, the ratio of female to male Alzheimer’s patients remains skewed… Read more 6/12/2012 - Common genetic Alzheimer’s risk factor disrupts healthy older women’s brain function, but not men’s

6/11/2012 - Senior citizen housing option offers community feel

The Realife Cooperative in St. Cloud, Minnesota, one of a growing number, primarily in the Midwest, offers seniors independent living in a community setting. Unlike assisted-living facilities or other common forms of senior housing, members own the cooperative collectively, enjoy tax and financial benefits as homeowners and have control over decisions affecting the community. Read… Read more 6/11/2012 - Senior citizen housing option offers community feel

6/9/2012 - Forced to Early Social Security, Unemployed Pay a Steep Price

According to an analysis by Steve Goss, chief actuary for the Social Security Administration, about 200,000 more people filed initial claims in 2009 and 2010 than the agency had predicted before the recession and he said the trend most likely continued in 2011 and 2012, though that is harder to quantify. The most likely reason… Read more 6/9/2012 - Forced to Early Social Security, Unemployed Pay a Steep Price

6/7/2012 - Low Interest Rates Crimp Retirement Plans, Survey Finds

Rising pessimism about the course of the economy, along with low interest rates and increasing health care costs, are squeezing Americans’ retirement plans, a new survey finds. Read the full article at The New York Times.

6/7/2012 - Racial Gap in Life Expectancy at All-Time Low

The gap in life expectancy between whites and blacks in America has narrowed, reaching the lowest point ever recorded, a new study shows. Read the full article at The New York Times.

6/4/2012 - It's time to rethink retirement

When Social Security was created in 1937, the average American lived to age 60. Since then, medical advances have added decades to life expectancy. Most 55-year-olds today will see their 82nd birthday. Problem is, we haven’t adjusted the way we work, the way we save, or the structure of our public programs to support these… Read more 6/4/2012 - It's time to rethink retirement

5/31/2012 - Stanford University opens multimillion-dollar center in Beijing

The center will be used by 10 Stanford programs and departments, including the Graduate School of Business, the school’s overseas study program, the Law School and the School of Medicine’s Asian Liver Center. Dr. Samuel So, a Stanford liver cancer surgeon and Center on Longevity faculty affiliate, will use the center to research ways to… Read more 5/31/2012 - Stanford University opens multimillion-dollar center in Beijing

5/30/2012 - For some, exercise may increase heart risk

Could exercise actually be bad for some healthy people? A well-known group of researchers, including one who helped write the scientific paper justifying national guidelines that promote exercise for all, say the answer may be a qualified yes. By analyzing data from six rigorous exercise studies involving 1,687 people, the group found that about 10… Read more 5/30/2012 - For some, exercise may increase heart risk

5/29/2012 - Exercise, vitamin D may prevent falls

Older adults who are at high risk of falls should have physical therapy and take vitamin D supplements to reduce their chance of injury, according to new recommendations from a government-backed panel. Falling is “a common problem and it’s often overlooked because doctors may not be aware of their patients’ fall risk,” said Dr. Albert… Read more 5/29/2012 - Exercise, vitamin D may prevent falls