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For Yoga Guru, Reaching Perfection Is a Stretch (December 14, 2002)
At 84 years old, B. K. S. Iyengar has trained hundreds of teachers who have spread his method of practicing. He is also one of the most penetrating writers on yoga and its physical practice. This is one peaceful portrait of a successful Indian yoga addict.

Depression is more dangerous for older men than for older women (December 8, 2002) (in Russian)
Depression represents a higher threat for older men’s health then for women’s, research says. A long-term study of Australian scientists shows that while women suffer depression more often, it has stronger negative results on men, and may cause heart or psychological diseases.

A Program Intended to Offer Health Insurance to the Poor ( December 4, 2002)
An experimental program sponsored by the World Bank and the International Labor Organization provides health insurance to poor people in developing countries by allowing small, regional insurers to pool risk over a large area, making them less vulnerable to large epidemics.

Access To Essential Drugs May Be Undermined By Global Patent Agreement  (December 1, 2002)
A Panos Institute report warns that the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights agreement (TRIPS) could further limit access to medicine in poor countries. The report proposes alternatives to rigid patents that would make life saving drugs affordable to all people.

Industrialised North Puts Brakes on WTO Medicine Accord (November 29, 2002)
WTO negotiators failed to reach an agreement on drug patents that would have improved access to essential medicines for people in poor countries. Non-governmental organizations blame industrialized countries, "dictated by the ambitions of the big pharmaceutical companies," for stalling the negotiations. 

In Africa, AIDS Has a Woman's Face (November 29, 2002)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan writes in the New York Times that African women play a crucial role in Africa’s ability to survive famine and the AIDS crisis. He argues that aid programs to Africa must address the soaring rate of HIV infection among women and increase women’s capacity to provide for their families.

UN Consecrates Water As Public Good, Human Right  (November 27, 2002)
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights issued a statement declaring water a global public good and a basic human right. The statement has clear ramifications for the global move towards water privatization, but the committee remains cautious about explicitly condemning privatization. 

Free Trade Agreements: Threads Of A Giant Continental Spider Web (November 27, 2002)
Rich and poor countries around the world are rushing to build free trade areas, convinced of the benefits of increased and liberalized trade. However, structural inequities shut out many of trade’s benefits from the poor world, producing greater inequality and more entrenched poverty.

World Trade Talks Struggle Over Cheap Drugs Access (November 25, 2002)
Representatives from the World Trade Organization's145 member states are facing a looming deadline to clinch a deal. All countries agree that the poorest states should have ready access to cheap drugs, often versions copied by third world producers of medicines patented by multinationals. But they are split on which countries should get automatic exemption from patent rules.

The oldest woman of Cuba has died (November 13, 2002) (in Russian)
The oldest women who died on Cuba in November, 2002, left 12 children, 33 grandchildren, 65 grandgrangchildren, 32 grandgrandgrandchildren, and 14 grandgrandgrandgrandchildren.

La Securite Sociale dans les 15 pays de l’Union Europeenne (in French)
There is no European Social Security regime. Instead, the EU coordinates the national regimes of member countries’ Social Security. Here are descriptions of the Social Security programs for all 15 countries of the European Union.  

Fur die Deutsche Version: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/missoc2001/organisation_de.pdf

For English version: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/missoc2001/organisation_en.pdf

Krankenkassen wollen Verbot von Beitragserhöhungen zuvorkommen (November 1, 2002)
The German health insurance schemes are still discussing higher contributions for the year 2002. The health minister Ulla Schmidt (SPD) plans to codify a wage stop for doctors and hospital-issues in the new health law. Then the issues for 2003 might not exceed of the current year. Should they be frozen?

Senior Widows Undergo Positive Identity Change (October 30, 2002)
A new British study shows that most widows report a deep sense of loss following the deaths of their husbands which they often describe in terms of the loss of limbs.

Cod-liver oil will preserve intelligence for a long time (October 30, 2002) (in Russian)
French scientists, after studying more than one and half thousand older people, report that those who have at least one fish dish during the week have significantly lower risk of decreasing intelligence with age.

Older People Do Just As Well After Heart Transplant (October 29, 2002)
Older patients are less likely than younger patients to experience any episodes of rejection after a heart transplant as reports a new Canadian survey.

Drug Agency Weighs Role of Hormone Replacements (October 25, 2002)
The future of the hormone therapy is in big trouble those days. The Women's Health Initiative study of Prempro, which costs more than $600 million, would like to answer the question of combination of estrogen and progestin at the same time. It found that Prempro conferred slight risks of heart attacks, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer that were not balanced by its benefits, slight decreases in hip fractures and colon cancer. What would makers of new drugs for menopause do to show they are safe in long-term studies?

Poor nutrition puts elderly at risk (October 13, 2002)
“Many elderly people are eating too little and what they do eat often doesn't contain the minimum nutrients necessary for health. “ A Maccabi Health Services' study of a representative sample of 158 Tel Aviv residents over the age of 70 shows that 80 percent ate fewer than 800 calories a day. This minimal amount of food, the authors stressed, is inadequate to provide all the minerals, vitamins and trace elements needed to maintain health.

  Old age is a decision of your mind (October 12, 2002) (in Russian)
Many reports show that population aging will affect countries and their economies. But the question of this article raises what determines physical and psychological condition of personal individual when he or she is reaches 60 years of age? Some authors argue that changes in physical conditions with age are the result of psychological stereotypes.

Comparing Aging Experiences in U.S. and Denmark (October 11, 2002)
This article from the AARP discusses aging experiences in both Denmark and the US. It compares Denmark’s social Welfare systems versus the US’s capitalist system, health care expenditures and quality of services. A 1997 Euro-barometer survey comparing all European countries indicated that 90% of Danes were satisfied with their health care services, higher than in any country in Europe.

Drug Companies Push Japan To Change View of Depression (October 9, 2002)
The Prozac revolution changed Japan in a bad way. The message from drug companies has fit well with Japan's medical culture.

Japanese Masters Get Closer to the Toilet Nirvana (October 8, 2002)
Toilets in Japan are far more than mere hygienic necessities: new models test biological samples, provide climate control and even soundtracks.

Birth Weight Linked to Later Muscle Strength (October 7, 2002)
Muscle strength is lost with age. But elderly who had a low birth weight may tend to have relatively weaker muscles.

Concern over heavy drinking pensioners (October 7, 2002)
The study of Alcohol Concern, that looks at older persons who drink much, shows that about 30,000 premature deaths a year could be attributable to alcohol abuse.

Doing it in France (October 2002)
The English speaking community retired to the Côte d'Azur to find their happiness in the weather and the health system for the elderly. But sometimes, it’s not a ‘good choice for everyone’ because of the language gap and the loneliness.
 

Housebound elderly benefit from early intervention (September 28, 2002)
The ESCR program can have a positive effect on homecare for the elderly. Research showed that people who received social services had higher self-esteem.

Des centaines de médicaments ne seront plus remboursés (September 25, 2002)
The picture is dark enough that Jean - François Mattei, the French Health Minister, speaks about a possible evolution which " will return in the worst years (...) In 1992-1993 ", when the Social Security faced several billion francs of deficit. The only expected savings concern drugs. In three years, the government intends to abolish the refund of 835 medicines which has, according to the experts, a medical service made insufficient ( SMR)

World's oldest person celebrates birthday (September 16, 2002)
The oldest person in the world, Kamato Hongo, has celebrated her 115th birthday. She is bed ridden and requires continual care, but apart from being slightly hard of hearing, she is said to be in good health.  Her diet of fish and green vegetables is thought to promote longevity.  

China (September 6, 2002)
But, as before, the details provided were at best sketchy and government estimates still seemed well below those suggested by the few independent experts who have quietly worked in the area. These experts say that the majority of adults in some villages now carry H.I.V. and that there may well be over a million people infected in the province.

Male Menopause Can Mimic Depression (September 5, 2002)
Studies show that women aren’t the only one who experience menopause.  Men over the age of 60 have testosterone deficiency that possibly leads to depressed mood, lack of energy, fatigue, low bone density, as well as many other health problems.

Rapport annuel au Parlement de la Cour des Comptes sur la Securite Sociale (Septembre 2002) (in French)
Every year, the Cour des Comptes, the French public office, establishes a report of application of the Social Security financing laws. This report presents an analysis of all the Social Security accounts subjected to its control. This report is submitted to the French Parliament. Here is the 2001 report, published in September 2002.

Scientists Improve Memory in Mice by Turning off Brain Enzyme (August 28, 2002)
Scientists have boosted learning and memory in mice by blocking a brain enzyme, and they say the result could point to therapy for reducing forgetfulness in older people.

Women over 50: 'Non-Shy Generation' Wants to Enjoy Life (August 27, 2002)
Karin Kain, as well as many other women her age, are a far cry from the stereotypical 50-plus woman of yesteryear. This 51 year old retired prima ballerina and others share their thoughts on aging gracefully and living life to its fullest.

Health Cost Review to Benefit Elderly (August 21, 2002)
Beginning October, individuals aged 70 or over who earn less than 4.5 million yen a year and elderly couples with an annual income of less than 6.37 million yen will shoulder only 10 percent of their health costs.

'Flu jabs for all demand (August 19, 2002)
Flu is one of the number one causes of sickness and days off. Immunization campaign in UK  will target over-65s and vulnerable groups, such as those with asthma or heart disease. US researches recommends to target everybody. Is it cost beneficial?  

Homes dispute 'threatens well being of elderly' (August 6, 2002)
In the United Kingdom, a local authority was accused of unfairly “boycotting private sector providers in a dispute over fees.” The City Council of Birmingham refused to place frail elderly in the home they chose. They are sometimes being forced to live at home with inadequate care.

Resounding, Independent Support for Expansion of an Innovative Medical Specialty (Spring, 2002)
The idea of anti-aging medicine is very important: If scientists can slow aging, they can eliminate 50% of all diseases. The concept of life extension is becoming an actual topic for researches. Biomedical intervention and modern technology are keys to improve human life and enable longer life.

In sickness, but mainly in health... (2002)
According to American research marriage may keep you healthier in old age. Men seem to benefit more than women.

Prescriptions for elderly often inappropriate: study (August 15, 2002)
According to sources of Archives Internal medicine journal, there are many elderly people who are taking inappropriate drugs. Multiple drug use is common in elderly patients due to an  increase in the number of medical conditions as one ages.This increases the risk of harmful drug interactions and adverse side-effects, as well as the likelihood that patients won't follow their prescribed drug regimen.

Bananas 'could prevent strokes' (August 13, 2002)
Potassium deficiency , scientists say might increase the risk of stroke. An easy preventive measure is to eat lots of potassium rich bananas.

Izhevsk. One of the oldest citizens celebrated her 101 birthday (August 8, 2002) (in Russian)
One of the oldest citizens of the Izhevsk city in Russia remembers her life that was not easy. She endured much suffering during her life: First World War, Revolution, the Second World War, death of relatives.  She is surprised that she has lived through so much.

Robot hand for the disabled (August 7, 2002)
A robot hand that can perform a variety of tasks for disabled people? It may seem that science fiction  has taken over from real life - but it's not such a far-fetched idea. Some advocates for the disabled are  cynical, however, feeling that the robot would be no replacement for real human assistance.

Medicated gum helps boost seniors' oral health (August 6, 2002)
The older people are more prone to oral infections, but they have an opportunity to prevent it by chewing medicated gum  according to study done in England

Electric shocks can ease Parkinson's: Study (August 5, 2002)
A study done by Australian team of physicians proved that electric shocks could ease Parkinson disease. However treatment is risky, because of the complexity of the surgical operation, that precedes the shock therapy.

Scientists discover how cancer spreads (August 4, 2002)
Scientists now start to understand the way cancer spreads in the body. The key protein molecule – Src- is responsible for loosening the structure of tissues surrounding a tumor, opening the way for cancer cells to spread around the body. This study can be helpful in finding drugs that block this process.

Douglas urges public support for medicare (August 2, 2002)
Ms Shirley Douglas , defender of public health,  appealed to the Canadian government to regulate private clinics and reduce private services. People can not protect their health alone, was her argument, they need government health.

Fire crew sent to treat man dying of heart attack (July 30, 2002)
A 54 year old man died of heart attack  while expecting   professional help from an ambulance.  The ambulance could not come in time  because it was exceptionally busy. Instead a fire crew was sent, but it was unsuccessful in an attempt to resuscitate him

Cash fine to clear elderly from hospital beds (July 30, 2002)
The UK has found an effective way to solve the problem of  delays in discharging  elderly people from the hospital. It is a 120 pounds fine , which would start at the end of the three days within which a hospital discharge plan will have to be prepared.

Diet raises medical bills (July 27)
Medical expenses for salaried workers and elderly increased due to legislation of Prime Minister Junichro. Minister justifies that  by arguing that rising is the necessary step to sustain the public health insurance system.

Atrial fibrillation: strategies to control, combat, and cure (July 26, 2002)
The management of AF has improved in recent years, so that more attention is being paid  to ways of curing it, rather than preventing. For those patients who cannot be cured, suitable medications and procedures, as well as anticoagulant therapy, can go a long way to making life quite tolerable and less hazardous.

Alarming Portents on Frontier of Russia's AIDS Crisis (July 21, 2002)
Sexual transmission of AIDS is beginning to catch up with drug transmission in Russia. This country  unfortunately, has one of the fastest growing epidemics in the world threatening its people’s longevity.

Elderly tourists bring back unique holiday memories (July 20,2002)
A country tour spurs friendship between young and old. `The energy the children gave me will keep me going for the rest of my life. This was better than any luxury trip. When retirees from the city visit elementary schools in the countryside, everybody wins.

Killer Doc Murdered Over 200  (July 19, 2002)
The court accused Dr. Harold Shipman in murder of over 200 patients; all of the victims were elder women. Shipman has maintained his innocence, because motive for his crime is still enigma. The sinister truth is that the bearded doctor who snuffed the life out of up to 260 of his elderly patients with fatal doses of heroin was a quiet but friendly family doctor, respected by the community, loved by his wife and children, and — most of all — trusted by his patients.

Upgrading your memory (July 16, 2002)

Why do we forget? And how can we improve our ability to remember? Some people have an extraordinary gift to memorize, but most of us are ordinary people. The brain is the original supercomputer, and its 100-billion nerve cells, which form trillions of interconnections, are the infrastructure of mind, the basis of the richness and texture of thought. Science is beginning to unravel mysterious of recall.

Incentive to change (July 16, 2002)
The National Health Service in Britain has severe problems with delayed transfers of older persons.  The Government has introduced a cash penalty charge on social service providers who do not make appropriate arrangements to give good support to discharged elderly persons in their homes.  But social service providers must coordinate family and other private and voluntary support of the older persons.  And with the number of long-term residential beds falling at the estimated rate of 15,000 per year for the last three years, there is little transitional care available.  Will granny-dumping be far behind?  

Sleep 'key to longer life' (July 15, 2002)
The British Journal Chemistry and Industry published research that showed missing sleep can affect hormone levels and produce harmful chemicals in the body. Results varied according to gender.  Researchers speculated that this might explain why women generally live longer than men.

Will Living Longer Mean Growing Wiser? (July 8, 2002)
The author tries to answer some basic questions concerning the increasing life expectancy: Who is living longer and who isn't? And does growing older mean growing wiser?

Sharp fall in cancer deaths (July 3, 2002)
British doctors have been enormously successful in persuading people to quit smoking The number of people dying prematurely from lung cancer sharply decreased in UK in the last decade

Doctors' concern at overseas care plan (June 30, 2002)
Doctors have criticized plans paid by NHS (National Health Service) if they have waited for more than 6six months for treatment .They claim they need to supervise after after-care in the UK.

Banishing summer aches with stretching routine (June 30, 2002)
People of all ages are discovering the benefits of exercising the muscles we often ignore. As summer draws on, the heat and humidity are not the only things to take their toll on our health. Air conditioning, while a godsend for those who can't stand the heat, can wreak havoc on the body, causing back and shoulder ache.

Cosmetic Care (June 26, 2002)
Cosmetic care provides both prevention and therapy for dementia. One Japanese volunteer group engages in helping members of elderly by using cosmetic care, which is a communication tool.

The Elexir of Immortality (June 11, 2002) (in Ukrainian)
The scientists from the Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russia, reports that they gained immortal cells from the human organism by implanting a special gene to the cells. But, at this stage they succeeded only with one type of cells, fibroblasts. Experiments on other types of cells gave no results. The experiments on mice achieved an increase of their lifetime by 30-35%. Now there research towards longer life has two main directions: genes and antioxidizer, because scientists believe that aging is a process of gradual oxidation of cells.

Family link to long life (June 10, 2002)
You ask yourself a questions, “Why do some people live longer?” What are the key factors of long life? Research carried out in the US suggests that some families are predisposed to long and healthy lives. It found that people are much more likely to celebrate their 100th birthday if their brother or sister has hit the milestone. 

Prostate treatments are plentiful (June 4, 2002)
By age 70, 50 percent of men have prostate enlargement. Their enlarged glands do not allow complete emptying of the bladder, so the bladder quickly fills with urine, and it's necessary to visit the bathroom frequently. But there are number of ways to treat this condition

The Global Embrace 2002 (May 29, 2002)
The Global Embrace is the annual advocacy activity of  WHO’s Global Movement for Active Ageing which takes place entirely at the local level in many different locations around the world. The fourth annual Global Embrace will take place on Sunday, 29 September, 2002. This year the event will highlight the benefits of physical activity linking it to WHO’s theme for World Health Day 2002 with the slogan “Move for health”. 

Ageing Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (May 6, 2002)
Old persons are living a very difficult situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There's no food enough, no job, no entertainment... This article presents the situation of the elderly in this country.  

Sex and the Heart: New Guidelines for Men (May 1, 2002)
After a heart attack, it’s hard for men to know when they can resume normal activities, particularly sex. Experts who met for the International Consensus Conference on Sexual Activity and Cardiac Risk issued guidelines to help men decide when sex is again safe for them.

U.N. Food Aid to N.Korea to Be Cut (May 1, 2002)
The United Nations says it will stop distributing food to more than 1 million children and elderly in North Korea because of a shortfall in international aid, sparking fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. Six million North Koreans currently fed by the U.N. World Food Program -- mainly women, children and the elderly -- ``may face acute and indeed life-threatening shortages of food, medicines and clean drinking water.

Comparison of Health Care System Views and Experiences in Five Nations (May 2002)
Based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey, this issue briefly compares health care experiences of adults in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. No one country is uniformly "the best": several distinct health system patterns emerged upon close analysis. The data reveal that the United States has the highest share of residents facing access problems, driven in large part by the difficulty many face in paying for care. Australia and New Zealand fared reasonably well on many of the health care access measures, especially access to physicians. The UK stood out among the 5 nations surveyed for the absence of income-related differences in health care access.

Australian Adults' Health Care System Views and Experiences (May 2002)
This data brief based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey focuses on the health system views and experiences of Australians. For example, the survey shows a significant decline over a three-year period in the percentage of Australians calling for a complete rebuilding of their health care system, from around 30 percent in 1998 to less than 20 percent in 2001.

New Zealand Adults' Health Care System Views and Experiences (May 2002)
This data brief based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey focuses on the health system views and experiences of New Zealanders. For example, New Zealander's views of their health care system improved from 1998 to 2001.

Canadian Adults' Health Care System Views and Experiences (May 2002)
This data brief based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey focuses on the health system views and experiences of Canadians. For example, only one of five Canadians participating in the five-nation survey thought the health system was working well.

United States Adults' Health Care System Views and Experiences (May 2002)
This data brief based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey focuses on the health system views and experiences of American. For example, the majority of US adults believe the system requires fundamental reforms or needs to be completely rebuilt.

United Kingdom Adults' Health Care System Views and Experiences (May 2002)
This data brief based on The Commonwealth Fund 2001 International Health Policy Survey focuses on the health system views and experiences of British. For example, a majority of British citizens believe their nation's health care system requires major reforms. 

Strokes
With aging, increases the risk of a stroke. How one can recognize the stroke? What are the risk factors? How it can be prevented?. You will find answers to all these questions in this article. 

Lobby pharmaceutique (April 22, 2002) (in French)
A major campaign is on for allowing the pharmaceutical companies to praise their pills directly to the consumers. In Canada, it is forbidden to make promotions of drugs. But as this advertisement is allowed in the United States, the Canadians see it all day long on the American TV!

How the drug companies make us ill (April 18, 2002) (in Russian)
When should a condition be treated as illness? Not when the new drug for it is invented. But today the drug companies, whose revenues depend on the number of patients, set criteria. Hair loss, shyness, natural aging – some typical examples of normal conditions of the person which are now considered as medical problems.

UN approves plan of action to protect elderly (April 13, 2002)
The plan, presented at the close of the UN's Second World Assembly on Ageing, called for member states to integrate ageing issues into their development and anti-poverty policies as well as to adopt greater flexibility on retirement.  

Les pays en développement sont les plus touchés par le vieillissement de la population (April 13, 2002)
(in French) The World Population is aging but it is a significant phenomenon in developing countries. These countries are going to age before getting richer. There will be 80% of the elderly living in these areas.

The Graying of the Globe (April 12, 2002)
A United Nations conference in Madrid has been grappling all week with the implications of a startling demographic development — a world where there will be more elderly people than youngsters in coming decades. The developed nations passed through that transition a few years ago, prompting today's concerns over the adequacy of social security retirement programs and of health care for the aged in the world's richest nations. But now the developing world, poorer and less prepared to cope, is heading in the same direction.

Condition of Elderly in Palestinian Occupied Territories, Countries in Economic Transition among issues raised in Ageing Assembly 
(April 11, 2002)
Among the issues raised at the Second World Assembly on Ageing were the situation of older people in the occupied Palestinian territories, the impact of the market economy in countries in economic transition and the importance of learning from and preserving the respect for older generations in more traditional societies.

UK Government: We are going to beat ageism (April 10, 2002)
“The UK Government is planning to take an active role over the next few days in finding the best way forward for how we internationally will tackle the challenges of an increasing older population,” according to Ian Mc Cartney, U.K Pensions Minister.

Growing Towards a Demographic Disaster (April 10, 2002)
The Second UN Assembly on Ageing in Madrid is looking at ways of helping countries and societies adjust sensitively to their fast ageing populations and including them actively in society. This issue is of special importance to a West European country such as Germany, where the question of allowing young skilled foreigners into the country in the face of a speedily ageing population has divided the country.

United Nations Says Elderly Will Soon Outnumber Young for First Time (April 9, 2002)
A million people now turn 60 every month, a demographic revolution that will mean older people will outnumber the young for the first time in history, according to the United Nations' Second Assembly on Ageing, which opened here today, 20 years after the organization's first conference addressing the issue.

Ageing Spain's Dilemma (April 9, 2002)
This is an article written by a BBC reporter, who attended the Second World Assembly on Aging in Madrid, and explored the ways old people live in a society which is so famed for its family traditions and laid-back lifestyles.  

Caring for the aged (April 9, 2002)
The Madrid Assembly will focus on measures to be adopted in response to the challenges of the ageing process, relating ageing to the development agenda and public and private partnerships to strengthen solidarity between the generations. In Bangladesh, it must be admitted, the issue of ageing has not received much attention from the point of view of economic development.

Make More Babies, Say Delegates At UN Conference (April 9, 2002)
Officials at a U.N. conference on ageing have urged Europeans to reproduce faster to head off future social and economic problems. “The first problem is that we are not replacing our populations, with low birth rates causing a growing distortion in our demographic structures”. “The second problem is that we are allowing, even encouraging, people to have shorter working lives, just at a time when they are fit and able to work even longer.”

The problem with getting old (April 9, 2002)
In the United States, the ratio of workers paying Social Security taxes to retirees receiving benefits is getting perilously lopsided. There were 16.5 workers for each Social Security recipient in 1950. Today there are only slightly more than three workers per recipient and by some projections, that could drop to 2-to-1 over the next generation.

Ageing "is an international problem" (April 8, 2002)
A massive increase in the world's elderly population will pose huge challenges to the international community, the United Nations Secretary General has said. While developed countries have improved their health and care services to deal with increased demand, developing countries have been unable to make the same progress.

2050 : la planète des vieux (April 8, 2002)
(in French)The Second World Assembly on Ageing discussed the changes necessary to cope with the large increase of older persons expected in the next fifty years. According to the latest UN survey about ageing in the world, there are 629 million persons over 60 today and there will be 3 billion in 2050.

Le vieillissement mondial de la population devient inquiétant
(April 8, 2002)
(in French) In 2050, the persons over 60 will be greater than the persons under 15. The Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action. This document develops rights and reforms to be sure that we will age with dignity and participate to the society in the way that we want.

Globalization and Ageing (April 7, 2002)
NGOs tried to get the governments to understand the need of re-direct the globalization towards the demographic equilibrium between the developed and underdeveloped countries. According to Alberto Hidalgo, member of MPDL, “globalization raises such important issues as the new technologies and the influence of these on the elderly people, and also raises a factual reality: most of the elderly people of the future will be immigrants. This situation will generate a problem with no adequate policies.”

Ageing and Co-operation to the Development (April 7, 2002)
“We do not need elderly people to get developed, but we need a development in which elderly people can take part”, Antonio Bruel i Carreras, the general coordinator of the Spanish Red Cross, said.

Mechanisms for Elderly Poor People affected by HIV/AIDS to face the illness (April 7, 2002)
The presence of the HIV/AIDS has social, economic, psychological consequences, mostly for the elderly, since it destroys their hopes for the future and sometimes it means additional burdens.  

Being elderly and responsible (April 6, 2002)
Because of the social reality of HIV/AIDS, grandparents have to be parents of their own grandchildren and, at the same time, they have to look after their ill children. The figures speak of about five million elderly people, only in Africa, who keep the family core together.

Hidden Plague of Alcohol Abuse by the Elderly (April 2, 2002)
Alcohol abuse by seniors is a hidden epidemic because its symptoms often mimic or are masked by common physical and mental infirmities of aging. Doctors rarely ask about when and how much their older patients drink. Many of the hallmarks of excessive drinking — like missing work or being noticeably intoxicated — may not be noticed among retirees who live alone.

Ailing Elderly Benefit From Specialized Care (March 21, 2002)
According to a new study, elderly patients who received specialized geriatric care reported significantly less pain and far more improvement in their mental health a year after leaving a hospital. The patients were treated by a social worker, a nurse and a geriatrician (a doctor trained to focus on the common conditions and special needs of the elderly.)

Tiny Heart Devices Reduce Death Rate, but Cost Is Concern 
(March 20, 2002)
Researchers have found that they can sharply reduce the death rate in high-risk heart attack patients with small but costly devices that are tucked under the skin of the chest and can avert potentially fatal heart rhythms.

U.N. Report Sees Aging World (March 1, 2002)
According to a U.N. survey, in richer countries, people over 60 now account for one-fifth of the population. Predictions indicate that the proportion will reach one-third by 2050. In poorer countries, only 8 percent of the population is over 60 now, but that is expected to rise to 20 percent by 2050.

U.N. Survey Examines Aging (February 28, 2002)
According to a U.N. study on global population, one of every 10 people in the world is 60 or older, and by 2050 it will be one in five. The older population is itself aging, and currently the oldest of the old -- the group 80 or older -- is the fastest growing of the elderly.

Plus de personnes âgées que d'enfants dans le monde en 2050
(February 28, 2002)
(in French) According to a new survey made by the United Nations, in 2050, there will be more older persons over 60 than under 14. There will be only 4 workers possibly working for each older people, 65 and over instead of 9 today. Spain will have the largest number of older people.

High Blood Pressure Is Found Widespread Among Older People (February 27, 2002)
According to a survey published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, nine out of 10 older Americans develop high blood pressure, and although medications can lower it, better diets and more exercise might arrest the problem before it develops. The risk of developing the problem is 90 percent for men and women ages 55 to 65.

Therapies: Bench Presses for Older People's Brains (February 26, 2002)
Teaching people memorization strategies that can encourage the brain to work more effectively may help reduce the memory loss that often accompanies aging, researchers say.

New Breed: Medical Family Trees Get Smarter (February 26, 2002)
Also known as a pedigree, a medical family tree is a visual representation of your family health history. It is now becoming a preventive medicine tool. Relatives who now know they are at risk can get treatment in time to control or even prevent the condition if they act soon enough.

Voluntary action by older persons (February 2002)
For older people the ageing process is generally accompanied by a transition in social and economic roles. In some societies, people move from full-time, formal work to retirement, in others into part-time work of an informal nature. Most older people, far from withdrawing from participation in society, continue to contribute actively to their household, to their descendants and to their community or society.

Medical reform package endorsed (February 25, 2002)
Japanese new medical reform package which will take into effect in April was endorsed. Although improving the current medical finance situation by sharing payment responsibilities between patients and the medical sector is a major purpose of this new system, the reality is that much heavier burden will fall on patients’ shoulders. It is true that the Japanese medical system used to allow patients, especially older people, to spend medical benefits lavishly. However, this new reform package will bring a new question; how will patients who really need serious medical financial support get help from the government?

Strong Bones, With and Without Drugs (February 19, 2002)
As more people middle-aged and older take highly recommended bone density tests, the diagnosis of osteopenia has become common. It is a warning that a person is at increased risk of developing full-blown osteoporosis and fractures. But not everyone with osteopenia develops osteoporosis, because bone loss may stop or slow enough to prevent it from becoming severe.

Study Links 8 Hours' Sleep to Shorter Life Span (February 15, 2002)
According to the last study, contrary to popular belief, people who sleep six to seven hours a night live longer, and those who sleep eight hours or more die younger.The study quickly provoked cautions and criticism, with some sleep experts saying the main problem with America's sleep habits is deprivation, not over-sleeping.

Study Links Hormones, Breast Cancer (February 12, 2002)
A new study found that recent, long-term use of hormone supplements after menopause may increase the risk of breast cancer. Women who had taken estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin for at least five of the preceding six years were about 70 percent more likely than nonusers to develop breast cancer.

Convenience stores to collect health insurance premiums 
(February 12, 2002) 
The Japanese health ministry is planning to approve a new system of paying national health insurance premiums; people can pay premiums from convenience stores in their neighborhood. National health insurance premiums’ payment is now only accepted through banks or government offices. Because of an increasing number of people have fallen behind with their payments, especially young part-time workers in urban areas. this convenient payment option may help. This program is possible because the government and coalition parties insurance system will be integrated in order to protect both. 

Parties agree to 2003 medical fee increase (February 12, 2002)
The Japanese government formally agreed to put into effect a new medical insurance system on April, 2003. In this new system, premiums for the government-run health insurance program will rise 8.2 percent from the current 7.5 percent of annual income. Older people over 70 will pay 10 percent of medial cost, or 20 percent depending on their income.

Aging: Mild Depression and Eroding Immunity (February 12, 2002)
According to a new study, mild depression can weaken the immune system in older people if it goes on long enough. The immune system generally declines as people age, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and less equipped to recover quickly. Moreover, they found, the older the person, the worse the effect even mild depression seemed to have.

Trapped in Their Bodies by Parkinson's (February 12, 2002)
Often beginning with an episodic tremor of a hand, Parkinson's disease may be accompanied by other symptoms, like small cramped handwriting, decreased facial expression, lowered voice volume and feelings of anxiety. About 1.2 million people in the United States and Canada suffer from Parkinson's with 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. But no preventive practices or cures have been found, and the cause remains a mystery.

Dental care for the elderly in India (February 10, 2002)
Older people tend to have major problems in maintaining mouth hygiene. In India, a doctor helps elderly to maintain a good dental care.

Ovarian Cancer Test Shows Promise in Finding Disease at Curable Stage (February 9, 2002)
Ovarian cancer is not common, but it is often deadly. More than 80 percent of cases are advanced by the time of detection, and only about 25 percent of those patients survive five years or more. But when the cancer is found early, more than 90 percent of women live five years or more, and most are cured. Researchers developed a new test to detect ovarian cancer early.  

Hormone Therapy No Panacea (February 6, 2002)
Contrary to popular belief, taking sex hormones after menopause does not appear to make many older women feel happier and more vibrant, and may even make some feel worse. Only those older women who suffer from hot flashes seem to experience improved emotional well-being from taking estrogen and progestin, according to a new study.

Studies of the Infirmities of Aging Dogs Offer Insights for Humans (February 5, 2002)
Scientists who study canine brain aging have found many close parallels to the human experience. Scientific studies in dogs strongly suggest that some of the more debilitating effects of age on the brain may be averted or at least eased by consuming more substances that protect the brain's cellular mechanisms from the ravages of oxidation.

Some of the Many Views of Mammography (February 5, 2002)
The New York Times asked a number of those involved in the debate about screening mammograms about their views. They still recommend mammograms because the consequences of stopping screening prematurely could be disastrous. There is an evidence of the benefits of mammography.

Mammograms: Not Perfect, but Necessary (February 5, 2002)
While the scientific and political issues that cloud the value of screening mammography are complex, some facts cannot be ignored. First is the fact that since mammography has become widely used, tumor size at the time of detection has declined and so has the death rate from breast cancer.

La France en tête des pays européens pour le suicide des personnes âgées (February 5, 2002)
(in French) In France, in 1998, more than 3000 persons over 65 have committed suicide. France has one of the highest suicide rates committed by elderly people in Europe. For elderly people, the first suicide attempt is often lethal.

L'état de santé des Français s'est amélioré même si de fortes inégalités persistent (February 1, 2002)
(in French) According to the High Committee of Public Health / Haut Comité de la santé publique, the French are healthier but there are still some inequalities. Life expectancy is now about 78. France is the country with the largest expenses in health care. Cancers and Alzheimer’s are the most important causes of death.

Depopulation and Ageing in Europe and Japan: The Hazardous Transition to a Labor Shortage Economy (January 2002)
International Politics and Society, a German organization, published this article about the imminent demographic transition. By 2010, tens of millions of postwar baby boomers will be streaming into retirement  in the European Union and Japan. The authors think that this is likely to cause economic contraction, rendering the welfare state unsustainable. A radical overhaul, focusing on lifelong productivity as opposed to subsidized old-age leisure, is as urgent as it is unlikely to come forth.

Time in a Bottle : Anti-Aging Boosters Claim Their Products Can Turn Back the Clock. Independent Scientists Aren't Buying It. 
(January 29, 2002)
Some day medical research may lead to methods to slow the physical degeneration associated with aging and even extend the limits of human life span. Aging is not a process that can be “reversed” but it is the result of an accumulation of a damage at the molecular level over the years.

New Products report from Japan (January 28, 2002)
This is another high technology self-service products’ report from a Japanese business magazine, The Dime. It's a new approach to removing earwax.

Health in Action (January 28, 2002)
Health in Action website is online access to health promotion and injury prevention resources in Alberta including programs, contacts, research, links, listservs, conferences, news, and feature articles.
www.health-in-action.org

Life expectancy on the rise (January 28, 2002)
According to the Office of National Statistics in England and Wales, men and women in England and Wales are living longer than ever before. Males can expect to live until they are 75, while females will on average live until they are over 79.

New Website on Seniors Issues (January 28, 2002)
This new website is dedicated to social, legal and ethical issues affecting seniors in Canada. The purpose of the site is provide information and raise awareness of key issues to help advance their rights as full citizens in Canadian society .www.canadianelderlaw.ca

Protein May Be Key to Aging (January 23, 2002)
As published in the Jan. 10 issue of Nature, scientists have identified a stretchy protein they say is associated with the ravages of aging and chronic diseases such as emphysema. The protein, known as fibulin-5, is critical to the development of elastic fibers that stabilize the outside of cell walls, keeping skin tight and lungs and blood vessels pliable.  

Study of gene shows it may cut life short (January 22, 2002)
Researchers found a new gene and named it Klotho after one of the Greek Fates. Experimentations on mice with deficient klotho show that they were aging like humans. They get atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, emphysema which are characteristics of aging that are not normally associated with mice.

Study Links Early Adult Head Injuries to Depression Years Later 
(January 17, 2002)
According to a study of World War II veterans, concussions and other head injuries in early adulthood may significantly raise the risk of depression decades later. The study has implications for football and hockey players, motorcyclists and others who have taken blows to the head. The risks persists even 50 years later.

Help in Navigating Health Care Web Sites (January 15, 2002)
As any Web-surfing patient and potential patient knows, the Internet overflows with medical information. “Choosing your online health information resource is like choosing your doctor. You wouldn't just go to any doctor, and you may get opinions from several.” Some books are now available to help you to find medical information on the Web.

Doctors Advance in Helping Body to Repair Itself (January 15, 2002)
Some studies discovered that the body has an unappreciated capacity to repair itself. But an underlying disease, like diabetes, which kills pancreas cells, may outpace the regeneration of those cells. To regenerate tissues and organs, it may be necessary first to cure an underlying disease.

Middle-Aged Lovers Jostle Onto the Screen (January 13, 2002)
Nowadays, films reflect a shift in demographics, playing to a growing population that is no longer young (under 30) but not old enough to forget its erotic lives and fantasies. These movies projects an optimistic view of middle-age as not a sad inevitability but as yet another of life’s passages.

Fabric of a long life Centenarians on Okinawa credit healthy diet, youthful outlook (January 8, 2002)
The Japanese live longer than anyone else, and Okinawans live longer than anyone else in Japan. The Japanese government says 457 Okinawans are at least 100 years old. The average Okinawan woman lives to 86 and the average man to 78. They don’t just live longer, they live better.

A Grim Choice: The Ravages of Age, or of Cancer? (January 3, 2002)
“Aging may be a side effect of the natural safeguards that protect us from cancer” according to a new study. Researchers found out that younger people treated successfully for cancer with chemotherapy may be subject to premature aging later in life. Slowing down the overall process of aging would be likely to raise cancer rates.