Top Stories of this Week

Health
World: Studies Tie Abnormal Protein Buildup to Dementia (May 5, 2012)
Scientists hypothesize that irregular protein deposits inside brain cells cause frontotemporal degeneration. The proteins differ, however they do not include amyloid, the chemical found in Alzheimer's patients. The reason why these protein deposits form is not yet known. Many cases are sporadic among people with no genetic history of the disease. Many patients do have a family history and have identifiable genetic changes. Drugs are currently being tested to help slow the degeneration.

Elder Rights
Threat of Hunger Skyrockets among Seniors over Last Decade: Report (May 3, 2012)
According to a study conducted by Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers meals to the home-bound, about 8.3 million US seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010. The risk of hunger was particularly strong for the 60 years and older demographic earning less than $30,000 yearly. These statistics dramatically reveal how the US government is failing its older citizens. Food insecurity is greatest for seniors living in the South and Southwest, minorities, women, people who were divorced or separated, the disabled and seniors age 60 to 69.

GAA Blog
Patent Pending (May 7, 2012)
GAA blogger intern Sanna Klemetti spoke with Tahir Amin, the  co-founder of I-MAK (Initiative for Medicines, Access, & Knowledge) to find out more about HIV/AIDS medicine and the big pharmaceutical companies.  Please click the title to read the article.

Issues This Week

 

Health | Elder Rights | GAA Blog HEALTH WORLD  India: International Workshop: Human Rights of Older Persons in Asia-Pacific Region Focus on Health and Well-being (May 11, 2012) As the worldwide movement toward a human rights instrument on older people's rights grows, so does interest on this vital topic.  Please consider attending this joint event of the International Federation on Ageing and the Centre for Gerontological Studies.   World: Studies Tie Abnormal Protein Buildup to Dementia (May 5, 2012) Scientists hypothesize that irregular protein deposits inside brain cells cause frontotemporal degeneration. The proteins differ, however they do not include amyloid, the chemical found in Alzheimer's patients. The reason why these protein deposits form is not yet known. Many cases are sporadic among people with no genetic history of the disease. Many patients do have a family history and have identifiable genetic changes. Drugs are currently being tested to help slow the degeneration. World: Dogs Can Diagnose Cancer and Reduce Arterial Pressure (May 3, 2012) (Article in Spanish) In a recent study conducted in the United States, it was found that five dogs, trained for only three weeks, were able to detect and identify breast and lung cancer in patients with an accuracy rate between 88 and 97 percent. Dogs have an olfactory sense two thousand times stronger than that of humans. Petting dogs also helps to reduce arterial pressure in humans as the act is relaxing. Their presence also relieves feelings of loneliness. ELDER RIGHTS US Chinatown Death Triggers Worries About Isolated Elders (May 7, 2012) After a 91-year-old woman accidentally fell from her San Francisco apartment window, low-income seniors are becoming increasingly concerned about the unsafe living conditions to which they are exposed. Although many of California's elders get help from the In Home Supportive Service Program (IHSS), recent budget cuts have led to a reduction in service. Several concerns of elders who live alone include: depression, falls and chronic illness. Will low-income seniors be able to cope with a further reduction in funds when they depend on such programs for help and even survival? Threat of Hunger Skyrockets among Seniors over Last Decade: Report (May 3, 2012) According to a study conducted by Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit that delivers meals to the home-bound, about 8.3 million US seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010. The risk of hunger was particularly strong for the 60 years and older demographic earning less than $30,000 yearly. These statistics dramatically reveal how the US government is failing its older citizens. Food insecurity is greatest for seniors living in the South and Southwest, minorities, women, people who were divorced or separated, the disabled and seniors age 60 to 69. In the Backyard, Grandma's New Apartment (May 1, 2012) When Dr. Socorrito Baez-Page faced the issue of taking care of her older mother, she found a very interesting and personal option-a MEDCottage. This prefabricated small open-plan home was set up as a free-standing structure in her backyard with special amenities to meet the needs of older people. However, zoning rules create barriers to these structures; only about half of the states allow accessory housing for a family member. These homes allow the elderly to age in place. Additionally, a provision of the Affordable Care Act will pay for health care delivered in the home instead of at the doctor's office, which broadens  the capacities of a MEDCottage. Another alternative is Practical Assisted Living Structures. WORLD Cuba: Over 1,500 Centenarians (May 6, 2012) (Article in Spanish) A recent study conducted by Cuban geriatricians and demographers revealed the habits of over 1,500 Cuban seniors over 100 hundred years old. The study found that frequent exercise was an important component in improving the mood, cognition, physical function, and life of the older Cubans. According to the United Nations, Cuba will be among the countries who share the greatest aging population by 2050, as 39.2 percent of its inhabitants will be over the age of 60. A report funded by the National Office of Statistics and Information found that by 2024 Cuban elders will have the greatest longevity in comparison to all other Latin American and Caribbean countries.  GAA BLOG Patent Pending (May 7, 2012) GAA blogger intern Sanna Klemetti spoke with Tahir Amin, the  co-founder of I-MAK (Initiative for Medicines, Access, & Knowledge) to find out more about HIV/AIDS medicine and the big pharmaceutical companies.  Please click the title to read the article.

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