Researchers suggest that phase transition, which allows neurons to constantly restructure their inner machinery, appears to malfunction, with implications for Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), reports National Public Radio . The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's J. Paul Taylor said this glitch causes the neuron's interior to become too viscous, and appears to allow toxins to accrue. Taylor previously discovered gene mutations that induced abnormal phase transitions in cells of people suffering from symptoms associated with both dementia and ALS, as well as indications of similar mutations in other neurodegenerative disorders. Fellow Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher Clifford Brangwynne said experimental drugs and genetic modifications performed in laboratories have been used to disentangle these molecules, and this could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. "It's very clear that this principle is at play in many, many diseases," Brangwynne noted.

A report from Boston College's Center for Retirement Research found that just 44 percent of American workers aged 55 to 64, and 47 percent of those 65 and older, have jobs that can be performed remotely, according to Kenosha News . This means that over 50 percent of older workers may have trouble staying employed or returning to a job for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Late-in-life job losses could derail retirement plans, and a remote-work option for more older employees could reduce jobless rates in the 55-and-over demographic. Older workers who lack that option could raid their retirement plan as opposed to retiring five to 10 years earlier than intended. Meanwhile, older Americans who are laid off or opt out of the workforce to protect their health should try to upskill and gain qualifications for new jobs they could conduct remotely. Finally, older employees whose jobs align well for remote work should push for that option if it is not readily available among their employers.

A study in Science has identified an enzyme that could help explain how exercise can decelerate or even reverse aging in the brain, according to National Public Radio . University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) researchers sampled blood plasma from mice that received plenty of exercise and infused it into older sedentary mice. Those mice exhibited improvements in their brains and in mental tasks in a maze, and deeper analysis found the enzyme GPLD1 to be critical. By ramping up the production of this enzyme in older mice, nerves grew in part of their brains, and they performed better in the maze. When GPLD1 enters the bloodstream, it appears to suppress aspects of inflammation, which contributes to age-related brain damage. The researchers also probed a group of older people at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, and those who exercised more produced GPLD1 in greater amounts. The researchers are keen to see if this discovery can be developed into a medication.

College kids in Vermont are collecting equipment to help local seniors and low-income citizens attend virtual medical appointments, reports Seven Days . Emory University sophomore Lia Rubel is one member of the nationwide TeleHealth Access for Seniors network, tasked with collecting computers, tablets, cellphones, and other camera-equipped smart devices. The local branch of the network has so far collected and delivered 24 devices to the White River Junction VA Medical Center, with plans to donate at least 100 by the end of the summer. The group also offers recipients free virtual technology support and printed guides that explain how to set up the devices. "It has truly empowered patients to stay at home . . . and the devices just give them that peace of mind knowing that they can continue to receive care but stay safe from COVID-19 infection," said Rubel.

A survey of 72,417 people of all ages across 27 different countries in PLOS ONE suggests that older adults are not more willing to isolate when asked to, and are not more compliant with several preventive measures against COVID-19 despite their greater vulnerability to infection, reports Medical Xpress . People are no more willing than those in their 50s and 60s to voluntarily self-isolate if they begin to feel sick or if they are advised to do so by a doctor or health official. Those aged 60 to 80 also are less likely than younger demographics to wear a mask outside their home. However, older adults are more likely to avoid public transit, small gatherings, and having guests over. The implication is that initiatives to improve public health strategies are needed to encourage older adults to comply with preventive measures, which could be informed by a deeper comprehension of seniors' attitudes and compliance.

A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests that bacteria that causes gum disease also are associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, especially vascular dementia, reports the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA). The NIA Intramural Research Program team examined publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which covered more than 6,000 participants. The researchers analyzed antibodies against 19 oral bacteria for an association with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, diagnosis of any kind of dementia, and death from Alzheimer's. The oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis is the most common gum disease-causing bacterium, and older adults with signs of gum disease and mouth infections at baseline were more likely to develop Alzheimer's during the study period. Among subjects 65 or older, both Alzheimer's diagnoses and deaths were associated with antibodies against P. gingivalis , which can cluster with bacteria like Campylobacter rectus and Prevotella melaninogenica to compound risks.

A study in Age and Aging from scientists at St. Vincent's University Hospital found that delirium is a common yet frequently overlooked symptom among seniors hospitalized with the coronavirus, reports Yahoo! Sports . Early findings suggested between 20 percent and 30 percent of all people with coronavirus develop delirium or a change to their mental status while in hospital, increasing to 60 percent to 70 percent in particularly severe cases. Surprisingly, older people consistently develop telltale coronavirus symptoms like fever, while University of Nottingham Professor Adam Gordon said "atypical symptoms are the only symptoms in around a third of elderly patients." Researchers at Imperial College London looked at 394 residents and 70 staff from four nursing communities affected by the coronavirus in central London, and reported in the Journal of Infection that 40 percent of the residents tested positive, of whom just 18 percent exhibited atypical symptoms only. Anorexia and "confused or altered behavior" were statistically significant symptoms among residents. Infections are a common cause of delirium overall, as is a change in environment or reduced oxygen levels in the blood. "It can present in any patient, of any age, and is quite common post-operatively," said Gordon.

A study on active aging at the University of Jyväskylä in the Journals of Gerontology: Series A explored movement that surpasses the intensity of preferred walking speed, reports Medical Xpress , "By measuring their preferred walking speed we were able to assess the time that our participants exercised more strenuously than what is their usual exertion level and what is beyond their comfort zone," said Jyväskylä's Laura Karavirta. Participants achieved 62 minutes of activity, on average, beyond the intensity of their preferred walking speed, and this amount of activity was similar among 75-, 80-, and 85-year-olds, regardless of age. "The new method enables us to investigate physical activity as individual behavior, which is not influenced by fitness level," noted Karavirta. All adults are generally recommended a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity, defined as exceeding three times the energy consumption of rest. "For most young adults, it feels easy and corresponds to slow walking but for some older adults it may be the hardest effort they can perform," said Karavirta.

A study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine examined the relationship between opioid use and driving among older adults, reports EurekAlert . "It's known that the side effects of opioid medications can compromise driving abilities, and we wanted to find out more about the current relationship between the two among an older population," said University of Colorado Anschutz's Emmy Betz. The authors examined data on 2,990 participants 65 to 79 years old being monitored for five years. Of the 2,949 participants with medication data, 169 reported currently taking an opioid, and having a higher self-reported level of pain in the past week. Older drivers currently taking an opioid were more likely to self-regulate and reduce their driving and to report lower self-rated driving ability than younger drivers. Older adults with lower incomes also were more likely to use opioids, but this could be because of a lesser ability to access alternative pain treatment like massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. "It's encouraging that older adults appear to regulate their driving as a way to mitigate the negative effects of opioid medications," said Betz. "However, future research should look more closely at socioeconomic factors related to opioid use among older adults, as well as the effects of the painful medical conditions for which the opioids are being taken."

A study in Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring found that older adults with both hearing and visual impairment have a nearly 90 percent higher risk for developing dementia, reports United Press International . The researchers enrolled more than 2,000 people 65 and older, and monitored them for eight years. Nearly 23 percent of the cohort either had hearing or visual impairment and just over 5 percent had dual sensory impairment. The latter condition was associated with an 86 percent higher risk for dementia compared with no sensory impairments. Moreover, 28.8 percent of those with dual sensory impairment were diagnosed with dementia, versus 16.9 percent of those with one sensory impairment and 14.3 percent of those with no sensory impairment. Participants with dual sensory impairment also were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those without. "Evaluation of vision and hearing in older adults may predict who will develop dementia and Alzheimer's," said Phillip H. Hwang at the University of Washington School of Public Health.