Outgoing Catholic Eldercare President Dan Johnson led an effort last summer to develop an immersive eight-week "storytelling" program that combines words with visual images to help residents communicate their stories, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . The project was part of the nonprofit senior housing provider's initiatives to capitalize on its location in the northeast Minneapolis Arts District as it expands its communities, with a focus on fostering a sense of community within — and outside — the organization. The group seeks new ways of honing the program and creating new ones for residents, which also may help it vie for baby boomers in an increasingly competitive marketplace. In northeast Minneapolis, the organization has set up a new 40,000-square-foot extension to an existing building, to deliver transitional care and rehabilitation space. Catholic Eldercare also runs two subsidized independent-living communities in the same area. Johnson and his associates assembled a team that included artists and writers, with staff helping to recruit residents of all abilities. Split into four groups, residents worked with the artists and writers to create foldout books that tell a story that was particularly important to them. The so-called "Memory Speaks in Pictures" project culminated in a gathering where residents framed and displayed their work.

A study in Aging Cell found the Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Protein 2 (ELOVL2) gene appears to play an important role in age-associated functional and anatomical aging in vivo in mouse retinas, which aligns closely with age-related eye diseases, reports UC San Diego Health . The researchers found an age-related decline in ELOVL2 gene expression was connected to greater DNA methylation of its promoter. Reversal of hypermethylation in vivo elevated ELOVL2 expression and repaired age-related decline in visual function in mice. "These findings indicate that ELOVL2 actively regulates aging in mouse retina, provides a molecular link between polyunsaturated fatty acids elongation and visual functions, and suggests novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of age-related eye diseases," the authors wrote. ELOVL2 regulates levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid which has strong concentrations in the brain and retina. DHA's presence in photoreceptors promotes healthy retinal function, shields against damage from bright light or oxidative stress, and is associated with improving various vision ailments that include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and dry eyes.

Experts are warning that about 20 percent of the American population over the age of 65 will be at increased risk of osteoarthritis (OA) by 2030, reports Newswire . OA currently affects about 30 million Americans, and ways for cutting the risk of developing the disease include weight loss, staying physically active, and natural measures that could help strengthen the joint cartilage. There also are various treatment options for managing OA symptoms, like exercise, weight control, joint protection techniques, physical therapy, and arthritis medications. In managing the disease, many people resort to pharmaceuticals like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — but their use could lead to undesirable health consequences. In particular, these medications can have side effects like stomach ulcers, heartburn, stomach pain, ringing in the ears, and elevated risk of stroke or heart attack. Persons who want to protect themselves against such side effects may turn to safer alternatives like glucosamine. Glucosamine is found naturally inside the body or in outside sources like shellfish, and it has demonstrated the ability to help restore the health of cartilage damaged by OA.

A Medscape study found Generation X doctors 40 to 54 years old are experiencing burnout at a higher rate than their older and younger peers, according to Healthcare Dive . Almost 48 percent of Gen X physicians reported burnout versus 38 percent of millennials and 39 percent of baby boomers. All generations consistently said bureaucratic tasks like charts and paperwork were the biggest factor for professional unhappiness and burnout, followed by long hours. Boomers largely pointed to the increasing computerization of their practice, or electronic health records (EHRs) as a top stressor, while millennials ranked EHRs very low. In terms of coping with stress, millennials reported sleeping and talking with close family or friends as ways of getting relief, while Gen X and boomer doctors reported isolation from others and exercising. Female doctors also had higher burnout rates than men. Moreover, 50 percent of all polled physicians said they would be willing to accept a salary reduction of up to $20,000 a year for less hours and greater work-life balance, including millennials who are among the lowest earners.

A startup in Albuquerque, N.M., is dedicated to matching tech-savvy young people with seniors to cultivate intergenerational links, reports National Public Radio . Teeniors has them coach older adults on using smartphones, computers, and tablets, while also fostering patience and listening skills. The program has served more than 3,000 seniors in New Mexico, and two years ago it added a nonprofit branch. Teeniors also has won grants from Comcast and Facebook to serve those who cannot afford to pay, with its overall goal of empowering senior citizens with technology. "The intergenerational learning experience is really remarkable and that's why I always say the main service we provide is not tech support," says Teeniors founder Trish Lopez. "It is human connection." The program not only helps teenage recruits learn tech skills, but also soft skills valued by employers, like emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and communication.

A study in Nature Neuroscience found circular RNAs in the brain are linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, and their presence in cerebrospinal fluid and blood could potentially lead to lab tests to detect disease prior to symptom onset, reports the National Institute on Aging (NIA) . Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis analyzed the complete RNA content in brain samples and compared circular RNAs in people with and without Alzheimer's. RNA sequences from brain tissue donated by 83 people with Alzheimer's were initially compared with samples from 13 healthy donors. Then the sequences from brain tissue samples from 89 people with Alzheimer's — 66 probable or possible cases — were compared with those from 40 controls acquired from the NIA's Accelerating Medicines Partnership-Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers Project. More than 3,500 circular RNAs were detected and analyzed in both datasets, and certain circular RNAs were strongly associated with Alzheimer's development. Analysis of circular RNAs in samples from 21 brains donated by people with early-onset Alzheimer's determined the magnitude of changes in RNA expression was even higher than in the first two datasets. The implication is that the correlation between certain circular RNAs and disease is significant, but not enough to suggest causation.

A study in BMJ Open considered the association between muscle strength in older adults and overall health quality of life in rural areas, reports the Medical News Bulletin . The demographic data level of physical activity and status of chronic disease was gleaned for 2,083 older adults living in Miyun, China. Handgrip strength and timed up and go tests (TUGT) were performed to quantify the muscle strength of both upper and lower limbs. The Euro Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale was used to ascertain participants' overall health quality of life. The connection between muscle strength and overall health quality of life was stronger in those 80 years and older compared with those between 60 and 79, while the TUGT time yielded similar results. Moreover, the link between muscle strength and overall health quality of life was stronger in those with chronic diseases compared to non-chronic disease participants. The TUGT time also showed similar results for this cohort.

SeniorLiving.org's Oldest States in America study ranked the state of West Virginia third in the country for residents in the 65 and older demographic and the 65 to 74 category, trailing Maine and Florida, reports WOWK-TV 13 . Furthermore, West Virginia placed No. 2 for the percentage of its population in the 75 to 84 age group. West Virginia AARP President Jane Marks said an older population can be an economic asset, "because we are still working, we are living longer but healthier lives, and we do things like pay taxes and shop and travel." She added that while an older populace can increase pressure on healthcare services, this is not necessarily detrimental. "If we are accessing and paying for health services that is actually driving the health industry," Marks noted. "In West Virginia, it also is a way for us to contribute to the health system because we also have about 300,000 family caregivers, folks who are providing free care for their loved ones. That is folks that are not having to go into long term care, folks that can stay out of the hospital because they have family caregivers taking care of them."

A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found the medical costs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are much higher for older adults who are not treated for the disorder, reports News-Medical . The researchers reviewed a national sample of Medicare claims data, quantifying the healthcare costs over a year among beneficiaries 65 and older who were ultimately diagnosed with OSA. Beneficiaries who went undiagnosed had more doctor's appointments, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations before being treated. They incurred nearly $20,000 more in costs annually than those who were diagnosed and treated for OSA. University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor Emerson Wickwire predicted that medical costs among those untreated for OSA will keep increasing. Moreover, Medicare beneficiaries with OSA were more likely to have other ailments compared to non-OSA individuals, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The study authors advised insurers, legislators, and health systems leaders to consider routine OSA screening in older adults to better limit treatment costs.

A study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in Science Translational Medicine appears to characterize a missing mechanism in Alzheimer's disease pathology, reports Scientific American . Accrual of beta-amyloid triggers a receptor that responds to norepinephrine, boosting the activity of an enzyme that activates tau and makes neurons more susceptible to it. "We really show that this norepinephrine is a missing piece of this whole Alzheimer's disease puzzle," says UAB Professor Qin Wang. She notes this can explain the failure of previous drug treatments, which mainly target the elimination of beta-amyloid. Whereas beta-amyloid alone only kills neurons in very high doses, the addition of norepinephrine means only 1 percent to 2 percent as much beta-amyloid is needed to destroy brain cells under lab conditions. Wang adds that the drug idazoxan — originally developed to treat depression — appears to target this same pathway, and she seeks to promote larger clinical trials of the medication as a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's.