A study in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research suggests resistance exercise could help reduce bone loss in obese older adults, reports News-Medical . The researchers studied 160 obese men and women aged 65 or older who were living in New Mexico. Resistance exercise, alone or in combination with aerobic exercise, was found to be effective in reducing weight loss-induced decreases in hip bone density. Aerobic exercise alone was ineffective, which means resistance exercise can be recommended to shield against bone loss during weight loss regimens in obese older adults. "It is never too late to practice a healthy lifestyle through diet and regular exercise, especially that which includes resistance exercise to improve physical function and preserve bone health during aging," said Baylor College of Medicine's Dennis T. Villareal.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation found many older American adults do not properly use antibiotics, reports Drug Topics . The results highlight opportunities for educating this demographic, especially among pharmacists. The survey found 48 percent of respondents 50 to 80 years old used antibiotics in the past two years, yet two out of five expect to receive prescriptions for colds that last long enough, despite widespread knowledge of the adverse effects of overuse. Moreover, one in five reported taking leftover antibiotics from a previous prescription without checking with a healthcare professional. Their biggest reasons for leftover antibiotics were that they received more doses than needed, discontinued because they felt better, stopped due to negative effects, forgot to take the antibiotic or skipped some doses, and discontinued because it was ineffective. A majority of older adults, 92 percent, concurred that they are cautious about the use of antibiotics, and 89 percent agreed that overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance. "We obviously have work to do to help older adults understand safe and appropriate use of these medications so that we can preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for those who need them most," said poll director Preeti Malani. "These findings should be a reminder to physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other providers to step up their wise-prescribing practices and . . . education."

A OnePoll survey of 2,000 American adults found 47 percent said they have suffered ageism in the workplace, reports the New York Post . Furthermore, 40 percent have witnessed ageism, and both victims and witnesses said this was mainly evidenced by not getting hired. The poll also found 15 percent of respondents have been stood up on a date because of their age, while another 15 percent have been dumped. Forty-seven percent of respondents felt that society looks down on people older than 50, while 56 percent agreed that women older than 50 are perceived more negatively than men. However, 33 percent admitted they were occasionally aware of themselves viewing people in a negatively because of age. Forty percent were concerned that their age may hurt their chances for promotion, with baby boomers especially worried about this. Nearly half of polled baby boomers said they are afraid of being turned down for a job once their age is determined from their resume, and 36 percent of respondents in this generation saw writing a resume as a challenge.

A new study found a drug for reducing delusions in individuals with Parkinson's disease has the same effect for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, reports WebMD . Pimavanserin was cleared in the United States for Parkinson's-related psychosis in 2016, and the drug inhibits a brain chemical that triggers delusions. The medication eases hallucinations that can induce anxiety, aggression, and physical and verbal abuse. If U.S. regulators approve it, pimavanserin would the first treatment specifically for dementia-related psychosis, and the first new Alzheimer's medicine in nearly 20 years. Research suggests as much as 30 percent of the 8 million Americans with dementia go on to develop psychosis. "This would be a very important advance," said Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Chief Science Officer Howard Fillit.

In January, the state of Maine will again take up Rep. Chloe Maxmin's (D-Maine) proposal to amend a rule to help rural seniors and disabled individuals receive transportation services covered in their service plan, along with any currently permissible medical transportation, when no other means of transportation is available, reports the Maine Beacon . "Transportation can be an economic burden for so many folks who live in our state, and I've really come to see transportation as one of the greatest pieces of economic access in rural communities," Maxmin said. Maine law provides home and community services for seniors and people with disabilities, including transit to and from community support programs — but other non-medical transportation, like for grocery shopping or commuting to work, are not always included. Proponents say this oversight often forces seniors out of their homes earlier than would otherwise be necessary, and affects the ability of the disabled to integrate into their communities. "If Maine people do not have access to home care due to lack of Personal Support Services as the result of the shortage in Maine, and do not have access to transportation to get out into the community to attend important appointments or do their own grocery shopping and laundry, then why are we giving people false hope that they can remain at home?" argued Julie Daniels with the nonprofit SeniorPlus.

Analysis by the U.S. National Institutes of Health's (NIH) online reporting tool found federal funding for research on Alzheimer's and related dementias at the University of Southern California (USC) rose from $13.3 million in 2015 to $68.3 million in 2018, reports USC News . "Recognizing that more than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a diverse group of our faculty have chosen to seek ways to mitigate the devastating effects of this complex disease," said USC Provost Charles Zukoski. "The exceptional quality of the ideas and impact of results coming from the Alzheimer's research labs at USC are reflected in growing NIH support." Some of the biggest grants have gone toward acceleration of clinical trials and testing of experimental drugs. For example, Paul Aisen, director of USC's Alzheimer's program in San Diego, was granted $14 million to coordinate a network of 35 clinical sites that will enroll subjects into clinical trials. This is the first installment of a five-year grant that will amount to $70 million in total. Last year, the NIH also awarded USC researchers 84 separate grants, versus 32 in 2015.

Researchers believe various factors come into play in the development of Alzheimer's disease, reports Discover . Studies have increasingly found that genes are critical contributors in onset, although the disorder can appear at different stages in life. Scientists have found three genes where mutations can cause early-onset familial Alzheimer's. If just one parent carries one of the mutated genes, their child has a chance of inheriting it as well. Yet everyone with early-onset Alzheimer's has mutations in those genes. For the majority of people with Alzheimer's, symptoms begin to manifest round the age of 65 or later. Scientists suspect a combination of genetic and environmental variables influence a person's risk for developing the disease. This means having a relative with Alzheimer's does not necessarily guarantee inheritance, but the person does have a heightened susceptibility compared to others.

University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) Health is the first healthcare system in San Diego to participate in the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, and has been recognized as Committed to Care Excellence by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This citation notes UC San Diego Health's deployment of evidence-based interventions to improve care for seniors. IHI aims to designate 20 percent of U.S. hospitals and health systems as age-friendly by next year. "We look forward to both sharing our best practices and learning what's working at other healthcare systems," said UC San Diego Health's Alison Moore. "Through raising awareness, education, and collaborations, we can make a profound shift in how we define the future of care for a large and incredibly valuable portion of our society." The evidence-based interventions promote four practices, which include: knowing and aligning care with individual seniors' health outcome goals and care preferences across all care settings; prescribing appropriate medications in doses that do not disrupt quality of life; preventing, identifying, treating, and managing dementia, depression, and delirium; and ensuring seniors can move safely every day to maintain healthy functions and prevent injury. Age-Friendly Health Systems use evidence-based protocols like physical exercises and daily cognitive stimulation to stave off decline and may shorten the length of hospitalization.

Niche U.S. retirement communities aim to make baby boomers' golden years more luxurious, reports Fox Business . For example, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett drew public interest with his Latitude Margarita development for 55-and-older Americans in Daytona Beach, Fla. Retirees who relocate to Latitude Margarita have four different pastel-colored home collection options to choose from, including cottages, villas, and single-family units. Additional perks include a tiki swimming pool, private beach club, a tennis court and golf course, and a town square. Residences start in the mid-$200,000s on top of a monthly fee, yet Latitude Margarita plans to build 3,000 homes in Daytona Beach, with two other communities in Watersound, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C., in the works. According to RE/MAX Excalibur real estate agent Thomesa Lydon, many retirees have realized that standard single-family homes are "too large, require a lot of maintenance, and in some instances aren't very safe." They are subsequently seeking a "lock-and-leave" arrangement where they can still be independent and social, without having to maintain a house. "It's ultimately saving you money because you're able to get out of a ton of maintenance expense," Lydon said. "Many retirees likely aren't using half the square footage they have but they're still heating and cool, paying landscapers, and any hired cleaning help."

Hawaii's iPods For the Elderly charity offers personalized music therapy to help revive memories in people with Alzheimer's, reports West Hawaii Today . A seed donation from the annual Christian Women's Gathering enabled founder Jen McGeehan to buy used iPods, and she organized a questionnaire for family caregivers, asking about music their loved ones once enjoyed. High school students involved with Teen Tech Tutors in Waimea helped program and load custom music playlists. After a setback, McGeehan pitched the charity to 100 Women Who Care, a group that meets quarterly to review, select, and support nonprofits. The charity is now aligned with the North Kohala Community Resource Center 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization. McGeehan feels the additional funding and volunteers has helped iPods For the Elderly get back on course, and she hopes to pursue larger grants and expand distribution beyond Hawaii Island.