The United States is approaching 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations amid the start of the Major League Baseball season, reports the Associated Press . As of press time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates that more than 99 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 56 million — 17 percent of the U.S. population — have been fully vaccinated. A total of 154 million vaccines had been administered as of Thursday, and President Biden has reset his goal to have 200 million administered during his first 100 days in office. However, infections are rising again, and sports officials have warned that they could bar fans from ballparks if those numbers continue to climb. In the meantime, states are ramping up efforts to vaccinate as many as possible by widening eligibility and promoting the vaccines as critical to restoring normality.

A U.K. study found Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine induced strong antibody responses in 98 percent of seniors, reports Bloomberg . Moreover, patients 80 to 96 years old were able to defend against the Brazil variant of the virus after two shots, although response was not as strong. The researchers also determined that participants who had previously been infected with the coronavirus had a strong antibody response after a single injection. Months after initial vaccination, scientists are still probing the vaccine's effects, focusing on specific patient groups to better understand its impact. "I think we can be confident about gaining control of the variants with the current U.K. vaccination schedule," said University of Birmingham Professor Paul Moss.

A study by Scripps Research scientists published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests experimental antibody treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's could unintentionally cause brain inflammation, reports EurekAlert . The Parkinson's therapy targets abnormal clumps of alpha-synuclein, while experimental treatments for Alzheimer's concentrate on clumps of amyloid beta protein. Scripps Research's Stuart Lipton said that virtually all prior studies on experimental antibody treatments were conducted with mouse microglia, whereas the key experiments in the new study involved human-derived microglia. "We see this inflammation in human microglia, but not in mouse microglia, and thus this massive inflammatory effect may have been overlooked in the past," he explained. Lipton warned that the type of microglial inflammation observed could conceivably offset any benefit of antibody treatment without being clinically obvious. The researchers have developed an experimental drug that may be able to counter this inflammation and restore any benefit of antibody therapy in the human brain.

Local10 reports that experts are concerned about the effects of polypharmacy on dementia patients. Neurologist Damon Salzman with the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Fla., cited evidence that people 65 and older should not simultaneously take three or more medications that target the brain or central nervous system. "The strategy that we use is to try to minimize the amount of medication that people use, especially in seniors specifically because many of these medications can have negative side effects, so it may help their depression but it may also worsen their memory," he explained. Moreover, a University of Michigan in Ann Arbor study found nearly one in seven participants were taking three or more such medications, many without good reason, despite warnings from experts.

WSAW-TV reports that the Aging and Disability Resource Center and the Hmong American Center are collaborating with the Wisconsin Arts Board to give older adults an opportunity to express their artistic side through the Telestories program. The eight-week initiative will match seniors with local artists who will guide them through creating artwork via one-on-one phone calls. The program is funded by a Wisconsin Arts Board grant from the National Assembly of State Art Agencies in conjunction with Aroha Philanthropies. Telestories is open to older adults from Lincoln, Langlade, Marathon, or Wood County.

The COVID-19 pandemic created the ideal testbed for telemedicine, reports the Wall Street Journal . With virtual care and video consults becoming a necessity due to office closures and other safety measures, telemedicine is expected to become a permanent feature of healthcare — with evidence pointing to its convenience as well as its ability to perform just as well, if not better, for an unexpected range of services. "We've learned so much about the many different things doctors can do to connect with patients, in ways they never did before, that it will be hard to turn back the clock," explains Harvard Medical School Professor Daniel Z. Sands. Future telehealth access depends on whether policies adopted at the start of the pandemic continue. The American Telemedicine Association and other healthcare groups are urging Congress to maintain the Medicare program and private insurers' policy to pay doctors the same rate for virtual consults as in-person visits, among other things. Practitioners have seen telemedicine benefiting patients and doctors, with virtual consults mitigating confusion for patients while giving busy clinicians a more convenient communications tool. Meanwhile, specialists like orthopedic surgeons are taking advantage of virtual visits for post-operation follow-up consults, even for such seemingly difficult issues as helping patients care for their incisions or surgical drains.

A new study suggests a surprising link between coronavirus and hearing loss, reports WCNC . U.K. researchers observed that nearly 15 percent of COVID-19 patients reported tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, while almost 8 percent reported hearing loss and slightly more than 7 percent suffered from vertigo. It is unclear as to why COVID-19 could be causing these issues, and how long these symptoms last. Some patients report ongoing problems, while others say they resolve over time. A year-long study is being conducted in Britain to investigate the long-term effect on hearing in coronavirus patients. The authors hope to determine what components of the auditory system are impacted, with the goal of helping reduce this suffering.

The Minnesota Department of Health has announced revised guidance for assisted-living communities that permits fully vaccinated seniors to sit together to play cards and dine, reports the Pine Journal . Seniors who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus can be closer than six feet apart, although masks remain necessary. "Due to the real impact we are seeing high vaccination rates have on the spread of disease and serious illness, we as state regulators of assisted living are changing our guidance to allow for more open dining and activities to better meet the needs of residents, families and providers," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. The new guidance does not cover skilled nursing communities where residents are at higher risk of serious illness, and which are regulated by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Ohio State University's Dementia Project is a student service organization to alleviate dementia patients' stress with music therapy, reports The Lantern . Ohio State student and project co-founder Ana Burk said participants gain a deeper understanding and care for the patients they treat. Project co-founder Kaylie Glenn added that participants use music and dance to engage patients' body and brain, noting "our memories are stored in rhythm, and that's a skill that's preserved throughout dementia." Burk said music therapy revives memories and emotions through some of the popular music that patients grew up with.

A study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology found assisted living communities can improve the quality of life for residents with dementia through personalized care, reports Medical Xpress . Essential to improving their quality of life is getting to know them as individuals, meeting people "where they are," being in the moment, and perceiving all interactions with residents as opportunities to connect. Through interviews and observations involving 33 assisted living residents with varying forms of dementia and functional ability levels, the researchers determined that actively "listening and observing verbal and non-verbal cues were keys to connecting and meeting residents on their own terms." They urged caregivers to try to involve all residents in activities, and avoid assuming that people with dementia cannot enjoy activities simply because they may be unable to respond in the same way as other residents. "COVID-19 highlights the importance of meaningful engagement for everyone, especially for persons living with dementia," added Georgia State University Professor Candace Kemp. "Doing things that are enjoyable and being engaged to the extent possible and desirable are significant for quality of life and quality of care."