A study from McMaster University found high-intensity treadmill workouts can significantly boost memory function in seniors, reports Forbes . The researchers included 64 seniors between 60 and 88 in the 12-week study. Participants engaged in moderate treadmill exercises that raised their heart rates up to 70 percent to 75 percent of their maximum for their age, or to 90 percent to 95 percent using shorter bursts of time, or performed gentle stretching exercises. Seniors in the high-intensity exercise group showed significant improvement on memory tests of up to 30 percent after the program, while those in the other groups exhibited no average improvement in memory. "The test looks at the ability to remember the details of new memories without mixing things up," said McMaster Professor Jennifer Heisz. She recommended that people exercise in ways that they love, "but if you are starting late and want to see results fast, our research suggests you may need to increase the intensity of your exercise." Heisz added that "exercise helps reduce the risk of dementia and mitigates some dementia symptoms, including improving activities of daily living and mobility and it may improve general cognition and balance."

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association found all-cause mortality risk is heightened for adults at least 60 years old with outward hypothyroidism compared to adults with euthyroidism, but is not higher in adults with cardiovascular (CV) mortality, reports Healio . "No treatment is required for seniors with subclinical hypothyroidism as it would not provide a beneficial effect in symptom relief or survival benefit," said Carol Chiung-Hui Peng at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. "On the other hand, for older persons with overt hypothyroidism, levothyroxine supplementation would likely decrease all-cause mortality." Peng observed that the study design may have chiefly influenced the link between hypothyroidism and all-cause mortality. "In the prospective studies with minimal heterogeneity, no difference in all-cause and CV mortality was found," she said. "Significant association between hypothyroidism and higher mortality was found only in the retrospective study groups, which endorsed high heterogeneity." Moreover, the association between hypothyroidism and all-cause mortality did not bear out for individuals 80 or older. "This study provides further evidence to help guide management of hypothyroidism in seniors," concluded University of Maryland School of Medicine Professor Kashif M. Munir. "Namely, in accordance with guidelines, that treating subclinical hypothyroidism . . . may not provide benefit."

A study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found oral anticoagulants carried a much lower risk for osteoporotic fractures in seniors with atrial fibrillation compared to vitamin K antagonists like warfarin, reports Healio . Moreover, older adults taking direct oral anticoagulants were at a lower risk for the combined endpoint of any fracture or initiation of osteoporosis drug. "Direct oral anticoagulant treatment should not categorically be the choice of drug in all cases, but clinicians need to assess every person according to comorbidities when choosing oral anticoagulant treatment, and in doing so our findings should be taken into account," recommended Casper Binding with Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev and Gentofte. The researchers also found the standardized absolute two-year risk for any fracture was low among seniors who received direct oral anticoagulants as well as vitamin K antagonists. "This study . . . creates awareness of the subject, and since fractures among seniors are associated with increased mortality and reduced life quality, it's important to highlight these findings and to make clinicians aware of the potential connection," Binding said.

A local miniature horse in Baton Rouge, La., is helping seniors overcome loneliness and isolation, reports BR Proud . Studies indicate that interacting with a pet can uplift seniors' mood and outlook. Lonely seniors can interact with Knox, a therapy horse. Knox and his owner Melissa Davis visit older adults in assisted living communities throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area. Davis had special sneakers made for Knox, which have become a great talking point with seniors. The horse is trained to "give kisses" and even "shake" seniors' hands with his hoof on command.

A study published in Science suggests brain waves produced in deep sleep may activate a system that purges toxins associated with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, reports National Public Radio . These so-called slow waves appear right before a pulse of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) goes through the brain, presumably washing away such toxins. Boston University Professor Laura Lewis said this discovery could explain the connection between sleep and Alzheimer's, specifically how "some disruption to the way sleep is working could potentially be contributing to the decline in brain health." University of California, Berkeley Professor William Jagust added that the study's results hint at how people might be able to cut their risk of Alzheimer's by ensuring they receive high-quality sleep. Lewis and colleagues used advanced magnetic resonance imaging and other technologies to monitor brain activity in 11 sleeping people. The team observed waves of CSF washing into the brain in 20-second intervals, preceded by a wave of electrical activity in the neurons. The implication is that the electrical wave is somehow triggering this "wash cycle." In addition, blood flow decreases as the CSF flow increases, which leaves more room for CSF to carry off waste.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new supplemental Biologics License Application for Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, the first and only flu vaccine for adults at least 65 years old, reports MDMag . Sanofi Pasteur's vaccine received initial FDA approval in 2009 as a trivalent influenza vaccine that included two influenza A strains and an influenza B strain, while the new version has an additional influenza B strain. "Increasing protection and delivering improved influenza vaccines are critical to public health," said Sanofi Executive Vice President David Loew. "We are excited to build upon the success of trivalent Fluzone High-Dose with this FDA approval to expand protection for an additional B strain. We have submitted filings with additional regulatory bodies outside the U.S. and anticipate approval in the European Union next spring." The FDA clearance is the last stage Sanofi must make before transitioning to quadrivalent influenza vaccines in the United States during the 2020-2021 flu season. The approval partly stems from a phase 3 immunogenicity and safety study, where the vaccine achieved the primary endpoint of non-inferior immunogenicity compared to two previous trivalent formulations featuring one of the two influenza B strains recommended in 2017-2018.

A survey found 50 percent of American seniors report taking antibiotics in the last two years, but many also admit to misusing them, reports United Press International . As many as one in five seniors say they take leftover antibiotics without consulting with their doctor, and two in five expect doctors to prescribe them for viral conditions, which are nonresponsive to antibiotics. Meanwhile, 89 percent are aware that overusing antibiotics may cause the drugs to lose their effectiveness, yet they still overuse them. "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 the University of Michigan's Preeti Malani. In addition, one out of eight seniors had leftover pills, even though a course of antibiotics for an ailment is supposed to be finished completely. "It's important to remember that antibiotics don't treat viruses like colds and flu, and shouldn't be prescribed unless necessary," said AARP's Alison Bryant.

A case study in Nature Medicine of a woman with a genetic mutation that kept her from developing dementia for decades, despite already-existing brain damage from Alzheimer's, may suggest a possible way to prevent the disease, reports CBS News . She and about 1,200 other women in Colombia carry the E280A mutation of the Presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene, which is known to increase the odds of developing Alzheimer's at a far younger age than usual. The subject in question was predisposed to develop Alzheimer's in her 40s, yet she had fewer neural tangles in her brain than is typical for persons with Alzheimer's. By the time she reached her fourth decade, she had the same abnormally high level of brain amyloid-beta deposits as others with the PSEN1 mutation. Genetic analysis uncovered the presence of two copies of the "Christchurch" mutation in the APOE3 gene. This appeared to protect the subject against Alzheimer's, preserving memory and clear thinking. Harvard Medical School Professor Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez suggested Alzheimer's-related dementia could be prevented if "new drugs that mimic the effect of the mutation" can be synthesized.

A study in Clinical Interventions in Aging found vitamin D deficiency to be a key symptom of poor skeletal muscle function in adults 60 and over, reports News-Medical . Resistance exercise helps to sustain muscle function, and adequate vitamin D status appears to be similarly beneficial. The researchers learned the prevalence of muscle weakness was twice as high among community-dwelling older adults with vitamin D deficiency, versus those who were getting enough vitamin D. Furthermore, impaired muscle performance was three times higher in vitamin D-deficient older adults, who also had a much higher likelihood of impaired muscle strength and performance. Analysis also verified that older adults engaging in regular moderate physical activity had significantly lower odds of poor muscle strength and physical performance. "Addressing this through multimodal approaches that incorporate physical activity, reversing vitamin D deficiency, and other modifiable diet and lifestyle components require further investigation," said Trinity College Dublin Professor Maria O'Sullivan.