Few presidential candidates have touched on the future of Social Security in their campaigns so far, and proposals to raise the full retirement age or increase taxes remain unpopular, reports MarketWatch . Critics argue raising the retirement age keeps benefits away from seniors with immediate needs, and hiking taxes can become a burden to younger workers. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says Social Security benefits comprise most retirement income for 61 percent of senior beneficiaries, and 33 percent rely on the program for 90 percent or more of their income. Teresa Ghilarducci with The New School's Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis noted some Americans doubt they will ever have Social Security benefits, as the idea of politicians saying the system is ailing, or advisers saying clients should not calculate benefits into their future plans, does citizens more harm than good. "There is a vested interest to ignore and belittle Social Security," she lamented.

A study at the University of California, Los Angeles published in Aging Cell suggests a mix of common medications could help reverse biological age, reports Good News Network . Nine men between 51 and 65 were administered a growth hormone and two forms of diabetes medication over a year in order to study the restoration of tissue in the thymus gland, which is critical to the health of the immune system. Tissue samples confirmed both thymus regeneration and reversal of the subjects' "epigenetic clocks." Moreover, each participant shed an average of 2.5 years from their biological age, and their immune systems exhibited significant evidence of rejuvenation. Subjects continued to exhibit epigenetic symptoms more than six months following the study. "This is to our knowledge the first report of an increase, based on an epigenetic age estimator, in predicted human lifespan by means of a currently accessible aging intervention," the researchers pointed out.

A ridesharing pilot program in Rancho Bernardo Community Park, Calif., is offering seniors 60 and older free Lyft rides to and from the Ed Brown Center for Active Adults, reports the Rancho Bernardo News Journal . The success of the program could heavily influence deployment of other transportation options — such as a shuttle bus — to the community. Jewish Family Service is the program operator, with funding supplied by a partnership between Lyft and the National Council on Aging. Officials said the Ed Brown Center is one of three senior communities hosting the pilot throughout the United States "to test an outreach and education program connecting older adults with ridesharing services so they can participate in health and wellness programs." The pilot is running through the Navigator component of JFS' On the Go program, and pilot participants can waive a $20 enrollment fee for On the Go. The Ed Brown Center's Lynn Wolsey said some participants have been accessing Lyft rides when coming to play cards or bingo, get hearing tests, use legal consultation, or take part in the weekly tea dance.

Scientists are redefining the search for Alzheimer's-treating drugs by refocusing from amyloid buildup in the brain to other pathways, reports the Associated Press . Alternatives under consideration include the brain's immune system and inflammation. Studies on the brain immune cells, or microglia, demonstrate that "they're much more active and play a much more significant role" in the health of neurons, said U.S. National Institute on Aging Director Richard Hodes. Meanwhile, David Holtzman at Washington University in St. Louis suggested microglia may play the crucial role in the toxicity of amyloid and tau proteins that leads to Alzheimer's. The discovery of different strains of herpes viruses in Alzheimer's-affected brain tissue also opens up new research avenues, with scientists in New York evaluating the drug valacyclovir's effect on people with mild Alzheimer's who exhibit herpes infection symptoms. Moreover, Cortexyme is enlisting early-stage participants to test a drug that targets potentially neuron-damaging substances produced by gingivitis bacteria, which also has been detected in Alzheimer's-riddled brains. Aggressive inflammation in the brains of people with dementia also hints at an immune system connection, with a number of drugs being investigated to regulate this effect.

A study in Stroke found a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique may detect incipient dementia in stroke victims, reports ScienceDaily . The MRI scanner uses diffusion tensor imaging to measure the probability that thinking difficulties and dementia will accompany small vessel disease. A single scan quantified the subjects' brain in fine detail, and by comparing the advanced MRIs to those of a healthy person's, researchers classified the brain into areas of healthy versus damaged tissue. Subjects who had the most brain damage were much more likely to develop thinking problems, and the researchers predicted 75 percent of the dementia cases that transpired during the study. "We have developed a useful tool for monitoring persons at risk of developing dementia and could target those who need early treatment," said Goldsmiths, University of London's Rebecca A. Charlton. The researchers speculated that this method will be able to pinpoint dementia risk within a five-year period.

A study in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology details how breastfeeding infants absorb large amounts of calcium, with potential application for treating osteoporosis in seniors, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers identified calcium-absorbing channels in the lower two-thirds of the small intestines of breastfed infant mice, while most absorption in adult mammals occurs in the upper segment. Babies require massive ingestion of calcium in the first year of life to build the cartilage they are born with into the bones, with deposition sustained at a reduced rate until about 25 years of age. "You can imagine that if you have someone who has poor bone health, such as an older person . . . it would be very useful therapeutically to turn this pathway on for them," said the University of Alberta's Todd Alexander. Further research will examine this same mechanism in pigs, to determine if a hormone in breast milk is responsible for regulating the calcium channels. "Understanding that would allow us to either take the active ingredient out of breast milk or synthesize it as an additive so we could give it to people as a tablet or an injection," Alexander noted.

The Administration for Community Living's (ACL's) Paralysis Resource Center is set to host the "Recognizing and Addressing Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities" webinar on Sept. 18. Senior adults living in long-term care (LTC) facilities can be vulnerable to numerous forms of abuse and neglect. The one-hour webinar will help to understand the rights of residents of LTC facilities, as well as identify the signs of abuse and neglect and learn how to report complaints and concerns to the appropriate agencies. More specifically, the webinar will seek to empower people with paralysis and their family members by providing information on selecting an LTC and then how to advocate for quality care. The webinar will be presented by Amity Overall-Laib, Director of the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC). ACL funds the Paralysis Resource Center to provide extensive resources and information for people living with paralysis, spinal cord injury, and mobility-related disabilities and their support networks.

PetSmart Charities has allocated $3 million to Meals on Wheels America to fund a three-year collaboration to support a national pet food pantry and veterinary care program, to supply home-delivered meals and veterinary care to pets of seniors in need, reports AZ Business Magazine . The money also will underwrite research to help both organizations better understand the needs of Meals on Wheels clients and their pets. "We know there is a large population of seniors struggling to make ends meet and facing the difficult choice of going hungry or surrendering their beloved pet," said PetSmart Charities Acting President Deborah Turcott. "This partnership will help ensure they won't have to make that choice." Meals on Wheels CEO Ellie Hollander added that the alliance "will support our ongoing efforts to deliver so much more than just a meal to our nation's most vulnerable older adults. We know that seniors with pets are less likely to exhibit depression, report feelings of loneliness, and experience illness, and our partnership will enable more of these invaluable, mutually-supportive relationships to be sustained in communities across America for years to come."

The University of North Georgia (UNG) has been designated an Age-Friendly University (AFU) through the efforts of its Center for Healthy Aging and other initiatives, reports UNG Newsroom . "We are the first and only institution in the state of Georgia," declared UNG Professor Pamela Elfenbein. "We have chosen to align ourselves with the principles of the AFU Global Network. Elfenbein added that AFU principles dovetail with the mission of UNG's Center for Healthy Aging, to support quality education and services to older adults. Georgians 62 and up can enroll for classes at University System of Georgia colleges and universities, and attend for free. According to Elfenbein, becoming an age-friendly institution allows UNG to work with experts at high-level universities who also participate in the network, including Arizona State University, Concordia University Chicago, and Florida State University. "It's a network of like-minded universities and colleges that understand the importance of reaching out to a segment of the population and bringing them into the life of the university," she noted.

The National Council on Aging reports that falls are the leading cause of injury death among older Americans, according to WRAL-TV in Raleigh. "Fear of another fall may limit their physical activities and community activities, which results in a vicious cycle of weakness and functional decline," notes physical therapist JC Garilao. His recommendation is to cultivate an awareness of why falls occur, and follow steps to minimize the risk for relatives, loved ones, and oneself. He suggests footwear to prevent falls, including non-skid socks and avoidance of slip-on shoes and slippers. Garilao adds that thick pile throw rugs raise the risk of slipping, while clutter needs to be minimized, especially if it blocks paths to the kitchen, bathroom, or other walkways. He also advises examining the lighting in one's environment. Also helpful can be giving the body time to progress gradually from one position to the next, such as lying down to sitting to standing — thus avoiding dizziness and disorientation resulting from sudden movements. "Exercise and increased physical activities are important in improving and maintaining your leg strength," Garilao urges.