A newly released study found regular exercise appears to help prevent the development of physical symptoms of Alzheimer's, reports the Daily Pioneer . "In a late-middle-age population at risk for Alzheimer's disease, physically active individuals experience fewer age-related alterations in biomarkers associated with the disease, as well as memory and cognitive functioning," noted University of Wisconsin Professor Ozioma Okonkwo. The researchers first analyzed 317 participants enrolled in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention, with a history of parents with probable Alzheimer's or dementia. The investigators then studied 95 people assigned polygenic risk scores, based on whether they possessed certain genes linked to Alzheimer's. For a third study, the team examined magnetic resonance imaging scans from 107 subjects who were asked to run on a treadmill to assess their oxygen uptake efficiency slope. Comparison of data from individuals younger than 60 with older adults indicated a decrease in cognitive abilities and an increase in biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's in older persons. Effects were significantly lessened in older adults who received at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days weekly. "We now show evidence that lifestyle habits — in this case regular, moderate exercise — can modify the effect of what is commonly considered a non-modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer's, in this case, aging," Okonkwo said.

Statistics found Alzheimer's and dementia to be the leading cause of death in Britain and Wales in 2018, reports The Guardian . Nearly one in eight Britons died from dementia and Alzheimer's last year, representing the fourth straight year of growth. Activists are calling on the U.K. government to meet its promises on adult social care. "We need the government to prioritize dementia with a dedicated National Health Services dementia fund and invest in a plan for long-term social care reform," remarked the Alzheimer's Society's Sally Copley. The Office for National Statistics attributed growth of those developing dementia and Alzheimer's to increasing human longevity, improved odds of surviving other illnesses, and more clinical understanding of the disorder. "The U.K. government currently only invests 0.3 percent of the annual cost of dementia towards research and this is pitifully low," said Alzheimer's Research UK's Alison Evans. "We've called on the government and our new prime minister to join countries around the world and commit to put the equivalent of just 1 percent of the cost of dementia towards research."

A study in Arthritis & Rheumatology found nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) may be largely responsible for the association between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease, reports the New York Times . The investigators looked at Canadian health databases to match 7,743 persons with osteoarthritis with 23,229 healthy controls who rarely or never used NSAIDs. Those with osteoarthritis had a 42 percent higher risk for congestive heart failure, a 17 percent elevated risk for coronary heart disease, and a 14 percent increased risk for stroke compared to controls. The researchers determined 41 percent of the higher risk for any cardiovascular event was attributable to NSAID usage. University of British Columbia Professor Aslam H. Anis recommended people with osteoarthritis should consult with their doctors about the risks and benefits of NSAIDs. "Sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease," he added.

An Irish study in Hypertension demonstrated that vitamin D is not connected to low blood pressure on orthostatic hypotension (OH) in older adults, reports Medical Xpress . More than 30 percent of older adults are estimated to have OH, which is a significant drop in blood pressure when standing. "In the older Irish population we see no association," says Trinity College's Eamon Laird. "This is important as it is essential to know what is and is not associated with vitamin D when trying to devise and recommend intakes for the population based on health outcomes." The researchers found older adults with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to smoke, take high blood pressure medication, and have higher levels of cardiovascular disorders versus subjects with sufficient vitamin D status. Moreover, participants with low vitamin D status were no more likely to have OH than those with normal levels. The use of vitamin D supplements also was not associated with OH.

Some of Minnesota's biggest nonprofits and foundations are seeking next-generation leaders to replace retiring baby boomers, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . For example, the Blandin Foundation recently launched a national search for a new CEO ahead of Kathy Annette's 2020 retirement, while the Food Group is looking to install a new executive director by next month. Also in the market for a new CEO is Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin. An explosion of nonprofit retirees will encompass many "legacy leaders" who have spent more than a decade on the job. Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Executive Director Jon Pratt said the state's leadership turnover is proceeding at a normal frequency with about 20 executive director searches out of 1,600 jobs posted on the organization's jobs board. He added that "a ready supply" of leaders is available as the nonprofit sector expands and salaries match government wages for the first time. Many local nonprofits have hired headhunters to direct searches, with women, people of color, and millennials prioritized as desirable candidates. With nonprofits facing growing competition for funding, boards are seeking tech-savvy leaders practiced in multi-generational engagement.

Virginia Zoo visitors 62 and older can be admitted at no charge for each Wednesday this month, reports WSET . Seniors only have to present a valid ID as proof of age to gain admission. "We encourage our senior community to take advantage of these free days and explore the Zoo and all we have to offer," said Zoo Executive Director Greg Bockheim. The Zoo also announced that it has "wheelchairs for rent, ample seating opportunities throughout the exhibits, guided tours, and a wheelchair-friendly train. People of ages and abilities are able to enjoy all the Zoo has to offer."

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found sleep duration among Americans 60 or older to be associated with poorer verbal memory, semantic fluency, working memory, and processing speed, reports Psychiatry Advisor . Longer sleep duration also may imply fragmented sleep or neurodegeneration in older adults. The researchers analyzed data from a cohort of 1,496 adults who completed the 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with weekday/workday nighttime sleep duration the chief predictor. Sleep duration of 10 or more hours was associated with poorer cognitive outcome, with no significant linkage between shorter sleep duration and cognition. The investigators recommended that future studies consider both daytime and nighttime sleep as it relates to cognitive performance and decline. "This knowledge could be used to inform public health policy, clinical guideline development, and both clinical assessment and practice," they concluded.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing are using a two-year, $400,000 grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health to close gaps in knowledge about African Americans' risk factors for dementia or Alzheimer's so they can be more effectively treated, reports UAB News . UAB Professor Pariya Fazeli Wheeler will compile educational information that encourages healthy behaviors among African Americans to reduce that risk. Participants will be queried about their exercise, diet, social, and other habits, which will be fed into a risk factor profile. A personalized plan will then be produced for each individual to help maximize their potential role in healthy brain aging, in the hope that a tailored individual plan will encourage healthy behaviors. The project aims to assess the effectiveness of the individualized plans compared to general education on risk factors. "We hope, with both of the groups receiving dementia education, all will improve their dementia risk factor knowledge and brain health literacy," Wheeler said. "We also hope the individuals with a tailored risk factor profile are more likely to engage in the recommended activities more than those without a tailored profile."

Apple and Eli Lilly partnered on a research project to find evidence of cognitive decline by using data from iPhones, Apple Watches, and sleep monitors, reports CNBC . The 12-week early-stage study published in the ACM Digital Library focused on an 82-person control group and 31 individuals with varying stages of cognitive decline and dementia. In collaboration with health technology startup Evidation, Apple and Eli Lilly sought methods to detect cognitive impairments faster and with greater precision, using popular consumer devices. "We looked at how everyday behavior data, such as those captured by iPhones, Apple Watches, and Beddit sleep monitors, may be effective in differentiating between individuals with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease, and those without symptoms," said Evidation co-founder Christine Lemke. The results indicated that people with symptoms of cognitive decline typed more slowly and less regularly, and sent fewer texts than healthy participants. The dementia-affected cohort also relied more on support apps, and was less inclined to fill out surveys.

A study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found persons 85 years and older were screened for cancer at "unexpectedly high" rates, even though such tests are generally not recommended for this demographic, reports Healio . Cancer incidence and mortality trends among this group seemed similar to those for individuals 65 to 84 years old, but the older group had lower survival rates. Adults 85 and older comprise 8 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States. Men in this age group with no history of cancer face a 16.4 percent risk of invasive cancer diagnosis in their remaining lifetime, while women face a 12.8 percent risk. Subjects 85 years and older also exhibited greater disease progression at diagnosis compared to people 65 to 84 years old, with smaller numbers of the oldest old presenting with local-stage breast cancer and local-stage prostate cancer. The researchers credited lower rates of screening among the 85-and-older group as the likely reason for this disparity. Nevertheless, many of the oldest old were screened for cancer, even though its potential life-extending benefit is limited.