A study presented at the Fifth European Academy of Neurology Congress demonstrated that statin use can reduce the risk of mortality and stroke in people with dementia, reports EurekAlert . The researchers analyzed 44,920 Swedes with dementia from the Swedish Dementia Registry between 2008 and 2015. They found statin users had a 22 percent lower risk of all-cause death compared to non-users. Furthermore, statin users cut stroke risk by 23 percent, which is three times more likely in persons with mild dementia and seven times more likely in those with severe dementia. The protective effect of statins was strong for those younger than 75 years and for males, but women and older patients also had positive responses. People with vascular dementia also exhibited a 29 percent lower mortality risk.

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society sought to attain more knowledge on the connection between exercise and improved anxiety and mood problems in older adults receiving chemotherapy, reports Medical Xpress . The researchers examined the Exercise for Cancer Patients (EXCAP) program, a home-based, low- to moderate-intensity aerobic/resistance regimen. Participants assigned to the program were given an exercise kit with a pedometer, three exercise bands, and an instruction manual. Participants increased the length and intensity of their workouts as the program proceeded, and were given individualized workout plans that encouraged them to perform 10 required exercises and four optional exercises each day. Subjects also were encouraged to up the intensity and number of repetitions of resistance band exercises gradually. The researchers determined the EXCAP program enhanced mood and social and emotional well-being and decreased anxiety for older adults with cancer who underwent chemotherapy. In addition, those who benefited the most from the program were older adults who received chemotherapy, and began with worse anxiety, mood, and social and emotional well-being.

A new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data found Americans 60 and older are alone for more than half their daily measured time, including all waking hours other than those spent on personal activities. This totals about seven hours daily, or more than 10 hours daily among those who live alone. Meanwhile, people in their 40s and 50s spend about four hours and 45 minutes alone per day on average, versus about three and a half hours alone for those under 40. Further, 14 percent of older Americans report spending all their daily measured time alone versus 8 percent of people younger than 60. Medical experts think that lifestyle factors may explain a link between social isolation and adverse health outcomes. For example, a socially isolated person may have less cognitive stimulation and more difficulty staying active or taking their medications. Time alone also is closely associated with living arrangements, as 23 percent of adults 60 and older currently live alone, and they say they spend about 10 and a half hours alone each day on average — nearly twice as much time as those who live with a spouse.

The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association and RiskSpan estimated that housing wealth among Americans 62 and older reached a record $7.14 trillion in the first quarter of this year, a gain of $104 billion, reports Fox Business . Growth was driven by a $110 billion increase in seniors' home values, parallel to an expanding senior population. National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association President Peter Bell suggested climbing home equity levels could help older adults live out their later years in greater comfort. "Reverse mortgages have become an essential component for addressing a huge problem for many Americans: funding retirement," he said. "More than 1.12 million families have used a reverse mortgage alongside their 401(k)s, IRAs, savings, investments, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to cover life's daily expenses, so they could live more financially secure lives."

A study of U.S. community-dwelling older adults published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society found poorer diet quality associated with an elevated risk of frailty, reports Medical Xpress . Diet quality seemed to be more critical to reducing this risk than protein intake. Over four years of follow-up, 277 of 2,154 participants — who were 70 to 81 years old and described as "robust" or "pre-frail" at the beginning — developed frailty. Poor- and medium-quality diets were connected to a 92 percent and a 40 percent higher occurrence of frailty in comparison with good-quality diets, respectively. The researchers noted no association for protein consumption. "The role of single nutrients such as protein in the development of frailty is not fully understood and definitely needs further investigation," admitted Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Linda Hengeveld. "Nevertheless, this study contributes to the prevailing idea that the overall quality is important anyway."

A study in JAMA Network Open noted American men with prostate cancer who received hormone-blocking therapy were at higher risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's later on than men who did not receive it, reports Reuters . Researchers tracked 154,089 men with prostate cancer, and those given androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) were at a 20 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia and at a 14 percent higher risk of Alzheimer's diagnosis in the next decade. This risk continued to increase as drug dosage was raised. The results imply that in cases where the cancer is localized, ADT may not be a good option. "While this question of a link between ADT and Alzheimer's disease and dementia has been explored before, this is quite possibly the largest study to address this issue," said Johns Hopkins University Professor Catherine Marshall. "Because of that, it adds important information about the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia for men being treated."

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests social interaction might help doctors predict a person's risk of cognitive decline and possibly dementia, reports Medical News Today . Brigham and Women's Hospital scientists followed 217 older men and women participating in the Harvard Aging Brain Study for three years. An association between social interaction and cognitive decline was not generally observed, but the influence of social activity was notable in individuals who had the highest levels of beta-amyloid in their brains. In this cohort, those with the lowest levels of social interaction exhibited more cognitive decline than those with similar levels of beta-amyloid but more social activity. Moreover, individuals who had lower cognitive abilities at the beginning of the study were more likely to become less socially engaged over the study period. The study's authors hope these insights could eventually help predict persons who are most at risk of cognitive decline.

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is launching a hearing healthcare program to improve access to quality, affordable hearing aids, reports HealthPayerIntelligence . The UnitedHealthcare Hearing program is available to all consumers, including members signed up for Medicare Advantage plans. Qualifying members will have access to customized hearing aids at up to 80 percent less than the traditional price. "Helping people maintain or improve their hearing health can enhance their overall well-being and reduce their risk of falls and health conditions associated with untreated hearing loss, such as depression and dementia," said UHC's Tom Wiffler. UHC will work with Ear Professionals International Corporation (EPIC) Hearing Healthcare and hi HealthInnovations to provide beneficiaries with affordable products and services.

A luxury housing development for seniors is planned for Philadelphia's Center City intersection, reports the Philadelphia Tribune . Developer Brickstone Realty has filed a permit to build a 24-story, 300-apartment residential structure. Benchmark Senior Living will own and operate the building, which will also feature 80 bike parking spots and ground-floor retail space. Brickstone Principal John Connor said the complex would be limited to residents 62 or older. He noted, "There's an unbelievable demand for these kinds of units. It's been successful in other formats, suburban formats. But it's time for that industry to move into the urban experience." Connor went on to describe the project as a "highly-amenitized building" and said that Brickstone is wagering big on the explosive demand for luxury senior housing, including assisted living and memory care for more infirm residents.

Hurricane season, which runs through the end of November, demands special planning by organization leaders. To help prepare, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC) has teamed with the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health for a free webinar. Experts will discuss health risks that hurricanes bring, hurricane planning, and how to effectively communicate hurricane messages. The webinar will be held Wednesday, July 17, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Closed captioning will be available. Eligible participants can earn CEU, CHES, and CPH continuing education units. There are several ways to join the webinar: Use this link ; use iPhone one-tap at +16468769923, 757372911# or +16699006833, 757372911#; or dial +1 646 876 9923 or +1 669 900 6833, using the webinar ID 757 372 911.