A study published in the Journal of Aging and Health monitored the behavior of seniors whose personal needs were not managed properly, leading to higher anxiety symptoms, reports the University of Michigan News . University of Michigan Professor Xiaoling Xiang said this created "a vicious cycle that may lower the quality of life of older adults." The researchers analyzed 3,936 Medicare beneficiaries with activity limitations at 65 and older. "Adverse consequences due to unmet needs may be underreported because of feelings of shame and embarrassment, particularly in a society that values self-sufficiency," noted lead study author Ashley Zuverink. The investigators said other healthcare providers working with older men and women may consider screening for anxiety and other mental health symptoms, and they can then account for subjects' mental health status when developing plans for long-term services and supports. Programs that better support family caregivers also may help reduce anxiety symptoms among seniors.

A study presented at the recent Endocrine Society Annual Meeting suggests hunger and ghrelin levels may be lower and peptide YY levels may be higher in older adults with obesity compared to their younger counterparts, reports Healio . The research involved six adults aged 65 to 85 years and 15 adults aged 21 to 45 years, comparing their appetite, ad libitum energy intake, ghrelin, peptide YY, and GLP-1. According to area under the curve (AUC), the older men and women had lower levels of hunger, as well as a higher AUC in relation to peptide YY. No significant differences were observed between the cohorts in terms of satiety, food cravings, restraint, disinhibition, leptin, and GLP-1. "Further research is needed to help us determine the significance of the differences in appetite-related peptides and behaviors in older and younger adults with obesity," said the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Sean J. Iwamoto. "There may also be potential age-specific interventions for weight management based on future studies with more participants. These results also raise questions to further study, including sex-differences in appetite-related peptides and behaviors as well as comparing cohorts with obesity with those of normal weight."

A robot developed at Japan's Waseda University is being used to comfort senior living residents by listening to them and reading relevant scripture, reports Futurism . The foot-and-a-half-tall SanTO robot is outfitted with software it uses to listen to people, scan their faces for signs of specific emotions, and choose religious texts that may be relevant to their distress. SanTO was designed by Waseda's Gabriele Trovato, who recalled he was advised by religious leaders to only have the robot recite, and not interpret, scripture. "They said there is a human factor which is very important in the communication of faith," he remarked. "Even choosing the right text, the right part of the Bible, is not something you can do easily." Trovato suggested SanTO could prove useful as a companion for seniors.

Northwestern University researchers will explore the effects of a new drug for Alzheimer's via the T2 Protect AD study, reports WTTW . "We're looking for people who have mild- to moderate-stage Alzheimer's disease," says Northwestern's Ian Grant. "Basically, these are people who need a moderate amount of assistance at home in terms of helping care for themselves." The goal of the clinical trial is to assess the drug troriluzole's effect in protecting against, slowing, and potentially improving memory and cognitive problems associated with the progression of Alzheimer's. Half of the 300 study participants will be administered troriluzole, while the others will get a placebo. Grant says the team hopes the drug will enhance signaling among neurons that are impaired by Alzheimer's. The yearlong study is being conducted at more than 35 sites across the United States, at academic medical centers and clinics that specialize in Alzheimer's research, treatment, and care.

The Dallas Zoo's Wild Gatherings program is designed to make nature more accessible to visitors with dementia, reports KUT News . Zoo staffer Tonya McDaniel notes connecting with wildlife can be a powerful experience, with studies demonstrating that physical activity may help slow cognitive decline, while digesting new information can increase brain activity. "This is an opportunity to help them get out of their regular routine and getting them back out into nature, and hopefully sparking some memories of when they were younger and playing in nature," she says. Wild Gatherings is a free program, and the Dallas Zoo can accommodate about 25 people for each visit. The next Wild Gatherings event is scheduled for April 22.

A study published in JAMA Network Open identified two rare genetic variants linked with Alzheimer's, reports Newsweek . The researchers analyzed the DNA sequences of 5,617 people with Alzheimer's, and those of 4,594 controls. The variants identified in two participants with cognitive impairments included a mutation in the NOTCH3 gene, which has previously been associated with cerebral autosomaldominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. People with this condition suffer severe headaches and strokes in early adulthood, before developing vascular dementia generally between 40 and 55. Four subjects exhibited the TREM2 mutation called Q33X, which is believed to trigger Nasu-Hakola disease, a type of early-onset dementia that induces cysts that often cause fractures. "This dementia occurs when a person has a double dose of this particular mutation, whereas the Alzheimer cases we identified had only a single dose," noted the Boston University School of Medicine's Lindsay Farmer. The authors noted that "different mutations in the same gene or variable dose of a mutation may be associated with result in distinct dementias. These findings suggest that minor differences in the structure or amount of protein may be associated with different clinical outcomes."

A study presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting suggests seniors with type 1 diabetes might have difficulty avoiding low blood sugar, with many subjects older than 60 potentially experiencing up to 100 minutes of low blood sugar daily without realizing it, reports WebMD . Any blood sugar reading below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is defined as low blood sugar, and a decline in blood sugar below 54 mg/dL elevates the risk for more serious symptoms. People with diabetes for a long time or who have had recurring low blood sugar are at risk of developing hypoglycemia unawareness. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) warns these individuals no longer experience the warning symptoms of hypoglycemia, adding to their risk of serious low blood sugar. More than 90 percent of 203 study participants older than 60 were white, and slightly more than half wore an insulin pump. Their general diabetes management averaged within the range recommended for older adults by the ADA. Participants spent an average of 72 minutes a day with blood sugar levels of less than 70 mg/dL, and 24 minutes a day at less than 54 mg/dL. Those with hypoglycemia unawareness had low blood sugar levels for even longer periods.

Oklahoma State Sen. Stephanie Bice (R-District 22) has introduced legislation to limit the administration of antipsychotic drugs to senior community residents, reports Tulsa World . Under the bill, antipsychotic drugs are classified as a "drug, sometimes called a major tranquilizer, used to treat symptoms of severe psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder." Bice's measure requires written informed consent from the resident or legal representative. Should the resident be administered the antipsychotic in an emergency situation, a physician would need to perform a follow-up exam to ensure the proper diagnosis. Bice said the medications are being prescribed for nonpsychotic reasons, noting, "We want to ensure that if there is a medical diagnosis and residents need it, they get it." Care Providers Oklahoma CEO Nico Gomez said his organization is not opposed to the bill. "We can understand that people who care for our residents like we do are getting frustrated with the lack of progress that other states have made," he stated.

A study published in PLOS One examined how health, lifestyle, and relationship factors can impact sexual activity and satisfaction in later life, reports Psych Central . Out of nearly 3,500 surveyed people between 55 and 74, one in four men and one in six women had a health problem that affected their sex life. Among this group, women were less likely than men to be sexually active in the previous six months, but just as likely to be satisfied with their sex life. Moreover, some older adults found it difficult to differentiate the problems of declining health from those of increasing age. Sickness influenced whether individuals had a partner with whom to have sexual relations, and some were more accepting of not having a sex life than others. For those in a relationship, sexual satisfaction was strongly linked with both the quality of communication with their partner and contentment with their relationship. "We identified that not many people who reported experiencing problems or lack of satisfaction sought help," noted London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Professor Bob Erens. "Although this could be an individual choice or because of a perceived lack of support, it is vital that individuals feel able to make enquiries with healthcare professionals. In particular, discussing problems can often lead to identification of underlying medical conditions."

A study predicts a shortage of nearly 27,000 geriatricians by 2025, which is prompting the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health to collaborate with Madison's VA Hospital to train future doctors in senior care, reports Channel 3000 . "When we deliver care to older adults, there's nuanced ways that we have to kind of think about things," says UW Professor Steve Barczi. He admits there will likely never be sufficient geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists, and other geriatric providers to meet the needs of the senior populace in the near future. "In effect, it's something along the lines of one geriatrician for every 15,000 to 20,000 individuals," Barczi notes. UW therefore mandates geriatric training for all internal medicine residents and select medical students. "We know the majority of people that go through our medical school and our residency programs are not going to become geriatricians, but we feel that all of them need to have those basic skills, so we're 'geriatricizing' this physician workforce," Barczi says. Training includes evidence-based simulations that feature scenarios for issues surrounding falls, memory loss, and depression.