A study by researchers at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Science Advances identified an oral chemotherapy drug, dabrafenib, that can protect against hearing loss in mice, which may also be applicable to humans, reports Verywell Health . Dabrafenib inhibits the BRAF kinase pathway that prevents the death of hair cells in the inner ears of mice. "Since dabrafenib is already a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, and it has very minimal side effects . . . we're hoping we can get it to clinical trials faster," said Creighton's Matthew Ingersoll. Creighton Professor Tal Tietz also noted that the drug is well-tolerated by many, which makes it a good candidate to progress through hearing clinical trials. When some mice were administered dabrafenib 24 hours after noise exposure, and others were given dabrafenib in conjunction with the oral compound AZD5438, dabrafenib alone accorded hearing protection after noise exposure, and the mice had nearly full noise protection in combination with AZD5438. "By combining these two drugs and seeing that they work well together, we can actually lower the dose of both of them," Ingersoll said. "This helps reduce any side effects that the patient could possibly get, and it's much easier on the patients."

In 2013, Isaac Lien and his father, Scott, created the GrandPad, a tablet that makes phone calls, video calls, texts, and e-mails to help seniors communicate, reports VentureBeat . They eventually formed a company and showcased the latest version of the GrandPad at the recent online CES 2021 tech trade show. People older than 75 can use the device to communicate with each other remotely, and it has been a godsend for families coping with lockdowns and social distancing during the pandemic. Seniors also can use the GrandPad for telehealth appointments with doctors. Over 1 million seniors are currently using the GrandPad in 110 countries, and it is finding use in clinical practice to ensure quality of care. Isaac Lien said older people face major frustrations with technology like Wi-Fi and touchscreens, and the GrandPad is designed to eliminate those frustrations, requiring no setup and offering preloading with a "trusted circle" of contacts for the user. The device employs built-in long-term evolution and constant personal live tech support, and enhances security with a closed network and secure online browsing. Users also can access curated entertainment content, music, streaming radio stations, and brain games.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the state of Minnesota is switching to a random lottery to schedule seniors for limited COVID-19 vaccinations, offering a 24-hour sign-up window rather than a first-come, first-served approach. Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced that Minnesotans 65 and older will have a full day, starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday, to preregister for inoculations and to pick one of nine sites. Randomly selected seniors will be notified Wednesday of their appointments. Walz also challenged providers to distribute 90 percent of first vaccine doses within three days of receipt, and all of those shots within a week, rather than assigning them to appointments days later in a way that has harmed Minnesota in terms of efficiency. "These actions won't make more vaccine appear out of thin air, but we're going to get what we do have to Minnesotans as quickly as possible," he declared. The state has prioritized its limited initial supply of federally controlled doses for 500,000 healthcare workers and residents of long-term care communities. The lottery approach addresses the dilemma seniors face when the closest appointments for vaccine are hours away.

President Biden on Monday announced that the United States could reach 1.5 million daily COVID-19 vaccinations, up from the previously targeted rate of 1 million daily, reports CNBC . He has vowed to administer 100 million shots of vaccine in his first 100 days in office. Some public health experts have criticized this pledge, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the nation exceeded a seven-day average of 1.1 million vaccinations per day as of Sunday. Biden said administration aims to boost the number of people who can administer the shots, increase production of the doses, and establish more sites where people can schedule appointments and receive inoculations. "We're trying to get out a minimum of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days, and move in the direction where we are well beyond that in the next 100 days, so we can get to the point where we reach herd immunity in a country of over 300 million people," the president explained. His goal of upping daily vaccinations dovetails with comments from White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, who said on "Face The Nation" that Biden's target of 100 million doses in 100 days "is really a floor and not a ceiling."

A study of more than 300,000 Vietnam-era U.S. veterans in JAMA Neurology found that those exposed to Agent Orange are almost twice as likely to develop dementia as those who were not, reports Military.com . Investigators in the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System analyzed the medical records of thousands of veterans, uncovering a two-fold risk of dementia for those whose records indicated exposure. The University of California, San Francisco's Deborah Barnes said as time went on, 5 percent of veterans with a documented exposure to Agent Orange received a dementia diagnosis, compared with 2.5 percent of vets with no known exposure. "These veterans were still relatively young, so if the risk holds, we would expect that to increase as they age," she explained. Moreover, exposed vets were diagnosed an average of 15 months earlier than non-exposed vets — which Barnes said can have major implications for former personnel, their families, and society overall. "Studies have found if we could delay the onset of dementia by a year or 15 months, it would have a huge impact on the population prevalence over time," she noted.

The Wall Street Journal reports that many seniors in the tri-state area are frustrated with how the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been impeded by awkward online appointment systems and a limited supply of inoculations. Neither New York, New Jersey, nor Connecticut supports a single website where people can find all vaccine providers and look for appointment openings, so many residents say they are spending days clicking between sites to find an appointment. Senior advocates say the rollout has gone a little smoother in Connecticut, where vaccines are now available to those 75 and older, but it is still difficult for homebound residents or those who lack computer savvy. Tri-state officials say the lack of supply is the biggest problem, while the new Biden administration has said it would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase vaccine distributions. New Jersey health officials announced that a new hotline will open this week with live agents who will walk people through the process or set up appointments for them. State director of AARP Connecticut Nora Duncan said the state's sign-up process appears easier for seniors who are computer literate compared to other parts of the region, but vaccine distribution remains a "mixed bag."

Eli Lilly & Co. reported late last week that bamlanivimab, an antibody-based drug, prevented COVID-19 infection among many nursing and assisted-living residents and staff members. According to Lilly, the drug lowered the risk of both staff and residents becoming sick with COVID-19 by about 57 percent, compared with a placebo, eight weeks after receiving doses. Among residents, the company noted, the effect was more significant with an 80 percent reduction in COVID-19 risk. The partial results were from a Phase III study conducted in tandem with NIH. Lilly announced the findings in a news release and said it plans to publish the full results in a peer-reviewed medical journal. The company plans to ask FDA to expand the authorized use for bamlanivimab to include protecting people in long-term care communities where someone has recently been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has been busy developing the second annual "Celebrate Our Senior Nutrition Program." Its website will feature tip sheets, infographics, and a community toolkit to offer resources to assist in stepping up nutrition for older men and women. It also includes information on how to share highlights of your program, as well as insights on how to engage virtually and enhance socialization, and promote your program during COVID-19. Register for the webinar here . Among the program presenters are: Keri Ann Lipperini, ACL's Director of the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs (ONHPP); national nutritionist Judy R. Simon; and Kathy Wilson-Gold, a nutrition consultant for the ONHPP).

Next Avenue reports that many older Americans are saddled with excessive debt, and the Employee Benefits Research Institute estimated that the share of families headed by people 55 and older with debt rose from 54 percent in 1998 to 68 percent in 2019 — while Clever.com said retirees doubled their debt in 2020. Mounting debt among older Americans mirrors the country's wealth and income economic bifurcation, even before considering the pandemic's exacerbation of gaps in livelihood and opportunities. Urban Institute economists Barbara Butrica and Stipica Mudrazija noted that residents of wealthier ZIP codes tend to reduce their debts as they get older, while less affluent older adults with debt undergo a substantial increase in loan values relative to their assets. Greater indebtedness is most concentrated among Americans 70 and older, while minorities and persons with low-wage careers are at the greatest risk of debt turning toxic with age. Odette Williamson at the National Consumer Law Center observes that older Americans are using credit cards to buy medications or basic staples, and those living in less-well-off neighborhoods carry debt well into retirement. Meanwhile, one in eight bankruptcy filers is 65 or older, nearly five times as many 25 years ago. Declining incomes and steep medical costs are the main bankruptcy factors. Yale University's Jacob Hacker attributes these trends to the "great risk shift," with employers and the government generally passing the financial hazards of aging to individuals.

The latest NBC News data indicates that more than 25 million COVID-19 cases and slightly less than 417,000 deaths have been recorded in the United States. This comes mere days after President Biden signed 10 executive orders to widen vaccine production, accelerate testing, and reopen schools. He said the U.S. is likely to surpass 500,000 deaths in February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said more than 3 million people in the country are receiving both shots of the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer as of Jan. 23. New CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated on a "Today" show interview last week that Americans should not expect the vaccine timeline that former President Trump had promised. "We are going to, as part of our plan, put the vaccine in pharmacies," she said. "Will it be in every pharmacy in this country by that timeline? I don't think so."