A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests a new method for helping the brain purge the toxic buildup of tau associated with dementia, reports FierceBiotech . Researchers discovered that an "oligomerized" subtype of the protein beta-arrestin-2 disrupts tau clearance in the brain, which when inactivated in mouse models of dementia caused pathogenic tau concentrations to significantly decline. Professor Stephen Liggett at the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine said beta-arrestin-2 by itself is not harmful, but the "incidental interaction" between its oligomerized form and tau clearance seems to underpin tau accumulation. Oligomerized beta-arrestin-2 was found to hinder a "cargo" protein from targeting excess tau in the brain for clearance. Preventing beta-arrestin-2 from accruing into the oligomerized subtype suppressed the disease-inducing tau. "We also noted that decreasing beta-arrestin-2 by gene therapy had no apparent side effects, but such a reduction was enough to open the tau clearance mechanism to full throttle, erasing the tau tangles," Liggett said.

Seniors in New Mexico can avail themselves of daily and weekly activities ranging from tai chi to yoga to book clubs at five Bernalillo County senior centers, reports KRQE . Each center serves as a gateway to the county's senior populace by connecting them with community services that can help them maintain their health. The centers are open to seniors ages 50 and older, generally from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Persons 60 and older can qualify to receive free meals, and those younger than 60 can receive meal discounts. One program offered at the senior centers is Walk with Ease, designed to help participants manage arthritis pain while socializing and recultivating the habit of healthy walking. Another class offers seniors ukulele lessons to exercise perception, thinking, and motor skills while building community bonds. Four of the centers host Live Music Fridays on a rotating schedule, and field trips are being planned as well.

A new Politico-Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health survey found most Americans consider reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs their leading priorities heading into the November elections regardless of political persuasion, reports Politico Pro . Respondents also prioritized these issues over other pressing problems, like a major health system revamp or climate change. "Even among Democrats, the top issues are pocketbook issues — not the big system reform debates," said Harvard Professor Robert Blendon. "They're worried about their own lives, their own payments, and what they can afford." About 80 percent of respondents — including 89 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans — considered "taking steps to lower the cost of healthcare" as "extremely" or "very" important. Lowering prescription-drug costs was backed by 75 percent of poll respondents, with majorities in both parties ranking it "extremely important" or "very important."

Researchers at State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University are conducting a study to determine whether nicotine patches can improve memory for older adults at risk of dementia, reports WAER . The Memory Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing (MIND) study targets persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can progress to Alzheimer's disease. MIND study director Sharon Brangman says the brain has receptors which respond to stimulation by nicotine, and a previous study showed that adults with MCI who were prescribed the nicotine patch for six months exhibited improved attention and memory, with no major side effects or withdrawal symptoms. "This is a medicinal dose of nicotine," Brangman notes. "We will be watching people very closely, should they have any side effects or any concerns." The MIND study hopes to recruit 300 healthy, non-smoking adults 55 and older who have noticed changes in memory. Brangman says qualifying participants will receive a nicotine patch, while others will be given a placebo. Doses will increase over the two-year study, and volunteers will undergo memory tests.

The societal and economic effects of people living longer must be considered as aging populations grow, and standardization could help ease the burden, reports the International Organization for Standardization . Some experts envision seniors as an opportunity to sustain prosperity, by tapping their knowledge and expertise in many areas — a concept called "social capital." Multi-sectoral policies are needed worldwide to ensure that older citizens can actively participate in the economic, social, cultural, and political aspects of society. Meanwhile, engagement and inclusive design can counter loneliness, financial insecurity, and other aging-associated challenges to cultivating age-friendly accessibility. Standards are critical for facilitating and encouraging innovation, and De Montfort University's Malcolm Fisk says that "universal design criteria must apply . . . and must be more embedded in standards." Work also is underway internationally to engineer innovative solutions for senior populations using standardization. One example is an international workshop agreement for encouraging healthcare service providers to facilitate "a shift in thinking towards person-centered services" offering dignity, accessibility, safety, and ease-of-use as a platform for establishing societies where people can maximize their health and activity.

A study in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology details the role of plasma ceramides in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their potential as a blood-based biomarker, reports EurekAlert . "Our findings indicate that circulating ceramide ratios may be useful predictors of future dementia risk and may have a role in predicting dementia at an early, preclinical stage, when the greatest opportunity for disease modification exists," said Emer McGrath at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "However, these results will require replication in other cohorts." Ceramides can be extracted from the blood, a far less invasive and preferable alternative to collecting cerebrospinal fluid via spinal tap. The researchers compared levels of very-long chain and long-chain ceramides in blood samples from about 1,900 participants, then analyzed the risk of dementia, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural measures of vascular brain injury, and ß-amyloid burden on brain positron emission tomography. An elevated ratio of very-long-chain to long-chain ceramides corresponded to a 27 percent reduction in the risk of dementia and AD dementia, as well as a lower burden of white matter injury on brain MRI. It may be possible that pharmacological inhibition of long-chain ceramide synthesis could reduce or prevent the progression of AD dementia through prevention of ß-amyloid accumulation.

A study published in Geriatrics found more than half of older Britons in South Yorkshire do not eat enough protein to stay healthy, reports Medical Xpress . The researchers examined the diets of 256 adults between 65 and 89, as well as two datasets on the dietary intake of older adults in the region. Less than 50 percent of participants met current British recommendations of consuming 0.75 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight daily, which amounts to about 53 grams for a man and 46 grams for a woman. Meat, fish, and dairy was found to contribute to 86 percent of protein intake for study participants, and the investigators suggested higher daily intake could be beneficial, especially in the morning. Many experts think that older adults require more protein than recommended, with international organizations suggesting 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. "Inadequate protein intake contributes to muscle wastage, impacting physical function and increasing the risk of frailty and mortality through falls," said the University of Sheffield's Bernard Corfe. "This risk is again increased in older adults with obesity, who may be unable to exercise or move freely, as their weight may mask the problem."

A study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found middle-aged men can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 81 percent by keeping their muscles healthy, reports the New York Times . The researchers analyzed data from an ongoing Greek study focused on the causes of cardiovascular disease in Mediterranean men and women, looking specifically at 1,019 people at least 45 years old. Most subjects were older than 55, and nearly 27 percent of that cohort developed heart disease, at an incidence rate roughly six times higher among men than women. Participants' muscle mass at the beginning of the study was associated with their chances of heart disease later, and those with the most muscle then were the least likely to have heart disease now. There is no indication that an abundance of muscle tissue directly wards off heart disease, nor is there clarity on how muscle helps protect the heart. However, Stefanos Tyrovolas at the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute thinks the metabolic effects of the tissue are likely to contribute, and the key takeaway of the study is that "muscle-mass preservation, through physical exercise and an active lifestyle," is likely vital to protecting the heart in middle age — especially among men.

Assisted living communities are spreading throughout the MetroWest area of Massachusetts, with 21 such places listed on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' website. Statewide, 263 are listed in total, according to U.S. News & World Report . SeniorLiving.org estimates that the average monthly price to live in a Massachusetts-based assisted living community is $5,463, while the National Center for Assisted Living lists the national average as about $4,000. Moreover, residents at assisted living communities pay out of pocket, while Medicare or Medicaid covers the bulk of costs for nursing home residents. The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce's Alyson Smith nevertheless acknowledges a sizable "swing in the industry toward assisted living because it's more of a social model compared to a medical model."

An upcoming global clinical trial developed by the University of Southern California's Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Clinic (ACTC) will test methods for altering, preventing, or retarding the progression of Alzheimer's disease in older adults, reports KGTV . "We think attacking amyloid early is the most promising approach," said ACTC Director Paul Aisen. A drug called BAN2401 will be administered intravenously to bind to beta amyloid so the immune system can easily detect and purge it from the brain. An earlier study found BAN2401 removes brain amyloid and may slow cognitive decline. "We think that the most promising approach of all is to take a vigorous attack on amyloid while the brain is still functioning normally," Aisen said. "And we can see amyloid in people many years before they develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's." Screening for study participants is scheduled to begin in May. The project will involve 100 sites worldwide, and the researchers are looking for asymptomatic people older than 50 who have elevated concentrations of amyloid in the brain.