University of Cambridge researchers have reversed the aging process in the stem cells of rat brains, reports Newsweek . In a study published in Nature , the team examined oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in young and old rat brains, which were impacted by aging-induced stiffness. The presence of a protein called Piezo1, which detects how stiff its surroundings are, could potentially be tapped to fool stem cells into thinking they were in a younger, softer setting. Deleting Piezo1 from the OPCs in older rat brains seemed to trigger younger behavior, and transplanting OPCs from older rats into younger rats also revitalized the cells. "This . . . suggests an entirely new way of thinking about what controls aging in stem cells, and furthermore, since stiffness is a single factor from the environment, it suggest a means to straightforwardly reverse aging in stem cells," said Cambridge's Kevin Chalut. "It may be that this could be a key to aging in stem cells for all the tissues in the body, pointing to a means to aid regeneration of diseased or damaged tissue with age."

A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found older workers whose reasoning abilities no longer allow them to meet the demands of their jobs may be at greater risk of chronic health conditions and early retirement, reports ScienceDaily . "Experienced workers offer much in terms of knowing the company culture and being able to mentor younger employees, so it is vital that we look into the best ways to extend their careers and improve their health outcomes," said Rice University's Margaret Beier. The researchers determined possession of reasoning abilities that match demands of the job are key to the positive experience of work in older age. When reasoning abilities met or exceeded job demands, workers reported fewer chronic health conditions. "With the average age of retirement increasing across the country and the older population itself becoming a larger portion of the population, it is important that we study how the demands placed on older workers in the workforce should match their abilities," Beier urged. "Older workers have such valuable experience that it is vital we look into the best ways to extend their careers and improve their health outcomes."

According to Congress.gov , the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has posted the sales figures through July 2019, showing that 7.1 million stamps (500 million stamps were printed) have been sold to raise $953,000 for NIH-funded research of Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 3113) and the U.S. Senate (S. 1728) to require the USPS to extend sales of the stamp beyond November 2019. These stamps honor loved ones, raise public awareness, and provide funds to the NIH for research for better treatments, prevention, and a cure for Alzheimer's.

A study to be published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease explored the connection between migraine diagnoses and dementia in persons followed in general practices in Britain, reports News-Medical . Included were individuals who had received a migraine diagnosis in one of 67 U.K. general practices between January 1997 and December 2016. Inclusion criteria featured an observation time of at least one year before the index date, a follow-up window of at least 12 months after the index date, being between 60 and 80 years old at the index date, and no diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment before or at the index date. Within a decade of the index date, 5.2 percent of the 3,727 participants with and 3.7 percent of the 3,727 participants without migraine diagnoses received a dementia diagnosis — of whom 5.8 percent and 3.6 percent were women and 4.5 percent and 3.4 percent were men in those respective cohorts. "Several biological and clinical hypotheses may explain the association between migraine headaches and dementia," said the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines' Louis Jacob. "For example, migraine headaches involve chronic pain, which has been found to substantially impact the risk of memory decline and dementia. As women usually have more severe migraine attacks, the risk of dementia in women with migraine could be higher than in men with migraine."

A new report from the Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement found baby boomers are making major financial sacrifices to be caregivers, according to the Motley Fool . Ninety-two percent of surveyed middle-income boomers said they are willing to make big lifestyle changes to care for ailing or aging loved ones. But in some cases, this commitment could imperil their finances. Among this cohort, 66 percent plan to reduce spending, while 41 percent will travel less, 27 percent will relocate, 27 percent will spend fewer hours at work, and 19 percent will stop working completely. Another unsettling finding was that about 30 percent of middle-income boomers who are already caregivers have taken withdrawals from their retirement savings to cover healthcare expenses. In view of these trends, it makes sense to consider long-term care insurance for both boomers and loved ones who might otherwise rely on them to provide full-time care later. A long-term care policy could help defray the vast costs of assisted living or nursing community care. The best time to apply for insurance is in one's 50s, when a long-term health-based discount on premiums is available.

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found Americans in their 60s accounted for $2.16 trillion in debt during the second quarter of 2019, versus the $1.47 trillion they had in the same three-month period of 2008, according to MarketWatch . Those 70 and older have twice as much household debt than they did during the financial crisis of the late 2000s, with $1.16 trillion in the second quarter, compared to $0.54 trillion 11 years earlier. Mortgages comprise most household debt across all age groups, but especially for people in their 40s and older. People in their 50s and 60s have the highest share of debt associated with home equity lines of credit. Debt can be devastating in old age, especially when people have retired and live on a fixed income. Financial advisers often recommend retiring with as little debt as possible, which can be hard to achieve. Seniors in debt are advised to avoid potentially costly quick fixes like a payday lender, and to consult with professionals and lenders to set up a repayment schedule that suits their budget.

A study from Business Insider analyzed U.S. Census data to identify 20 industries that today's baby boomers enjoyed working in during the 1990s, but that hold little appeal for the current millennial generation. Many of the industries that have experienced a sharp decline in young-adult employment are in manufacturing and wholesale trade. Bus services and urban transit also fell into this category, as did fuel dealership and air transportation. The printing, publishing, and allied industries, with the exception of newspapers, also saw significant erosion in generational popularity. Finally, 44 percent of this workforce was aged 21 to 36 in the 1990s, while in 2017 this number fell to 20 percent.

Research at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Medicine suggests video games may help older adults combat depression, reports the Hartford Courant . "With only gaming added to their treatment plan, and no other changes, these study subjects have already experienced a statistically significant reduction in their depression over just six weeks," observed UConn Center on Aging Professor Kevin Manning. The U.S. National Institutes of Health has just allocated a grant to Manning via its young faculty career-development program, to understand whether aggressive computerized brain training can improve mood, cognition, and brain activation in older adults with depression. The clinical trial study is applying functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor how the brain responds to gaming. "Cognitive stimulation through computerized video games might be a new alternative way to treat depression in older adults and an additional way for us to help our older subjects improve their cognitive fitness," Manning said.

A new Home Instead Senior Care survey of adults 65 and older found regular interaction with animals can help mitigate feelings of isolation and loneliness, reports P&T Community . Respondents cited unconditional love, companionship, and comfort among pet ownership's biggest benefits. Almost 50 percent of pet owners also highlighted stress relief, sense of purpose, and exercise. According to the survey, older adults can obtain the same positive feelings when spending time with animals in other situations, like visiting with pets owned by family, friends, or neighbors. A number of businesses permit visitors to engage with pets, including community animal shelters and pet-friendly restaurants. This engagement also offers opportunities to socialize with other people. "There's a strong connection between heart health and pet ownership or interaction," adds Human Animal Bond Research Institute Executive Director Steve Feldman. "Pet owners are more likely to get recommended levels of exercise, have lower blood pressure, and experience reduced levels of stress."

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined intense blood pressure control was more effective at retarding accrual of white matter lesions than standard treatment, which may help stave off dementia later in life, reports CBS News . The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to scan participants' brains, and found those receiving intensive treatment to lower systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg had a lower increase in white matter lesions compared to increases seen in standard treatment participants. The effect was mainly observed in men. Walter Koroshetz at the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke said the results generally "support a growing body of evidence suggesting that controlling blood pressure may not only reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease, but also of age-related cognitive loss."