A study from the Feeding America food bank network warns of eight million senior Americans going hungry by 2050 if the issue is not addressed, reports Forbes . In 2017, 95 percent of Older American Act (OAA) nutrition program participants had multiple chronic conditions, and almost 50 percent of congregate OAA meals programs and about 66 percent of home-delivered participants currently have six or more. More than 21 percent of congregate and 40 percent of home-delivered OAA participants take more than six. Moreover, family as a food safety net has lost some of its strength due to the invention and popularization of birth control pills during the baby-boomer era, leading to fewer children and significant numbers of boomer women electing to stay single and make a living on their own. Case Western University's Sharona Hoffman adds that the threat of a senior hunger surge from mass boomer retirements is being compounded by soaring healthcare costs and the perpetual underfunding of programs like Meals on Wheels. Ellen Teller with the Food Research & Action Center says life extension research as well as growing numbers of men and women living independently without companions have exacerbated the rise in senior food shortages.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially classified workplace burnout as an occupational phenomenon in its latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases, reports CNBC . The WHO previously deemed burnout a "state of vital exhaustion," but this is the first time it is being directly connected to the organization's classification of diseases as a work hazard. "Burnout is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed," the WHO stated. "Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life." According to the WHO, burnout is characterized by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, greater mental remoteness from one's job, and less professional effectiveness. Burnout is rated as a cause for which people may contact health services for a reason other than illness or health condition. Future Workplace's Dan Schawbel calls burnout an "epidemic" that will only get worse, especially as employees work more and increasingly feel they are not being fairly remunerated. The WHO said it intends to develop "evidence-based" guidelines for mental well-being in the workplace, with member nations set to deploy the International Classification of Diseases revisions by 2022.

A study about to get underway at the University of East Anglia (UEA) seeks to determine a Mediterranean-style diet's effects on brain function and dementia risk, in combination with exercise, reports Medical Xpress . The researchers aim to change the dietary and exercise habits of more than 60 volunteers over 24 weeks. "Over the past 10 years, scientists have identified that a Mediterranean Diet and taking regular exercise improve cognition and are associated with a lower risk of dementia," said UEA Professor Anne-Marie Minihane. "However, more evidence is needed from human studies conducted in U.K. adults." The researchers are looking for volunteers between 55 and 74, with no diagnosis of dementia, but who may be noticing memory decline. "The study will involve cognitive tests, a magnetic resonance imaging brain scan, providing a small number of blood samples, keeping a food record, wearing an activity monitor on your wrist, and attending group sessions," Minihane announced.

The first Canadian community for people diagnosed with dementia is set to open in Langley, British Columbia, in July, reports CTV News . "The Village," as it has been dubbed, features one-story buildings, including six cabins and a community center, distributed over five acres. The cabins have no stairs or elevators and will be used for housing a dozen residents each. A grocery store and other amenities will be spread across the property. A secured perimeter with only one exit encloses the project. The Village project lead Elroy Jespersen says the community was designed specifically for older people with dementia, noting that more than 50 individuals have already pre-registered to live in The Village. He expects all of the 72 spots will be filled by the time the community opens. The community is partly inspired by a Dutch housing project called Hogewyk, billed as the world's first "dementia village."

Schneider Electric's Amy DeCastro makes an argument for upskilling older employees, reports TechRepublic . She says to that end, her company has initiated mentoring programs where "baby boomers who have all of this historical knowledge with us are working very closely with our newer entry-level workforce to make sure that we're partnering." DeCastro cites the company's field services organization as an important upskilling resource. "We've had legacy employees who know our customer, who have a relationship, who know our products in and out, that are raising their hand and saying, 'Hey, I'd like to retire,'" she notes. "What we're doing is we're partnering them to create training programs to make sure that we're really using everything that we can and while we're doing that, upskilling them because everything's digital."

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society investigated a possible association between acetaminophen and heightened stroke risk in older adults, reports Medical News Bulletin . With data from care communities in southwestern France over an 18-month period, the researchers compared numbers of deaths, heart attacks, and strokes in residents who were taking acetaminophen with those who were not. A total of 2,239 out of 5,429 participants were taking acetaminophen, versus 3,190 non-users. No increase was observed in the number of deaths or heart attacks in participants taking acetaminophen compared to non-users. Both cohorts also experienced similar stroke numbers. However, a slightly higher stroke risk was seen in diabetics who were taking acetaminophen. The researchers concluded that acetaminophen is safe for most seniors.

University of Maine (UMaine) researchers are studying how daily exercise might affect seniors' balance at the Orono Commons seniors community, reports News Center Maine . The researchers are examining required daily movements like walking across a room and climbing stairs. Study participant Elizabeth Batts notes, "I have not gone outdoors to walk that much because of the winter. I have been waiting for summertime. So this exercise is really good." UMaine student Will Prescott is observing benefits already. "Just in participants' overall mood, from what I can tell, that it is better. And I think if you are getting more free in your physical body, you can't help but get more free in your spirit as well, and that's obvious throughout this trial," he concluded.

A study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia Translational Research and Clinical Interventions found developing any new Alzheimer's drugs, including failures, costs an estimated $5.7 billion, or double the average drug development costs, reports Quartz . The researchers added that developing a promising pipeline of Alzheimer's medications that follow several different strategies will cost $38.4 billion. In an ideal situation, clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs would begin sooner, before symptom manifestation among participants, who are almost impossible to identify. Although scientists are working on ways to detect Alzheimer's biomarkers, there are none currently ready for clinical use. Moreover, the study authors estimate that it takes more than 13 years to put an Alzheimer's drug through all of the clinical trials required for clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By comparison, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America reckons that this process takes an average 10 years for other drug types. Cancer drug development consumes far fewer resources and time than other types of medications, and cancer drug trials are much shorter, because success is quantified by increased survival rates, often building on existing treatments to make gradual improvements.

The National Center for Health Statistics at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that almost 5 percent of adults older than 65 rationed medication, skipped doses, or did not fill a prescription in an attempt to rein in their prescription drug costs, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer . Women, seniors younger than 74, those covered solely by Medicare, and individuals just above the poverty line were most likely to follow this strategy. Nearly 66 percent of adults over 65 have at least two chronic conditions, potentially exposing them to high prescription drug costs for maintenance medications. The researchers warned medication rationing is associated with more emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

A study published in the International Journal of Aging Research found older adults generally feel decades younger than their chronological age, even though they often were living with numerous illnesses, reports The Conversation . Their average age inside was 51, according to the research, with an average difference of 20 years between subjective age and chronological age. Subjects who described their gender as feminine had a younger subjective age compared to those identifying as masculine. Understanding that people who "look old" may not feel old may explain why many older adults desire to work past retirement age. There may be implications for financial planning, too. Because if a large swath of older adults feel young, they may not be saving money.