CNBC News has learned that the House Oversight Committee is investigating the actions of 12 major pharmaceutical companies in raising prescription drug prices in the United States. Seeking detailed information and documents about each companies' pricing practices, Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) has sent letters to AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. AbbVie and Sanofi received information requests regarding three of their drugs, while Amgen, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk fielded requests about two drugs. The others were each asked about one drug. Cummings wrote in an official statement: "The goals of this investigation are to determine why drug companies are increasing prices so dramatically, how drug companies are using the proceeds, and what steps can be taken to reduce prescription drug prices."

U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and innovation official Adam Boehler expect to introduce at least six trials over the next half-year at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), reports Politico Pro . They say the goal of the projects is to transition medical payment to better reward physicians and hospitals for providing quality and efficient healthcare. Upcoming CMMI projects include a new way for providers to perform emergency triage, treatment, and transport; a new strategy for developing insurance plans to incentivize quality, efficient care; and a new course in an existing initiative to bolster primary care. Other pilots could concentrate on better kidney care, establishing a network of preferred providers, and broadening use of direct contracts between payers and providers. A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spokesperson says beneficiaries are the top priority, and CMS is soliciting input from stakeholders via model-specific listening sessions, webinars, and informational sessions.

A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZRDs) elevate the risk of developing pneumonia in older adults, reports Medscape . The meta-analysis of 10 studies covering more than 120,000 pneumonia cases estimated that the odds for developing pneumonia were 1.25 times higher in BZRD users versus non-users. Past users did not have this higher risk. "Current or recent exposure to BZRD is associated with increased pneumonia risk," the researchers concluded. A higher risk of pneumonia was consistently associated with BZRD use in subgroup analyses, while short- and intermediate-acting BZRDs were connected to a substantially increased risk of pneumonia compared to long-acting BZRDs. Furthermore, the likelihood of an association between BZRD use and pneumonia was significantly higher in people 65 or older versus individuals younger than 65.

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found substituting 30 minutes of sedentary behavior with physical activity of any intensity or duration every day reduces the risk of early death by up to 35 percent, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers examined 7,999 middle-aged and older adults who wore monitors for at least four days to record the amount and intensity of physical activity they engaged in while awake. Thirty minutes a day of low-intensity physical activity cuts the risk of early death by 17 percent, while swapping the same amount of sitting for moderate to vigorous activity would lower that risk by 35 percent. "In our next study, we plan to look at the risk of specific cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack, heart failure, and cardiovascular-related deaths, associated with physical activity versus sedentary behavior," says Columbia University Professor Keith Diaz.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found vitamin D supplements yield virtually no health benefits to people older than 70, reports United Press International . A cohort of 70-year-olds consumed 300 micrograms, 600 micrograms, or 1,200 micrograms of vitamin D daily for 12 months without any change in bone mineral density. However, 40 micrograms a day of the supplement was found to help bone metabolism. According to the researchers, older people should focus on eating healthier, getting enough sun, and exercising regularly. "The current guidance is still that people at risk of low vitamin D should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement, as should everyone during the winter months," noted Newcastle University's Terry Aspray. "Work is needed to implement effective strategies to prevent falls and fractures among older people, and to understand the role of medications and dietary supplements in this."

A study published in Nature Medicine found leaky capillaries in the brain augur early-onset Alzheimer's, indicating cognitive impairment before toxic proteins amyloid and tau appear, reports Medical Xpress . The five-year analysis of 161 older adults demonstrated that people with especially poor memory exhibited the most leakage in their brain's blood vessels, no matter whether amyloid and tau were present. "The fact that we're seeing the blood vessels leaking, independent of tau and independent of amyloid, when people have cognitive impairment on a mild level, suggests it could be a totally separate process or a very early process," notes the University of Southern California's Berislav Zlokovic. "That was surprising that this blood-brain barrier breakdown is occurring independently."

Startups are putting new innovations to work in Japan's senior-care market, with the potential of products gaining a global reach in the next few years, reports the Wall Street Journal . Japan's government aims to control healthcare costs as the senior population grows, by using technology to improve seniors' quality of life while reducing caregivers' burden. Entrepreneur Atsushi Nakanishi has reworked his DFree (diaper-free) device for helping users self-monitor their bladders as an assistive product for caregivers in more than 150 nursing communities. Another innovator, Tatsuya Takahashi, formed a partnership with the Sompo Holdings insurance firm to equip about 100 nursing communities with monitoring devices that stream data to nurses' stations, including Doppler radar readings of heartbeat and respiration. Cardiologist Masahiko Hara has devised a virtual reality system for stroke rehabilitation in which seniors wearing special goggles catch balls or move objects that appear to pop up in front of them. Out of 92 Japanese startups seeking a valuation of $1 billion or more, 25 are concentrating on healthcare.

A study published in Molecular Cell examined the connection between aging and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which bind mRNA molecules and regulate what happens to them after gene transcription, reports ScienceDaily . The researchers initially screened aged animals to identify any RBPs that change with age, and found a specific protein, Pumilio2 (PUM2), exhibited high induction. PUM2 binds mRNA molecules containing specific recognition sites, then represses the translation of the target mRNAs into proteins. The team identified a new mRNA site that PUM2 binds: the mRNA encodes for Mitochondrial Fission Factor (MFF), regulating the process by which mitochondria break up into smaller mitochondria. High MFF levels also enable the clearance of fragmented, dysfunctional mitochondria. The PUM2/MFF axis is "dysregulated" with age, and the removal of PUM2 from the muscles of old mice can reverse MFF level reduction and the accumulation of bigger and unhealthy organelles in tissues. "Reducing PUM2 levels, we obtained more MFF protein and increased mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy," says the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne's Davide D'Amico. "Notably, the consequence was a significant improvement of the mitochondrial function of the old animals."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Service has allocated a $1.5 million grant to University of Illinois (U of I) research into senior hunger issues, reports Agri News . "Senior hunger is a serious issue in the United States, but compared to research done on children and on non-senior adults there's been relatively little work done on seniors," says U of I Professor Craig Gundersen. "We are hoping this program will be the kicking-off point of more research into senior food insecurity." Gundersen co-led earlier research showing food-insecure seniors are more likely to have lower nutrient intake and experience health and wellbeing problems than food-secure counterparts. "Many food insecure seniors suffering from health issues are relying on government healthcare programs," Gundersen notes. "Leaving the issue unaddressed could put a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare system. So, not only are we trying to reduce food insecurity, but also the associated health consequences, therefore mitigating the risk of overwhelming our public healthcare."

Last week's Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in Las Vegas showcased new solutions for senior living, mental health, and connectivity, reports Phys.org . For example, the Rendever startup works with assisted living communities to give seniors a way to virtually visit remote locations. The AARP uses Alcove VR so seniors can virtually interact with loved ones who may live far away. Also highlighted by the AARP was VRHealth, which provides virtual reality-based cognitive behavioral therapy, and Pillo, a device that functions as a personal assistant and medication dispenser focused on senior healthcare. Also unveiled at the show was Addison Virtual Caregiver, a video-based assistant with a female avatar which can converse, provide reminders on medication, and spot potential health issues.