With Democrats set to take majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives, some expect lawmakers to proactively stump for the "Medicare at 55 Act," a proposal to offer Americans between 55 and 64 an option to buy into Medicare, reports Forbes . The proposal notes there are over 40 million Americans who are 55 and 64 years old, and they "are burdened by high insurance premiums, unaffordable deductibles, and limited options." When she originally presented the measure in 2017, co-sponsor Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said it "offers a choice for millions of older Americans to buy more affordable, quality healthcare coverage. For people between the ages of 55 and 64, this is a high-quality option that can help reduce health insurance costs and increase competition." Medicare at 55 could find favor among more moderate Republicans and Democrats concerned about expanding entitlements, given climbing deficits spurred by GOP-led tax cuts. Advocates said those gaining Medicare coverage would buy into it so the government would not cover all expenses. The proposal also could find support in the insurance industry, in view of popular Medicare Advantage plans offered by Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group.

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found enhanced influenza vaccines trigger greater antibody responses compared with standard-dose vaccine in older adults, reports Healio . The investigators analyzed PubMed, Medline, and Embase for studies published through Dec. 31, 2017, of enhancements in antibody responses as quantified by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay linked to enhanced vaccines versus standard-dose vaccine. Thirty-nine randomized controlled trials were highlighted. The trials indicated men and women 60 or older who received enhanced vaccines underwent higher post-vaccination titers for all vaccine strains, and higher proportions with elevated titers of 40 or greater for most strains in comparison to adults of the same age getting standard-dose vaccines. The "most notable" difference was observed with influenza A(H3N2), with high-dose vaccine producing an 82 percent higher post-vaccination titer to the strain versus standard-dose vaccine. "This was significantly higher than 52 percent estimated for MF59-adjuvantated vs. standard dose vaccines (P = .04), which was higher than 32 percent estimated for intradermal vs. standard-dose vaccines (P

Making resolutions appears to make older people less susceptible to developing cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's, according to U.S. News & World Report . A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrated that older adults with a solid sense of purpose tend to retain strong hand grips and walking speeds, which are signs of the rapidity of aging. Meanwhile, a Columbia University study indicated that enthusiastic and content persons are less prone to heart disease, while a Swedish study observed that social people who maintain calm are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia. Among resolution-strengthening options for older adults are making mutual resolutions with loved ones that can be realized through collaboration, like composing family trees. Setting up a medical appointment at the start of the year also is beneficial, as is getting a flu shot. Finally, acting on resolutions about diet and exercise grows in value as people get older.

For the first time in U.S. history, the 65-and-older populace will outnumber those 18 and younger by 2035, and entrepreneurs should not overlook this demographic, reports Entrepreneur . For one thing, entrepreneurs should debunk the stereotypical image of seniors as meek and retired; as human longevity and health improves, adults 55 and older are staying employed longer and have considerably more purchasing power than millennials. Another myth to be dispelled is the assumption that all seniors are not adroit with or enthusiastic for technology. One study from the Pew Research Center estimated that 67 percent of baby boomers now own smartphones, 52 percent own tablets, and 57 percent use social media. Moreover, 26.5 million Facebook users fit into the 55-to-64 age bracket, while 21.1 million are 65 and older. With this in mind, it benefits entrepreneurs to promote connectivity solutions for seniors, especially when it comes to communicating with friends and family. Another imperative for entrepreneurs is to not assume that all seniors share the same problems, like mobility and incontinence. Health should be a primary focus of entrepreneurs targeting seniors, and in all instances personalization should be emphasized.

Toyota envisions robots becoming commonplace in homes as companions to seniors, reports Bloomberg , as part of its new artificial intelligence (AI) research center headed by renowned inventor Gill Pratt. Toyota believes the pressing need for senior care will make robots more attractive, and its Human Support Robot (HSR) could be one of the first products to gain mainstream acceptance. The HSR is essentially a retractable arm on wheels, with a video screen on top and camera eyes to give it the semblance of a face. Among its demonstrated capabilities is learning where books and other items should go on a shelf, and cleaning untidy rooms using sensor-eyes and a pincer. Toyota's Masanori Sugiyama said the HSR could be ready for deployment first in hospitals and assisted living communities to perform simple tasks within several years.

A study published in Neuron suggests genetic diversity among test subjects in Alzheimer's research could lead to better treatment options, reports United Press International . The investigators injected a mouse model of familial Alzheimer's into a group of genetically diverse mice that shared the cognitive, genetic, molecular, and pathologic traits of the disease. However, the animals with differing overall genetic backgrounds exhibited different severity levels of disease symptom onset. The team observed a specific strain of mouse Alzheimer's has factors that help ward off the effects of genetic Alzheimer's risk factors. Their ability to recognize this strain implies that future studies can concentrate on the precise mechanisms acting to improve Alzheimer's prevention. "The ability to model genetic diversity and its impact on multiple aspects of disease risk and resilience in transgenic mice in a robust and reproducible way will enable the research community to learn a lot more about the complex nature of Alzheimer's a lot faster," predicts Suzana Petanceska with the National Institute on Aging's Division of Neuroscience.

At least 67 choirs that recruit people with dementia and their caregivers have formed worldwide in recent years, according to the Giving Voice Initiative in the Washington Post . New York University's Center for Cognitive Neurology, for example, began a choir to study its effects on people with dementia and their family members. The researchers determined participants with early to middle-stage dementia had more communication with caregivers and a better overall quality of life. Such choirs provide stimulation and improved social connections, while also offering a structured opportunity to enjoy activity with loved ones. Singing is often utilized as a therapeutic strategy for persons with dementia, with research suggesting music-related memories are retained longer. Another example is the Good Memories Choir in Chicago, which uses volunteers to notice whether a member needs help, to support them by singing the correct notes or rhythms, and/or to get them back on track if they lose their place.

A study published in Diabetologia found an association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and a decline in verbal memory and fluency over five years in older adults living in an Australian community, reports Psych Central . Contrary to previous studies, the latest investigation determined shrinking brain volume often observed in older people with T2D had no direct connection to cognitive decline during this time period. Instead, those with T2D exhibited greater brain atrophy at the start of the study. Enrolled were 705 people, 55 to 90, including 348 with T2D and 357 without, who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological measures three times over a follow-up period of 4.6 years. Although diabetics showed greater brain atrophy at the beginning of the study, there was no difference in the rate of atrophy between those with and without T2D over the timeframe, nor evidence that the rate of brain atrophy directly impacted the diabetes-cognition relationship. Verbal fluency slightly increased on average each year in people lacking T2D, but deteriorated in those with T2D. "Such accelerated cognitive decline may contribute to executive difficulties in everyday activities and health behaviors — such as medication compliance — which in turn may poorly influence future vascular health and cognitive decline, and possibly an earlier onset of dementia in those with type 2 diabetes," the authors note.

The need for memory care units is growing with the population of U.S. seniors with dementia and similar cognitive disorders, reports Westfair Online . Certain communities have set up specialist units whose design diverges from assisted living communities for those not diagnosed with such conditions. Epoch Senior Living in Waltham, Mass., supports two memory care brands: Bridges, which is designed exclusively for memory care, and the Waterstone line for providing more traditional senior care. "Our concept for memory care is a building that is 100 percent dedicated to seniors with those issues," says Epoch CEO Laurence Gerber. He notes keeping memory care unit residents separate from others is a safety measure, and the firm works with its own architect and other consultants in designing its Bridges line "to create an environment that is both safe and allows people to have the highest quality of life they can, with a degree of independence and dignity." Among the amenities that Gerber says the memory care unit must deliver are even and consistent lighting, as well as carpets with non-confusing patterns. "A carpet with a distinct border that has an array of colors can adversely affect residents' depth perception, to the point where they think there's a step or even a hole there," he notes.