A new survey from TD Ameritrade found American women increasingly have an optimistic outlook on retirement, referring to the aging process as a "liberating phase" of their lives, reports USA Today . "We tend to focus on hard dollars and cents and the fact that women live longer than men," says TD Ameritrade's Christine Russell. "And that often can cause doom and gloom. But the survey found that women feel much more confident about their golden years." Seventy-three percent of women respondents agreed that "70 is the new 50," compared to 59 percent of men. Russell says these numbers imply that women are "planning for a longer life," which should focus them more intensely on taking steps to ensure they have sufficient finances in their senior years. The poll found more women view retirement as an opportunity and a life with "a higher purpose," instead of a time marked by tedium and the sense that their best years are over. Seventy-two percent of women said after years devoted to others, aging gives them an "opportunity to focus on myself," while 83 percent said aging offers a fresh chance to "reach new goals." The average preferred retirement age was 61 among respondents.

A survey from Wells Fargo Securities estimated that 77 percent of people 65 and older agree pharmaceutical companies should be required to disclose prices in ads, compared with 44 percent of people 18 to 24, reports FiercePharma . Indifference also was common among younger respondents, with 41 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds stating drug price inclusion "wouldn't matter to me." Generally, 56 percent of all Americans concurred that drug companies should be compelled to include the price in advertising. Wells Fargo found women were slightly more likely to favor drug prices in ads, with 59 percent of women supporting it to 52 percent of men. "Based on our survey, the results indicate that majority of people agree with the Trump administration's idea of including drug prices in ads, and it is an issue that especially resonates with older individuals," said Wells Fargo analysts. The elevated concern among seniors dovetails with the fact that older adults take more prescription drugs than others. According to research, 90 percent of adults older than 65 take at least one prescription drug, while 39 percent take five or more drugs every month.

A study published in Psychological Science determined age-related declines in abstract reasoning ability predict increasing depressive symptoms in later years, reports ScienceDaily . "Our findings suggest that monitoring for cognitive decrements in later adulthood may expedite efforts to reduce associated increases in depression risk," says the University of Geneva's Stephen Aichele. The investigators analyzed data from a longitudinal study of adults in Scotland, including 1,091 subjects who were assessed at age 70 and up to three additional times in roughly three-year intervals until age 79. Participants completed several measures of abstract reasoning, conducting tasks such as identifying missing elements from geometric patterns and reproducing visuospatial models using component parts. Overall, participants' abstract reasoning ability and depressive symptoms got worse, and relatively lower cognitive function at each evaluation was associated with subsequent escalations in depressive symptoms, which became stronger as time passed. The researchers found lower abstract reasoning scores at one assessment were linked to increased depressive symptoms at later assessments, while increased depressive symptoms at a given assessment were not associated with subsequent changes in abstract reasoning. Sociodemographic and other health-related factors were not observed as influencing the link between abstract reasoning and depressive symptoms.

A study published in the British Medical Journal estimated that about 50 percent of older men and women are exposed to potentially inappropriate drug prescribing every year, with hospitalization independently associated with a higher increased risk, reports Medical Xpress . The study's authors call for better coordination of care, particularly for older individuals with complex care needs, to help lower the risk of medication errors, adverse drug events, and re-hospitalizations. The researchers analyzed data from 44 general practices in Ireland from 2012 to 2015, including 38,229 community residents. The average subject age was 77, while 43 percent of the subjects were men and 10 percent to 15 percent were hospitalized at least once a year. The general degree of potentially inappropriate prescribing ranged from 45.3 percent of subjects in 2012 to 51 percent in 2015. Hospitalization was associated with a higher rate of potentially inappropriate prescribing regardless of age, sex, number of prescription items, other conditions, and health coverage. Among participants who were hospitalized, the probability of potentially inappropriate prescribing after admission was consistently higher than prior to admission.

Mission Therapeutics and the AbbVie biopharmaceutical firm have announced a joint venture to research and preclinically develop specified deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, reports the Associated Press . DUBs significantly contribute to cell health by regulating the degradation of misfolded, toxic proteins. AbbVie and Mission hope to modulate certain DUBs in the brain to develop potential therapeutics that facilitate the degradation of these proteins and prevent their buildup. Under the terms of their agreement, both parties will collaborate during the research phase to identify specific DUBs and find suitable compounds, after which AbbVie will have the option to gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize DUB inhibitors against up to four selected targets. Mission will receive an upfront license fee and also is eligible to receive success-based milestone payments and royalty payments for each commercialized product. "Mission's scientists have developed impressive early research toward the understanding of these diseases," said AbbVie's James Summers. "Together, we will work to advance this early science and develop meaningful therapies."

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) has launched a dementia awareness program developed in Britain for caregivers, reports the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder . The program features a first-ever "My House of Memories" app with more than 100 interactive pages of MNHS collection ideas to help those living with dementia tap their memories to create personal connections with family, friends, and caregivers. It also has a specially designed feature for African Americans with dementia. MNHS was allocated a $205,000 grant last year from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to work on the new app, which entailed a long search on how to better serve people with memory loss, especially people of color. Levad says app users can help reduce the sense of isolation people with dementia often feel by adding photos to the "My Memory" section, either by taking snapshots of family members or rooms in their house. "The goal is to allow users to connect with their loved ones in their own homes and their own spaces where they are comfortable," Levad notes.

A survey from BMO Wealth Management determined health, family, and finances to be older Americans' biggest priorities, reports Financial Advisor . Forty-six percent of 502 Americans 55 or older cited health problems and costs as leading concerns, while 45 percent listed family burdens and 44 percent named worries about depleting their finances. Leaving nothing behind for their heirs, loneliness, little purpose, and being a victim of abuse, neglect, or fraud ranked lower. The senior U.S. populace is projected to grow at a faster rate than the number of children through 2060, driven by declining fertility rates and increasing longevity. However, the length of the average retirement has held steady over several decades at 18 years because people are remaining in the workforce longer. The proportion of people aged 65 and older who no longer work due to retirement fell from 72.5 percent in 2004 to 68.1 percent in 2014, and that number is expected to continue to decline as lifespans increase and Americans enjoy healthier lifestyles well into their 60s and 70s. Many Americans are staying employed longer due to their concerns about healthcare costs, long-term-care needs, and the sustainability of retirement assets, while others are seeking new careers, freelance work, or temporary employment for emotional reasons.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday declared a public health emergency in California due to the wildfires, reports the Los Angeles Sentinel . The declaration, which follows President Trump's emergency declaration for the state, gives the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services beneficiaries and their healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs created by the blazes. "We are working closely with state health authorities and monitoring the needs of healthcare facilities to provide whatever they may need to save lives and protect health," Azar remarked. "This declaration will help ensure that Americans who are threatened by these dangerous wildfires and who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program have continuous access to the care they need." As of press time, the wildfires had forced the evacuation of at least two hospitals and eight other healthcare facilities. Separately, a smoke advisory has been issued for portions of Los Angeles County. Smoke can present a serious health risk for people with lung conditions such as asthma.

A new SunTrust Bank survey found 36 percent of baby-boomer business owners have no current or specific plans for transitioning their company to a new owner, reports the South Florida Business Journal . Nevertheless, more than 50 percent said they expect such a transition to occur within the next eight years. "A lot of owners don't plan ahead for the transition, so when it comes time to sell, they have to start learning from scratch about the market, which can make the process even tougher," says SunTrust's Shawn Sackman. Meanwhile, 35 percent of respondents admitted they were likely to sell their business to a private equity firm or third-party investor versus 31 percent expecting to transition ownership to a family member. Sackman observes, "Private equity firms and investors are looking for great assets and companies to acquire. If you're a business looking to sell, it's a great time in the market to do it."

Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari suggests companies should raise their wages to attract more workers, reports CNBC . "The unemployment rate is going down, and there is a question about where the workforce is going to come from," he said. Kashkari cited immigration as only a partial solution. "I oftentimes hear businesses saying, 'I just can't find the workers that I need,'" the central bank official said during a conference on immigration in his home district. "Now, I'm not entirely sympathetic with that view, because I've been saying you should try paying more, and you may be able to attract more workers. But nonetheless, the unemployment rate is going down, and there is a question about where the workforce is going to come from." Meanwhile, payroll growth has been inching up recently, with average hourly earnings rising 3.1 percent in October from the same period a year ago.