To evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in preventing hip and nonvertebral fractures in older adults, this study reviewed results from twelve randomized controlled (double-blinded) trials. Oral vitamin D supplements between 700 and 800 International Units, ingested on a daily basis, appeared to reduce the risk of hip and nonvertebral fractures in older adults. The study also revealed that a daily dose of only 400 International Units was insufficient in preventing fractures.

Taking a baby aspirin every day is often recommended to help prevent a heart attack or stroke, but for people more than 70 years old, the benefits of aspirin may be offset by bleeding risks. A research team constructed a mathematical model based on clinical trial data and demographics to compare risks and benefits of low-dose aspirin in a theoretical cohort of 10,000 men and 10,000 women ages 70 to 74. The virtual participants were “followed” until they died or reached 100 years of age. The model suggested that routine low-dose aspirin therapy in men would prevent 389 heart attacks and 19 strokes; and 321 heart attacks and 35 strokes in women. These benefits, however, were offset by 499 episodes of gastric bleeding in men and 572 episodes in women. Moreover, the team calculated that 76 more men and 54 more women would suffer bleeding in their brains.

Finding the right number of sheep to count at night may be more critical to your health than previously believed. This study suggested that both too little and too much sleep could lead to diabetes. Co-author Dr. Daniel Gottlieb said, “This is one additional piece of information bolstering the common recommendation for sleeping seven to eight hours a night.” People who slept less than five or more than nine hours a night were found to have 2.5 and 1.7 times the prevalence of diabetes, respectively, when compared to those who slept seven to eight hours a night.

A periodic Zen-like trance may add life to your years and years to your life. In a recent report, researcher Dr. Robert H. Schneider purported that transcendental meditation (TM), used to manage stress and calm the mind, also lowered blood pressure in hypertensive older adults. Of the mild and prehypertensive participants in the study, those who engaged in TM decreased their blood pressure levels and lowered their all-cause mortality rates.

Many Americans turn to religion to help them cope with stressful life events. This study reviewed recent medical literature that assessed the role of religion in health outcomes. Religious, but not spiritual, interventions were selected for inclusion. The findings revealed that frequent attendance at religious services may improve health behaviors and prayer may decrease adverse outcomes in heart patients.

Although most people seem to know what defines a healthy lifestyle, very few actually live it. Only three percent of U.S. adults eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, exercise regularly, maintain a normal weight, and do not smoke. Researchers studied 153,805 adults across the U.S. and found that 76 percent of the people surveyed were nonsmokers; 40 percent maintained a healthy weight; 23 percent said they ate at least five fruits and vegetables daily; and only 22 percent said they exercised at least five times a week.

People who smoke double their risk of suffering from the degenerative eye disorder that is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. A study of more than 4,000 Britons ages 75 years and older showed that those who puffed on cigarettes were twice as likely to have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than those who did not smoke. People who stopped smoking more than 20 years earlier had no increased risk of developing the illness. In the U.S., AMD afflicts about 10 million to 15 million people.

What should you look for in a personal trainer? According to a report from American Sports Data, Inc., 1.5 million adults ages 55 and older make an effort to meet their health and fitness goals by consulting a personal trainer. To assist older adults with the process of selecting an appropriate personal trainer, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) recently published the ICAA Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist, which includes considerations such as experience, education, personality, and business practices. The checklist is available at http://www.icaa.cc.

According to this report, the level of care at assisted living facilities (ALFs) varies widely, with some facilities providing care on par with nursing homes and others offering minimal care. Thirty-nine U.S. states authorized evictions when facilities’ services did not meet residents’ needs. Only half of states require ALFs to employ or contract with a nurse, and in most of these cases, the nurse is rarely at the facility. While only licensed or registered nurses can administer medication in nursing homes, assisted living employees with limited training can give medication in 28 states. Only 19 states have hourly minimums for the training of direct-care workers. The report Critical Issues in Assisted Living: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Who’s Providing theCare can be found at http://www.nsclc.org/news/05/05/ALreport.htm.

Abnormal sleep/wake patterns are common in nursing home residents, and lifestyle and environmental factors likely contribute to poor sleep patterns. This study tested a nonpharmacological intervention to improve the sleep quality of 339 people who slept excessively during the day. For five consecutive days and nights, the intervention consisted of efforts to structure bedtime routines; decrease time spent in bed during the day; nighttime noise, and light; provide 30 minutes or more of daily sunlight exposure; and increase physical activity. Results included decreased daytime sleeping and increased participation in social and physical activities and social conversation.

Nursing homes remain one of the most dangerous places to work. The worker injury rate in the nursing home industry was the third highest among 84 industry groups in 2003, the last year such information was disseminated. Injuries occurred as a result of caring for those who cannot care for themselves; nursing assistants hurt their backs, necks, and shoulders while lifting patients. They also faced potentially hazardous situations such as working with residents who might kick or strike them. Despite the hazards, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not provide nor enforce direct standards for the nursing home industry. To find out more, you can visit http://www.bls.gov/iif/osh_notice04.htm.

This study examined predicted future increases in government entitlement spending for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, as well as the impact the spending will have on state and federal budgets. The study purported that the number of older adults in need of assistance with daily living activities may more than double by 2040, due to the aging Baby Boomer generation. The spending on long-term care services may increase as much as 2.5 times during the next four decades. Medicaid will play a significant role in this increase and impose a significant strain on both state and federal budgets. To view the study, which also comprises reform proposals, visit http://www.gao.gov.

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , the drug memantine was found to successfully treat behavioral symptoms that are common in persons who are in the moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers analyzed two studies that observed the effects of memantine, and treatment had a significant beneficial effect when compared to placebo treatment in the agitation/aggression domain in both studies.

This study evaluated a sleep education program for persons with Alzheimer’ s disease who lived at home with their family caregivers. All participants received written materials describing age- and dementia-related changes in sleep and principles of sleep hygiene. Caregivers were trained in behavior management skills and received sleep hygiene recommendations for the person with Alzheimer’s. Persons with Alzheimer’s who were instructed to walk every day and increase their daytime light exposure with the use of a light box exhibited reduced feelings of depression; experienced a decrease in nighttime awakenings; a decrease in total time awake at night; and an increase in weekly exercise. After six months, treatment gains were maintained and additional improvements had emerged.

Some studies have shown that prior use of statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) for the treatment of risk of coronary artery disease may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. In a small trial involving 67 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, daily administration of 80 milligrams of the statin atorvastatin resulted in positive effects on cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Researchers believe that the study results are promising, and that the results of two multi-center trials involving a much larger population may provide further proof that statin therapy is beneficial.

This free publication assesses the quality of care provided to millions of older adult and disabled Medicare beneficiaries. Whether analyzing Medicare, minority health, or early child development, chartbooks sift through available research and provide a comprehensive overview of any given issue. Each chartbook is a health policy resource that features charts and analyses from leaders in various fields. A complete list of chartbooks, in PDF and Power Point formats, is available at http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=275195.

According to this new government study, the number of older adults admitted for substance abuse treatment increased by 32 percent from 1995 to 2002. The number of older adults who abused opiates rose 6.8 percent to 12 percent. Opiates include prescription pain medications and heroin, and are the second-most common reason, alcohol being the first, for substance abuse treatment admissions among older adults. To read Older Adults in Substance Abuse Treatment: Update, visit http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/aging.cfm.

More than a third of patients given prescription drugs to combat high blood pressure and control cholesterol stopped taking the drugs after six months. Researchers examined medical records of 8,406 patients who had been prescribed both types of drugs during a 90-day period. The percentage of patients taking both drugs as prescribed declined sharply over the course of the study. After six months, 35 percent were not taking the drugs at all, while 44 percent were still taking both. The remaining patients took one drug, but not the other. The researchers suggested that within the first six months of prescribing both medications, doctors should make sure a patient is taking his or her medication correctly and consistently.

This Data Profile, the latest in a series, provides an overview of adult children primary caregivers. Among older persons needing long-term care, the adult child is most likely to take on the role of primary caregiver. More than seven million adult children are primary caregivers to a parent, and many of these caregivers have other responsibilities such as parenting and work. To read more, visit http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pubhtml/caregiver2/caregiver2.html.

The results of a recent Harris Interactive Survey found that the majority of Americans hold positive views toward aging and older persons . The survey indicated that 92 percent of adults thought that older persons were active members of the labor force and not burdens on society. Eighty-one percent of Americans also disagree with the notion that older persons receive more than their fair share of benefits, such as Medicare and Social Security. Younger Americans ages 18 to 24 tend to have more negative perceptions of aging and older persons than other segments of the population. To view Why the Doom and Gloom: Majority of American Hold a Positive View of Aging , visit http://www.ilcusa.org/news/news.htm .