What's Hot

What's Hot is a newsletter with a focus on aging.

Current Issue

Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline

Researchers have identified several molecular pathways and cellular processes that appear to underlie both aging and age-related chronic disease. Cellular changes associated with aging are cumulatively referred to as AACD and include defects in mitochondrial function. Emerging research indicates that certain nutritional factors may influence AACD processes. This publication discusses the developing research that indicates that nutritional com¬ponents that target specific mechanisms associated with AACD hold promise for improving the health and well-being of adults and how dietary supplementation with these components may be an alternative or complementary approach to lifestyle interventions targeting AACD. Further, it reviews how identifying AACD risk factors and intervening with cellular nutrients earlier in the aging process, before major mobility disabilities and disease-driven limitations emerge, could help improve overall healthy aging.

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Also available:

"Cellular Nutrition and Its Influence on Age-Associated Cellular Decline" infographic

"Cellular Aging and the Care of Older Patients" podcast

"Mitochondria and Aging" podcast

"Nutrition and Cellular Aging" podcast

Previous Issues

Interrelationships Between Nutrition and Oral Health in Older Adults

The relationship between oral health and nutrition is a circular one. Without a healthy mouth to chew food and begin the digestive process, nutritional status suffers. And, without adequate nutrients, oral health often declines, muscles weaken, gum tissues become infected, bone supporting the teeth resorbs, and teeth decay and - may be eventually lost. And the process repeats. This publication discusses the interrelationships between nutrition and oral health with an emphasis on older adults who undergo surgery, have cancer, or require special diets due to chronic health conditions and factors related to social determinants of health. It also examines the need for interprofessional education initiatives that reinforce care that benefits both oral health and nutrition.

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Recognizing and Treating COPD in Older Adults

For the millions of people with COPD — diagnosed or not — every day, every minute, every step can be affected by this chronic and progressive condition. This What’s Hot addresses what is known about the prevalence, incidence, and impact of COPD in older adults. It summarizes the symptoms and differential diagnoses for the disease and identifies the reasons for underdiagnosis in older adults. Treatment options following the GOLD guidelines are explained, along with steps to improve the process of diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and optimal management through pulmonary rehabilitation, immunizations, smoking cessation support, behavioral changes, oxygen therapy when needed, management of associated comorbidities, and pharmacotherapy will enable people with COPD to improve symptoms, increase functional capacity, and live life to its fullest.

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• Understanding COPD in Older Adults fact sheet

Higher Education and Aging: The Age-Friendly Movement
Building a Case for Age Inclusivity

This What’s Hot addresses shifts in demographics that are leading to changes in higher education enrollment and illustrates how principles of the Age-Friendly University movement can be adopted to successfully address those changes. From welcoming older learners to ensuring graduates are prepared to work with and care for older persons, this edition of What’s Hot provides perspective on applying the broader age-friendly movement to higher education. The publication covers shifting perspectives about aging populations, the needs of a multigenerational workforce, the Age-Friendly University Movement, and examples of how several institutions of higher learning have embraced age inclusivity. It also provides resources for those wishing to learn more about age inclusivity in higher education.

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Addressing the Complex Impact of Immunosenescence: The Value of Vaccination

This What’s Hot details immunosenescence, including causes and impact, and its relationship to vaccine-preventable diseases. It also describes emerging research linking vaccine-preventable diseases and “imflammaging,” the increasingly prothrombotic state that comes with advancing age and leads to increased risk of events such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism following infection. Raising vaccination rates for influenza, pneumococcal, and shingles, consequently, can help lower rates of these events. The document addresses new formulations of vaccines specifically designed to overcome immunosenescence, which are showing exciting efficacy in older adults.

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Reducing the Risk of Mobility Disability in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis

This What’s Hot addresses the importance of mobility as a fundamental component of health and well-being and details the impact of osteoarthritis on mobility for older adults in the United States. The publication covers up-to-date strategies to improve mobility — both nonpharmacologic approaches such as weight loss and physical activity, and pharmacological approaches such as acetaminophen, glucosamine and chondroitin, topical or oral NSAIDS, and intraarticular injections. This useful reference details recommendations from guidelines that focus on prevention of disability as a main factor in maintenance of mobility and highlights the importance of a team in care of older adults with osteoarthritis.

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Oral Health: An Essential Element of Healthy Aging

This What’s Hot provides an overview of linkages between oral health, systemic conditions, functional abilities, and healthy aging. In addition to calling attention to the growing recognition of the importance of oral health, this publication highlights special oral health challenges now faced by the world’s rapidly aging population. It provides a valuable and up-to-date resource for clinicians, researchers, educators, and policy-makers across disciplines to quickly bring them up to speed on key areas of concern in geriatric oral health. It also summarizes what is known to help improve geriatric oral health as well as knowledge gaps that warrant further attention in research and policy development.

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Aging Policy: Preventing and Treating Malnutrition to Improve Health and Reduce Costs

Did you know that obesity is not America’s only nutritional epidemic? A hidden epidemic of adult malnutrition cuts across all weight categories—from underweight to obese—and especially affects older adults.

Here are a few findings from the publication:

• A third to half of US adults are malnourished or at risk for malnourishment upon admission to the hospital—and longer hospital stays are associated with worsening nutritional status.
• About half of older adults in rehabilitation settings are malnourished.
• Only about a quarter of US medical schools provide at least 25 hours of nutrition instruction for medical students, as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.

Fortunately, there are a range of possible policy interventions that can help mitigate the problem, enhancing the health and quality of life for older adults while simultaneously reducing healthcare costs. The upcoming reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, for example, is a key opportunity to expand access to malnutrition services and support. This publication was developed by GSA and supported by Abbott.

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Spotlight on OTC Sleep Aids and Sleep Health in Older Adults

This What’s Hot newsletter provides readers with snapshots of noteworthy research presented at key annual meetings and articles published in preeminent scholarly publications; the content includes information about the impact of poor sleep in older adults, treatment options for older adults who have sleep disturbances, and medication-taking behaviors of older adults.  The science, with a focus on aging, is accompanied by expert discussion and analysis of questions raised by the research.

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Immunizations Across the Aging Continuum—2013 Update

This special newsletter features snapshots of the latest research findings, key initiatives, campaigns and programs that are focused on improving adult immunization rates. It includes the most recent ACIP general immunization recommendations and the adult vaccination schedules.  This publication can be utilized to raise stakeholder awareness of relevant statistics, adult immunization rates, campaigns, programs and initiatives underway such as the National Vaccine Advisory Committee Pathway to Leadership for Adult Immunization, CDC Healthy Aging efforts, the Immunization Action Coalition, pharmacists’ immunization efforts, and many others.  Additionally, the publication highlights numerous state initiatives that are successfully advancing adult immunizations.

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Immunosenescence: Implications for Patient Care

This special publication aims to ensure that researchers, practitioners, educators, and policy makers are aware of the latest research findings regarding immunosenescence and influenza vaccines and to provide a closer look into today’s most pressing aging issues.

This What’s Hot newsletter provides readers with snapshots of noteworthy research presented at key annual meetings, articles published in preeminent scholarly publications, and includes vaccine effectiveness of influenza vaccines and the clinical data for how the high dose vaccine works in older adults.  The science, with a focus on aging, is accompanied by expert discussion and analysis of the additional questions raised by the research.   

We believe that this latest issue in our What’s Hot series will assist you in better understanding the impact of immunosenescence on the 7,000 to 10,000 people turning 65 every day for the next 18 years that will be affected by the science of immunosenescence as they age. This publication was developed by GSA in collaboration with sanofi pasteur.

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Pain Bioethics and Older Adults

This special publication aims to ensure that researchers, practitioners, educators, and policy makers are aware of the wide range of initiatives, events, and latest research findings related to ethical pain management in older adults.

This What’s Hot newsletter provides readers with snapshots of noteworthy research presented at key annual meetings, articles published in preeminent scholarly publications, and successful national stakeholder initiatives—including efforts developed in response to the Institute of Medicine report on Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research. The science, with a focus on aging, is accompanied by expert discussion and analysis of the additional questions raised by the research.   

We believe that this latest issue in our What’s Hot series will assist you in identifying and responding to ethical issues in the treatment of pain in older adults. This publication was developed by GSA and supported by an educational grant from Purdue Pharma L.P.

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Immunizations Across the Aging Continuum

This newsletter features snapshots of the latest research findings, key initiatives, campaigns, and programs that are focused on improving adult immunization rates. This publication can be utilized to raise stakeholder awareness of relevant campaigns, programs, and initiatives underway, such as the National Vaccine Advisory Committee Pathway to Leadership for Adult Immunization, CDC Healthy Aging efforts, the Immunization Action Coalition, pharmacists’ immunization efforts, and many others. Additionally, the publication highlights relevant published cost effectiveness and cost savings data realized through adult immunizations.

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Pain Management in Older Adults

Based largely on presentation highlights from GSA’s 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting in November 2010, the current issue examines the impact of pain in older adults, strategies for managing pain and preserving function, and methods to improve the assessment and management of pain for residents in long-term care facilities, including those who have dementia. Support for this publication was provided by McNeill Consumer Healthcare.

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Minority Aging Research

The premiere issue dealt with two pressing societal concerns — the economic downturn and health care reform — from the perspective of older minority adults. Based on presentation highlights from GSA’s 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting in November 2009, the first installment of What’s Hot covered topics such as the impact of the economic crisis on older workers’ health; the perceived prevalence of job discrimination among older workers; and health care utilization patterns among older Asian minorities. Support for this issue was provided by sanofi-aventis.

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