Study: Hearing Loss Nearly Universal Among Elders Age 80 or Above

A new study conducted at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons finds widespread hearing loss among elderly Americans, with an especially high rate for those 90 and older. In the study sample of 647 people aged 80 and above, nearly all had some level of hearing loss based on test results, with those over 90 the most affected. Medicare does not pay for hearing aids and only 59% of the study participants used one. Read about the study on the HealthDay News website.

Connections Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s

People with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before. With this extended life expectancy comes new health challenges, including Alzheimer’s disease. There are several ongoing studies and clinical trials exploring the link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s. Estimates suggest that 50% or more of people with Down syndrome will develop dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease as they age.

Dr. Laurie Ryan of the National Institute on Aging discusses a new NIH initiative aimed at discovering biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome.

Read more about the research connecting Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s at the National Institute on Aging website.

Being Mortal – Resources for Asking the Hard Questions

Dr. Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon and best-selling author, explores the challenges of end-of-life care and how doctors and caregivers should talk to patients when treatments may be likely to cause more harm than good. In his latest book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, Dr. Gawande asks: “When should we try to fix and when should we not?” To help people make the best decision, he provides questions that explore a patient’s understanding of their situation and what they feel makes their unique life worth living. Read more about Being Mortal at the author’s website.

Watch the Frontline special on Dr. Gawande as he explores the relationships between doctors and their patients who are nearing the end of life.

Read more about hospice and palliative care in Indian Country, including profiles of four programs that incorporate culture in end-of-life care.

Dementia and Kittens

Catalina Springs Memory Care in Oro Valley, Arizona, has teamed up with Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) for a new program where abandoned newborn kittens are brought to the facility so residents can care for them. As this news video shows, the kittens get the critical care they need to survive, and residents get to bottle feed, play with, and dote over them.

“To some, it may seem peculiar at first: Residents, who are in need of around-the-clock care themselves, given the task to care for these young kittens,” said Executive Director Sharon Mercer in a PACC news release. “But there are skills, emotions, and needs that do not just leave a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The desire to give love and receive love remains. The kittens have given us the opportunity to nurture this human condition that lies in each and every one of our residents.”