Assistive tech
A portable brain scanner being trialled in Kent could help speed up dementia diagnosis by bringing scans into local clinics rather than relying on hospital visits. The low-field MRI machine is smaller, cheaper and more portable than traditional hospital scanners, potentially enabling quicker and more accessible assessments in community settings. Led by Kent and Medway [...]
A new detective novel uses mystery-solving to help children understand dementia through the adventures of twelve-year-old sleuth Scarlett Buckling. Scarlett Buckling and the Case of the Missing Pictures follows a young detective whose grandmother goes missing while searching for lost photographs, introducing memory loss through an age-appropriate mystery. Author Mario Ambrosi based the story on [...]
Patients with long-term conditions will be automatically referred to specialist charities when diagnosed by their GP, the government has announced. The service, called Diagnosis Connect, will launch next year and is expected to support 250,000 people in its first two years, including those with diabetes, mental health issues and lung conditions. Patients in primary care [...]
Denmark offers the most favourable conditions for slower ageing and healthier later life, new research across 40 countries has found. The international study, which analysed data from over 160,000 people, found that where someone lives can significantly influence how fast they age biologically. Researchers used artificial intelligence to estimate biological age based on environmental and [...]
Older musicians show brain activity similar to young adults when processing speech in noisy settings, new research suggests. Long-term musical training may reduce age-related decline in speech perception by strengthening cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to maintain function despite changes due to ageing. This reserve may reduce the need for older adults to recruit [...]
Agetech World explores the latest developments in the world of age technology and longevity - from the effects of long-term obesity and biological ageing in young adults to understanding how math can help unlock the body’s hidden blueprint for staying healthy. Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients Scientists have developed a long-acting [...]
A new government-backed project is using mapping technology to guide mobile greengrocers to areas where residents struggle to access fresh, healthy food essential for ageing well. Announced on 7 July, the initiative is part of a wider programme in which six projects across the UK will share £8.5m in funding to tackle food inequality and [...]
Scotland’s ageing population will soon outpace its housing provision, with 70 per cent of homes failing to meet the needs of older residents, a new report has warned. In 20 years, more than a quarter of Scotland’s population will be aged 65 or over, while those under 16 are projected to make up just 13.3 [...]
Altering the environment around heart cells could help reverse age-related cardiac decline, a new study suggests. Instead of focusing on heart cells themselves, the researchers examined the extracellular matrix (ECM) – the protein- and molecule-based structure that surrounds and supports these cells. This matrix, which acts like scaffolding, helps maintain tissue integrity and relays biochemical [...]
A more positive outlook in midlife could help protect against memory decline, according to a study tracking more than 10,000 adults aged over 50 across 16 years. Researchers found that people reporting greater happiness, confidence and a sense of control went on to perform better in memory tests, even after accounting for depression and other [...]
