Assistive tech
A report from charity Age UK has found that two million older people are struggling due to insufficient access to high quality NHS treatment and social care, and that the system is currently under-prepared for population ageing. New analysis carried out by Age UK has found that 2 million older people in England are now [...]
The world’s largest investigation into the effectiveness of hearing training kicks off this week - as part of a movement to prove that hearing loss is not an inevitable part of ageing. The research project aims to attract a minimum of 10,000 participants to better understand how hearing training impacts auditory processing skills like speech comprehension and [...]
As the world’s population ages, so does the proportion of older drivers on the road. Safe driving requires adequate memory, perceptual and motor skills, and executive function abilities. Although individuals with severe Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are no longer able to drive safely, changes in driving performance may start at the preclinical stage [...]
Members of the Ageing On research group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have investigated how to better look after carers of the elderly. The general profile of carers of the elderly is mainly older and middle-aged women, working class, with a very high prevalence of lower back pain and consequently possible psycho-affective [...]
The findings of a new study say routine cognitive testing may help older drivers and their physicians make better decisions about driving to maximise safety while preserving independence as long as possible. One of the thorniest decisions facing older adults is when to give up their keys and stop driving, but a new study by researchers [...]
Patients’ risk of falling in the next 12 months could be predicted from their NHS data using a newly developed calculator. eFalls is a falls prediction model which uses routinely available primary care electronic health record data, the first of its kind in the world. Developed and tested by researchers from the University of Leeds, [...]
The British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) is calling for more public backing in the UK for research to help people stay healthier for longer, as an alternative to charities that support research on diseases. The greatest risk factor for disease is ageing, but we have very little charitable support for research into how [...]
A trailblazing rehabilitation hub using exercise and other therapies to help boost stroke survivors’ recovery has opened its doors at one of Scotland’s largest hospitals – with evidence already pointing towards its life-changing impact on patients. The hub is part of a trial being conducted by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, [...]
With governments across the globe facing a ticking timebomb when it comes to funding the care needs of their ageing populations, a leading social and medical anthropologist has told the latest Agetech World podcast that there is much Japan can teach policymakers. Click here to listen to the latest Agetech World podcast Among Dr Iza Kavedžija’s [...]
A one-of-a-kind robotic cup designed to help people living with cerebral palsy stay hydrated could also be a game-changer for older adults suffering from mobility impairments. The aptly named RoboCup enables people with limited upper body mobility to stay hydrated without relying on a caregiver for help. The battery-powered device, which can be mounted on [...]
