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Middle aged Americans are experiencing significantly higher levels of loneliness than their European peers. Research published in American Psychologist found that baby boomers in particular are experiencing high levels of loneliness. [More]

A recently published study looked at benzodiazepine prescriptions for homeless veterans affairs service users with mental illness. “People experiencing homelessness are at high risk for substance use disorders, overdose, and death,” study author Dr. Katherine A. Koh told us. “Benzodiazepines are medications that are known to increase risk of overdose particularly when combined with other sedating medications. [More]

A new study published in JAMA Neurology looked at the characteristics of emergency department visits among older adults with dementia. “This study provides the first estimates of how often older adults with dementia utilize emergency services and the main reasons that drive such care,” study author Lauren Gerlach told us. “We anticipated that patients with dementia would utilize emergency services frequently but were unaware of what the main drivers of care were.” [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Rural Sociology looked at the built environmental and social and emotional support among rural older adults and whether there is a case for social infrastructure and attention to ethnoracial differences. “In this study, we were interested in determining if and how older adult social and emotional health is associated with social infrastructure availability in rural contexts,” study author Danielle Rhubart told us. [More]

Having low levels of stress and a four year college degree are strongly associated with psychological resilience in women 80 and over. Researchers from The Ohio State University found that stronger social support and higher levels of self-rated health were also helpful in building resilience. [More]

A new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology looked at physical and mental activity, disease susceptibility, and risk of dementia. “In the present study, we aimed to assess the associations between physical and mental activity and the subsequent risk of dementia,” study author Huan Song told us. “We further hoped to explore whether such associations would differ for individuals with different susceptibility to dementia.” [More]

Having a partner was more beneficial at avoiding loneliness during the first wave of COVID-19 than having children. Research published in the European Journal of Ageing found that whilst those without children and those without a partner were more likely to be lonely, those without a partner underwent a notable shift in their loneliness in the early stages of the pandemic. [More]

A new study published in the American Society for Microbiology Journal looked at the long-term effects of developmental exposure to oxycodone on gut microbiota and the relationship to adult behaviors and metabolism. “In this study, we sought to determine whether exposure of mouse moms to a widely prescribed and abuse opioid drug, oxycodone, would lead to longstanding effects on the bacteria in the gut and whether such changes might be associated with behavioral and metabolic alterations also seen in these adult sons and daughters,” study author Cheryl S. Rosenfeld told us. [More]

A new study published in Science Direct looked at bereavement and mental health and the generational consequences of a grandparent's death. “We were interested in examining whether adolescents who experience the death of a grandparent between the ages of nine and 15 showed evidence of lasting mental health challenges that might predict subsequent difficulties in schooling,” study author Dr. Ashton M Verdery told us. [More]

A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health looked at antidepressant use and suicide rates in adults aged 75 and older. “The study is about suicide in Swedish older adults aged 75+ residing in long-term care facilities (LTCF),” study author Khedidja Hedna told us. “We also aimed to investigate risk factors including use of psychoactive medications and psychiatric and medical conditions.” [More]