Aging and the immune system

New research untangles massive datasets to build tools, uncover clues on how we age WHAT’S THE STUDY: A team of University of Michigan experts in biostatistics, public health, medical research and population studies has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, to develop advanced statistical and computational… Continue reading Aging and the immune system

Self-employment income widely underreported, U-M survey shows

ANN ARBOR—Among older workers, the majority of self-employment income missing from tax records is due to unreported earnings to the Internal Revenue Service rather than differences in how income is classified, a new University of Michigan study finds. The analysis shows that the amounts of self-employment income reported in the Health and Retirement Study, but absent from… Continue reading Self-employment income widely underreported, U-M survey shows

Could prolonged exposure to pollution lead to loss of independence in later life?

At an intersection in Denver, Colorado, exhaust pours out of a tailpipes from accelerating vehicles onto Santa Fe Drive.

Traffic pollution emerges as a lead exacerbator for ailments that come with aging Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a loss of independence for older adults, according to a University of Michigan study. In research published in JAMA Network Open, air pollution from traffic emerges as a key risk factor for older adults… Continue reading Could prolonged exposure to pollution lead to loss of independence in later life?

New York Times highlights key HRS data in reporting on aging and caregiving

Contact: Jon Meerdink ([email protected]) ANN ARBOR — The New York Times relied heavily on data from the Institute for Social Research (ISR) in a recent major piece on the United States’ aging population and cost of caregiving. “Dying Broke” drew on a great deal of data from ISR’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The data… Continue reading New York Times highlights key HRS data in reporting on aging and caregiving

Multiple periods of loneliness may add up to higher mortality risk

Contact: Kim North Shine, [email protected] Multiple periods of loneliness may add up to higher mortality risk ANN ARBOR—Working from well-established research on the detrimental health effects of loneliness, University of Michigan researchers set out to study whether feeling lonely at multiple times through the years leads to more serious illness and higher mortality risk in… Continue reading Multiple periods of loneliness may add up to higher mortality risk

New York Times highlights key HRS data in reporting on aging and caregiving

Senior, child and hands holding together to show family love, trust and support to help grandparent. Elderly man with a helping young kid showing kindness, community and hope for retirement

Contact: Jon Meerdink ([email protected]) ANN ARBOR — The New York Times relied heavily on data from the Institute for Social Research (ISR) in a recent major piece on the United States’ aging population and cost of caregiving. “Dying Broke” drew on a great deal of data from ISR’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The data… Continue reading New York Times highlights key HRS data in reporting on aging and caregiving

With paid leave, older adults care for parents instead of grandchildren

ANN ARBOR—In 2004, California passed a law requiring employers above a certain size to provide paid family leave to their employees. Much of the research looking at this policy has examined its impact on the work, income and leave-taking of new parents and women of childbearing age—but less research has focused on how paid leave… Continue reading With paid leave, older adults care for parents instead of grandchildren

New research highlights DNA methylation as noteworthy biomarker for epigenetic aging

Contact: Jon Meerdink ([email protected]) ANN ARBOR — A new paper utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research (ISR) is offering a new look at the effects of aging and what they mean for population health. Jessica Faul, an associate professor of research at ISR’s Survey… Continue reading New research highlights DNA methylation as noteworthy biomarker for epigenetic aging

One in 10 older Americans has dementia

Contact: Morgan Sherburne, 734-647-1844, [email protected] Helen Garey, [email protected] ANN ARBOR—The first nationally representative study of cognitive impairment in more than 20 years has found that nearly one in 10 U.S. adults over age 65 have dementia. The study, led by researchers from Columbia University and includes University of Michigan scientists, also found that another 22%… Continue reading One in 10 older Americans has dementia

Relocation later in life and contact frequency with friends: Do contact modes matter?

Contact: Jared Wadley, 734-834-7719, [email protected] ANN ARBOR—When older adults move to a new location far from their residence, their friends should not expect too many telephone calls or visits, according to a new University of Michigan study. U-M researchers examined changes in the frequencies of in-person, telephone and written or email contact with friends among… Continue reading Relocation later in life and contact frequency with friends: Do contact modes matter?