Birth Control for Brain Neurons
Nitric Oxide regulates stem cell division in the adult brain; Strategy seen for repairing brain damage caused by neurodegenerative disease and stroke
[28 July 2003 - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory] Most neurons in the mammalian brain are produced during embryonic development. However, several regions of the adult brain continue to spawn large numbers of neurons through the proliferation of neural stem cells. Moreover, it is becoming clear that these new neurons are integrated into existing brain circuitry. Now, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered that a molecule called nitric oxide (NO) is a pivotal, natural regulator of the birth of new neurons in the adult brain. The study, published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that blocking nitric oxide production stimulates neural stem cell proliferation and hence dramatically increases the number of neurons that are generated in the brains of adult rats. Importantly, the new neurons that arise as a consequence of blocking nitric oxide production display properties of normal neurons, and they appear to contribute directly to the architecture of the adult brain. The study suggests that modulating nitric oxide levels might be an effective strategy for replacing neurons that are lost from the brain due to stroke or chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.

GAO Urges Congress to Act on Social Sec.
[28 July 2003 - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] The sooner Congress addresses the inevitable decline in Social Security revenue when baby boomers begin retiring in five years, the easier it will be for future generations to keep the system afloat, congressional investigators say. The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, examined the current system and how it fares for future retirees in a report prepared for Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. ... If no changes are made, recipients would see benefit cuts of nearly a third by 2039, the report said. Social Security faces a $3.8 trillion deficit during the next 75 years. Younger Americans must confront a combination of tax increases, cuts in government programs and services and reduced retirement benefits needed to restore long-term financial health to Social Security, the report said.

Survey Shows Older Americans More Worried About Personal Well-Being Than About Terrorists
[24 July 2003 - National Council on the Aging] A new survey by The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) shows that more older Americans are likely to be worried about threats to their own personal well-being than global threats. The survey, funded by MetLife Foundation and part of a new NCOA/MetLife Foundation project to increase civic engagement by older Americans, showed that some 40% of those over age 60 are more worried (very or somewhat) about physically caring for themselves (44%) or losing their memories (42%) than terrorist attacks (35%). The survey also revealed that older Americans are worried that their children, grandchildren or youth in general will be exposed to drugs (63%) or face a lack of employment opportunities (54 %). In other words, more are worried about threats to their families than problems they may face.

Seniors Scan 'Help Wanted' Ads
[16 July 2003 - CBS News] This is the seventh in a month-long series of reports called "Making Ends Meet" about how families are coping with the tough economy, unemployment and smaller retirement accounts.

Increased Productivity Could Eliminate Canadian Governments' $300 Billion Demographically Driven Liability: C.D. Howe Institute
[17 July 2003 - C.D. Howe Institute] The C.D. Howe Institute has released a Commentary entitled "Time and Money: The Far-Reaching Fiscal Impact of Demographic Change in Canada," by William B.P. Robson, Senior Vice President and Director of Research. The author says that the stress that an aging population puts on public programs could be eased if government policies were designed to stimulate investment and productivity growth.

TRAINING AGING BOOMERS � WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?
[17 July 2003 - Creative Training Techniques] If you are involved in training and managing older workers, what are you currently doing about this topic? How do the aging trends -- including 77 million baby boomers -- challenge you as trainers? Please go to the above link and send in your responses to the questions listed at that site. Topics include: how you are dealing with an aging workforce, training older workers and preparing yourself for these older-workplace changes.

Higher education or larger brain size may protect against dementia later in life, new study finds
[10 July 2003 - University of South Florida and the University of Kentucky] Higher education or a larger brain may protect against dementia, according to new findings by researchers from the University of South Florida and the University of Kentucky. The study, published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, provides important new evidence that either more years of formal education or better early brain development may help delay dementia in later life. The findings were drawn from the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of aging and Alzheimer's disease.