The Boomer Century - Review of PBS Documentary

[26 March 2007 - Variety - Review] After TV Land took the once-over-lightly approach in its documentary "Generation Boom," PBS dives into the baby boomer issue with a clearer sense of purpose in this project shepherded by consultant Ken Dychtwald, who has long trumpeted the influence of those born from 1946 to 1964. "The Boomer Century" adopts a sweeping view of this generation -- nearly 80 million strong, and unlike any before it -- while giving relatively short shrift to its impact on media, where advertisers' preoccupation with young adults clashes with a boomer nation heading kicking, screaming and aerobicizing into its so-called golden years. More

Older people more positive than young, says report

[25 March 2006 - Daily Mail - UK] People become more positive as they get older, scientists have found. It is the young who tend to have a "glass empty" view of the world, research suggests. The findings turn popular conceptions about ageing on their head. ... Dr Michael Kisley, from the University of Colorado in the US, who led the study, reported in the journal Psychological Science, said: "Whereas younger adults often pay more attention to emotionally negative information, older adults tend to assign equal importance to emotionally positive information." More

At-Bristol Creates a Storm with 40 Brain Experts!

[20 March 2007 - At-Bristol - UK] More than 40 neuroscientists have gathered in At-Bristol during this week-long celebration of Brain Awareness Week, which will end on 18 March. This will be the largest gathering of experts that At-Bristol science centre has ever hosted at one time. Together with At-Bristol’s science communicators, these scientists will assist visitors in carrying out a host of brain-related experiments and activities, such as building a brain model, which interestingly, young people find much easier to do than the scientists! Visitors will also get to experience tactile illusions such as confusing their brain into thinking that their nose is stretchable like Pinocchio’s! This public forum, in return, provides an opportunity for these volunteer scientists from Bristol University's Bristol Neuroscience Group to gather opinions and exchange insights regarding brain-related issues and dilemmas, such as the increase of dementia on our aging population and the use of brain enhancing drugs. In addition, it is also an excellent platform to cultivate scientists to be more participative in engaging the public with their work. 'We are extremely excited about this event as it provides us with a wonderful opportunity to host such a large number of enthusiastic experts! We are very grateful for the large contribution from Bristol Neuroscience Group's scientists that has made this event possible.' Says Lorraine Coghill, Learning Manager, At-Bristol. 'This event helps to bridge the gap between scientists and society. There can be a huge chasm between real science and what individuals are being exposed to and understand, this is especially so for subjects like brain science. At-Bristol provides a common ground for both parties to meet, learn and develop.' Says Lorraine. 'Bristol Neuroscience has a commitment to raising public awareness of brain research and its contribution to Brain Awareness Week is just one of its many public engagement activities. We are delighted to work with At-Bristol to host innovative activities during Brain Awareness Week in order to fulfill DANA's aims of bringing 'the excitement of scientific progress to the general public'. Says Bridget Lumb, Director, Bristol Neuroscience. Sessions run between 10am and 5pm everyday until 18 March, Sunday, activities are free with a ticket to Explore. These activities are supported by The National Lottery through Awards for All. Brain Awareness Week is an initiative coordinated by the European Dana Alliance for the Brain, and coincides with National Science and Engineering Week, which falls on 9 - 18 March and is coordinated by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. More

No proof that mental exercise staves off dementia

[19 March 2007 - Centre Daily - Pennsylvania] At age 81, Honor Hacker is on the cutting edge of the latest fitness fad: Exercising the brain. Once a day, she gives her mind a workout - solving math problems and playing memory games - on a special touch-screen computer. It is all based on a concept that's sweeping the medical world: that what you do in your spare time can affect your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. So far, experts admit, there is no direct evidence that "mental stimulation" can prevent anyone from getting Alzheimer's, a degeneration of the brain that affects 4.5 million Americans. Yet a new wave of products is flooding the market, promising to stimulate brain cells and help stave off memory loss. More

WORLD POPULATION WILL INCREASE BY 2.5 BILLION BY 2050

[13 March 2007 - UN Observer] The world population continues its path towards population ageing and is on track to surpass 9 billion persons by 2050, as revealed by the newly released 2006 Revision of the official United Nations population estimates and projections. More

Senators search for ways to keep boomers on the job: Flexible schedules and other changes may be needed to head off a national labor shortage.

[1 March 2007 - Los Angeles Times] Javon R. Bea values the older employees at his network of medical facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois. To keep them on the job, he champions a program at his firm called Work to Retire that allows employees over 50 to put in fewer hours, pool jobs or work from home. "I think the mature workers can actually relate to the patients better than our more impatient younger workers," Bea, president of Mercy Health System in Janesville, Wis., said at a U.S. Senate hearing Wednesday. "As a business we really think that we benefit, as well as the older workers benefit." More employers need to follow Bea's example, according to testimony at the hearing of the Senate's special committee on aging. A wave of retiring workers will weigh down economic growth in the coming years unless Americans save more and employers take steps to hang on to more of their older employees, experts said. More