shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Science Daily had a good article today on how while there's (understandably) a lot of focus on the health of obese and overweight men as they get older, being a thin older dude doesn't necessarily mean you're off the health hook.

New research is showing that older, thin men have an increased chance of osteoporosis and bone fractures, particularly those who have had fluctuations in weight.

"Low weight among middle-aged men was related to the risk of osteoporosis three decades later, and this risk was significantly affected by weight changes. Weight increase reduced the risk, whereas weight loss increased the risk," says researcher Professor Haakon E. Meyer from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo.

Not only are studies like this reminding us that we shouldn't just be focusing on the health risks of overweight folk, but also reminding us that men are prone to osteoporosis too. It's no big news that the condition is prevalent in women, and that should obviously be of focus - but let's not forget that fellas can be affected too!

In the wake of the continued and ever-growing financial crisis facing the nation, AARP Public Policy Institute has released research showing that in the last six months of 2007, over 600,000 people over age 50 were either delinquent on their mortgage payments or facing foreclosure. That's over one quarter of the total number of Americans in such financial straights. Much like all Americans, those of the 50+ crowd who had sub-prime mortgages were far more likely to be affected. In addition, African-Americans and Hispanics have been disproportionately affected by the financial crisis. This research counters the commonly held belief that older Americans would be less impacted by this financial disaster. Given the increased reliance that older Americans have on their homes for both shelter and personal finances, this research is troubling to say the least. Have you had trouble paying your mortgage? Know anyone facing foreclosure? Tell us about it.

Exercise and diet are always important parts of ensuring a long and healthy life. However, it's starting to look more and more like certain people are just born with the genes to live past 100. You've either got 'em or you don't. Researchers across the world are sifting through the volumes of human genetic information to try and pinpoint longevity genes. A key part of their efforts is studying the genetic makeup of the mere 79 men and women who are alive today and over the age of 110. If scientists can isolate the genes that lead to longevity you'd better start planning to save a lot more for retirement.

An article titled, "Why Presents Become Less Exciting As You Get Older" talks about how as we age, our brain's "reward system" doesn't function as strongly as it once did, making older folks less inclined to be excited about gifts than younger people are.

The new study says this is why kids are so excited to get presents, because a chemical in the brain which controls the feeling of reward is abundant when young, but decreases significantly as a person grows older.

I'm always interested to know more the science behind how our body ages, but a part of me has a hard time believing that there's biological certainty we'll all like gifts less as we get older. I don't know about you, but I've definitely seen 60+ year old men gleefully jump up and down for joy when they get a present!

With age comes wisdom. This concept is widely held and accepted in most cultures around the world. Recent research has lent further credibility to this notion. In a study conducted by Brandeis University psychologist Margie Lachman amongst others participants of various ages were asked to evaluate the past ten years of their lives and speculate on their next ten years. Nine years after the initial survey respondents were asked to compare how their predictions for the future held up when compared to reality. The results showed that while younger participants had the rosiest predictions for the future, older respondents felt that their time had more accurately met their expectations. A major conclusion of the study was that older participants were not as fixated on the future because they were more focused on enjoying the present.

The debate goes on and on. Are we in a recession or aren't we? Well maybe we aren't in the text book definition of an economic recession, but it sure feels like we are doesn't it? It turns out that the economy is actually projected to have better than expected growth this year, and the highest growth of any of the G7 countries. So why does it still feel like we are doing so badly? Some experts believe that the problem is in our heads. A fear for job security and worries over the future can create a troubling sense of insecurity. This in turn can lead consumers to believe that things are worse off than they really are. Although we might not be doing as poorly as we think we are, it's little compensation to the thousands of people who have lost jobs or their savings.

We're in the thick of this election, and who hasn't seen the accusations flying back and forth from our candidates? McCain's ad has gained a lot of publicity, featuring cameos from celebrities, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Miss Hilton responded with her own thoughts on the matter, with this Funny or Die Exclusive video. Senator Obama has released his own ads, as well, to combat his opponent, such as this economic ad.

Do these ads work as they are intended to? Do political ads help inform voters of the issues? Or do they simply perpetuate the political gridlock?

While our presidential candidates are pointing out all the reasons why they are opposed to one another, we thought it would be fitting to remind them both that they are signed members of the Divided We Fail pledge. So gentleman, take a break from all the accusations and start discussing what your plans are to provide affordable health care and long-term financial security for all!

What are your thoughts on the matter? Have these political ads changed your perceptions about a candidate? Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment!

TAGS: John McCain, Barack Obama, Divided We Fail, Political ads, Paris Hilton, DWF, presidential candidates, ShAARP Session, Funny or Die

As the need to reduce our impact on the environment becomes increasingly pressing, people have worked to develop techniques to lower energy use and increase efficiency. While many of these solutions are expensive and complex, others are decidedly cheap and simple. So what is one of the latest energy-saving concepts to hit the scene? White roofs. White roofs reflect sunlight and heat back into the atmosphere while dark roofs absorb the heat and bring it into the building. Simply put, if every home and commercial building were to install a white roof, energy costs related to air-conditioning could be lowered by 20%. Nation-wide that equates to $1 billion in annual energy savings. Moreover, switching to lighter colored roads and sidewalks would double the energy savings. White is totally the new green.

AARP Bulletin has a great article on why Medicare rocks right now.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) was passed into law last month, granting new protections and benefits to millions of Medicare recipients. While the media was focused more on the primary aim of MIPPA (which was the 10 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors) and Congress' rejection of President Bush's veto of the legislation, AARP gives us the lowdown on what MIPPA really means for Americans.

Between making many low-income individuals now eligible for Medicare and making mental health care more affordable, this legislation is changing many people's lives. Make sure to check it out.

If you also have a general question about Medicare, you can also check out the Q&As answered by AARP's Ms. Medicare or email her at msmed@aarp.org.

AARP's very own Tom Nelson teamed up with pop-star phenom Usher Raymond IV (you probably know him from his dance song "Yeah" that had kids shakin' their booties) to talk about the importance of volunteerism and all generations working together.

Last week ServiceNation kicked off in New York City and this continues the drum beat of spreading the word about doing good (even if it's something small). Check out the full piece on HuffingtonPost.com!

You couldn't have missed the news yesterday as the Dow suffered its largest single-day loss since it opened following the September 11th attacks. The battered market finished more than 500 points lower than it opened. When all the carnage was done yesterday, Lehman Brothers had applied for bankruptcy, Bank of America had bought out Merrill Lynch, and serious questions remained as to whether AIG, Wachovia and Washington Mutual would be able to stay afloat. This was one of the worst days the markets have ever seen, and the US wasn't alone. Foreign markets, particularly those in Asia took hefty losses as well. Aside from the damage dealt to these corporations, many individuals and companies will now find it even harder to get loans.

Have you been touched by the financial crisis?