aging

After the 1957-58 influenza pandemic caused nearly 70,000 fatalities in the United States, the Surgeon General recommended that all high-risk citizens (those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and the elderly) receive a yearly flu vaccine. But it has not been clear how effective annual flu shots really are, and which populations benefit from them the most.

From the moment the baby-boom generation took its first steps in 1946, its members have had an enormous impact on the United States. They powered the suburbanization of America in the 1950s, youth rebellion in the 1960s and the “Me Decade” of the 1970s. And now as they approach retirement, their sheer numbers will continue to drive societal change.

The U.S. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 prohibits bias against those 40 and older. Because the share of the aging population in the U.S. is expected to rise, the act’s role in maintaining and encouraging employment of older workers is likely to grow in importance.

The high variability in hospital costs for the elderly Medicare beneficiaries has been cited as evidence of hospitals’ inefficient resource use. Nonetheless, an accurate analysis on hospital efficiency must take account of both health outcomes and resource usage.

The benefits associated with being physically active include higher levels of fitness and lower risks of developing a number of chronic diseases.  In terms of weight management, however, most people who lose weight from increased physical activity are not able to sustain the loss over time.

Medical authorities have long suggested that exercise is an essential part of leading a healthy life. Regular physical activity has been shown to not only improve fitness for those of all ages, but also reduce the incidence of many diseases.

As America’s population ages and questions over Social Security’s financial health persist, the issue of retirement age remains a subject of public policy debate. The issue also has a personal health dimension. It has long been believed, but unproven, that early retirement can be detrimental to one’s cognitive function, whereas a longer working life has been thought to promote healthy brain function.