Aging News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

5 steps for better health in your 40s and 50s

Was there a moment when you realized you were no longer young? A hot flash, a joint creaking, an ache you'd never had before?

5 tips for tough conversations with aging parents

Having conversations about aging with your parents isn't always easy. UNC Health family medicine physician and geriatrician Karen Halpert, MD, provides some tips.

Guest column: AI and CareTech are transforming how we care for aging parents

As America faces a demographic shift with one in five citizens expected to be over 65 by 2030, the need for innovative caregiving solutions grows. In the Triangle, AI and technology are revolutionizing this landscape, offering predictive analytics and smart home devices that assist in elderly care.

Shingles Vaccine Can Decrease Risk of Dementia, Study Finds

Getting vaccinated against shingles can reduce the risk of developing dementia, a large new study finds.

Pam Belluck, New York Times

How to care for a loved one with dementia: 5 expert tips

The details of Gene Hackman's final days may never be known. But officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said Friday that it appeared that Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer's as well as heart disease, had spent about a week alone after his wife, who was his caregiver, died at home of a rare viral infection.

Isabelle Taft, New York Times

Amanda Lamb: Why aren't we talking about it?

Frankly, if you look at social media on a regular basis, you will see that we are talking about so many things that don't really matter. Why? Because they distract us from topics that are often difficult to discuss.

Dementia Cases in the U.S. Will Surge in the Coming Decades, Researchers Say

The number of people in the United States who develop dementia each year will double over the next 35 years to about 1 million annually by 2060, a new study estimates, and the number of new cases per year among Black Americans will triple.

Pam Belluck, New York Times

WSJ says Google is 'for old people:' A tech CEO explains what they missed

Neal K. Shah, CEO of CareYaya Health Technologies, argues that the real issue behind tech resistance isn't age, but rather the accessibility and design of technology.

How to plan for multigenerational family trips and travel with aging parents in mind

Whether you're planning an ambitious multicity family vacation or a more simple beach trip for the whole family to relax, there are several factors family planners have to consider.

Sheeka Sanahori

Hospitals feel effects of an aging NC population

The growing population means a growing need for geriatric specialists.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

More people are turning 65 this year than ever before. That has sparked a gold rush for the retirement industry

(CNN) -- More Americans are turning 65 this year than ever before, and that number is set to creep even higher over the next few years. It's fueling a huge rollout of new retirement products -- but they're not all golden tickets.

By Samantha Delouya, CNN

A Peek Inside the Brains of 'Super-Agers'

When it comes to aging, we tend to assume that cognition gets worse as we get older. Our thoughts may slow down or become confused, or we may start to forget things, like the name of our high school English teacher or what we meant to buy at the grocery store.

Dana G. Smith, New York Times

Tech literacy required: Improvements in health care require new skills for doctors, patients

Our aging population, those most affected by chronic disease, find themselves on the periphery of the digital health revolution, unable to access the very tools designed to help them.

New study shows swapping beef for a black bean burger could mean better health as you age

Data showed those who ate more plant protein were 46% less likely to develop eleven chronic illnesses as they aged.

Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter

Tackle these health issues to reduce risk of early dementia, study says

Smoking, prediabetes and diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, social isolation and hearing loss can contribute to dementia.

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

What's your 'biological age'?

Several companies now sell tests for around $300 that use this technology to calculate your biological age by analyzing your blood or saliva and comparing changes in your epigenome to population averages.

Dana G. Smith, New York Times

In her 50s, one mom faces change. She isn't the only one.

The question "What do you want to do?" is one many women in their 50s and beyond seem to be asking themselves.

Mindy Hamlin, WRAL contributor

In Depth with Dan: Examining the ages of US presidents

The Wall Street Journal just released a new poll about how Joe Biden's age might affect his electability, and found "Biden's age may be a growing problem for his reelection." According to the poll, most Americans think he's too old. Joe Biden is 80 years old. He'll be 81 in November and would be 86 by the end of a second term if he wins reelection. He's already the oldest president in U.s. history.

Concerns over age limits for politicians reignited after Mitch McConnell's second freeze-up

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, 81, froze up again last week during a speech. It's reignited some to question whether there should be age limits for politicians.

Dan Haggerty, WRAL anchor/reporter

In-Depth with Dan Haggerty: Discussing age limits in politicians

The 118th United States Congress is the third oldest since the first Congress was convened in 1789. The oldest Congress was the 117th, which just concluded its term. This means that the elected leaders of our country are older than they have ever been. Some of them are very old.

Alzheimer's: The shame when things are too hard

When I turned 40, my mother did not call me. I was crushed. This was shortly before her dementia diagnosis.

Andrea Osborne, CBC Corporate Director of Content

Alzheimer's: The importance of ritual

Alzheimer's almost always means changing plans and making adjustments. By pausing and taking a breath, I have learned to get to the heart of what is important.

Andrea Osborne, CBC Corporate Director of Content

Alzheimer's: Memories are a funny thing

So often having a loved one with Alzheimer's induces a panic about what that person will forget. But I like to think about memory a little differently. Indulge me for a moment and let me explain.

Andrea Osborne, CBC Corporate Director of Content

Alzheimer's: Making Mistakes

When my daughter was young - either in preschool or elementary - I thought it would be a lovely idea to take her and Mom to see a ballet together.

Andrea Osborne, CBC Corporate Director of Content

The unsung hero of Alzheimer's and the meaning of a cake

There's no doubt that dementia is extremely difficult for the person suffering from that awful disease, but the effect of the family is excruciating.

Andrea Osborne, CBC Corporate Director of Content