News

  Alzheimer's Society today (Monday 28 July 2014) announces that over 60 towns and cities in England have committed to become dementia friendly.  

By 2050, the number of people over the age of 80 will triple globally. These demographics could come at great cost to individuals and economies. In this editorial from Nature.com two groups describe how research in animals and humans should be refocused to find ways to delay the onset of frailty. Read more here.

Short six-second bursts of vigorous exercise have the potential to transform the health of elderly people, say researchers in Scotland.

A pilot study involving 12 pensioners showed going all-out in very short bursts, reduced blood pressure and improved general fitness over time.

The team at Abertay University believe it could help avert the "astronomical" costs of ill health in elderly people. Read more here.

Older people who are delaying their retirement because they fear running out of money are pushing down wages, the Bank of England has suggested. The Bank said that while the number of people in employment rose by almost 350,000 between March and April, average weekly earnings fell. Officials said that wages may be falling because more people are working, including growing numbers of elderly people "concerned about the adequacy of retirement provisions".

Science Foundation Ireland invites expressions of interest for its targeted research professorship programme. This enables participating research bodies in Ireland to recruit world-leading researchers for professorial chairs or similar leaderships positions in targeted scientific areas. The closing date is 7 November 2014. More information here.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology invites applicants to submit their proposals with a view to selecting and designating a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in each of the following thematic areas:

1) Innovation for healthy living and active ageing; and
2) Raw materials: sustainable exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution

The closing date is 10 September 2014. Read more here.

The National Cancer Institute Cancer Prevention Fellowship Programme provides training for post-doctorate candidates from the health professions, biomedical, and behavioural sciences to become leaders in the field of cancer prevention and control. The program provides M.P.H. training in Ireland or Northern Ireland (year 1), the Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention, and mentored research at the NCI (years 2-4). The closing date for applications is 25 August 2014. Read more here.