News

Evolve Biomed 2015 will take place on 29-30 April 2015 at the RDS Dublin. It is a science and technology forum for early-career biomedical researchers to explore the latest advances in biomedical innovation and gain insights into how their expertise can be applied to develop breakthroughs that impact healthcare. A full programme is now available and early bird registration ends Thursday 29 January. Visit: www.evolvebiomed2015.com

The Dementia Elevator team at Dublin City University will soon be offering retail training to promote dementia awareness and give customer facing retail staff skills to engage effectively  customers who may have dementia. The training will be solution focused with opportunities for interaction and reflection. It is suitable for all types of retail outlets and pharmacies. More information here.

HelpAge is starting a three-year programme to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian agencies to deliver age and disability inclusive emergency response, as part of the innovative portfolio of projects supported by the UK's DFID Disasters and Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP) and with separate funding from the OFDA.

Britain faces a “major public health challenge” caused by the impact of long-term loneliness on older people, two charities have warned. Linked to dementia, depression and high blood pressure, chronic loneliness threatens the health of one in 10 older people.

With numbers set to surge 50 per cent to 1.5million by 2028, Age UK and the Campaign to End Loneliness say health professionals and local councils must take urgent action. Read more here.

Age Action is the leading advocacy organisation on ageing and older people in Ireland. It is currently advertising two posts: Head of Advocacy & Communications and Website Content Editor.

Further details available on www.ageaction.ie/recruitment. Informal enquiries are welcome to Eamon Timmins on 01 4756989.

People living in northern countries could be more likely to develop dementia, according to researchers at Edinburgh University. The study suggested that environmental factors, such as lack of sunlight, could increase the risk of developing the illness. Scientists mapped the disease in Scotland among 37,000 people born in 1921. A second study involved more than 26,000 Swedish twins. Researchers found that the further north people lived, the more likely they were to suffer from dementia. Read more here.

While the rapid ageing of China's population is thought to condemn the nation to a dismal future, past policies on education and new policies to improve health and foster internal migration could ease the challenges posed by an older citizenry, according to a new study of the impact of aging on China's future.