Preventive health screening for octogenarians, a population with wide variations in health, is the focus of many new studies. Recommendations for screening vary according to the disease and the type of test. Whereas screening may be appropriate for a robust 85-year-old who golfs and travels, it may not be useful for a frail 75-year-old with dementia. Surveying the literature, Scott Haight and Ru-Chien Chi find that preventive health screening for hypertension, osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency and falls may particularly help improve the health of octogenarians. Read More >>

Diabetes is one of the most common illnesses affecting older adults, and older adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression as other elders. Older adults with co-occurring diabetes and depression tend to follow dietary and physical activity recommendations less, adhere less to hypoglycemic medication regimens and demonstrate poor glycemic control. In this article, Julie E. Malphurs and Susana Prieto examine several possible causes for the link between diabetes and depression in elders, as well as the benefits that may result from screening and treatment. Read More >>

One of the key issues in evaluating the health of older adults is assessing their ability to drive an automobile. Driving requires full concentration over a sustained period of time, adequate muscle strength, the ability to hear properly, coordination, quick processing time and rapid problem-solving ability. All these processes can become impaired with age. “It is the responsibility of healthcare professionals,” writes Asif Bhutto, “to recognize and address all the needs of older drivers so that an older driver is a safer driver on the road who poses no threat.” Read More >>

“Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease are two of the most common chronic conditions affecting quality of life, morbidity and mortality in older adults, particularly in minority groups,” write Hermes Florez, Jose Luchsinger and Gladys Maestre. “Because of their significance, it is important to improve screening and early treatment for these conditions.” The authors note that diabetes and Alzheimer’s rates are particularly elevated among several U.S. minority populations. They highlight the value of screening for diabetes, as well as cultural considerations involved in screening for Alzheimer’s. Read More >>

In their quarterly column, HAN Leadership Council cochairs Rona S. Bartelstone and Letia A. Boseman introduce the theme of this issue: preventive health screenings for elders. “The early detection of vision loss, hearing impairment, cancer, cognitive decline or other conditions presents an opportunity to prevent or delay illness, disability and premature death,” they note. The cochairs also give us a preview of a session planned for the 2009 Aging in America Conference that will introduce the World Health Organization’s new framework for assessing and treating health and disability. Read More >>