Darn! We Boomers Are Ruining Everything!

Plus: Purpose pays off, OTC hearing aids, and a check-engine light for the brain.

No. 36/ July 19, 2023

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That’s Right, Blame it on the Boomers

We should be used to this by now, but it still smarts. Under the headline “The Boomers Are Retiring. See Why That’s Bad News for Workers,” the Washington Post bemoans the fact that the number of baby boom retirees will lower the ratio of workers to retirees and likely slow economic growth. The story does, however, offer this perspective from economist Kathryn Anne Edwards: “We’ve known for 75 years now that we had a really large birth cohort. Many of the quote-unquote problems related to that aren’t from their numbers. It’s problems that come from us not making policy to address what those numbers would mean.”

Proof: Purpose Promotes Brain Resilience

A study by the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative has confirmed that people with the strongest sense of purpose are able to withstand the natural decline of brain function brought on by aging. More than 90% of people begin to experience losses of cognitive function after age 45 as brain lesions form. In people with more purpose, the lesions appear but do not lead to impairments. According to the study, people with higher purpose have slightly different wiring in the brain’s “default-mode network,” and this may provide them with additional cognitive reserve.

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Fail To Make Big Splash

The launch of cheaper over-the-counter hearing aids last fall was expected to revolutionize the market and put pressure on expensive, prescription-only devices. But the response has been underwhelming, according to an article in the AARP Bulletin. It hasn’t helped that prices vary from $49 to thousands of dollars, or that most consumers remain unaware of the new products. Market experts think sales will pick up when the current “Wild West Show” settles down and independent reviews offer consumers guidance on the best performing products.

Healthy Habits Increase Healthspans and Lifespans

Adopting seven lifestyle modifications – moderate exercise, stress management, good sleep, no tobacco, moderate alcohol, intellectual challenge, and social engagement – increase your chances to live longer and in better health. Stephen Schimpff, MD, the author of Longevity Decoded – The 7 Keys to Healthy Aging (and former CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center), says two extensive recent studies confirm that this standard good advice actually works.

Wanted: A Check-Engine-Light for the Brain

File this one under products we wished we had. But the folks at Tech-Enhanced Life, a community that reviews technology to help older adults, are not above imagining products that it hopes others will develop. The engine-light idea: A device that would monitor cognition or dementia risk and warn you if you are slipping or engaging in risky behavior. Bonus points if the device could also offer intervention steps to impact your score and help you maintain wellness.