�������ֳ�

Making the Golden Years Shine: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Living Better, Longer

While every stage of life has its growing pains, retired adults face a unique existential question: Now that my professional (and often familial) duties have concluded, how do I find fulfillment? Considering the myriad health challenges that also surface in older age, it’s no wonder “the golden years” have become little more than a tired platitude.��

The �������ֳ� is helping rewrite this narrative through groundbreaking research and cross-functional programs to address the medical, social, professional and financial pressures felt by older adults. Through a mix of scientific advancements, technology and community-driven initiatives, �������ֳ� is bringing the luster back to life’s third act.����

��

Advancing Treatment and Streamlining Diagnoses

One of the most pressing concerns for older adults is the impact of dementia and other age-related brain diseases. �������ֳ� professor Sunil Kumar notes, “In my opinion, it will be very, very hard to keep society running if we do not have treatment for neural degeneration.” These conditions gradually take away memories, independence and quality of life, but thankfully, his research is changing that.��

With the support of a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Kumar is focused on developing new treatments for dementia and Parkinson’s disease. His team is studying small molecules that target nerve cells in the brain in hopes of slowing or even halting disease progression. The implications of this research are enormous, offering the potential for treatments that could give patients and their families more time, while also maximizing quality of life.

Treatment is critical, but early diagnosis is just as important. Currently, identifying conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s often requires expensive scans or invasive procedures, making it difficult for many people to access timely care. �������ֳ� researcher Daniel Paredes is developing an alternative that could change the way these diseases are detected.��

His team has created a simple blood test that can identify early signs of neurological disorders. Using artificial intelligence, the test analyzes blood samples to detect unique markers — similar to how cholesterol tests predict heart disease.��

This new approach is faster, less invasive and more affordable than traditional methods, making early diagnosis a reality for more people, especially those in underserved communities. With a prototype in development and a patent underway, this innovation could transform how we approach neurological health.

• Helping Your Loved One with Dementia: Five Practical Care Strategies

  Caring for a family member with dementia can be challenging, but these five tips can help provide the best support and care:

  1. Establish a Routine: Consistency can help reduce confusion and anxiety for individuals with dementia. Create a daily schedule that includes regular times for meals, activities, and rest.
  2. Communicate Clearly and Patiently: Use simple, clear language and speak slowly. Maintain eye contact and give your loved one time to respond. Avoid arguing or trying to correct them if they become confused.
  3. Create a Safe Environment: Ensure the living space is safe by removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars in the bathroom and using locks on cabinets that contain dangerous items. Consider using a medical alert system for added safety.
  4. Engage in Activities: Encourage participation in activities that your loved one enjoys and can still do, such as listening to music, gardening or simple crafts. These activities can help maintain their cognitive function and improve their mood.
  5. Take Care of Yourself: Caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding. Make sure to take breaks, seek support from friends, family, or caregiver support groups, and consider respite care options to avoid burnout.

Supporting Social Well-being

��As research continues to find new ways to diagnose and treat cognitive decline, �������ֳ� is also exploring how technology can support individuals already living with these conditions. One example is Ryan, a companion robot designed by engineering professor Mohammad Mahoor and his team.��

Living with Alzheimer’s can be isolating, both for patients and their caregivers, but Ryan offers a source of engagement and interaction. This AI-powered robot can recognize faces, hold conversations and even play memory-boosting games. While not a replacement for human caregivers, Ryan can provide much-needed companionship and relief, easing the burden for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s care.

Importantly, it’s not just those afflicted by age-related brain diseases who struggle to find company — it’s everyone. Retirement may start as a celebration, but it can morph into a wave of anxiety around writing life’s next chapters and finding characters to fill them.��

�ٱ�’s Retirement Reimagined program, led by experts at the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, helps older adults plan for this transition by focusing on purpose, social connections and personal growth. Participants explore opportunities for continued learning, volunteering and staying active, ensuring that retirement remains a fulfilling and engaging stage of life. By offering workshops and resources on everything from financial planning to mental well-being, �������ֳ� is helping older adults embrace their next phase with confidence rather than uncertainty.��

��

Ensuring Fiscal Freedom

Financial security is another key concern for aging populations, particularly as cognitive decline can make individuals more vulnerable to fraud and poor decision-making. �ٱ�’s Eric Chess, director of the Financial Security and Cognitive Decline Initiative, is investigating how aging affects financial choices and how to protect seniors from scams.��

Chess notes that experiencing fraud often paves the way for rapid decline. “When people lose money, it affects their emotional, mental, and cognitive health, and entire well-being,” he says. “This includes worsening chronic diseases and symptoms that you see in the doctor's office.”

With financial exploitation costing older Americans billions of dollars each year, his research is especially timely. Chess and his team are developing tools that help banks, families and individuals identify when someone might be struggling with financial decisions, allowing for early intervention before serious financial harm occurs.

In addition to research, �������ֳ� is taking direct action to protect older adults from financial fraud. In 2023, the Paul Freeman Financial Security Program in �ٱ�’s Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging formed a coalition with support from the federally funded National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions.��

This interdisciplinary group, which includes state and local agencies, elder advocacy organizations and �������ֳ� researchers, evaluates the complex issues related to elder financial fraud and develops solutions for prevention. Most recently, the coalition announced an expanded collaboration with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, the state's top consumer protection agency.

• Protect Your Elderly Loved Ones: Five Signs of Financial Struggles

  When looking out for your elderly relatives or friends, here are five signs that might indicate they are struggling with financial decisions:

  1. Unpaid Bills and Collection Notices: If you notice a pile-up of unpaid bills, late payment notices or collection letters, it could be a sign that they are having trouble managing their finances.
  2. Unusual or Unexplained Transactions: Keep an eye out for any unusual withdrawals, large sums of money being transferred or purchases that seem out of character. This could indicate they are being scammed or making poor financial decisions.
  3. Confusion or Anxiety �������ֳ� Money: If they frequently express confusion or anxiety about their finances, such as not understanding their bank statements or being unsure about where their money is going, it could be a sign of cognitive decline affecting their financial management.
  4. Changes in Spending Habits: Sudden changes in spending habits, such as excessive spending or becoming unusually frugal, can be a red flag. This might indicate they are struggling to make sound financial decisions.
  5. Isolation and Secretiveness: If they become more isolated and secretive about their financial matters, it could be a sign they are aware of their struggles and are trying to hide them. This can make them more vulnerable to financial exploitation.

�������ֳ� Sees You

Efforts spanning medicine, technology, community engagement and financial security reflect �ٱ�’s interdisciplinary approach to improving support across the lifespan. Instead of focusing on aging as a period of decline, �������ֳ� researchers and experts are shaping a future where seniors can call their post-retirement years golden — and mean it.

The key to �ٱ�’s success? Understanding that our futures aren’t written in siloed stages. Take it from Chess, who says, “The older adults of tomorrow are today's kids. So, if you're really going to tackle all these issues, you have to look at it throughout the life spectrum.”��

��