TheAgePage Blog

This is Sarah's blog with her thoughts and opinions on older people and their place in British society.

This page shows the latest news post from TheAgePage. If you go to the main blog then you can leave comments and read the rest of the articles.

Defenders and aggressors

Posted: 10 March 2010 | 9:17 am

I read in the new York Times that scientists believed that a protein called beta amyloid, or A-beta – one of the chief villains in Alzheimer's disease – has no real function other than as a waste product that the brain never properly disposed of. The material piles up into tough plaques that destroy signals between nerves. The result is that, among other things, people lose their short term memory, their personality may change and they not recognise friends and family.

But now, researchers at Harvard suggest that the protein has a real and unexpected function — it may be part of the brain’s normal defences against invading bacteria and other microbes.

The findings have been reported in the current issue of the journal PLoS One. Other Alzheimer’s researchers say they are intriguing. But whether they will lead to new ways of preventing or treating the disease, is not yet known.

Life in the Pink...

Posted: 5 March 2010 | 5:42 pm

It comes as little surprise that my own observations of older people reminiscing are borne out by research. Apparently older people may see the world through rose-tinted spectacles because negative memories fade more quickly as we age (which explains why... Read more

Time to celebrate our ageing society?

Posted: 2 March 2010 | 10:57 am

Here is a point of view about old age by Alexander Chancellor in last Friday's Guardian newspaper who says he can't imagine why an ageing society is something to celebrate. The stats and the charities left to mop up many... Read more

Diary of a project: day 1

Posted: 27 February 2010 | 2:50 pm

I'm really chuffed to have been appointed as a consultant on one of the government's Generations Together initiative projects. As all who know me will attest, I am passionate about connecting the generations. I know that I will gain as... Read more

Political football or funding see-saw?

Posted: 21 February 2010 | 9:52 am

After the fortnight of rows between the political parties about the best way to fund Social Care in the future – an issue that will become ever more important in our rapidly ageing society – on Friday, Labour, Lib Dems,... Read more

Politicians showing their colours in a variety of ways

Posted: 17 February 2010 | 6:17 pm

Yesterday, the BBC News website reported that cross-party talks on elderly care have broken down, with insults being exchanged between the Reds, Blues and Oranges in Parliament. Well now, there's a surprise. Those who've been shut in dark cupboards for... Read more

White Lady No. 3 Happy Valentines Day

Posted: 14 February 2010 | 12:01 am

♥ ...enduring love, taken in Blackpool by Peter Dench. Thanks Peter. Read more

When £50 million is not nearly enough money

Posted: 13 February 2010 | 10:38 pm

According to today's 'Cherwell' magazine, Britain is ignoring its dementia crisis as a recent study conducted by Oxford University's Health Economics Research Centre shows. The study found that each dementia patient costs the economy £27,647 per year; five times more... Read more

White Lady No. 2

Posted: 10 February 2010 | 6:33 pm

(nice camera) ...and camera work too, by the talented Peter Dench. Thanks Peter. Read more

White Lady No. 1

Posted: 6 February 2010 | 1:03 pm

A friend introduced me to Matt Stuart's work, now on show here and it gave me a little idea. Read more

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