Why Do Older Chinese Face Higher Death Rates in Rural Areas?
Death rates for Chinese ages 50 and older are about 30 percent higher in rural areas than urban ones. Why are rural Chinese at such a disadvantage? According to an article in the Journal of Gerontology, cadre status, which is more common in urban areas, is a powerful determinant of mortality. Chinese adults who are cadres, or public officials who hold responsible or managerial positions in the party and government, had a significantly lower risk of death, according to the article's findings. (February 2008)

Caregiver Health (PDF: 71KB)
This e-newsletter is the 10th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Caregiver Health," highlights work by National Institute on Aging-supported researchers and others that examines aspects of caregiver health, particularly negative health consequences and what can be done to ease caregiver burden. (December 2007)

Why Do We Make Bad Decisions? Findings From a New Science (PDF: 68KB)
This e-newsletter is the ninth in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Why Do We Make Bad Decisions? Findings From a New Science," highlights National Institute on Aging-funded research that examines neuroeconomics--the integrated study of decision processes by economists, psychologists, and neuroscientists. Neuroeconomics is barely two decades old, and its practitioners hope to shed light on the aspects of decisionmaking that lead some people to prepare inadequately for their old age. (November 2007)

Effects of Migration on the Elderly Population in the District of Columbia (PDF: 932KB)
By 2030, the population of the Washington, DC metropolitan area will increase by more than 2 million, and the population age 65 and older will double. But little is known about the current and future characteristics of the older population. Using custom data tabulations from the 2000 Census, this study, conducted by Marlene Lee, senior policy analyst at the Population Reference Bureau, examines the impact of migration on characteristics of the population age 50 and older in 2000. The study was funded by the John Edward Fowler Foundation. (November 2007)

Underweight, Undernutrition, and the Aging (PDF: 72KB)
This e-newsletter is the eighth in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Underweight, Undernutrition, and the Aging," highlights National Institute on Aging-funded research and other research that examine the importance of nutrition to the elderly and the prevalence of underweight and undernutrition among this group; and it suggests measures to address this issue at the individual and population levels. (October 2007) 

Are Developing Countries Ready to Tackle the Health Problems of Older People?
As more people in developing countries reach 60 and beyond—having made it safely past the threat of infectious disease, malnutrition, and pregnancy or childbirth-related complications—many countries will face new challenges. A top priority: How will they fight the chronic diseases and conditions that older people tend to succumb to? (October 2007)

Trends in Disability at Older Ages (PDF: 76KB)
This e-newsletter is the seventh in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Trends in Disability at Older Ages" highlights National Institute on Aging-funded research and other recent research that explores the impact of conflicting trends (declining old-age disability and increasing obesity) on disability rates and health care costs. (September 2007)

Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Aging (PDF: 79KB)
Increasing longevity and declining fertility are combining to convert the population age structure worldwide from young to old. This combination is resulting in a dwindling workforce and a growing old-age dependency ratio. The Behavioral and Social Research (BSR) Program of the National Institute on Aging has, for many years, sponsored research that has contributed to our understanding of the impact of aging in the United States. This policy brief highlights some of this research. (September 2007)

How Does HIV/AIDS Affect the Elderly in Developing Countries? (PDF: 71KB)
This e-newsletter is the sixth in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "How Does HIV/AIDS Affect the Elderly in Developing Countries?" highlights National Institute on Aging-funded research and other recent research that explores the impact of HIV/AIDS on the elderly in developing countries, especially the economic and health consequences. (August 2007)

Disability and Aging
The rates of old-age disability have declined in recent decades, and it is expected that Americans will live longer before disability sets in than is true today. The reasons for the decline in disability are complex, and the promising trend could be countered by the rise in obesity. (August 2007)