PRB

This Population Bulletin illustrates how to use new measures of population aging that take into account changes in longevity over time and place. None of the usual indicators of aging available adjust for increases in life expectancy. New measures described in this Population Bulletin take life expectancy differences into account. (December 2008)

The U.S. population is aging. The ratio of elderly to the working-age population in the United States will roughly double over the next few decades, straining the finances of the U.S. Social Security system and other government programs. Ron Lee, professor of demography and economics at the University of California-Berkeley, answered participants questions on this topic. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (November 2008)

This e-newsletter is the 13th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Obesity, Economics, and Health," reviews research sponsored by the National Institute of Aging, and other research, on the health consequences of obesity and the factors associated with becoming obese. (September 2008)

This e-newsletter is the 14th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Use of Biomarkers in Predicting Health and Mortality," reviews research sponsored by the National Institute of Aging and other institutions that investigates the link between biological risk factors and health or mortality in the older populations. (September 2008)

PRB has made a major update to its table of total fertility rates (TFRs) in countries with low or very low fertility rates. The newest tabulations suggest that fertility may be rising in some countries. We will have to wait to find out if this signals a more general trend. (September 2008)

The often-overlooked generation of the "Lucky Few," those born from 1929 to 1945, exemplifies the connections between generation size and relationships to previous generations. Elwood Carlson, Florida State University professor in sociology of population and author of The Lucky Few: Between the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boom, spoke at the Population Reference Bureau's monthly policy seminar on Sept. 10. (September 2008)

This e-newsletter is the 12th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Older Workers and Retirement," reviews research sponsored by the National Institute of Aging, and other research, on how individuals make retirement decisions, the quality of these decisions, and their consequences. (June 2008)

This e-newsletter is the 11th in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Socioeconomic Status and Health Disparities in Old Age," highlights work by National Institute on Aging-supported researchers and others that aims to understand the underlying causes of persistent disparities between socioeconomic status and health. (June 2008)

Obesity is a risk-factor for many preventable, highly prevalent, and potentially fatal chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Obese individuals spend about one-third more on health care than similar individuals with normal weight. Obesity has a greater effect on health costs than smoking or problem drinking. The effect of obesity on health in 10 European countries was documented in a recent study from the RAND Corporation using data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). About one-half of the men and more than one-third of the women ages 50 or older in these countries were overweight or obese. RAND researchers compared the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related health conditions among these older adults in the 10 countries. (June 2008)

In the latter half of the last century, the world's developed nations completed a long process of demographic transition: a shift from a period of high mortality, short lives, and large families to one with a longer life expectancy and far fewer children. This transformation took many centuries in Europe and North America. In developing countries, this demographic transition is certainly underway, though these countries vary widely at their places along the spectrum. (April 2008)

Over the past 50 years, remarkable improvements in health care and higher incomes have benefited older Americans from all racial and ethnic groups. But significant gaps persist and have even widened among some groups. Americans who are 65 years old today can expect to live another 18.4 years on average, approximately four more years than 65-year-olds could have expected 50 years ago. However, the health advantages gained over the last 50 years have not been the same for all groups. Among all major racial and ethnic groups, African American elderly fare the poorest with respect to mortality and health. (February 2008)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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) 

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)

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)

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)

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)