Clearing the air to treat dry eye disease
Anyone who has ever endured burning, itchy eyes or extra tearing knows that these symptoms are tough to ignore. They can impact your vision and make it harder to work, focus or sleep. They are also some of the most common signs of dry eye disease, a condition that impacts up to 30% of the population globally, without any real cure. Dry eye can result from insufficient tear production or poor tear quality and may cause eye discomfort, a burning sensation and even fluctuating blurry vision.
“People spend a lot of time trying to get their eyes to feel better. The problem is that we are so focused on the medical solutions that we often forget about the environmental triggers of dry eye symptoms and other diseases,” said Dr. Anat Galor, who is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. “We want to better understand whether improving indoor air quality can help reduce symptoms of this very common condition.”
The university team is expanding on an earlier 2024 study. They previously found that after nearly 165 patients’ homes were inspected for air quality and interventions were implemented to reduce indoor air pollutants, many patients experienced improvement in their dry eye symptoms after six months. All participants in the previous study did not use the same interventions, and the low-cost supplies were not provided as part of the study. The new study will build on these initial findings by recruiting nearly 400 participants and providing standardized, low-cost ways to improve home air quality, such as an air purifier, humidity control, and indoor plants.
The researchers note that your eyes are key to understanding many other health conditions and the eyes are a relatively easy way to study the effects of indoor air quality measures. This research may also have implications for mitigating and managing other diseases, like asthma, COPD, immunological disorders and even sleep.
American Geriatrics Society issues position statement on generative AI
The American Geriatric Society (AGS) has developed a new framework to address the ethical, clinical, and systems-level implications of GenAI in the care of older adults. The position paper translates foundational geriatrics principles into actionable guidance for clinical use, health system governance, and technology development. AGS established a writing group to develop this new position paper to ensure that the adoption of AI improves equitable, and age-friendly care, rather than undermining it.
The new statement includes recommendations on the ethical use of AI and its clinical integration and oversight. The authors write there must be transparency, documentation, and privacy protections. It is essential that GenAI does not replace clinical judgment and relational care. It must be integrated with care for responsible use in the care of older adults.
This paper is one of many efforts that AGS has undertaken in support of its vision for a future where everyone is supported by and able to contribute to communities. The goal is to abolish ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias. This position statement has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Countries with the most older adults
The share of the world population age 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 10.5% to 19.6% between 2025 and 2060, according to a new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau. It finds that the global population is aging faster than ever. Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of the population age 65 and older exceeded the population age 5 and younger for the first time in recorded history.
In 2025, the United States ranked the 48th oldest country out of 227, with 18.9% of its population age 65 or older. By 2060, older adults are projected to make up 23.4% of the U.S. population. Yet, the United States will fall to 110th place globally because other countries are aging much more rapidly.
Japan was the oldest country in the world in 2025, with 29.7% of its population age 65 or older. But by 2060, South Korea is projected to become the oldest country, with 41% of its population age 65 or older. Europe is currently the oldest region in the world, with the percentage of its population age 65 or over increasing from 21% to 30.8% between 2025 and 2060.
Declining fertility and worldwide improvements in health services, educational status and economic development have contributed to a growing older population across regions. The report highlights how this growth may impact healthcare systems, employment, and overall financial, physical, and mental well-being. Life expectancy is projected to increase faster than healthy life expectancy. This means a smaller share of the extra years lived is expected to be lived in good health. In the U.S., for example, the proportion of years lived in full health after age 60 decreased by more than 2 percentage points between 2000 and 2019, and slightly more for men than for women.
An estimated 73% of the U.S. population age 65 or older suffered from two or more chronic conditions between 2016 and 2019. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are among the top five leading causes of death in those age 60 and over as of 2021.
John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at medicalminutes@gmail.com
John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute.
