What Scientists Now Know About Aging
THE EYES HAVE IT
A new study published in Science Advances on October 24, 2025 found that retinal scans may be a new way for medical professionals to detect issues with heart health. To conduct this research, investigators analyzed retinal scans, as well as genetics and blood biomarkers. They discovered molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system, according to Marie Pigeyre, senior author of the study and a professor with McMaster’s Department of Medicine. She noted that potential biological causes behind changes in the eye’s blood vessels helped them identify “specific proteins that may drive aging and disease.” This suggests that scans of the retina may soon prove to be a non-invasive method for earlier detection of vascular issues and health problems and lead to more comprehensive preventive care.
SCAM ALERT
US TREASURY ADDRESSES CRYPTO SCAMS
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, is tasked with protecting the US financial system from illicit activities, including fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing. This past summer, FinCEN issued a Notice urging financial institutions to be more vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious activity involving kiosks (e.g. ATMs) that deal in virtual currency (CVC), such as bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. While CVC kiosks can be a convenient way for consumers to access virtual currency, EverSafe has seen them exploited in scams targeting older, vulnerable adults – highlighting the need for our comprehensive monitoring. The Notice highlights red flags and reminds financial institutions of their reporting requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act.
GOVERNMENT / LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
HOW THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFFECTS SENIORS
The US government shutdown is now in its fourth week and Congress and the president are no closer to ending their standoff. This gridlock over a funding bill will likely have significant consequences, particularly for older adults. At least 600,000 federal workers are now being furloughed as a result of the shutdown, according to recent reports. This includes about 40% of the staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, which manages Medicare, Medicaid, and programs funded under the Older Americans Act.
Social Security and Medicare appear to be safe, but staff shortages will mean that benefit verification and replacing lost cards will be a challenge. According to a piece in Forbes, officials at Meals on Wheels America estimate a typical local organization can likely continue services for a few weeks without major disruptions. But these groups generally have very limited cash reserves and would have to delay or suspend deliveries, or put more seniors on waiting lists – if the shutdown is extended. The funding for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), commonly known as “food stamps,” is depleted, according to the BBC. The states, which run SNAP, are warning that the 41 million people enrolled in the program will stop receiving aid starting on November 1, unless the shutdown ends or Congress and the president intervene. Subsidized housing for low-income seniors is also at risk of ending later this month. And routine nursing home inspections are suspended.
Diane Keaton Has Passed Away at 79
ICONIC ACTRESS SHARED HER THOUGHTS ON AGING
On October 11th, Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton died unexpectedly from pneumonia. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1977 film Annie Hall and received three additional Oscar nominations for performances in other movies. Her passing has elicited a flood of tributes from well-known actors, filmmakers, and friends who praised her talent, her genuineness, and her creative spirit. In the years before her death, Diane shared her views on aging with AARP and Healthywomen.org and we thought her insights were worth sharing:
- “I think men and women over 50 talk about aging to their friends all the time now. It’s a hot topic. The overall trick is to stay curious, energized and engaged, and to let go of your concerns as much as possible. You want to look outward more, instead of inward so much. Oh, and never look back!”
- “Being over 50 humbles us. Life expands and we see the larger picture… Make work play. Be engaged in it. Be curious about it. Laughter is the best medicine. Authenticity comes first.”
RIP Diane Keaton – a genuinely unique spirit who will be profoundly missed.
