Today, AARP – on behalf of the Global Council on Brain Health -- released the ‘Special Report: Hearing Matters for Brain Health,’ highlighting the importance of addressing hearing loss to promote communication and social engagement and reduce the possibility of cognitive decline and dementia. This report comes at a critical time as the growing body of evidence is clear: social isolation and loneliness, which can be associated with hearing loss, are a public health threat. According to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murphy, the U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness and social isolation epidemic, increasing the risk of premature death and can be as detrimental as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

WASHINGTON—Today, AARP announced it is investing $3.8 million in 343 Community Challenge grants for quick-action projects to help communities become more livable. These grants will improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults ages 50 and older. With this year’s projects, AARP has invested $20.1 million through over 1,700 grants since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the country.

Today, one day before the first presidential debate, hundreds of AARP employees and volunteers from all 50 states and nearly two dozen actors from The Creative Coalition will embark on Capitol Hill to urge elected representatives to support family caregivers. According to a recent poll of competitive congressional districts, family caregivers account for 1 in 5 likely voters ages 50+ and cite financial stress as top-of-mind ahead of November. The bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which AARP has fought hard for, would help cover the $7200 that many families spend yearly on out-of-pocket caring costs.

Today, AARP Nevada released a 2024 statewide election survey that shows candidates for President, U.S. Senate, and state races should pay close attention to Nevadans ages 50 and older, and the issues they care about.