Latest news with #AaronWhite
CNA
20-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
How the risks of drinking increase in older age – even for light or occasional drinkers
Drinking is harmful to your health at any age. But as you get older, the risks become greater – even with the same amount of drinks. Alcohol affects 'virtually every organ system in the body,' including the muscles and blood vessels, digestive system, heart and brain, said Sara Jo Nixon, the director of the Center for Addiction Research & Education at the University of Florida. 'It particularly impacts older adults, because there's already some decline or impact in those areas.' 'There's a whole different set' of health risk factors for older drinkers, said Paul Sacco, a professor of social work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore who studies substance use and aging. People might not realise that the drinks they used to tolerate well are now affecting their brains and bodies differently, he said. Alcohol can present new problems in older age – particularly at 65 and up – for even light or occasional drinkers. Older adults tend to have less muscle mass and retain less water in their tissues compared with younger people, which can increase blood alcohol concentration, said Aaron White, a senior advisor at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This means it takes fewer drinks for older people to feel intoxicated, and heightens the risk of severe injury from falls. According to Dr Nixon's research, older people also show deficits in working memory at lower blood alcohol concentrations than younger drinkers. In another study Dr Nixon worked on, some older adults in driving simulations showed signs of impairment after less than one drink. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing chronic conditions like dementia, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and heart disease. But it can also worsen outcomes for the majority of older adults already living with chronic disease, said Aryn Phillips, an assistant professor of health policy and administration at the University of Illinois Chicago who studies alcohol and ageing. Drug interactions also come into play. Mixing alcohol with prescription medicines that older adults commonly take, such as those for treating diabetes or hypertension, can make the medications less effective or cause harmful side effects, like ulcers or an irregular heart beat. Benzodiazepines, when combined with alcohol, can slow breathing and act as a powerful sedative. Even over-the-counter medication can be dangerous. Aspirin, which some older people take to reduce cardiovascular disease risk (despite the potential side effects), can lead to severe gastrointestinal bleeding, which older people are already at higher risk for, said Michael Wheeler, a professor of nutrition science at East Carolina University who researches alcohol-induced liver disease. Some older adults also contend that hangovers worsen with age. While there's no strong scientific evidence supporting this, the hangovers may seem worse because alcohol can exacerbate other symptoms of aging, like poor sleep, Dr White said. HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK Experts said alcohol use among older adults appears to have risen in recent years, though national trends are difficult to track outside of self-reported surveys. A US federal survey from 2023 found that 12 percent of adults 65 and older – about seven million people – reported drinking at least four or five drinks in a sitting in the previous month. After decades of mixed messaging around alcohol's health harms and benefits, recent studies have made it clear that no amount of alcohol is good for you. Still, Dr Sacco acknowledged that 'drinking has meaning for people,' and whether to moderate or quit altogether 'is a call that you have to make in consultation with your doctor and your loved ones.' But what is a 'safe' amount of drinking for the older set? That's difficult to say. The available studies attempting to establish exactly how much alcohol it takes to drive up health risks in older populations use different benchmarks for moderate drinking, making it tricky to draw a consensus. 'Even as an expert in this field, I understand the confusion,' Dr Wheeler said. Dr Nixon advised that adults 65 and older should consume no more than one drink per day and no more than seven per week. (The NIAAA does not establish guidelines around alcohol consumption, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking for adults of all ages as two drinks or less per day for men, and one drink or less per day for women.) All the experts emphasised that older people should pay close attention to their bodies' response to alcohol, and to stop drinking or cut back if they feel like it's affecting them more physically or cognitively. 'If you're not currently drinking, don't start,' Dr Phillips said. And if you do drink, be honest with your doctor about your consumption, and do it in a safe environment, knowing that your tolerance may not be what it used to be, she added. 'The answer doesn't have to be abstinence,' Dr Nixon said. But healthy ageing 'probably does not include multiple drinks a day for most people.'
Boston Globe
08-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
How the risks of drinking increase in older age
Advertisement Alcohol can present new problems in older age — particularly at 65 and older — for even light or occasional drinkers. Older adults tend to have less muscle mass and retain less water in their tissues compared with younger people, which can increase blood alcohol concentration, said Aaron White, a senior adviser at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This means it takes fewer drinks for older people to feel intoxicated, and heightens the risk of severe injury from falls. According to Nixon's research, older people also show deficits in working memory at lower blood alcohol concentrations than younger drinkers. In another study Nixon worked on, some older adults in driving simulations showed signs of impairment after less than one drink. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing chronic conditions such as dementia, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and heart disease. But it can also worsen outcomes for the majority of older adults already living with chronic disease, said Aryn Phillips, an assistant professor of health policy and administration at the University of Illinois Chicago who studies alcohol and aging. Advertisement Drug interactions also come into play. Mixing alcohol with prescription medicines that older adults commonly take, such as those for treating diabetes or hypertension, can make the medications less effective or cause harmful side effects, like ulcers or an irregular heart beat. Benzodiazepines, when combined with alcohol, can slow breathing and act as a powerful sedative. Even over-the-counter medication can be dangerous. Aspirin, which some older people take to reduce cardiovascular disease risk (despite the potential side effects), can lead to severe gastrointestinal bleeding, which older people are already at higher risk for, said Michael Wheeler, a professor of nutrition science at East Carolina University who researches alcohol-induced liver disease. Some older adults also contend that hangovers worsen with age. While there's no strong scientific evidence supporting this, the hangovers may seem worse because alcohol can exacerbate other symptoms of aging, like poor sleep, White said. How to Reduce Your Risk Experts said alcohol use among older adults appears to have risen in recent years, though national trends are difficult to track outside of self-reported surveys. A federal survey from 2023 found that 12% of adults 65 and older — about 7 million people — reported drinking at least four or five drinks in a sitting in the previous month. After decades of mixed messaging around alcohol's health harms and benefits, recent studies have made it clear that no amount of alcohol is good for you. Still, Sacco acknowledged that 'drinking has meaning for people,' and whether to moderate or quit altogether 'is a call that you have to make in consultation with your doctor and your loved ones.' Advertisement But what is a 'safe' amount of drinking for the older set? That's difficult to say. The available studies attempting to establish exactly how much alcohol it takes to drive up health risks in older populations use different benchmarks for moderate drinking, making it tricky to draw a consensus. 'Even as an expert in this field, I understand the confusion,' Wheeler said. Nixon advised that adults 65 and older should consume no more than one drink per day and no more than seven per week. (The NIAAA does not establish guidelines around alcohol consumption, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking for adults of all ages as two drinks or less per day for men, and one drink or less per day for women.) All the experts emphasized that older people should pay close attention to their bodies' response to alcohol, and to stop drinking or cut back if they feel like it's affecting them more physically or cognitively. 'If you're not currently drinking, don't start,' Phillips said. And if you do drink, be honest with your doctor about your consumption, and do it in a safe environment, knowing that your tolerance may not be what it used to be, she added. 'The answer doesn't have to be abstinence,' Nixon said. But healthy aging 'probably does not include multiple drinks a day for most people.' This article originally appeared in Advertisement
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alkami Wins "Best New Community" for Digital Network Connecting Customers like Kennebec Savings Bank
The 2025 CMX Community Industry Awards recognizes Alkami's rapid success in building an engaged, customer-driven community experience PLANO, Texas, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) ("Alkami"), a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced that it has been named the winner of the Best New Community award at the 2025 CMX Community Industry Awards, recently hosted at the CMX Summit 2025 in Redwood City, California. Now in its sixth year, the CMX Community Industry Awards celebrate the achievements of community professionals and teams across the globe. The Best New Community category honors an online community launched or relaunched after January 1, 2024, that has rapidly grown, engaged members, and demonstrated early success. Launched in April 2024, Alkami went through a strategic transformation to introduce an open-access experience with role-based permissions, self-registration, streamlined navigation, real-time analytics, and a host of new engagement opportunities like forums and events. Building on the strong foundation of its legacy platform, Alkami transitioned to Gainsight's Customer Communities solution to create a single destination to connect, share best practices, and self-serve. "A thriving customer community is essential to delivering long-term value," said Wayne McCulloch, chief customer officer at Alkami. "We invested in this initiative to give our customers a stronger voice and a place to collaborate, innovate, and grow together." Aaron White, senior community manager at Alkami continued, "We set out to create more than a forum; we built a true hub for connection, feedback, and shared success. Seeing customers embrace it so quickly and enthusiastically has been very rewarding." Highlights from the Alkami Community for 2024 include: A 96.6% customer adoption rate, with nearly every customer represented. An 85% customer satisfaction score, with the majority of members rating the Community as highly valuable. Membership growth from 275 to over 3,600 users. 35+ Community events, with a 67% attendance rate and 96% customer satisfaction. A revitalized user group program and a popular "Tip Tuesday" content series. Amy Driscoll, digital experience manager at Kennebec Savings Bank, shared, "I'm grateful for this Community. It's an incredible resource and always has helpful people. I can't wait to see what comes next." With this award, Alkami continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, not only in digital banking technology, but also in customer engagement and community-building. To learn more about Alkami's Digital Banking Platform, visit here. Alkami has been certified by J.D. Power in 2024 and 2025 for providing "An Outstanding Mobile Banking Platform Experience."1 About Alkami Alkami Technology, Inc. is a leading cloud-based digital banking solutions provider for financial institutions in the United States that enables clients to grow confidently, adapt quickly, and build thriving digital communities. Alkami helps clients transform through retail and business banking, onboarding and account opening, payment security, and data and marketing solutions. To learn more, visit Media Relations ContactsVestedalkami@ Marla Power 2025 Mobile App Platform Certification ProgramSM recognition is based on successful completion of an audit and exceeding a customer experience benchmark through a survey of recent servicing interactions. For more information, visit original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brinker promotes Aaron White to COO
This story was originally published on Restaurant Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Restaurant Dive newsletter. Name: Aaron White New title: Executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief people officer, Brinker International Previous title: Executive vice president, chief people officer, Brinker International White has worked at Brinker International for 29 years, starting her career as a Chili's server and bartender, according to a press release. Her latest promotion comes two-and-a-half years after she was promoted to chief people officer. Prior to that role, White served as Chili's co-chief operating offer, supporting the chain's Eastern U.S. restaurants. The bulk of her Brinker career has been spent at Chili's in roles focused on PeopleWorks (HR) and operations, according to her LinkedIn profile. 'Aaron's teams have delivered huge results in the company's turnaround through simplification, redesigning work processes to be more efficient, and reawakening the ChiliHead culture that has been a key to Chili's success for the brand's 50 years,' the company said in the press release. In her expanded role, White will oversee operations and PeopleWorks at the restaurant support center for Chili's and Maggiano's, the company said. Her leadership team will be focused on operational changes that improve team member and guest experiences. She will continue to report to CEO Kevin Hochman. White's promotion follows another quarter of significant growth at Chili's, which boosted same-store sales by 31% and traffic by 21% during the fiscal third quarter. In addition to traffic-driving efforts with menu innovation and marketing, the chain has been working to improve operations. Chili's deployed a new kitchen display system that provides easier recipe references to staff. The company also held listening tours with dishwashers — the position with the highest turnover — to find ways to make the job easier, and implemented unspecified changes at the position during the quarter, according to an earnings call. Recommended Reading Chili's notches 21% traffic surge Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Millions of visitors drive through this town every year. Some tell them to skip it
When Stowe shows the Herald the old postmaster's home, Froma Court, built in 1908, a warning blast tells us it is a restricted area, and 'Please move away'. On Lurline Street, the main road leading to Echo Point, some of the once-fabulous 1920s guest houses are restored. Others are falling apart. Further on, one of the area's oldest guesthouses, The Clarendon, is looking its age despite colourful awnings. It is the subject of an interim heritage order by the Blue Mountains City Council after unauthorised works. For Aaron White, a residential house painter, news of what happened to the Paragon was the 'last straw'. He's offered to paint Katoomba's buildings –free, if someone donates materials – to lift the mood and look of the town. 'Tourists bypass the town, and head to the scenery, and the businesses are missing out millions of dollars in revenue,' said White. Loading Resident Michael Hart said when something as significant as the Paragon closed, it had a ripple effect. When the Carrington closed in the late 1980s, other shops shut soon after. 'That stuff adds up. It affects a lot of people.' Some say Katoomba has always had booms and busts. Harriet McCready, the cofounder of Mountain Culture Beer Co. – operating in a restored heritage building – says the streetscape hasn't affected its business. Katoomba remained vibrant even if the buildings looked derelict, she said. More life in the shops would be a plus, but the town was such a gem and the landscape so special that it drew visitors interested in bush walks, rock climbing, the art and their beer. Who to blame depends on who you ask. Locals say the council is too slow to approve projects; others say absentee landlords and developers don't engage with the community; congestion on the main bridge into town, say many, while others point to heritage rules, COVID, and the economy. As a former regulator and head of NSW's Fair Trading, Stowe advocates an inquiry to separate facts from conjecture He also says enforcement action is the most effective way to achieve compliance with heritage laws. According to Destination NSW, the Blue Mountains is the most popular destination outside Sydney, attracting three million visitors a year. Katoomba was once the top place to stay, as much for its ornate architecture as for its natural attractions. It has more historic homes and properties identified as historic or heritage by local, state, federal government and the National Trust, than the rest of the Blue Mountains. Stowe said: 'It was where tourism, in many ways, started in NSW. It was a place where people got away from the humdrum, the smelly city and into the mountain air.' With its relatively intact shops and old boarding houses, Stowe says it could be the Australian version of NZ's Napier, famous for its vibrant Art Deco architecture. Michael Brischetto, a co-owner with Jarvis of Katoomba's heritage-listed Carrington Hotel, said the state of the town's heritage was an embarrassment that reflected poorly on all levels of government. Empty shops opposite the station, bought by Carrington, are scheduled for restoration but are facing delays in approval from the council and Heritage NSW. 'Every time one of these absentee owners wants to sell one of their buildings, the community or local business people should be buying them,' said Brischetto. 'Because we live here. We're the ones who are embarrassed. Let's start doing something about it, right?' Brischetto attributes some of the decline in state heritage listed properties to understaffing of Heritage NSW, saying it failed to inspect and identify projects at risk before they fail. His hotel has been visited only twice in 21 years. The decline of the historic properties deterred investors or businesses. 'They see the hoardings up around places like the Paragon and ours and ask, 'Why aren't people renting these shops?' ' The NSW auditor-general 2023 report on Heritage NSW found almost 90 per cent of items (1583) on the register did not include a physical condition rating. It noted improvements in turnaround on applications for works on listed assets. But it found about 35 per cent (625) of items lacked detailed physical descriptions, which made it hard for officers to pursue breaches. 'The state heritage people are very well-meaning, and I know they're under-resourced,' Brischetto said. For a laugh, he likes to read an old email from Heritage NSW sent a decade ago after he waited months for a response. It said: 'Applicants applying pressure on Ministers to get more resourcing to process their applications would have more effect than anything else. ' Brischetto said, 'The heritage system is broken. It's only when you're trying to do something, when you're trying to preserve or conserve or restore, that [Heritage] get involved.' Mayor Mark Greenhill said Katoomba remained an outstanding tourist destination, and visitor numbers were increasing, not falling. The council was committed to Katoomba thriving as a welcoming destination, but could only operate within its jurisdiction. Greenhill said the council had secured $7 million for improvements, including new street furniture, upgraded lighting and paving, outdoor dining areas and public art. Stowe showed what could be done when the community came together. The Treeline Lurline project is aiming to restore the grand boulevard of trees that once led to Echo Point. Some new trees have been planted and powerlines moved underground. In response to the Herald 's questions, a spokesperson for the Heritage Council and Heritage NSW said the owners of Mount St Marys had responded to representations from Heritage NSW and Blue Mountains City Council and were addressing urgent rectification works.
