"Change in Chronic Disability From 1982 to 2004/2005 as Measured by Long-Term Changes in Function and Health in the U.S. Elderly Population," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: For the study, Kenneth Manton of the Center for Demographic Studies at Duke University and colleagues examined the rate of chronic disability among elderly U.S. residents using data from the National Long-Term Care Survey. According to researchers, the prevalence of chronic disability was 19% from 2004 through 2005, down from 26.5% in 1982, which could have implications for future Medicare costs (Manton et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 11/28).

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