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Aging - Dehydration
Strategies for ensuring good hydration in the elderly. (Nutr Rev. 2005)
"Dehydration is a frequent etiology of morbidity and mortality in elderly people. It causes the hospitalization of many patients and its outcome may be fatal. Indeed, dehydration is often linked to infection, and if it is overlooked, mortality may be over 50%. Older individuals have been shown to have a higher risk of developing dehydration than younger adults. Modifications in water metabolism with aging and fluid imbalance in the frail elderly are the main factors to consider in the prevention of dehydration. Particularly, a decrease in the fat free mass, which is hydrated and contains 73% water, is observed in the elderly due to losses in muscular mass, total body water, and bone mass. Since water intake is mainly stimulated by thirst, and since the thirst sensation decreases with aging, risk factors for dehydration are those that lead to a loss of autonomy or a loss of cognitive function that limit the access to beverages."
Highlighted Article
A typology of oral hydration problems exhibited by frail nursing home residents. (J Gerontol Nurs. 2006)
"Dehydration remains a substantial problem for nursing home residents, often with poor health outcomes. … Dehydration events occurred in 31% (11 of 35) of residents during the 6-month period."
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Aging and Anti-Aging
Anti-Aging
NEWS:
100-Year Olds' Secret: Stay Aware - Keeping Up With the Times Is Key to Long Life, Centenarians Say "Elderly patients randomized to receive high-intensity interval walking training have decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and increases in thigh muscle strength and peak aerobic capacity, according to the results of a study published in the July issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. … According to the authors of the current study, exercise has been shown to decrease disability, improve muscle strength, reduce blood pressure, and reduce cardiovascular risk, and higher intensity and duration of exercise is associated with greater protection, However, it is unclear how different levels of intensity of walking impact muscle strength and aerobic capacity in older adults. Walking is associated with a low rate of injuries and is accessible to many adults, unlike intensive athletic activities."
A Surprising Secret to a Long Life: Stay in School "The one social factor that researchers agree is consistently linked to longer lives in every country where it has been studied is education. It is more important than race; it obliterates any effects of income. … And, health economists say, those factors that are popularly believed to be crucial — money and health insurance, for example, pale in comparison. … Instead, Dr. Smith and others say, what may make the biggest difference is keeping young people in school. A few extra years of school is associated with extra years of life and vastly improved health decades later, in old age."
Diet Of Walnuts, Blueberries Improve Cognition; May Help Maintain Brain Function "Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, and other polyphenols that act as antioxidants and may actually block the signals produced by free radicals that can later produce compounds that would increase inflammation … show for the first time that shorter chain fatty acids found in plants, such as walnuts, may have beneficial effects on cognition similar to those from long chain fatty acids derived from animal sources, which have been reported previously. … Another avenue of research regarding a link between diet and the brain shows that blueberries contain compounds that can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system. Inflammation in the central nervous system is known to be a key issue in the progression of neurodegeneration, and dietary intake of blueberries has been shown to alleviate cognitive decline associated with disease and aging."
Elderly may benefit from balance training "With a special training program, elderly people can learn better balance control, which may lessen their risk of falling, according to a new report. Doctors might be hesitant to recommend balance-training exercises "that can be very challenging for their older clients," Dr. Brian E. Maki told Reuters Health. However, "provided proper safety measures are taken (such as wearing a safety harness), older adults are often willing and able to complete exercises that challenge their balance, such as the perturbation-based program described in our paper." The perturbation-based balance training program developed by Maki at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and colleagues helps the elderly learn how to restore balance or respond by grasping a support when their center of gravity or their stance is displaced. "
Exercise improves older adults' balance "In an analysis of 34 clinical trials, British researchers found that supervised exercise regimens generally helped improve older adults' balance and coordination. Various forms of exercise appeared effective, but strength training and exercise specifically targeting balance, coordination and walking ability showed the strongest effects."
Fish oil may preserve thinking ability in elderly"High blood levels of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, may help preserve thinking ability in the elderly, according to the findings of two studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The results were particularly striking among subjects with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. Accumulating evidence suggests that diets that include omega-3 fatty acids, specifically, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protect against the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a Dutch research team."
Fish Really May Be Brain Food "A Norwegian study of more than 2,000 elderly people found that those who ate more than 10 grams per day of fish had markedly better test scores and a lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than those who ate less than 10 grams of fish a day. The more fish a person ate, the greater the effect. People who ate about 75 grams a day of fish had the best test scores. "
Folic Acid May Slow Hearing Loss
Group: Weight Training Can Help Elderly "Pumping a little iron can help elderly nursing home residents and heart failure patients gain strength for everyday life, the American Heart Association says, expanding on earlier advice. … Williams said resistance training -- whether it's lifting weights or doing sit-ups -- should be used as a complement to aerobic exercise. … The statement also notes that elderly people and women who suffer from coronary heart disease (a narrowing of the small blood vessels to the heart), or are frail can benefit from workouts including resistance training because they build muscle strength. Resistance weight training includes using one's body for weight resistance by doing things like abdominal crunches to using resistance-cord exercises, dumbbells, wrist weights or weight machines. It's been known for some time that resistance training is good for everyone, from those with chronic diseases to healthy people. "
Influence of Exercise, Walking, Cycling, and Overall Nonexercise Physical Activity on Mortality in Chinese Women (American Journal of Epidemiology 2007) "These findings add new evidence that overall physical activity levels are an important determinant of longevity, and that health benefit can be obtained through an active lifestyle, exercise, or combinations of both."
Moderate- and High-Intensity Resistance Training May Improve Cognitive Function in Elderly "Moderate-intensity and high-intensity resistance exercise programs result in similar improvement in cognitive function of elderly patients. • Resistance exercise, especially of moderate-intensity level, is linked to improved mood profiles and quality of life in elderly patients."
More vitamin D can put more pep in seniors' steps "Declining physical performance among some Dutch seniors may not be a simple consequence of aging, it may actually be due to a vitamin D deficiency, results of a new study suggest. … Over the 3-year study, these vitamin D-deficient adults were also twice as likely as their peers to exhibit a decline in physical performance, such as taking longer to rise from a sitting position. … To address this problem, Wellman, a professor and director of the National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity & Aging, at Florida International University, advises seniors to drink milk or orange juice that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium, since 'both are needed for bone health.' "
Severely Restricted Diet Linked To Physical Fitness Into Old Age "The study, using a rat model of life-time caloric restriction, showed that the diet reduces the amount of visceral fat, which expresses inflammatory factors that in humans cause chronic disease and a decline in physical performance and vitality across the lifespan."
Some try extreme calorie restriction for long life "Unlike typical diets that focus primarily on weight loss, CR is about reducing long-term calorie intake and consuming adequate nutrients at the same time in the pursuit of a more energetic old age. Numerous studies have shown that eating less can help rodents and primates live longer and healthier. People who follow CR claim that cutting calories, which leads to weight loss and a slower metabolic rate, can lengthen the human life span as well."
Strength training may reverse muscle aging "Strength training may not only make older adults' muscles stronger, but younger as well, a small study suggests. It's well known that resistance exercises improve muscle strength and function in young and old alike, but the new research suggests that strength training also affects older muscles on the level of gene expression -- essentially turning back the clock on muscle aging. "
Tai chi once a week cuts older adults' fall risk "In a study of 702 adults age 60 and older, Australian researchers found that those who took tai chi class once a week for four months were one-third less likely to suffer a fall during the study period."
Tips to build your muscle mass at any age "In August, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association updated their physical activity guidelines, encouraging Americans to strength-train at least twice a week and work out all of the major muscle groups on top of regular cardio activity. They now recommend that adults perform eight to 12 reps of eight to 10 exercises on the chest, back, shoulders, upper legs, lower legs and arms, via either free weights, machines or weight-bearing activities. Adults 65 and older should strength-train two to three times a week, doing more reps with lighter weights, taking into account their fitness levels beforehand. "
Weight Training May Be Muscles' 'Fountain of Youth' "Pumping iron can literally rejuvenate seniors' muscles -- reversing the aging process within the tissue and improving people's ability to perform physical tasks, new research shows."
ARTICLES:
Become an Optimist -- Live Longer
Exercise Helps Prevent Falls in Elderly
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
A Higher Dose of Vitamin D Reduces the Risk of Falls in Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized, Multiple-Dose Study (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007) "Nursing home residents in the highest vitamin D group (800 IU) had a lower number of fallers and a lower incidence rate of falls over 5 months than those taking lower doses. Adequate vitamin D supplementation in elderly nursing home residents could reduce the number of falls experienced by this high falls risk group."
Active lifestyle protects against incident low back pain in seniors: a population-based 2-year prospective study of 1387 Danish twins aged 70-100 years. (Spine. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Strenuous physical activity at least once a week is protective for incident LBP in seniors."
Age-related cognitive decline not inevitable " One in 10 women will reach the age of 85 with their mental abilities completely intact, while another 58 percent will experience only minor reductions in their cognitive abilities, research shows. According to the study, women who maintain their cognitive function are less likely to have health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, less likely to smoke, and more likely to drink moderately, They also have more robust social networks and an easier time with activities of daily living. "
Aging, Adiposity, and Calorie Restriction (JAMA 2007) "Conclusions Calorie restriction in adult men and women causes beneficial metabolic, hormonal, and functional changes, but the precise amount of calorie intake or body fat mass associated with optimal health and maximum longevity in humans is not known. In addition, it is possible that even moderate calorie restriction may be harmful in specific patient populations, such as lean persons who have minimal amounts of body fat."
Antioxidant intake and cognitive function of elderly men and women: the cache county study. (J Nutr Health Aging. 2007) "Study participants with lower levels of intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and carotene had a greater acceleration of the rate of 3MS decline over time compared to those with higher levels of intake. Conclusion: High antioxidant intake from food and supplement sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotene may delay cognitive decline in the elderly."
Building Blocks of Successful Aging: A Focus Group Study of Older Adults’ Perceived Contributors to Successful Aging (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007) "Conclusion: Older adults place greater emphasis on psychosocial factors as being key to successful aging, with less emphasis on factors such as longevity, genetics, absence of disease/disability, function, and independence."
Cognitive functioning in healthy aging: the role of reserve and lifestyle factors early in life. (Gerontologist. 2007) "IMPLICATIONS: Our study suggests that reserve is dynamic, but it is most amenable to change in early life. We conclude that an active, engaged lifestyle, emphasizing mental activity and educational pursuits in early life, can have a positive impact on cognitive functioning in late life."
Cognitive performance among the elderly and dietary fish intake: the Hordaland Health Study. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly, a diet high in fish and fish products is associated with better cognitive performance in a dose-dependent manner."
Caloric Restriction, the Traditional Okinawan Diet, and Healthy Aging: The Diet of the World's Longest-Lived People and Its Potential Impact on Morbidity and Life Span. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007) "Findings include low caloric intake and negative energy balance at younger ages, little weight gain with age, life-long low BMI, relatively high plasma DHEA levels at older ages, low risk for mortality from age-related diseases, and survival patterns consistent with extended mean and maximum life span. This study lends epidemiologic support for phenotypic benefits of CR in humans and is consistent with the well-known literature on animals with regard to CR phenotypes and healthy aging."
Combining an Antioxidant Fortified Diet with Behavioral Enrichment Leads to Cognitive Improvement and Reduced Brain Pathology in Aging Canines: Strategies for Healthy Aging. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007)
Current Physical Activity Improves Balance Control during Sensory Conflicting Conditions in Older Adults (Int J Sports Med 2007) "Thus, PA counteracts the age-related decline of postural control and could consequently reduce the risk of falling."
Effects of exercise and nutrition on postural balance and risk of falling in elderly people with decreased bone mineral density: randomized controlled trial pilot study. (Clin Rehabil. 2007)
Effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on Hearing in Older Adults (Annals 2007) "Folic acid supplementation slowed the decline in hearing of the speech frequencies associated with aging in a population from a country without folic acid fortification of food. The effect requires confirmation, especially in populations from countries with folic acid fortification programs."
Effects of High-Intensity Combined Training on Women over 65. (Gerontology. 2007)
Effects of high-intensity interval walking training on physical fitness and blood pressure in middle-aged and older people. (Mayo Clin Proc. 2007) "CONCLUSION: High-intensity interval walking may protect against age-associated increases in blood pressure and decreases in thigh muscle strength and peak aerobic capacity."
Effects of long-term exercise class on prevention of falls in community-dwelling elderly: Kahoku longitudinal aging study (Geriatrics & Gerontology International 2007) "Conclusion: Unlike a short program, long-continuing exercise is effective in preventing falls of community-dwelling elderly for a long time after the adjustment of age, activities of daily living, depression and other confounding variables."
Effects of Strength Training and Reduced Training on Functional Performance and Metabolic Health Indicators in Middle-Aged Men. (Int J Sports Med. 2007)
Even low-intensity and low-volume exercise training may improve insulin resistance in the elderly. (Intern Med. 2007)
Fish consumption, n-3 fatty acids, and subsequent 5-y cognitive decline in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly Study. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: A moderate intake of EPA+DHA may postpone cognitive decline in elderly men."
Increased Vigorous Physical Activity Associated With Lower Mortality "Increased vigorous physical activity is associated with decreased mortality, regardless of sex, age, or body mass index (BMI), according to a study presented at the 54th annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine."
Influence of Exercise, Walking, Cycling, and Overall Nonexercise Physical Activity on Mortality in Chinese Women. (Am J Epidemiol. 2007) "These findings add new evidence that overall physical activity levels are an important determinant of longevity, and that health benefit can be obtained through an active lifestyle, exercise, or combinations of both."
Life Extension by Calorie Restriction in Humans. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007)
Master's Swimming: An Example of Successful Aging in Competitive Sport. (Curr Sports Med Rep. 2007)
Mitochondrial Ageing and the Beneficial Role of alpha-Lipoic Acid. (Neurochem Res. 2007) "These findings suggest that the dithiol, lipoic acid, provides protection against age-related oxidative damage in the mitochondria of aged rats"
Nutritional intervention in brain aging: reducing the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress. (Subcell Biochem. 2007) "Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of diets rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, such as those found in fruits and vegetables, may lower the risk of developing age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Research from our laboratory suggests that dietary supplementation with fruit or vegetable extracts can decrease the age-enhanced vulnerability to oxidative stress and inflammation. Additional research suggests that the polyphenolic compounds found in fruits such as blueberries may exert their beneficial effects through signal transduction and neuronal communication. Thus, nutritional intervention may exert therapeutic protection against age-related deficits and neurodegenerative diseases."
Physical Activity and the Risk of Dementia in Oldest Old. (J Aging Health. 2007) "DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of exercise on healthy brain aging even in the oldest old and emphasizes the importance of increasing PA in older women."
Physical Activity in Middle-Aged Adults Reduces Risks of Functional Impairment Independent of Its Effect on Weight (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007) "CONCLUSION: Excess bodyweight is a risk factor for impaired physical function in middle-aged and older people. Physical activity is protective of impaired physical functioning in this age group in subjects with recommended weight, overweight, and obesity. Older adults should be encouraged to engage in appropriate levels of physical activity irrespective of their weight."
Plasma n-3 fatty acids and the risk of cognitive decline in older adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Promoting higher intakes of n-3 HUFAs in the diet of hypertensive and dyslipidemic persons may have substantial benefits in reducing their risk of cognitive decline in the area of verbal fluency. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm this finding."
Relation of Higher Folate Intake to Lower Risk of Alzheimer Disease in the Elderly (Arch Neurol. 2007) "Conclusions Higher folate intake may decrease the risk of AD independent of other risk factors and levels of vitamins B6 and B12. These results require confirmation with clinical trials."
Resistance exercise reverses aging in human skeletal muscle. (PLoS ONE. 2007) "Human aging is associated with skeletal muscle atrophy and functional impairment (sarcopenia). Multiple lines of evidence suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction is a major contributor to sarcopenia. We evaluated whether healthy aging was associated with a transcriptional profile reflecting mitochondrial impairment and whether resistance exercise could reverse this signature to that approximating a younger physiological age. … We conclude that healthy older adults show evidence of mitochondrial impairment and muscle weakness, but that this can be partially reversed at the phenotypic level, and substantially reversed at the transcriptome level, following six months of resistance exercise training."
Preventing falls in older adults: New interventions to promote more effective change-in-support balance reactions (Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2007)
Role of aerobic fitness and aging on cerebral white matter integrity. (Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007) "Our study suggests that greater aerobic fitness may be related to greater WM integrity in select brain regions."
Sleeping Well, Aging Well: A Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Study of Sleep in "Successful Agers" 75 and Older. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007) "Conclusions: Sleep quality and daytime alertness in late life may be more important aspects of successful aging than previously appreciated. Good sleep may be a marker of good functioning across a variety of domains in old age. Our observations suggest the need to study interventions which protect sleep quality in older adults to determine if doing so fosters continued successful aging."
Tai Chi and Perceived Health Status in Older Adults Who Are Transitionally Frail: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (Phys Ther. 2007) "DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that older women who are transitionally frail and participate in intensive TC exercise demonstrate perceived health status benefits, most notably in ambulation."
The cross-sectional relationship between fortnightly exercise and knee cartilage properties in healthy adult women in midlife. (Menopause. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS:: Participation in exercise that causes tachypnea and an increased pulse rate for at least 20 minutes was associated with greater medial tibial cartilage volume, but not knee cartilage defects in non-healthcare-seeking women at midlife. More frequent exercise also tended to be associated with greater medial tibial cartilage volume. Although our findings need to be confirmed longitudinally, they provide further support for a beneficial effect of regular exercise on diseases related to aging."
The impact of resistance exercise on the cognitive function of the elderly. (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: Moderate- and high-intensity resistance exercise programs had equally beneficial effects on cognitive functioning."
The Japanese Centenarian Study: Autonomy Was Associated with Health Practices as Well as Physical Status (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007)
Tripping without falling; lower limb strength, a limitation for balance recovery and a target for training in the elderly (Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2007)
Turning back the clock: adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age. (Am J Med. 2007) "CONCLUSIONS: People who newly adopt a healthy lifestyle in middle-age experience a prompt benefit of lower rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Strategies to encourage adopting healthy lifestyles should be implemented, especially among people with hypertension, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status."
Women Who Maintain Optimal Cognitive Function into Old Age (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007) "Almost 10% of older women maintained optimal cognitive function into old age. Cognitive maintainers were less likely to have comorbid medical conditions, less likely to have difficulty with daily activities or poor social networks, and more likely to engage in healthy behaviors than minor cognitive decliners."
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