Aging - Anti-Aging
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InfoMedSearch: Aging and Anti-Aging
PREVENT:
FALLS,
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES,
DEHYDRATION, HEAT STROKE
PROMOTE:
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Falls
NIH - Falls “A fall can change your life. If you're elderly, it can lead to disability and a loss of independence. If your bones are fragile from osteoporosis, you could break a bone, often a hip. But aging alone doesn't make people fall. Diabetes and heart disease affect balance. So do problems with circulation, thyroid or nervous systems. Some medicines make people dizzy. Eye problems or alcohol can be factors. Any of these things can make a fall more likely. … Falls and accidents seldom "just happen." Taking care of your health by exercising and getting regular eye exams and physicals may help reduce your chance of falling. Getting rid of tripping hazards in your home and wearing nonskid shoes may also help. To reduce the chances of breaking a bone if you do fall, make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D. “
NIH - Falls and Older Adults “More than one in three people age 65 years or older falls each year. The risk of falling -- and fall-related problems -- rises with age.”
Highlighted Articles
The functional effects of physical exercise training in frail older people : a systematic review. (Sports Med. 2008) “This systematic review suggests that older adults with different levels of abilities can improve their functional performance by regular exercise training.”
Astronaut Technology Could Prevent Elderly Falls “The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates 300,000 people annually suffer hip fractures, which are often caused by falls. An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients age 50 and over die within a year of the fracture. Many fall victims who don't die within a year end up being disabled the rest of their lives. "It's a huge issue," said Elinor Ginzler of the AARP. "It significantly impairs your ability to stay independent, which is what people want." “
Brain injuries from falls a deadly risk for seniors “Arias said that as the numerous baby boom generation hits retirement age, more people will fall and either die or require expensive hospital care. "CDC has developed tips and suggestions for older adults, their caregivers, health care providers, and communities to help prevent falls," Arias said. These include reducing floor clutter and providing better lighting as well as regular exercise to maintain strength and balance. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls/.“
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."
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."
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Aging and Anti-Aging
General Information
NEWS:
Amyloid Deposits Found in More Than 20% of Cognitively Normal Seniors “"I see this as good news, bad news," Dr. Klunk told Medscape Neurology. The good news is that scientists are at a point where they can now screen people and detect amyloid in time to intervene with therapy. The bad news is that there isn't yet a proven therapy. "And as we sit here today, if we treat only people who have symptomatic Alzheimer's disease, we're already 10 years behind the pathology," he said. “
Baby boomers' bodies hit by years of wear and tear " "We are seeing a number of overuse or 'wear and tear' injuries in the foot, ankle, knees, hip, shoulders and elbows, in baby boomers," Dr. Jeffrey A. Ross, a foot and ankle podiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, told Reuters Health. "Baby boomers suffer injuries over a period of time and a lot has to do with biomechanics, poor flexibility, wear and tear, and pounding on hard surfaces" that come with sports like running, tennis, step aerobics and basketball, Ross added. "
Better Sleepers Are 'Successful Agers' “Less daytime napping and fewer complaints of insomnia best predicted successful aging, according to the researchers, who found no direct relationship between the use of sleeping aids and successful aging. Increased severity of sleep disturbances predicted lower self-rated successful aging and a greater difference between perceived and actual age. "Our findings that reports of better sleep are related to successful aging reinforce the idea that good sleep is of utmost importance for good health. Health care professionals need to ask their patients -- of all ages -- about sleep and help those with poor sleep to find ways for improvement," study author Sonia Ancoli-Israel said in a prepared statement.“
Centenarian Offspring: Start Healthier and Stay Healthier. (J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008)
[Chronic dizziness in elderly people: its clinical characteristics and magneto-encephalographic findings] (Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2008)
Cranberries May Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Women
Daytime Sleeping Linked to Poor Recovery in Older Patients “Older patients who sleep during the day while in rehabilitation have less functional recovery, new research shows.”
Elderly at risk of memory trouble after surgery “People 60 years of age or older who undergo elective surgery may be at higher risk of lasting memory problems, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. They said people 60 and older who have major surgeries such as joint replacements or hysterectomies are more likely to have cognitive problems after surgery. And those who do are more likely to die in the first year after their surgery. … It is not clear why some patients suffer these problems, but it may be that surgery and anesthesia cause swelling in the brain that can affect the patient's ability to learn, retain or remember information, Monk said in a statement. She said the study suggests the elderly may be predisposed to cognitive problems after major surgery. And knowing this might help doctors devise better strategies to prevent the effects of surgery and anesthesia on the aging brain.“
Even Without Dementia, Mental Skills Decline Years Before Death “A number of factors may explain this terminal decline in mental skills, Thorvaldsson said. "Cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease or dementia that is too early to be detected could be factors," he said. "Increased health problems and frailty in old age often lead to inactivity, and this lack of exercise and mental stimulation could accelerate mental decline." Thorvaldsson noted that verbal abilities declined sharply in the terminal phase and did not decline significantly due to age only. "This indicates that people remain stable in their verbal abilities unless they are experiencing disease processes that also increase their mortality risk," he said. "A change in verbal ability might therefore be considered a critical marker for degeneration in health in older people." “
Fatigue Among Elders Tied to Other Ills “In background information published with the findings, study authors write that a lack of energy makes up what they call a "geriatric syndrome," like memory problems or falling. A lack of energy may also be associated with heart disease, problems with the kidneys or lungs, depression, arthritis, and anemia. In a news release, study co-author Barry Gurland, MD, says it's important to explore what happens as we age. "Unraveling the causes of anergia will expand the scope of geriatric interventions that enable aging persons to preserve their quality of life." “
Folic acid with or without vitamin B12 for the prevention and treatment of healthy elderly and demented people. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008)
Hospitalization Linked to Increased Fracture Risk in Elderly “In the Health ABC Study, two thirds of elderly participants were admitted to a hospital during follow-up of approximately 6 years, and more than one quarter had 3 or more hospitalizations. After adjustment for age, race, and sex, hospitalization was associated with twice the risk for fracture and with more than twice the risk for hip fracture. Risk for hip fracture was increased 2.42-fold in patients with 2 hospitalizations during follow-up and 3.66-fold in those with 3 or more hospitalizations. “
Lack of Vitamin E Linked to Physical Decline “"Because only one person in our study used vitamin E supplements, our results suggest that an appropriate dietary intake of vitamin E may help to reduce the decline in physical function among older persons. Whether the use of vitamin E supplements would yield similar beneficial effects is unknown," Bartali said. Dr. Kanwardeep Singh, a geriatric specialist at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, said that while this is a very well-done study, it's difficult to "take the effect of age out of what we are trying to identify." For now, he said, "I would not recommend vitamin E supplements. My recommendations would be based on a good nutritious diet, with adequate caloric intake and adequate exercise. These will take you far beyond vitamin E supplements" in maintaining physical function.”
Less Sleep Linked to Greater Risk of Falling in Elderly Women “Women who are aged 70 years and older who sleep 5 hours or less per night may be more likely to experience falls than those who sleep more than 7 to 8 hours per night, according to the results of a study reported in the September 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.”
Live to 43 or 86? Depends on where you live “"Between countries we have life expectancy differences of more than 40 years. A woman in Botswana can expect to live 43 years, in Japan 86 years." “
Long-term study links DHEAS to longevity in men “The amount of DHEAS that a man has in his blood is a "strong predictor" how long he will live, a new report from a 27-year study conducted in Japan suggests. The adrenal glands secrete DHEAS, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, a "pre-hormone," which the body converts into androgens and estrogens, Dr. Mika Enomoto and colleagues from Kurume University School of Medicine and colleagues explain. Levels of DHEAS peak during a person's 20s and 30s and then sharply decline. Animal research has found the hormone has a number of anti-aging effects, they add, and some studies in humans have linked DHEAS levels to longevity, while others have not.“
Mayo Clinic Study Identifies Potential Causes Of Young Onset Dementia
MyPyramid Dietary Guidelines Modified for Older Adults “The Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults specifically emphasizes whole grains; variety within the grains group; variety and nutrient density; vegetables and fruits particularly suited to older adults' needs, such as frozen foods; low-fat and nonfat dairy products including reduced lactose alternatives in the milk group; low saturated fat and trans fat choices in the oils group; and low saturated fat and vegetable options in the meat and beans group. The underlying principles of the Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults include focus on nutrient- and fiber-rich foods within each group, recommending food sources of nutrients rather than supplements, and use of fluid and physical activity icons. The base of the pyramid has a row of glasses to remind older adults that it is crucial to remain well hydrated. In the second row, pictures of various physical activities emphasize the need for regular physical activity, which is of vital importance given the high prevalence of physical inactivity in older adults. To highlight the possible need for supplemental forms of calcium, and vitamins D and B12 because of increased requirements for these nutrients associated with aging, a flag was placed at the top of the pyramid. More recent concerns about potential overnutrition in older adults are also addressed.“
Older People Who Diet Without Exercising Lose Valuable Muscle Mass “The new study also showed that when older people diet without exercising, they lose more lean muscle compared to those who exercise, said senior researcher Bret H. Goodpaster. When they combined weight loss with exercise, it nearly completely prevented the loss of lean muscle mass. The results are important because older people tend to lose muscle mass as they age and too much muscle loss may interfere with activities of daily living.”
Older Women Have Harder Time Preserving Muscle Than Men “Keeping in good shape is more difficult for older women than men because it's harder for women to replace muscle that's lost naturally as they age, say U.S. and British researchers. … The findings of this new study show that it's important for older women to consume plenty of protein-rich foods such as eggs, fish, chicken and lean red meat and to do resistance training (lifting weights in a gym), the researchers said. … The researchers noted that maintaining muscle is essential in reducing the risk of falls, one of the major causes of premature death in older adults. After age 50, people lose up to 0.4 percent of muscle mass per year.”
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center link blood sugar to normal cognitive aging “Maintaining blood sugar levels, even in the absence of disease, may be an important strategy for preserving cognitive health, suggests a study published by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). The study appeared in the December issue of Annals of Neurology. Senior moments, also dubbed by New York Times Op-Ed columnist David Brooks as being "hippocampically challenged," are a normal part of aging. Such lapses in memory, according to this new research, could be blamed, at least in part, on rising blood glucose levels as we age. The findings suggest that exercising to improve blood sugar levels could be a way for some people to stave off the normal cognitive decline that comes with age. "This is news even for people without diabetes since blood glucose levels tend to rise as we grow older. Whether through physical exercise, diet or drugs, our research suggests that improving glucose metabolism could help some of us avert the cognitive slide that occurs in many of us as we age," reported lead investigator Scott A. Small, M.D., associate professor of neurology in the Sergievsky Center and in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medical Center. … The new findings also suggest that one way in which physical exercise could improve memory is via lowering glucose levels. Dr. Small's previous imaging studies in humans and in mice have documented that among all hippocampal subregions, physical exercise causes an improvement in dentate gyrus function. "By improving glucose metabolism, physical exercise also reduces blood glucose. It is therefore possible that the cognitive enhancing effects of physical exercise are mediated, at least in part, by the beneficial effect of lower glucose on the dentate gyrus. Whether with physical exercise, diet or through the development of potential pharmacological interventions, our research suggests that improving glucose metabolism could be a clinically viable approach for improving the cognitive slide that occurs in many of us as we age," concluded Dr. Small.”
Slow Walking Speed Predicts Stroke Risk in Postmenopausal Women “Slow walking speed was found to be a strong predictor of an increased risk for incident ischemic stroke among postmenopausal women independent of other established risk factors for stroke, according to the results of a study reported in the February 21 Online First issue of Stroke.”
Tai chi helps older adults get good night's sleep “Nearly two-thirds of people who learned the slow, gentle tai chi chih moves experienced significant improvements in sleep quality, compared to about one-third of those who participated in health education sessions that included information on how to get a better night's rest.”
Tears in knee cartilage common in older adults “Damage to the meniscus, a shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee, is a common finding on MRIs in middle-aged and elderly persons and, in most cases, it causes no symptoms, investigators report in The New England Journal of Medicine. According to an accompanying editorial, meniscal tears and knee pain can often coexist without the former being the cause of the latter. As such, doctors should look for other causes, such as arthritis, before contemplating surgery to address the tear.”
The oldest Americans are also the happiest, research finds
Torn Meniscus Common, Not Always Painful “An aging knee may be more likely to suffer a torn meniscus, but that meniscal tear might not be painful, a new study shows. And the researchers go one step further. They say that for people whose knee pain is likely caused by osteoarthritis, "evidence is lacking" that surgery to remove meniscal damage will help. The study -- published in The New England Journal of Medicine -- focuses on the meniscus, which is a bit of connective tissue shaped like a half moon in the knee. Meniscal tears are often treated by arthroscopic surgery, and the new study is all about figuring out just how common meniscal tears are after age 50. The short answer: They're common, become more common with age, and are often accompanied by osteoarthritis. But they don't always hurt, say the researchers, who included Martin Englund, MD, PhD, of Boston University's medical school. “
Vitamin D may help prevent falls in older women
Wisdom Comes With Age, At Least When It Comes To Emotions
ARTICLES:
Testosterone and Mortality: An Expert Interview With Dr. Adrian S. Dobs
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Alcohol consumption and cerebral blood flow among older adults. (Alcohol. 2008)
Age-related rates of decline in performance among elite senior athletes. (Am J Sports Med. 2008 )
Association between Blood Pressure and Mortality in 80-Year-Old Subjects from a Population-Based Prospective Study in Japan. (Hypertens Res. 2008) “The present study did not find an association between blood pressure and mortality in the very elderly. However, our results did suggest that high SBP increases the risk of mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or taking antihypertensive medication.”
Association of longer telomeres with better health in centenarians. (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008) “Healthy centenarians had significantly longer telomeres than did unhealthy centenarians (p =.0475). Our study demonstrated that investigations of the association between telomere length and exceptional longevity must take into account the health status of the individuals. This raises the possibility that perhaps it is not exceptional longevity but one's function and health that may be associated with telomere length.”
Brain volume decline in aging: evidence for a relation between socioeconomic status, preclinical Alzheimer disease, and reserve. (Arch Neurol. 2008)
[Calcium in Aging, Health, and Anti-Aging. Significance of calcium supplement for Anti-aging.] (Clin Calcium. 2008)
[Calcium in Aging, Health, and Anti-Aging. Vitamin D and anti-aging medicine.] (Clin Calcium. 2008)
Centenarian Offspring: Start Healthier and Stay Healthier (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2008) “CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that centenarian offspring retain some important cardiovascular advantages over time over similarly aged referent cohort subjects. These findings reinforce the notion that there may be physiological reasons that longevity runs in families and that centenarian offspring are more likely to age in better cardiovascular health and with a lower mortality than their peers.”
Chronic disease prevalence and associations in a cohort of Australian men: The Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study (FAMAS). (BMC Public Health. 2008)
Deterioration of Muscle Function in the Human Esophagus with Age. (Dig Dis Sci. 2008) “In conclusion, age-related changes of increased stiffness and reduced primary and secondary peristalsis were found in the human esophagus with a deterioration of esophageal function after the age of 40 years. Such changes may contribute to the high prevalence of reflux disease in elderly.”
Disentangling the Roles of Disability and Morbidity in Survival to Exceptional Old Age (Arch Intern Med. 2008) “Conclusions Whereas the compression of both morbidity and disability are essential features of survival to old age for some centenarians, for others, the compression of disability alone may be the key prerequisite. Though far fewer in number, male centenarians tend to have significantly better cognition and physical function than their female counterparts.”
Effect of Bright Light and Melatonin on Cognitive and Noncognitive Function in Elderly Residents of Group Care Facilities (JAMA. 2008) “Conclusions Light has a modest benefit in improving some cognitive and noncognitive symptoms of dementia. To counteract the adverse effect of melatonin on mood, it is recommended only in combination with light.”
Effect of fish-oil supplementation on mental well-being in older subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008)
Effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in the elderly. (Clin Interv Aging. 2008) “The results showed that Mediterranean diets had benefits on risks factors for cardiovascular disease such as lipoprotein levels, endothelium vasodilatation, insulin resistance, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, antioxidant capacity, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality. Some positive associations with quality of life and inverse associations with the risk of certain cancers and with overall mortality were also reported.”
Erectile Dysfunction and Comorbidities in Aging Men: An Urban Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia. (J Sex Med. 2008)
Exceptional longevity does not result in excessive levels of disability. (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008)
Exceptional Longevity in Men (Arch Intern Med. 2008) “Conclusion Modifiable healthy behaviors during early elderly years, including smoking abstinence, weight management, blood pressure control, and regular exercise, are associated not only with enhanced life span in men but also with good health and function during older age.”
Exercise for improving balance in older people. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 )
[Functional decline during hospitalization in elderly patients. Benefits of admission to the geriatrics service] (Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2008) “CONCLUSIONS: Functional decline during hospitalization for acute diseases is frequent among frail patients. Many modifiable clinical practices are associated with this complication. In patients at risk of delirium, admission to geriatric wards may be associated with less functional deterioration than admission to internal medicine wards.”
Is obesity bad for older persons? A systematic review of the pros and cons of weight reduction in later life. (J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2008) “CONCLUSION: Longitudinal trials examining mortality and body weight suggest that maintaining weight is beneficial in older persons who become obese after age 65; in contrast, intervention trials show clinically important benefits of weight reduction with regard to osteoarthritis, physical function, and possibly DM-2 and coronary heart disease. Given these findings, we recommend that decisions about whether or not to institute a weight loss intervention for obese older persons be carefully considered on an individualized basis with special attention to the weight history and the medical conditions of each individual.”
Lifestyle-related factors in predementia and dementia syndromes. (Expert Rev Neurother. 2008)
Long-chain n–3 fatty acids and mortality in elderly patients (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: Overall mortality in frail, elderly, acutely sick patients was inversely and nonlinearly associated with EPA concentrations. Approximately 25% of the population had EPA concentrations below the indicated threshold for maximal protection, suggesting that only this part of the population might have benefited from additional EPA intake. “
Low dose aspirin and cognitive function in middle aged to elderly adults: randomised controlled trial. (BMJ. 2008)
Low plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and depressive symptomatology are independent predictors of dementia risk (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008) “Conclusions: A high plasma EPA concentration may decrease the risk of dementia, whereas high ratios of n–6 to n–3 fatty acids and of AA to DHA may increase the risk of dementia, especially in depressed older persons.”
Microbleeds More Common Than Previously Thought
Number of teeth and mortality risk in the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging. (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008) “CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the notion that number of teeth is a significant and independent risk indicator for early mortality. These findings suggest that the improvement of oral health may have a positive impact on general health and may delay mortality.”
Old women with a recent fall history show improved muscle strength and function sustained for six months after finishing training. (Aging Clin Exp Res. 2007 )
Physical frailty in older persons is associated with Alzheimer disease pathology (NEUROLOGY 2008) “Conclusion: Physical frailty in old age is associated with Alzheimer disease pathology in older persons with and without dementia. “
Plasma Lipid Levels in the Elderly Are Not Associated with the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment. (Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008)
Relationship Between Frailty and Cognitive Decline in Older Mexican Americans. (J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008)
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and functional outcomes in the elderly. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2008)
Severe nocturnal hypoxaemia in geriatric inpatients. (Age Ageing. 2008) “CONCLUSION: nearly 30% of the inpatients in geriatric medical wards suffered from severe oxygen-requiring nocturnal hypoxaemia irrespective of diagnosis.”
Sleeping Well, Aging Well: A Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Study of Sleep in "Successful Agers" 75 and Older (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008)
Subjective and Objective Napping and Sleep in Older Adults: Are Evening Naps "Bad" for Nighttime Sleep? (J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008)
Subtle Neurological Abnormalities as Risk Factors for Cognitive and Functional Decline, Cerebrovascular Events, and Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling Adults (Arch Intern Med. 2008)
Weight, Mortality, Years of Healthy Life, and Active Life Expectancy in Older Adults (J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008)
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