The trial’s results are now the first solid confirmation that lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of both mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a degree of brain decline that’s considered the gateway to dementia, and probable dementia. […]
While there are many ways people can change their behavior to lower their risk of heart disease and cancer–such as eating a healthy diet, exercising and avoiding or stopping smoking–there are few similar steps that have been scientifically proved to reduce the risk of degenerative brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. Genes play a prominent role in determining who will develop the disease, and age is also a major factor–neither of which are under human control.
The [SPRINT MIND study] provides the strongest evidence yet that there may be something in people’s control that lowers their risk of cognitive decline.
“Controlling blood pressure is not only good for the heart but good for the brain,” says [Dr. Jeff Williamson, chief of geriatric medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine and the leader of the study]. “This is the first intervention of any kind that has proven in a randomized trial to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment.”
Nicholls surveyed the latest medical research on sleep, interviewed many of the researchers involved, and underwent intense sleep therapy to treat his own condition. […]
The simplest thing is to work on something called “sleep stability,” which is very common advice in insomnia clinics […] Sleep stability means pinning your bedtime to the same time every night, even on weekends, and waking up at the same time every morning, even on weekends. The key is to settle into a groove or a cycle that your body understands and responds to. Once you do this, it’s really quite amazing. You’ll sleep better, feel better, have more energy, and worry less.
[…] it’s not true that everyone needs eight hours of sleep a night. […] Everyone varies, and this is why you need to find out how much your brain needs. And you do that by keeping a sleep diary over a week or two, and just taking an average of how many hours you are actually sleeping. […]
I think most people don’t understand the importance of light and how we consume it. Artificial light is completely at odds with our biology.
[…] minimizing exposure to artificial lights like smartphones and TV screens and increasing exposure to natural lights like dawn and dusk helps sync our internal clock and prepare the brain for sleep […]
Study findings indicate that the benefits of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness extend well into the later part of life.
“The benefits of cardiorespiratory fitness extended well into the later part of life for employed, middle-aged men without cardiovascular disease, and were significantly related to longevity over 4 decades, according to a study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
A team of Danish researchers sought to investigate the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and very long-term prognosis in a study with 46 years of follow up. Study participants were middle-aged, employed men without cardiovascular disease from the Copenhagen Male Study (N=5107; mean age, 48.8±5.4 years). Participants were stratified into 4 age-adjusted VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption) categories: above upper limit of normal (5%), high normal (45%), low normal (45%), and below lower limit of normal (5%). VO2Max levels were estimated using a bicycle ergometer, and restricted, multivariable, mean survival time models of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were performed using Danish national registers.”
Despite the fact that Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in older people, there is not a single drug available to treat the condition. (Getty Images/Cultura RF)
Alzheimer’s researchers, patients, and investors were eagerly anticipating the results of a phase 2 study on a potentially promising new medication, called BAN2401, from the drugmakers Biogen and Eisai.
On July 5, the companies released a summary of the findings from a trial of the drug involving 856 patients with early Alzheimer’s, showing the medication could slow the progression of the brain-ravaging illness. On Wednesday afternoon, they presented more details about their findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago.
The results have sparked cautious optimism. “Millions of people have Alzheimer’s, and right now it’s a death sentence. So any time we see positive results from a trial that appears to show disease modification, that gives us hope,” said Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs at the Alzheimer’s Association. “But it’s a cautious hope.” […]
If the results are indeed solid, and the drug is approved for market, it could mean people with early-stage Alzheimer’s might be able to keep the disease at bay. It could also mean that we finally have an actual treatment for the disease, and not just its symptoms, available for patients. […]
The results are still preliminary and not yet peer-reviewed or published. […] The drug still needs to pass a phase 3 clinical study and FDA scrutiny. […]
CBS News recently published a “Guide to Hearing Aids” article that provided several useful links for readers to learn more about hearing loss in America, how to get tested yourself, and information about hearing aid technology and where to get it.
The article states that about 40 million Americans are affected by hearing loss and foretold how that number will increase as years go by, and yet a disproportionate amount of those who suffer from hearing loss do not use a hearing aid. Why?
“[…]only about 20% of adults who have hearing loss actually use a hearing aid, due to cost (the majority of insurance companies don’t cover hearing aids), medical consultations needed, or embarrassment over wearing them.” (CBS News)
Optimistically, that number may increase since hearing aids have gotten smaller over the decades and technology has improved and that trend should continue. Additionally, as the article points out, the recently-signed Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act will provide newer (and easier) ways for the hearing-impaired to access devices to assist hearing once it goes into effect.
Read the full article and peruse all the useful links here: “Guide to hearing aids.”
It’s been a scorcher of a summer in the Northeast, and I find myself needing to consume far more water to stay hydrated. But according to registered dietician and nutritionist Lauren Minchen I’m still not drinking enough water.
“The exact amounts [of water] vary person to person, but 2 to 4 liters for active adults is a general target range to aim for to stay adequately hydrated, and your needs may vary in that range with changing outdoor temperatures,” Minchen said… However, she said, your water intake will most likely be higher due if you exercise regularly because your muscles require more water to function properly and maintain mass. (Source: HuffPost)
That’s a lot of water? Are you drinking enough water to satisfy your body’s needs?
Amy Shapiro, another registered dietician and nutritionist, offers a simple formula for offsetting summertime sweat and generally maintaining healthy hydration levels.
“It is important to replenish the water we lose when we sweat to prevent dehydration,” Shapiro said. “One of the best ways to accomplish this is to drink water throughout the day and before you actually feel thirsty.”
Shapiro recommends drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water. So if you weigh 180 pounds, you need to drink 90 ounces, or about 3 liters, of water daily. (Source: HuffPost)
So, the skinny is that most of us need to increase our water intake during the hot summer months. And it turns out that aging complicates the equation a little further. According to holistic nutrition coach Andrea Moss, the older we grow, the more easily we experience a hydration deficit.
“Our thirst mechanism gets weaker with age, so getting in a habit of sipping water throughout the day, at every age, is a great idea to be sure we’re staying optimally hydrated,” Moss said. (Source: HuffPost)
Ron Scolamiero of Marshfield, Mass., takes four pills of the prostate cancer drug apalutamide daily. New studies show it is one of two drugs that can stave off pain and the need for chemotherapy. (Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
They are among the most challenging prostate cancer patients to treat: about 150,000 men worldwide each year whose cancer is aggressive enough to defy standard hormonal therapy, but has not yet spread to the point where it can be seen on scans.
These patients enter a tense limbo which often ends too quickly with the cancer metastasizing to their bones, lymph nodes or other organs — sometimes causing intense pain.
Now, for the first time, researchers have results from two independent clinical trials showing that two different drugs help these patients — giving them about two more years before their cancer metastasizes. That means two additional years before pain and other symptoms spread and they need chemotherapy or other treatments. […]
I’ve been hearing lots of buzz about the principal ingredient (and the main coloring agent) in curry. I love curry. So, needless to say, I’m hoping there’s something to the turmeric midlife miracle and that it’s not just another health hype fad.
Long known as the ingredient that gives curry its golden hue, turmeric is now capturing attention for its medicinal qualities. That’s because it contains curcumin, a substance with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It’s been touted as a remedy for everything from everyday digestive ills like heartburn and indigestion to serious conditions like arthritis and cancer. But does this spice really measure up to its wunderkind reputation? (Source: FoodNetwork.com)
While turmeric is said to offer bountiful health benefits, more rigorous scientific studies are needed to better understand how the golden hued powder effects our health.
Recently TIME magazine researched turmeric but were unable to find “any double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials (the gold-standard of medical research) to support its myriad health claims. Many studies also involved conflicts of interest […] like researchers who owned supplement companies and could benefit from sales of curcumin extract.” (TIME)
However, using turmeric to assist in disease management does have a long history and is gaining popularity. Is it worth a try?
Turmeric Consumption Tips:
Is fresh turmeric or powdered turmeric better to use? Fresh turmeric, which looks similar to ginger, is becoming easier to find in grocery stores, but preparing it involved peeling, chopping, grinding, etc. and the dried version is much simpler to work with — also it takes a lot of fresh root to add up to the concentration of the dried powder so its more flavor (and therapeutic effects?) in a the powder than the root itself.
Combine turmeric with fat; it is fat-soluble and needs the fat to activate beneficial nutritional effects as well as flavors. You can combine with whatever fat you prefer: ghee, butter, oils, etc. and store for use when ready to cook.
Combine turmeric with other spices, black pepper specifically has been shown to assist in absorption.
Think outside the box: don’t only use it in curry, but try sprinkling the spice on eggs and roasted vegetables and meats and using it in smoothies and soups. Look online for recipes to try!
Traditionally turmeric has been said to soothe upset stomachs (in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine). While not proven, it is an ingredient in Golden Milk, a popular warm beverage that seems to help solve at least psychosomatic stomach issues. You can make Golden Milk with any milk or a non-dairy equivalent and a mix of spices. Check out a variety of recipes: Golden Milk recipes.
It’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help with sore throats, try adding turmeric to a salt water gargle or tea.
Using Turmeric Supplements
Curcumin, the part of turmeric that has the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, is not easily absorbed by the body. So while adding turmeric to your cooking will give your dishes flavor and may assist in some therapeutic ways — as part of a complete diet utilizing other helpful healthy foods — your body will not be absorbing a lot of it. You may want to consider a supplement if you believe the benefits are worth it.
“Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory. But to make a real difference, you’ll need to take it in supplement form,” recommends Maggie Ward MS, RD, LDN, Nutrition Director at the UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA.”The general dosage recommendation is 500 mg, 1-3 times a day. Some brands are now using a formula that includes ingredients that have been shown to increase the absorption of curcumin, like black pepper, or liposomes, which are fat molecules that help the gut.” (Source: FoodNetwork.com)
Turmeric Risks
Even though turmeric may be good for digestion, some people can experience GI distress with it and high quantities have been linked to acid reflux, low blood sugar, and other unwanted side effects. If you want to try cooking with it use small amounts to start to test your reaction to it. If you want to attempt using supplements with curcumin talk with your doctor first!
If you’re bound and determined to experiment with curcumin medicinally, [consult] your doctor — especially if you are already on medication — because preclinical studies have indicated it might change how other medications you use are metabolized in your body. (NBC)
Suggested Reading
Check out the additional sources below for more tips on utilizing turmeric in your diet and for more information and opinions on how beneficial it really is for your health:
“Loss of muscle begins in your 30s but gains momentum when you hit 50 and accelerates even more rapidly in your mid-70s. The good news is that muscle loss and loss of strength can be slowed considerably in most cases and even reversed in some, regardless of age or fitness level. A 1994 study even showed that people could gain muscle in their late 90s.” (CNN)
Although everyone faces deteriorating muscles as they age there are ways to fight that loss. The best ways to counteract aging’s effect on our body’s musculature include:
Strength Training: Be sure to train appropriately, which involves choosing the right weight/resistance levels, exercising different muscle groups, and allowing adequate rest time between sets and sessions. Do proper research and/or hire a trainer or physical therapist to help you start.
Eating enough protein: Protein provides the building blocks for muscle and stimulates its growth, and as one gets older the quality, quantity and distribution of protein throughout the day becomes more important.
Reducing sedentary behavior: Pursue hobbies/activities that involve movement, etc.
Regular cardiovascular exercise: This helps prevent weight gain, which can be detrimental to health in many ways.
Maintaining good vitamin D levels: Get checked by your doctor and take supplements if necessary. Vitamin D has been shown to aide muscles.
For more information and details about the right combination of diet and exercise described above that can assist in slowing muscle loss and diminishing strength read the full CNN article, “How to build muscle as age tears it down.”
Are you using a standing desk to improve wellness and longevity. It turns out that switching to a standing desk isn’t a silver bullet…
“A standing desk is not an automatic ticket to better health. As Joan Vernikos, author of Sitting Kills and a former NASA Life Sciences director, discovered in her research on the stresses imposed by microgravity environments, uninterrupted standing can be as bad as sitting. Ideally, you’d switch between the two…
The simplest thing you can do is place a footrest under your desk where you can prop one leg while you stand. Vernikos recommends switching legs often, because ‘”the body needs stimulation through a change signal.'”
So simply using a standing desk isn’t the solution to the body’s inactivity during that stationary work. One must become active periodically no matter if one is sitting in a chair or standing at a desk.
The trial’s results are now the first solid confirmation that lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of both mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a degree of brain decline that’s considered the gateway to dementia, and probable dementia. […]
