Low Physical Activity in Today’s Youth May Mean Increased Dementia Rates in the Future

@kidsfitnessmiami

Women who are physically active at any point over their life have lower risk of cognitive impairment in late-life compared to those who are inactive, but teenage physical activity appears to be most important, according to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

There is growing evidence that people who are physically active in mid- and late life have lower chance of dementia and more minor forms of cognitive impairment in old age. Early life physical activity and the relative importance of physical activity at different ages has not been studied as much.

Researchers led by Laura Middleton, PhD, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada, compared the physical activity at teenage, age 30, age 50, and late life against cognition of 9,344 women from Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Pennsylvania to investigate the effectiveness of activity at different life stages.

Of the participants, 15.5%, 29.7%, 28.1%, and 21.1% reported being physically inactive at teenage, at 30 years, at 50 years, and in late life respectively. 

When physical activity measures for all four ages were entered into a single model and adjusted for variables such as age, education, marital status, diabetes, hypertension, depressive symptoms, smoking, and BMI, only teenage physical activity status remained significantly associated with cognitive performance in old age.

“Our study shows that women who are regularly physically active at any age have lower risk of cognitive impairment than those who are inactive but that being physically active at teenage is most important in preventing cognitive impairment,” said Middleton.

The researchers also found that women who were physically inactive as teenagers but became physically active at age 30 and age 50 had significantly reduced odds of cognitive impairment relative to those who remained physically inactive. 

Middleton added, “As a result, to minimize the risk of dementia, physical activity should be encouraged from early life. Not to be without hope, people who were inactive at teenage can reduce their risk of cognitive impairment by becoming active in later life.”

There is evidence to suggest that physical activity has a positive effect on brain plasticity and cognition and in addition, physical activity reduces the rates and severity of vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, and type II diabetes, which are each associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment.

Once again, our platform, educated aging - physical, emotional, financial - comes into play. Look through our hundreds of post and spot the word exercise. It's never to late to start a program.

Even Affluent Misunderstand Retirement Savings (VIDEO)

Even Affluent MisUnderstand Retirement Savings

A Harris Poll released by Nationwide Financial surveyed individuals who have at least $250,000 or more in household assets and plan to retire by 2020. Respondents reported health care costs as a major concern. 

73 percent of those nearing retirement reported out of control health care costs as one of their top retirement fears, and nearly 1 in 5 reported being fearful of declaring bankruptcy as a result of health care costs.

Most underestimated the average annual health care cost thinking they would need $5,621 annually, while the national average is $10,750.

“One reason people may underestimate the amount of money needed to cover their health care costs in retirement is that many workers do not think they will ever need long term care… Americans also mistakenly believe that Medicare covers long term care – it does not.” said Kevin McGarry, director of the Nationwide Institute for Retirement Income.

 A USA Today / AP Article lists these tips for preparing for retiree health care costs. If you review this blog, you will know that these are common themes we have stressed over the years.

1. Developing a retirement spending plan. AARP and others offer a retirement calculator to help you estimate retirement costs and determine how much you should save.

2. Buy disability insurance. 9% of workers have already withdrawn money from retirement savings, sold assets or borrowed money for a serious illness or medical procedure. Coverage will replace at least a portion of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. Think the duck.

3. Consider long-term care insurance.

4. Get healthy. One of the most effective tips may be one that many workers have figured out on their own. More than half of the workers surveyed by Sun Life said they are trying to improve their health by dieting, getting more exercise or quitting smoking because they're worried about future health care costs. 

You may want to check an earlier post in regards to the last one. What we say and what we do are at odds with each other. 

Cirillo to Present at National Summit on Perspectives in Nutrition and Aging

Senior hunger is an issue seldom talked about. Yet 8.3 million seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010. We will have a future blog on this in detail. But because of our attention to this issue, I was asked by Meals on Wheels to submit a perspective on senior hunger outlining a possible solution.

To my delight, my perspective, “Uniting the Continuum of Care” has been selected for presentation at the Perspectives in Nutrition and Aging: A National Summit being held on August 23, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland.

Want a preview of what I will do live?

Here is the video.

Meals on Wheels has found that 6 million seniors face the threat of hunger. Their goal is to match that number – with 6 million people who are willing to stand up and pledge to do what it takes to end senior hunger. Take their pledge and get involved.

Contact your local program to deliver or prepare a meal. Meals On Wheels volunteers also provide the seniors they serve with companionship and a warm, friendly smile when they arrive at the door.

Centenarian Infographic

Via: TermLifeInsurance.org

Cardiac Rehab Can Improve Muscle Strength

Researchers took muscle biopsies from 60 heart failure patients and 60 healthy study participants. Then, half of the participants in each group were randomly assigned to four weeks of supervised aerobic training or no exercise. After the exercise intervention, researchers conducted another round of muscle biopsies.

Investigators found that heart failure patients 55 and under increased their peak oxygen uptake by 25%, while those 65 and over increased it by 27%. What's more, younger and older heart failure patients increased muscle strength after the four-week exercise regimen.

"Many physicians — and insurance companies — still believe that cardiac rehabilitation does not really help in old age. This study clearly falsifies this belief," lead author Stephan Gielen, M.D., said. “Exercise switches off the muscle-wasting pathways and switches on pathways involved in muscle growth,” he added.

While clearly a study aimed at heart failure patients, nonetheless, it still shows that aerobic exercise cam improve lung function and quality of health and life. Of course, as we say, show this to your doctor before embarking on a program.

Alzheimer's and Exercise

Individuals with higher levels of daily physical activity may have a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

A study in Neurology was conducted to establish a link between daily exercise and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

More than 700 cognitively aware participants with an average age of 82 were equipped with a wrist actimeter to measure movement.

At the end of four years, twice as many participants in the group with the lowest physical activity developed clinical Alzheimer’s disease, even after applying control measures for sex, age, education, depression and other factors.

So let's just go out on a limb here. Exercise - GOOD.

No kidding. This is what our platform is about - Educated Aging - Physical, Financial, Emotional. How we take care of ourselves today will affect positively or negatively on how we age. 

Anxiety Associated with Arthritis

Anxiety Associated with Arthritis

A new study recommends that older adults suffering from arthritis be screened for anxiety.

The journal Arthritis Care & Research reports that anxiety in arthritis patients — including those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — often is under-treated and undiagnosed.

In analyzing 1,793 individual records from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  investigators found that one third of U.S. adults with arthritis suffer from anxiety or depression.

Additionally, anxiety is twice as common as depression, according to the report.


"Given their high prevalence and the effective treatment options that are available, we suggest that all people with arthritis be screened for anxiety and depression," lead researcher Louise Murphy, Ph.D., said. "With so many arthritis patients not seeking mental health treatment, healthcare providers are missing an intervention opportunity that could improve the quality of life for those with arthritis."

What do you think? It is a pretty wide net to cast to suggest that all arthritis sufferers be screened. And certainly many illnesses can contribute to a poorer mental outlook. So where do you draw the line?
 
Arthritis sufferers weigh in. How is your mental state? Is it affecting your quality of life?

Berry Berry Brainy - Healthier Brains Through Blueberries and Strawberries (VIDEO)

Family Physician the New Healthcare Star (VIDEO)

Berry Berry Brainy - Healthier Brains Through Blueberries and Strawberries

Eat more!
David Bishop Inc.

Eating more sweetberries can keep our brains healthier, according to a new study published in the Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society.

The study, conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Devore with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., suggests cognitive decline can be delayed up to 2.5 years in elderly women who eat more flavonoid and antioxidant-rich berries.

"We provide the first epidemiologic evidence that berries slowed progression of cognitive decline in elderly women," notes Dr. Devore. "Our findings have significant public health implications as increasing berry intake is a fairly simple dietary modification to test cognition protection in older adults."
The research team used data from the Nurses’ Health Study—a cohort of 121,700 female, registered nurses between the ages of 30 and 55 who completed health and lifestyle questionnaires beginning in 1976. Since 1980 participants were surveyed every four years regarding their frequency of food consumption. Between 1995 and 2001, cognitive function was measured in 16,010 subjects over the age of 70 years, at 2-year intervals. Women included in the present study had a mean age of 74 and mean body mass index of 26.

Findings show that increased consumption of blueberries and strawberries slows cognitive decline in older women. A greater intake of anthocyanidins and total flavonoids was also associated with reduced cognitive degeneration.

Researchers observed that women who had higher berry intake delayed cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years. The authors caution that while they did control for other health factors in the modeling, they cannot rule out the possibility that the preserved cognition in those who eat more berries may be also influenced by other lifestyle choices, such as exercising more.

The abstract can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.23594/abstract

World Elder Abuse Day

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In the United States it is estimated that elders lose $2.6 billion or more annually.

The Mature Market Institute has two tip sheets to help make sure your family is protected:
 
Planning Tips: Preventing Elder Financial Abuse for Family Caregivers and Planning Tips: 

Preventing Elder Financial Abuse for Older Adults.

Visit www.maturemarketinstitute.com.

Family Physician the New Healthcare Star

The proportion of Americans 65 and older is projected to increase from 12 percent in 2005 to 20 percent by 2030, according to Family Physicians' Present and Future Role in Caring for Older Patients, which was produced by the American Academy of Family Physician's Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care.

No surprise:

• Family physicians often are the key caregivers for geriatric patients.

• They are caring for more geriatric patients.
• That care presents both opportunities and challenges.

The shortage of family physicians in the United States is documented. There are even fewer physicians certified in geriatric care, just 7,162 certified geriatricians in the United States.

The combination of payment and treatment challenges tends to discourage physicians, residents and medical students from pursuing further training in geriatric care. But adoption of innovative care and delivery models, such as the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) could make it easier for family physicians to meet the needs of their older patients by focusing more on care management and care coordination.

Interestingly, the company we launched in New York, Touchstone Health, had just this model and some 10 years before it was fashionable. We had our own medical director in place and did intense medical management for the senior population. That meant a focus on wellness and prevention, fewer hospitalizations and better coordination. That saved medical costs and also helped the company earn money too. Back then they were affiliated with a Medicare+ Choice plan. Now they have their own Medicare Advantage offering. In fact Medicare Advantage I believe is a precursor to the medical home concept of today.

Still, work is needed. According to a recent poll from the John A. Hartford Foundation, many patients over 65 aren't getting the recommended interventions to maintain their health, Kaiser Health News reported. In particular, the results, which cover a 12-month period, revealed the following shortcomings in seniors' care.

• One-third of older adults said doctors didn't review all their medications.
   
• More than two-thirds of the time, health providers didn't conduct a fall-risk assessment or history for older patients.
   
• 62 percent of seniors surveyed said they were not screened for depression.

All are part of Medicare's annual wellness visit, though more than half of the patients surveyed by the foundation had never heard of the no-cost benefit.

As you plan your healthcare going forward don’t get too bogged down in medical terms like medical homes. Do look for a practice that will help you maintain your health and quality of life, coordinate your care and one which is becoming more sensitive to the needs of an aging population by employing certified geriatricians. 

And you may want to look at Medicare Advantage as one model of care for this. It may take some time for traditional practices to catch up. 

Short-Term and Long-Term Pollution Can Lead to Elder Hospitalizations (VIDEO)

Short and Long Term Air Pollution Can Lead to Elder Hospitalizations

Jeremy Walker

Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to increased hospitalizations among older individuals.

Short-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to spikes in hospitalizations among the elderly for causes ranging from pneumonia to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, less is known about the effects of chronic exposure.

Researchers defined long-term exposure as the average exposure in a Zip code for the 7-year study, and short-term exposure as the difference between the 2-day average exposure and the long-term average exposure.

The researchers then examined Medicare admissions to some 3,000 area hospitals for diagnoses of all respiratory causes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes from 2000 to 2008.

For all causes in areas with high levels of pollution, women were more commonly hospitalized, accounting for 56% of admissions for respiratory conditions, 55% of admissions for cardiovascular disease, 59% for strokes, and 57% for diabetes.

For 13 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from state air quality monitors to compile the State of the Air report. The more you learn about the air you breathe, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make our air cleaner and healthier.

The Power of Vulnerability

I was blown away with this video because it is the essence of what we are doing in healthcare.

Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past ten years studying vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame. She spent the first five years of her decade-long study focusing on shame and empathy, and is now using that work to explore a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness.

She poses the question: How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness?

Wholehearted people exhibit the following:

• The courage to be imperfect.
  
• The compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others, because as it turns out, we can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.
  
• Connection as a result of authenticity. They were willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were and you have to absolutely do that for connection.

They fully embraced vulnerability. What made them vulnerable made them beautiful.

Mastering Self. The first step to compassion. And the first step in what we do with organizations.

Social Security Will Run Out Sooner Than Expected (VIDEO)

When Will Social Security and Medicare Run Out?

The latest versions of the annual Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports were recently released and funding reserves for the overall Social Security program is now expected to run out of money in 2033 -- three years earlier than trustees expected last year.

The retirement part of the program will run out in 2035; the disability program will dry up in 2016, two years earlier than last year's prediction. 

The Medicare trust fund will run out of money in 2024 under current projections. 

As baby boomers approach retirement age, there are fewer workers in the younger generations to pay taxes to support their monthly benefits. That means benefits may be cut benefits by about a quarter across the board when the trust fund assets run out according to experts.

I have tried to make the case here over the years that you must start preparing for aging - emotionally, physically and financially - sooner in life and you cannot expect that current programs will help you. In fact you are better to act as if they will not be there when you start to look at your savings patterns.

The best person to help you is YOU!

Hearing Health - Never Too Early to be Concerned

Can you imagine living in a world where you can’t hear music? What about being unable to hear the dialogue of your favorite movie? Hearing loss is a problem shared by many of all ages, but did you know that hearing loss among seniors is rapidly becoming a growing public health issue?

Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System found that approximately 44% of people suffer from significant hearing loss by age 69…66% by age 79… and 90% after age 80. The number of Americans affected by hearing loss is also expected to shoot up- from about 36 million Americans today to 78 million by the year 2030.

Because of these stats, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s (NYEE) has announced a new hearing health initiative. Their PSA featuring world-renowned trumpeter and composer Chris Botti and composer, singer, author, actor, and activist Sting is embedded here.



The PSA was created to raise awareness about hearing loss, particularly among baby boomers and urges viewers to visit a new educational website about hearing health. Hearing loss can impact our relationships, work, leisure pursuits and even safety. That’s why all adults should take control of their hearing health as soon as possible.

As a musician I can relate to the hearing issue. Fortunately I have not suffered at least yet. I jokingly say I can hear two seniors talking to each other in the last row of a crowded auditorium and then shock them when I recite what they said. On the other hand, my wife says I cannot hear her two feet across the table!

Find out more about hearing health and take an Online Hearing Quiz to learn how healthy your hearing really is.

You can also visit their Facebook page and enter the NYEE’s Favorite Sounds Sweepstakes. Choose to “like” the page by recording your own favorite sounds, and by doing so enter the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes prize is the $5,000-value opportunity for the winner and ten friends to share dinner with Chris Botti at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary’s November 15 fundraising gala.

Weight Loss Surgery Could Be Cure for Diabetes VIDEO

Another Inspiring Video

Break Habits; Age Smarter

The following is a guest blog from George Shaw who has written for a number of health and education blogs for seniors. He currently works for the Texas nursing home website, SeniorHomesTexas.com.

Weight loss goals aren't only for younger generation's New Year's Resolutions, they're also vitally important for people in all stages of aging. A recent study released by UCLA's Neurology Department found that most people over the age of 50 lose .5% of their brain mass every year, and the top three ways to combat brain loss are to:

• exercise regularly (to stimulate blood flow to all parts of your body)
  
• eat plenty of grains (to add healthy fiber for well-rounded digestion)
  
• have creative habits (to stimulate both your brain and your soul)

We’ve all said it. Our goal is to drop extra pounds and get back in shape. Really! Unfortunately, it seems that no matter how much we want to accomplish our weight loss goal, junk food and old habits win out, time to exercise is harder to find, and before we know it, we’ve muddled through another year without attaining those goals and, consequently, it effects other ares of our health. But it doesn't have to be that way.

How to Change Your Habits – And Your Life

If you are really serious about changing those bad health habits and losing extra pounds there are a few things you can do – but it will take some focus. And, you may even need to enlist the help of your family and friends.

1. First, in order to really be able to make progress, you have to decide you are going to make the necessary changes and stick to them. One way to truly be sure that you will stay on course is to write down the changes that you wish to achieve. This will help you in seeing just exactly what you want to do and where you want to end up.
    
2. Next, you need to let your loved ones know that you are serious about making some positive health related changes. This will help in attaining their support and encouragement – and it might also prevent them from offering you unhealthy foods when you are spending time together. In addition, you will likely find a great deal of encouragement and support from them as they will want to see you succeed. Ask them to join you for walks or hikes. Make it a group effort.
    
3. You should also maintain a positive outlook on the new changes you are initiating. Sure, there will times when you get discouraged and the temptation of junk food may seem to get the best of you – but continue to keep your mind focused on the goal you are trying to achieve.

Replace Bad Habits with Good Habits
When making healthy life changes, you will also need to replace former unhealthy habits with better ones. For example, rather than spending time going out for expensive and high calorie meals, it might be better to spend your time cooking healthy food and then taking a nice walk after dinner.

In order to make sure that you maintain your good habits for the long term, you will need to stay committed and consistent. This will entail taking regular daily actions for breaking your former bad habits and subsequently turning around and regularly taking part in more healthy habits.

You could also help to move yourself forward by allowing some type of reward for taking small (but successful) actions towards making the desired changes in your life. It is the continuous daily actions that will help you in not just getting to where you want to go, but keeping you there.

Temperature Rising Can Be Deadly for Seniors with Chronic Conditions (VIDEO)

What really happens when you dial 9-1-1? VIDEO

Temperature Rising Can Be Deadly for Seniors with Chronic Conditions

Probably not a good idea. 

Small rises in summer temperatures may shorten life expectancy for seniors with chronic medical conditions, according to Harvard University School of Public Health researchers.

They studied Medicare data over almost 20 years to follow the long-term health of 3.7 million chronically ill people over 65.

• Each 1° Celsius increase in summer temperatures increased the death rate for elderly with chronic conditions between 2.8% and 4.0%, depending on the condition.
  
• The mortality risk increased the most for those with diabetes.

"The increasing age of the population, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, and possible increases in temperature fluctuations due to climate change, means that this public health problem is likely to grow in importance in the future," warned epidemiologist Joel Schwartz, Ph.D. 

Help your local seniors.

• Visit them at least twice a day and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
  
  
• Seniors may not feel thirsty even when their bodies are low on fluids.  Encourage them to drink plenty of cool water, juice or sports drinks and to avoid beverages with caffeine or alcohol. Alcohol, in particular, increases dehydration.
  
• Take them to air-conditioned places if their residence is hot.  They can also shower or bathe in cool water.  Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness.

Seniors' bodies do not adjust as well as those of young people to sudden changes in temperature. They are more likely to have a condition that upsets the body's normal response to heat and are more likely to take medicines that make it harder for the body to control its temperature and to sweat.

People respond to heat exhaustion in different ways, but the CDC reports that common symptoms include:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin: may be cool and moist
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow

What really happens when you dial 9-1-1?

Last year over 300 million 9-1-1 calls were made in the US.  What if you or a loved one had to call 9-1-1 today?  Would dispatchers know where you were, or what was wrong?  How can you ensure that they can find you and help you quickly?

If an incoming 9-1-1 call is made from a landline, dispatchers are given the phone number and the address.  However, if the call is made on a mobile phone, dispatchers only see the number and a general location (GPS coordinates give a general location).  And if you’re calling from inside a building, they may only get the building location, but not your specific location.

So what information does 9-1-1 need on your incoming call?  Your location to start.  Even if they can’t determine the details of the emergency they know where to send response teams.   But what if you can’t communicate, or have fallen unconscious and the call is silent?  You would want 9-1-1 to have as much information as possible in order to send the appropriate response teams as fast as possible.

But what if you’re not the caller?  What if it’s a child, grandchild, elderly parent or family member with a disability? You would want them to receive the same level of care.  While mobile technology is constantly advancing, 9-1-1 technology has not adapted as quickly.  But there are ways to ensure that you and your loves ones are protected in the event of an emergency.

Smart911 is currently being used in over 20 states in the US for this exact purpose.  The free service allows you to create a Safety Profile of information (through www.smart911.com ) for your family that is made available to 9-1-1 and response teams when an emergency call is made.  The profile can contain as much information as each you would like 9-1-1 to have, and includes specific pieces of data such as individual family members, their photos, medical conditions or medications and rescue notes.  It can include pets or service animals, household details such as bedroom locations or access points and even emergency contacts.  And it solves the problem of locating an emergency call by listing mobile phone numbers along with home and work addresses. 

Once the profile is created, it can be changed or updated at any time and it’s completely private and secure.  The only time anyone, other than the profile owner, can view it is when a 9-1-1 call is made.

This kind of information could make a significant difference in an emergency.  If an elderly family member experiences a heart attack, stroke or other episode, if they dial 9-1-1 and can’t communicate, response teams know where to respond to and have the person’s medical notes so they begin to plan treatment methods in route. 

What if your child went missing?  As soon as you dial 9-1-1, their photo and physical description would be available to teams in the field, saving valuable minutes. 

While out driving one day, you are in a car accident.  You may be knocked unconscious, but your child dials 9-1-1.  They would have your vehicle information and a GPS location of the incident, taking the pressure off of your child to convey those details.       

While this service isn’t available in every city yet, more locations are being added this month.  And you can create your safety profile at anytime.  It is a national system so if you are ever in an area with active service and need to dial 9-1-1, your profile will appear.  If you are a caregiver of another family member, this service can help ensure that if there is an emergency that person will be cared for and you can be notified if and when they dial 9-1-1.

It’s also a good idea to create a profile and have an understanding of the details emergency workers need, and talk to your family about that information so that everyone can be better prepared.  While you can never anticipate an emergency, you can have peace of mind that you are prepared for one.