Healthy Aging: Body, Mind & Spirit

Where you carry your extra weight and dementia

July 31, 2010 on 1:28 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Brain Fitness, Brain plasticity, Depression and aging, Diet and Aging, Health Psychology, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders, Memory loss, Menopause, obesity research, The power of memories, Weight gain | 1 Comment

Here are the results of some studies I find unbelievable:

A new study from Northwestern University’s medical school found it’s not just how much weight you gain, but where it ends up that can affect brain function as women age.

A study of 8,745 women ages 65 to 79 found that those who carried their weight around their hips tested lower on memory, reasoning and other mental skills than women with big midsections. “Obesity is bad, but its effects are worse depending on where the fat is located,” says lead author Diana Kerwin, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

For every one point over the woman’s normal body mass index, or BMI (a measure of body fat based on height and weight), researchers found a corresponding one point difference in the woman’s cognitive test scores compared to women with lower BMI measures. For example, a woman who was 5-foot-5 and weighed 180 pounds with a BMI of 30—five points higher than normal—scored about five points lower on the mental tests than those with lower BMIs. (Calculate your BMI here.)

The study, published this week in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, adds to growing research that links aging America’s expanding girth to a shrinking brain.

A study in May by the Boston University School of Medicine found a link between big bellies and decreasing brain volume in older adults. Smaller brains have been linked to a higher risk of dementia. A 2008 study of more than 6,500 people by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research found that those who had big bellies in their 40s were much more likely to get Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in their 70s.

Hip fat, belly fat

The results of the Northwestern study were surprising because it was the women with hip fat, not abdominal fat, who had a greater decline in brain function, says Kerwin.

For many years, doctors have warned that apple-shaped women with protruding bellies had a higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer and other conditions. That’s because belly fat produces more hormones. Unlike thigh fat, which builds up just below the skin, belly fat is deposited deep into the abdomen, encasing the internal organs, and producing hormones that can cause a variety of problems, including insulin resistance and increased estrogen levels.

For this reason, says Kerwin, “I assumed apples would do worse [in this study] because they had more risk of high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes and that would have an effect on brain function. But I didn’t see that.”

Fat cells produce cytokines, a hormone that can cause inflammation and likely affect cognition, Kerwin says. “We need to find out if one kind of fat is more detrimental than the other, and how it affects brain function,” she says.

Kerwin cautions, however, against over-simplifying the study as “apples versus pears” and ignoring the more important message that “heavier women are at a greater risk of losing brain function.”

But some experts caution against even drawing a causal link between midlife weight gain and dementia in later years.

Barbara Corkey with Boston University’s Obesity Research Center says much of the recent research is “correlational”—meaning it shows that two things are related, but not that one is necessarily causing the other.

“It could be that decreased brain function causes a change in body weight” and not the other way around, she says. It’s even possible that a third, still-unknown factor is affecting both outcomes. “Either way, it deserves to be tested,” she adds.

Molly Wagster of the National Institute of Aging also agrees that this is a complicated subject. She noted that the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging this year found that obesity “is most strongly associated with declines in memory,” but scores on other tests, such as visual-spatial function, were improved.

“Maybe obesity affects the brain in selective ways. It’s not entirely clear,” she says. But while we wait for more definitive research to be done, one piece of advice is still clear, she says. “We need to be vigilant about not putting on weight in midlife.”

Calcium supplements and heart risk

July 30, 2010 on 6:43 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Diet and Aging, Heart disease, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders, Strong bones/Osteoporosis | 1 Comment

Before you pop that calcium supplement today, you might want to consider this news. A new analysis out in the British Journal of Medicine says calcium supplements may increase your risk for heart attack by 30 percent.

Calcium supplements have become so common among those 50 and older, because they seemed to be a simple way to improve bone density and help guard against fractures for both genders. The researchers suggest that while the increased risk is small, the widespread use of calcium supplements makes it a pretty big deal.

“Even a small increase in incidence of cardiovascular disease could translate into a large burden of disease in the population. The risks outweigh the benefits,” according to Professor Ian Reid at the University of Auckland, who headed up the analysis team.

The analysis also suggested that supplements might slightly increase hip fractures and have only a modest overall effect on reducing all kinds of fractures. But cardiologist John Cleland of the Hull York Medical School in England told WebMD that the analysis is “concerning but not convincing.” He said he was surprised that there was no increase in deaths, only heart attacks.

The analysis looked at data from 11,000 people pooled across 12 different calcium clinical trials from the last 20 years. They were aged 40 and older. It specifically excluded patients given calcium supplements plus Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk of heart problems, and is being studied separately.

This study did not find an increase in heart attacks among those who boosted their calcium the old-fashioned way, through food. Reid suggests that this could be related to higher blood calcium levels found in supplements, which can lead to hardening of the arteries, which can then cause heart attacks.

“Food remains the best source of calcium. Calcium supplements should only be used when adequate dietary intake cannot be achieved,” a spokeswoman for the National Osteoporosis Foundation said.

The U.S. RDA for calcium for adult men and women is 800 to 1200 mg per day. For those under 50, it’s up to 1,000 mg.

That’s a lot of milk, broccoli, salmon, cheese and sardines!

Those trusty NSAIDS may be hurting your heart!

July 25, 2010 on 4:05 pm | In Back pain, Boomer Health Issues, Heart disease, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders | Comments Off

Those of us who reach for Ibuprofin or other common painkillers to ease everyday aches and pains could be setting ourselves up for a heart attack or stroke someday, according to recent research.

Past studies clearly showed that long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Advil, Motrin and Aleve, to relieve pain can be linked to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke in those who already had heart disease.

But now a study from Denmark reports that short-term use in healthy men and women who take those drugs for minor complaints also raises the risk. NSAIDS like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox), and celecoxib (Celebrex) are widely used to ease the discomfort of everything from arthritis to headaches and muscle strains.

“People should be aware that NSAIDs are not risk-free with respect to the cardiovascular system,” says research fellow Emil Loldrup Fosbøl, M.D., the study’s lead author. In the United States, naproxen and ibuprofen come in both prescription and over-the-counter versions while diclofenac and celecoxib are prescription only.

Recently, Danish researchers tracked more than 1 million healthy Danes from 1997 to 2005. Since low-dose ibuprofen is the only NSAID available in Denmark without a prescription, they could track and compare those who took the drugs, most of them daily for about two weeks, with those who did not. Risks from different painkillers varied widely. Although the percentages of increased risk were large, the actual number of those affected was small. The researchers found:

ibuprofen: A 29 percent greater risk of fatal or nonfatal stroke.

diclofenac: Almost double the risk of death from heart disease.

celecoxib: Results were inconclusive.

naproxen: No greater likelihood of heart-related problems and a slightly lower risk of death, leading the researchers to conclude that naproxen could be a safer alternative to other such painkillers.

The study appeared in the June 8 online edition of the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Do bloggers deserve to make a living?

July 11, 2010 on 4:48 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Health Psychology, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders | 1 Comment

“Freedom of the press is only available to those who own one.”

I saw an interesting cartoon in the paper last week. It showed a beggar on the street holding a cup, with a passerby saying to him, “Get a blog!” This I found very unfunny. First of all, I don’t find beggars funny. Second, I know now from two and half years of experience that a blog will cost you much in time and resources, and certainly not feed you.

I joined the blogging craze in late 2007 for one reason. I felt like I had something important to say and no one in the mainstream media would listen. It seemed that most of the important issues facing those in midlife were being ignored by the press because they weren’t sexy. Case in point, I did extensive research to pitch an article on the death of a parent. I offered this story to many magazines directed at those in our age group. The response, when I received one, was “too depressing.”

Yes, the death of a parent can be depressing, but it is also what we will all face if we haven’t already. That is one of the reasons I believe blogging became popular, to fill in the gigantic gaps in media coverage, and talk about those subjects that were being censored by the big media outlets.

Blogging has come a long way since it began. Many have added ugly, flashing ads to their blogs to make a small amount on their efforts. I chose to avoid this apparent lack of taste. However, I don’t know how much longer I will provide free news and commentary through my blogs.

Apparently blog audiences believe everything should be free on the internet. Why not? However, there is an economic reality here. How many of you now work for free? How long can a labor of love sustain itself on nice comments and high readership?

In addition to this blog, I have put together useful products in many different formats to meet the needs of my readership. I provide life change coaching and have written three books now for those who want to go beyond my blog, in dealing with the many difficulties of changing something important in midlife. Going by my page-view statistics, I decided to provide a step-by-step workbook on how to change your life and, most recently, what to do if you feel like a loser.

Is it really impossible to “monetize” a blog? Must I now conclude that you only want free information online? If so, this leaves me with the difficult quandary:

Should I continue this blog?

Anticancer: A book review

July 8, 2010 on 2:03 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Breast cancer, Death and dying, Depression and aging, Diet and Aging, Health Psychology, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders, obesity research, Preventative screenings, Weight gain | 1 Comment

If you have any interest in learning more about how cancer works and how to stop it in it’s tracks, go read this book by an MD, Ph.D. who has been there and done that, twice!

Dr. David Servan-Schreiber has had two brain tumors, ample real life experience to do all the research it takes to fully understand all of the ins and outs of the most up-to-date information on cancer.

In addition, I love the way he intertwines his own personal story and learning curve on cancer with the latest research available. His first discovery of a tumor in his brain set him on a path of intellectual and spiritual growth which he traces in this excellent, well-written tome.

Well worth reading for those who have had cancer and those who have not.

Want to find happiness today?

July 3, 2010 on 2:43 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Health Psychology, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders, Loneliness, Transforming negative thought patterns | 2 Comments

Then go have a deep and meaningful conversation with someone you like!

New research shows one essential element to a happy life is meaningful conversations. Greater well-being comes from spending less time alone, and more time talking meaningfully to others.

Researchers at the University of Arizona found the happiest participants in their studies spent 25% less time alone, and 70% more time talking to someone they enjoyed. They found deep conversations may give a sense of meaning in interactions with others.

I find it to be such a positive experience to make a new friend. I love finding ways our lives are parallel, and the many new ways we can relate. I LOVE hearing other peoples’ stories!

New research on the medical benefits of cannabis (THC)

July 1, 2010 on 2:07 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Brain plasticity, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Death and dying, Depression and aging, Diet and Aging, Health Psychology, Improvements in health care, Learning from our elders, Transforming negative thought patterns, Weight gain | 1 Comment

Recently I visited a legal medical marijuana shop in my town. It was an eye-opening experience. I thought, “Now I’ve seen everything!” I was astounded to find every form of cannabis available for sale.

New research is showing the medicinal properties of THC go far beyond soothing pain and nausea. Scientists are now testing cannabis and its derivatives against a host of diseases.

“The scientific literature now brims with potential uses for cannabis that extend beyond its well-known abilities to fend off nausea and block pain in people with cancer and AIDS. Cannabis derivatives may combat multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory conditions, new research finds. Cannabis may even kill cancerous tumors.” (July 19th, Science News)

Wouldn’t it be a shame if we’ve missed out on curing cancer all these years, only because of the government’s suspicions about marijuana? I think it is high time we all open our minds to the medicinal benefits of drugs like THC, to the benefit of everyone.

This is your brain on computers….

July 1, 2010 on 1:56 pm | In Boomer Health Issues, Brain Fitness, Brain plasticity, Health Psychology, Memory loss, The power of memories | Comments Off

Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information.

These play to a primitive impulse to respond to immediate opportunities and threats. The stimulation provokes a dopamine response that researchers say can be addictive. In its absence, people feel bored.

Learn more about your brain on computers here!