Centenarian Infographic

General Posted by anthony Date June 26, 2012

Cardiac Rehab Can Improve Muscle Strength

General Posted by anthony Date June 25, 2012

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 ÛÓ and insurance companies ÛÓ 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. ÛÏExercise switches off the muscle-wasting pathways and switches on pathways involved in muscle growth,Û 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

General Posted by anthony Date June 22, 2012

Individuals with higher levels of daily physical activity may have a decreased risk of developing AlzheimerÛªs.

A study in Neurology was conducted to establish a link between daily exercise and reduced AlzheimerÛªs 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 AlzheimerÛªs 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.åÊ

Anxiety Associated with Arthritis

General Posted by anthony Date June 20, 2012

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 ÛÓ including those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis ÛÓ often is under-treated and undiagnosed.

In analyzing 1,793 individual records from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),åÊ 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?
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Arthritis sufferers weigh in. How is your mental state? Is it affecting your quality of life?