John Fodor’s Health Corner

I’ve written a number of postings on the values of regular exercise (See “A Well-Rounded Exercise Program,” 10/24/07; “Your Exercise Program: Warm-up and Stretching Phases,” 12/13/07); “Your Exercise Program: Endurance Exercises,” 12/18/07; ”Your Exercise Program: Strength Exercises,” 12/22/07 and “Essential Keys to Maintaining Your Health and Vitality;” 5/12/08).

The benefits of exercise described in these postings included:

• Improving sleep habits
• Helping to control weight
• Reducing the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke
• Helping to reduce stress
• Helping to prevent or reduce diabetes, colon cancer and osteoporosis
• Helping to prevent bone and muscle injury due to falls

We can now add another benefit. A number of studies have been conducted in the last few years showing that exercise can help reduce your risk of DEMENTIA and ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

In a study presented in The Lancet Neurology, research evidence suggested that a regular, well-balance exercise program* can help reduce your risk of dementia as well as the more serious Alzheimer’s disease. The study showed that those who are genetically prone to Alzheimer’s disease could see a reduction of about 60%, and those who developed Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia were less likely to have been active when they were middle-aged than those who remained free of dementia.

*(To realize the benefits of exercise, it is generally recommended that a person should have moderate aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes three to five times a week.)

According to the researchers, a primary benefit of individuals who have physically active lifestyles in youth and at midlife might increase their ability of enjoying and participating physical and cognitive activities in later life. Apparently regular exercise benefits the brain by helping to keep small blood vessels of the brain healthy as well as protecting against other conditions that might make dementia more likely, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

It was also suggested that:

Exercise might also reduce the amount of the protein amyloid that builds up in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease.

Physical activity also affects genes and compounds important for maintaining good cognition and memory

People who exercise tend to live healthier lifestyles in general, such as drinking less alcohol and refraining from smoking. Leading A healthy lifestyle - exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet - helps protect against dementia.

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Other links on exercise and Alzheimer’s include:

Annals of Internal Medicine http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/144/2/73

Medical News Today, Exercise Reduces Dementia Risk for Older Adults http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/36250.php

WebMD, Exercise May Cut Risk of Dementia http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20080603/exercise-may-cut-risk-of-dementia

Additional information on risk factors, diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease can be found in:

Fodor, John T. (2007). Maintaining Your Health and Vitality: A Health Guide for Seniors and Their Families. Bangor, Maine: Booklocker.com, Inc.

http://www.booklocker.com/books/3048.html

Adapted from Maintaining Your Health and Vitality: A Health Guide for Seniors and Their Families

by John T. Fodor

“Hormone supplements may not have exactly the same effects on us that our own naturally produced hormones have because the body may process them differently.”

“Increased amounts of some hormones have been linked to cancer and other conditions. We really don’t know how much hormone supplement is too much or too little or whether hormone supplements should be taken at all.”

Since ancient times, mankind has been searching for the fountain of youth. Old legends tell of magic potions that help keep people young. And the search continues today, perhaps with even more zeal. One can not pick up a magazine, read a newspaper or watch television without running across advertisements for supplements of antioxidants, creams, ointments, potions and synthetic hormones that will magically “provide the promise of youth and longevity.” And the search doesn’t end there. Researchers in government agencies and medical institutions also continue to test substances that claim to extend life.

Studies have shown that chemicals in our body, such as antioxidants; deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA); ribonucleic acid (RNA); dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); growth hormones; progesterone and testosterone, do have an affect on our health and the ageing process. Antioxidants produced in our bodies, for instance, help to prevent tissue and cell damage caused by free radicals (metabolic byproducts). These studies have prompted the development of antioxidants in pill form that are advertised as a way of extending life and promoting health. (Aging under the microscope: A Biological quest. http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/AgingUndertheMicroscope/

Such claims, however, have not been substantiated by scientific studies. The fact is that most antioxidant pills are broken down into different substances during digestion and have little or no effect on the body. Recent studies also suggest some antioxidants, such as carotene, can turn into pro-oxidants that stimulate the formation of free radicals and increase the risk of cancer. It has also been shown that high doses of vitamin C can promote cell-destroying free radicals, while low doses reduce or destroy free radicals.

There also have been claims that taking hormone supplements – pills, shots or medicated skin patches- will benefit health and help to prevent aging. Again, there have been no scientific studies that support these claims. In addition using these hormones can result in serious side effects. Increased amounts of some hormones have been linked to cancer and other conditions. We really don’t know how much hormone supplement is too much or too little or whether hormone supplements should be taken at all.

Another problem associated with taking hormone supplements is that they are sold as nutritional supplements and the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate them as drugs. In addition, because some hormones are sold as nutritional supplements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate them as drugs. The rules controlling how they are produced and sold are not as strict as the rules for drugs. Labels on the containers of such supplements do not have to include important health information as do other substances.

What does the National Institutes on Health (NIH) have to say about using hormone supplements or other anti-aging remedies?

(1) The NIA does not recommend taking supplements of DHEA, growth hormone, or melatonin, because not enough is known about them. People who have a genuine deficiency of testosterone or human growth hormone should take them only under a doctor’s supervision.

(2) The NIA does not recommend taking any supplement as an anti-aging remedy, because no supplement has been proven to serve this purpose.

(3) The NIA does recommend that you talk to your doctor to make sure that over-the-counter supplements will not interfere with other medications you are taking and that they will not affect any medical conditions you may have.

(4) Hormone supplements may not have exactly the same effects on us that our own naturally produced hormones have because the body may process them differently.

(5) High doses of supplements, whether pills, skin patches, or shots, may result in higher amounts of hormones in the blood than are healthy. This can cause any negative effects of even the body’s own hormones to increase. (See Pills, patches, and shots: Can hormones prevent aging? <http://www.niapublications.org/tipsheets/pills.asp>.

BETTER WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY AND LIVE LONGER

While there are no known or proven treatments, drugs, or pills that can slow aging or extend life, we can improve our chances of staying healthy and living longer by:

· Eating a balanced diet, including at least five helpings of fruits and vegetables a day

· Exercising regularly

· Maintaining a healthy weight

· Having regular health checkups

· Not smoking

· Staying active through work, hobbies, and recreation

· Avoiding overexposure to the sun

· If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation

For additional information about substances that claim to extend life see:

FODOR, JOHN T. (2007). MAINTAINING YOUR HEALTH AND VITALITY: A HEALTH GUIDE FOR SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, CHAPTER 1. BANGOR, MAINE: BOOKLOCKER.COM

Buy The Complete Version of This Book at Booklocker.com:

http://booklocker.com/pdf/3048s.pdf

HEY - GETTING OLD MAY NOT BE SO BAD AFTERALL

Let’s face it; we all age, some of us more gracefully than others, some grudgingly and some bitterly. There are of course a few more aches and pains as we get older, our energy level may fall a bit, we may not be as agile or as strong as we were when we were younger, we may tire more easily and we may not be as sharp mentally as we once were. But if you think about it, there can be a lot of good things that happen as we age.

We generally have more time to relax and enjoy our surroundings.

We can enjoy doing things that we did not have time to do when we were younger.

Many of us are sexually more relaxed, and can still enjoy an active sex life.

We do not have the stresses of making a living and raising a family.

Through the years we have learned more about ourselves and have a better perspective of life.

We do not have to prove our worth to anyone else as we did when we were younger.

We are generally more confident and don’t have to “keep up with the Jones’.”

We know better what it takes to satisfy ourselves.

We have a greater capacity to give and receive love.

We have learned to appreciate those around us.

Most importantly we have learned how to take more responsibility for our health.

And the good news is there are a lot of things we can do to help maintain our health and vitality throughout the years of our life.