ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

From Jodi Lipson

AARP members planning to celebrate their last night in Las Vegas at one of the city's 5-star steakhouses were urged to reconsider in a session entitled "Forget What You Hear in the News: Learn the Latest Scientific Findings on Diet and Cancer."

Dr. Arthur Schatzkin of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute for Health presneted results from a study co-sponsored by AARP and the NIH -- the largest study ever of the impact of diet on the health of people 50 and older.

The size of the research--AARP had to rent a warehouse to store the half a million questionnaires--is allowing the researchers tease out, say, whether obesity might impact esophageal cancer (yes) and brain cancer (more so if you're obese when you were 18 and under). And the results leave no doubt: consumption of red meat increases all sorts of cancer.

On the good news side: the study confirms that 5 hours of vigorous exercise a week will extend your life-- with whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables, and the Mediterranean diet reducing the risk of cancer.

From Bernard Ohanian

Dr. Pepper Schwartz, AARP's new expert for love and relationships entertained a crowd of serveral hundred people in the aptly named Casanova ballroom with a talk about sexuality and health that was frank, inspirational, and funny.

Schwartz, the author of 16 books and a professor of sociology at the University of Washington, hammered home her point about the importance of a good sex life. buttressing her arguments by citing numerous academic studies. At various points throughout the presentation, she said:

• "Sex is a lifelong gift."


• "We are meant to have sex frequently to keep us bonded."


• "If you don't have sex you're not taking care of your physical and mental health."


• "Frequent sex adds years to your life."


• "Sex makes us live longer and live healthier."

"This is not," she reminded her audience, "a trivial topic."

While acknowledging that "sex gets trickier with age," she also dismissed as a "myth" the idea that we outgrow our need for sex as we get older. "We can love forever," she said. "We can be passionate forever."

She also gave a sneak preview of some of the results of the 2009 AARP sex survey, which will be released soon. One of the results, she said, made her sad: People aged 45 and older spend less time hugging and kissing than they did in 2004, the last time such a survey was taken. "Let's fix that," she told her laughing audience at the end of her presentation. "Turn to the person next to you, and give him or her a big hug."

The crowd, warmed up by her hour-long discussion of the importance of touch, needed no more urging.

Check out this WSJ article about getting older as an athlete. The author talks honestly and openly about his passion for competition, and how he had to come to terms that trying to come in first at 50 could be risky to his health when his doctor found an aneurysm in his aortic root. So that led him to do more research:

"'The no-pain-no-gain mentality suggests that you can keep making gains if you just work harder,' says Mark Allen, a 51-year-old athletic coach once known as the world's fittest man for winning six Ironman Triathlon World Championships. As co-author of a new book called 'Fit Soul, Fit Body,' Mr. Allen argues against fighting age with more hours on the treadmill. 'If you can't let up on the competitive part of it, if you have to go as fast at 50 as you did at 20, you will grind yourself into the ground and become stressed out, bitter and unhealthy,' he says."

So while recognizing that older folks are and can be physically active (and competitive!), we have to take care ourselves first and foremost - and sometimes that means not being the very best.

It's about you.

AARP's John Rother takes to YouTube to explain why AARP cares about reforming health care.

Watch:

I saw these two articles promoted on the "Moderate Voice" and thought I'd share them. Both give great overviews of the state of the health reform debate. I'd highly recommend them for people looking for some easy primers on what is at stake and some factual information - rather than emails filled with myths and untruths. Both articles ratchet down the rhetoric and give some solid summations of the legislation and controversial pieces of the debate.

Wall Street Journal - "Ten Questions on the Health Care Overhaul"
"It is crunch time for health care. Lawmakers who are trying to fundamentally remake one-sixth of the U.S. economy say this might be the most complicated legislation they have undertaken.

Here are some basics that everyone can grasp -- and probably ought to, because the health bill, if it passes, will affect almost everyone."

Read more here - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124812571962066393.html

New York Times - "A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform"
"Each side hopes to win ground by boiling down one of the most complex policy discussions in history into digestible nuggets. For beachside viewers who might be more interested in iced-tea service than fee-for-service, here is a guide to the main fight points."

Read the entire piece here - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/health/policy/10facts.html?_r=2&sq=health%20care%20reform&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=all

In addition, in the wake of the debate and comments over the potential "demise" of the public option, there is a nice analysis of the situation by Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight at http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/08/life-after-death-of-public-option.html

And finally - have you seen AARP's commercials on television? If not, you really really should. Watch them on Youtube and leave us your thoughts and comments below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNrUAve-opU

See all the ads (tv, print, online and even listen to the radio spot) at:
http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts_campaign

Take a look and let us know your thoughts.

There is a great website out there called "Politifact.com" - take a look at http://www.politifact.com. They are a non-partisan and fact-based organization dedicated to illuminating the truth (or untruth) of statements politicians and other make on television, print and in other settings. Just as you might go and check an urban legend on snopes.com, we'd recommend checking things out on this Pulitzer prize winning site as well when you receive something via email or other source and you wonder about the accuracy of the statement.

Here are a few items Politifact.com is currently taking the time to research:

Obama Claims Endorsement From AARP:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/aug/12/obama-claims-endorsement-from-aarp/

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/12/barack-obama/obama-goes-too-far-when-he-says-health-reform-bill/

Obama would have government require a centenarian to get a pill, not a pacemaker:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/03/dan-lungren/lungren-says-obama-would-have-government-require-c/

McCaughey claims end-of-life counseling will be required for Medicare patients:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/23/betsy-mccaughey/mccaughey-claims-end-life-counseling-will-be-requi/

And in case you have the time or the inclination, here is the link to ALL of Politifact's research into statements made on health and health reform. Take a look - there's a lot there: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/subjects/health/

What are you hearing? Tell us! Post some of the myths you're getting in your conversations or email box in the comments section. Or give us your thoughts about why people are resorting to putting forth myths rather than arguing the facts.

Hi - I'm Barry Jackson and I run the online advocacy program here at AARP. You may receive some of the emails I send out. Hopefully you find them useful. We find that these emails are a fantastic way to stay in touch with AARP members and let them know about issues that are timely and actionable.

If your inbox is anything like mine, you're getting a lot of emails about how SCARY health reform is. From allegations about rationing care to wild reports of government-sponsored euthanasia, the rumors just keep getting crazier.

And I've had enough. Enough of the fear-mongering. Enough of the myths and unfounded rumors. Enough of the interest groups twisting the truth to stop health reform.

I'm fighting back - and I'm asking for your help!

Below I've debunked some of the common myths going around. Please join me in forwarding these facts to everyone you know. Print them out and pass them around at your social gatherings and other places where people are discussing the issues of the day. Help get the truth out about reform.

The truth is real reform is at risk because opponents are using scare tactics and slogans to gin up fear and misunderstandings. Don't let that happen.

Let's make sure everyone gets the truth. Forward the message below, share these myths and facts on Facebook if you have an account, or post them on other networking sites. If you're active on Twitter, please tweet the truth now.

******Forward these points to friends and family ******

FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.

Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP's position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we're standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved.

FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.

Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation.

FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.

The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia.

FACT #4: We have not endorsed President Obama's plan.

In fact, we haven't endorsed any plan. We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that AARP has pushed for many years. We're working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans - and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year.

So what is AARP fighting for in health reform?

-Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
-Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
-Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
-Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.

Find out more and take action at HealthActionNow.org.

A new study has found that while the average baby boomer thinks they have above average hearing, their kids think they should get their ears checked.

The study researched 250 older Americans and 250 children of boomers, in which they found that although 72 percent of the older participants believed their hearing was average or better, nearly the same percent of children thought their parents had hearing problems. The kicker is that only 35 percent of their kids have actually told their parents they think they should have their hearing tested.

In other words, while it can be difficult to let your mom or dad know they have a hearing issue, how will they hear you out (no pun intended) if you can't even tell them what the problem is?

This past weekend had a lot of news regarding the how much Americans weigh these days. A new study said that we as a nation are continuing to get fatter as obesity levels increased in 23 states. Another study said that obesity rates are higher amongst adults who have lived with a romantic partner for at least two years than for those who were single or dating.

Still, there are still questions as to how directly being overweight can be tied to poor health. Though the connection may not be direct, there seems to be consensus in the health community that being overweight doesn't help your health in any way.

While we're on the subject of eating, the Nathan's hotdog eating contest took place last weekend. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut held onto the title for America, downing 68 dogs in 10 minutes for a new record. I wonder how eating like this affects your health:

While everyone is thrilled that it's finally summer, it's not as dandy as a lot of older folks will begin to fall ill from the heat. We can't forget that heat can cause serious health problems for older adults. We have some tips on how you can beat the heat:

1. Relax and put off chores and any strenuous activity.
2. Stay indoors during the hottest times of the day.
3. Close your shades to keep out the sunshine.
4. If you do not have air conditioning, stay on the lower-level in your home--heat rises.
5. Check with your local agency for cool places you can go such as libraries and public buildings, or a mall with air conditioning.
6. Wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing and protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses or use an umbrella.
7. Drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty. This helps keep your body cool.
8. Avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
9. If you have a chronic medical condition, talk with your doctor about additional precautions you should take to prevent heat related illness. Some conditions and medications may place you at higher risk.
10. Neighbors, friends or family should check in on older people in their homes to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.

So get away from the blazing sun and into some healthy, heat-free summer fun!

So President Obama has taken to the road to promote health care reform. Along the way he held a town hall meeting in Green Bay Wisconsin where he got an interesting request. His questioner mentioned bringing his daughter to the event, causing her to miss the last day of school. In response, President Obama offered to write a letter to the girl's teacher to excuse the absence. In fact, the President did write the note which is pictured above. You can see the exchange right here:

The American Journal of Medicine just released a new study which seems to show a steady decline in healthy lifestyles amongst middle-aged Americans. In comparing the results of two National Health and Nutrition, one from the 80's and the other from the first half of this decade, the study finds reductions in the amount of middle-aged Americans who exercised regularly, and ate a well-balanced diet. It is thought that the rise of the sedentary lifestyle and more demanding work schedules have contributed to the abandonment of healthy behaviors. The news is particularly troubling because at this point, the health ramifications of a poor diet and lack of exercise are well known.

Science Daily recently had an article on the health benefits of dancing. And I'm not talking about being a professional dancer either; social dancing may help older adults not only stave off sickness, but actually counteracts declines associated with aging:

Recommendations include the expansion of social dance provision for older people in order to aid successful ageing and help older people enjoy longer and healthier lives.

Jonathan Skinner, Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the School of History and Anthropology at Queen's, studied the effects of social dancing amongst older people in Northern Ireland, Blackpool and Sacramento, USA.

Dr Skinner said: "I have found that social dancing leads to a continued engagement with life - past, present, and future - and holds the promise for successful ageing. It contributes to the longevity of the dancers, giving them something to enjoy and focus upon - to live for. It alleviates social isolation and quite literally helps take away the aches and pains associated with older age.

While this study didn't necessarily have ground-breaking findings, research like this is refreshing to see; there's nothing like a reminder that dancing can be the best medicine a person can have!

AARP has an article with tips on how to get a good night's sleep - after all, studies are showing that getting better sleep means better health. This is important especially these days; too many folks are losing sleep from being stressed about the economy. They talk about the range of health issues that can arise or be worsened by a lack of sleep, as well as ways to ensure you get 7-8 hours per night. Here are a few tips (with details in the article):

• Get a checkup
• Avoid sleep aids
• Practice stress management
• Nix the nightcap
• Time your naps

But speaking of naps, new research has also shown that women who take long naps every day have a larger risk of death. Interesting how nighttime sleep is good for you, but sleeping during the day can be bad. What would make sense is what the AARP piece said - that too much napping can effect the amount nighttime sleep, or just indicate a larger health problem.

In the Wall Street Journal's money/personal finance/investment blog "The Wallet," Kelly Greene reports that health care costs in retirement are sky rocketing...and the going rate for health care costs are as high as $240,000!! She goes on to point out:

"A 65-year-old couple who retires this year will need about $240,000 to cover their medical expenses in retirement, according to Fidelity Investments research released this week.

"Keep in mind that this eye-popping number is a lifetime estimate and assumes that the couple has no employer-provided retiree-health-care coverage, since many companies are phasing out that benefit. It also assumes life expectancies of 17 years for the husband and 20 years for the wife after retirement."

So what's a guy or gal to do? Experts Greene spoke with advised keeping yourself and your partner in tip top shape no matter your age. So whether it's that diet you've been thinking about, grabbing a walking partner, quitting smoking or heck, training for a marathon now is as good a time as ever to start thinking about your long-term health.

While grandma may have told you, "Eat carrots! They're good for your eyes!" as a child, this isn't actually the case, says the American Dietetic Association. In other words, carrots won't necessarily improve your vision, AARP reports.

It also won't reverse damage done to the eyes, and it won't cure macular degeneration. (The number one cause in poor vision in Americans over 65.) However, it may help slow the process. For more info on macular degeneration, check out this AARP Magazine piece on newer treatments.

In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with eating carrots anyway - they're still good for you! (And one of the yummier vegetables out there, in my humble opinion.)

A new study from the Yale School of Public Health has some interesting ramifications. The study measured people's attitudes toward older folks. Thirty years later, the study went back and checked on the health of the people who they had spoken with earlier. The findings were pretty interesting: those participants who had lower opinions of older people or believed negative stereotypes were almost twice as likely to suffer heart troubles or a stroke as those respondents who exhibited more positive beliefs about older people. Really makes you think doesn't it?

Over the weekend, USA Today gave AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen the chance to highlight some of this year's most interesting and important health news and research. In her Special Report on Health, she references research on preventing medication mix-ups, using space technology to improve balance and prevent falls in older Americans, the ability of exercise to slow the aging process, and even how internet games can help sharpen the mind. With so many depressing stories in the news, it's nice to see a year's worth of health news on ways to live better and longer.

Considering there are only a couple of more days of 2008, this is the time that people start putting together their "best of" lists for the year. And while we didn't necessarily make a "best of," you can guess what we were covering: health. Check out AARP's Top Health Stories of 2008:

• Studies raise questions about benefits and cancer risk of cholesterol drug
• On the drug Vytorin and and its potential cancer risk
• Some good news on cancer trends
• First face transplant in the U.S.
• Public and Congress examines chemicals in kids' products
• As economy decreases, stress increases
• Childhood obesity leveling off after decades of increase
• Some good news for breast cancer survivors
• Statin drug Crestor cuts serious risks

Check out the whole piece for details on each story....

As Monday, December 1st was World AIDS Day, folks have been blogging all week in efforts to raise AIDS awareness. So we say - better late than never!

I found a local piece from NorwichBulletin.com that talks about how while AIDS is assumed by many to be a young person's condition, more older people have the condition than generally thought. Here are some stats just in Connecticut:

Since 1980 through June 30 of this year, the Connecticut Department of Public Health reported 4,800 Connecticut citizens older than 50 living with HIV or AIDS. That represents 37 percent of all cases.

In the first six months of this year, 27 new cases were reported in people older than 50. The highest numbers of new cases were reported in the 40 to 49 age group. The second highest numbers were in people older than 50.

Looking at general U.S. statistics, I found that 42% of diagnoses of HIV in 2006 were of people over the age of 40. So while we remember the loved ones we've lost to AIDS and work towards raising awareness, let's also remember that this condition effects all people - and all ages.

AARP has a piece on this, "Speaking Out for a Ground Once Unheard Of - Aging with AIDS." It's not to miss.

If you're like most people, you're probably looking for ways to save a buck or two. Well the good news is that even in these tough times, there are lots of things you can do to save money without seriously impacting your quality of life. Surprisingly, there are lots of health care choices you can make to save money without compromising quality. For starters, you can always use generic prescription drugs rather than name brands. Also make sure to be aware of any government programs you might be eligible for. You might be surprised to find you can get assistance in paying for medical costs. Being smart in these tough times can really pay off.

This is crazy. New findings on brain cancer has been a huge deal for leading researchers in the field over the last couple of years, and AARP and Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa give us a peek into why exactly this is so important.

Dr. Quiñones heads the Brain Tumor Center at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, where he works on research behind the theory that stem cells adult stem cells act as triggers for brain cancer, yet also act have an "uncanny ability to repair damage to their DNA and are therefore able to withstand standard radiation and chemotherapy treatments." This, in turn, allows the treatment to do its work. Quiñones says:

"We were once taught that brain cells die and can't be replaced . . . We now know that the mammalian brain has the ability to regenerate through adult neural stem cells. What we are exploring--and this is the great leap--is whether normal neural stem cells can lose their ability to self-regulate and become dangerous stem cells that create tumors. We are just beginning to understand this link between stem cells and cancer . . . We have to prove that brain cancer stem cells exist. But I think the potential here is real."

But stem cells might not only cause cancer in the brain; new studies are finding that breast, prostate, colon, pancreas, lung and other types of cancer may grow from adult stem cells. Check out the whole article here.

Well it's official. Summer is over and cooler weather is here to stay. As you work to dig your coat out from the closet and find your winter boots, here's something else to consider: getting a flu shot. With over 143 million vaccines produced this year, the government is urging more people than ever to get vaccinated. There is an especially large push to reach the 50-64 demographic, which rarely gets flu shots in the same numbers as children and the 65 and over crowd. With over 200,000 Americans hospitalized with the flu each year in the US, there's really no reason not to go in and get the shot.

The New York Times reported on a new study showing that a lack of vitamin B12 intake can result in brain shrinkage for older adults.

The research study consisted of 107 individuals aged 73 who all had MRIs to measure their brain volume along with blood tests checking their B12 levels. And low and behold, the group with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume as those with the highest levels. Now that's a big difference.

Yet David Smith of Oxford and lead author of the study says that this doesn't necessarily mean we should be running to the vitamin store; they're waiting for results from a clinical trial which will find out definitively if vitamin B12 actually does prevent brain shrinkage.

We'll keep you posted!

New research paints a grim picture for adults who provide care for their parents. The combined stress from a job, caring for children and also your parents can eventually carry over and negatively impact quality of life. Caregivers often see health consequences in their own lives as a result of the time they dedicate to caring for their parents. Good news though, having a spouse and a higher education seems to reduce stress levels. You can also visit aarp.org for caregiving tips.

Steven P. Smith is our DWF Champ of the Week

Divided We Fail is proud to recognize Steven P. Smith, from Boston, as this week's DWF "Champ of the Week". Steven posted an encouraging message on our Divided We Fail Facebook Fan Page, where he calls on America to "work to assure health and financial security for all."

Thanks Steven for your commitment to DWF and for being an engaging member on our social network pages!

You too could be named Champ of the Week by joining the active discussions on our Facebook and MySpace fan pages! The lifeline of this initiative depends on raising millions of voices and making sure our political leaders hear what America has to say... so get talking!

TAGS: Divided We Fail, DWF, Facebook, MySpace, Steven P. Smith, Boston, health care, financial security, social network, Champ of the week, Champ, politics

Science Daily had a good article today on how while there's (understandably) a lot of focus on the health of obese and overweight men as they get older, being a thin older dude doesn't necessarily mean you're off the health hook.

New research is showing that older, thin men have an increased chance of osteoporosis and bone fractures, particularly those who have had fluctuations in weight.

"Low weight among middle-aged men was related to the risk of osteoporosis three decades later, and this risk was significantly affected by weight changes. Weight increase reduced the risk, whereas weight loss increased the risk," says researcher Professor Haakon E. Meyer from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo.

Not only are studies like this reminding us that we shouldn't just be focusing on the health risks of overweight folk, but also reminding us that men are prone to osteoporosis too. It's no big news that the condition is prevalent in women, and that should obviously be of focus - but let's not forget that fellas can be affected too!

As someone who has to wake up at 5 AM for work, I understand good sleep is hard to come by. We are all guilty of postponing or missing sleep for various reasons, but the more research that comes out, the worse we find it is for the body to miss out on sleep. Well in an interesting twist, it may be dangerous to get too much sleep as well. Some studies seem to indicate that the risk for stroke in older women who get over 9 hours of sleep increases. These women had an even larger risk than those who caught less than 6 hours.