ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Are you getting all the medical screenings that are recommended for you? An article from U.S. News and World Report posted yesterday discusses a report (prepared by the CDC, AARP and AMA) that says only 25 percent of adults age 50-64 are getting recommended preventative health screenings - such as those for cancer and cholesterol levels. Since middle aged adults are the most likely to develop chronic diseases, these preventative measures are all the more important. Check out the article - it also talks about model programs and strategies that can help to ensure adults are getting the right screenings at the right time.

Here is a story from the New York Times "Generation B" feature - it says that a recent study shows that when it comes to job searching in this tough economy, "baby boomers have persevered in these hard times, and are less likely to grow discouraged and quit the job hunt than younger workers are." And they say the young kids have all the energy...

One final story to leave you with before the weekend is a bit of good news. The AP reports that if you've left your retirement account alone for the past year and have a good mix of stocks and bonds...you're in pretty good shape! Fidelity Investments reported yesterday that the average account balance is up 13% by the end of the third quarter from the end of the prior quarter. It's just like they say...investing is a long term venture, so "tinkering" because of short-term fluctuations in the market is not wise.

Have a good weekend!

I found this article from the New York Times today particularly interesting. It's about doctors asking the right questions of their patients, and taking the time to understand a patient's history - rather than just "checking the right boxes." The author tells a seemingly negligible story of a patient calling about a headache - but by asking the right questions, the doctor on the line saved the life of that patient, who was suffering from a rare postpartum condition.

The article discusses how doctors these days pay more attention to their charts than to their actual patients. What do you think? Have you had any experiences with hospitals or doctors like the ones in the article?

AARP made blog news on ConsumerReports.org - check out the posting to see how you can volunteer for AARP's Tax-Aide program. By doing so, you can learn a lot about preparing your own taxes and help out your fellow citizens! Application deadline is December 11th.

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.

Want to stay brain healthy? Our friends on the Brain Health page of AARP.org offer 50 ways to stay healthy between the ears. A number of the recommendations involve feeding your noodle Omega 3s (I'm looking at you, walnuts!). One recommendation involves playing video games. According to a new study, one game in particular, Tetris, may be particularly conducive to good brain health.

Researchers at the Mind Research Network today announced the findings of a scientific study that used brain imaging and Tetris to investigate whether practice makes the brain efficient because it increases gray matter. Over a three-month period, adolescent girls practiced Tetris, a computer game requiring a combination of cognitive skills. The girls who practiced showed greater brain efficiency, consistent with earlier studies. Compared to controls, the girls that practiced also had a thicker cortex, but not in the same brain areas where efficiency occurred.

It's about you.

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

Watch:

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.

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?

I recently read this article on USAToday.com about how many older Americans fall each year because of their canes or walkers.

Safely getting around is incredibly important for everyone. Not just for health reasons, but also for connecting to others! Nearly 50,000 older Americans fall each year as a result of improperly measured/fitted canes and walkers, we have to stop and wonder what we can do to fix this problem. Simply stated - talk to your doctor or physical therapist. If you've just had knee surgery and your doctor says you need crutches, ask him/her to see that any equipment is customized for you and you're evaluated as using them properly. Or maybe your parent or loved one just got word that they need to use a walker now - do some research and go with them when they get fitted.

As always, communicating with and understanding instructions from our health care professionals is paramount to our long-term health and well-being.

This afternoon, President Obama nominated Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institute of Health. You might know him from directing the ground-breaking Human Genome Project, or as a recipient of AARP's Andrus Award honoring positive social change.

Be sure to check out AARP Bulletin's fascinating interview with this "guitar-playing, motorcycle-riding geneticist"... and his interview on finding new cures on AARP TV's My Generation. We also sat down with Collins two years ago for Prime Time Radio, talking about the implications of genetic prediction of our future diseases.

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!

While the term "older people and children" is being thrown around frequently in the midst of swine flu cases found in the U.S. (in other words, older folks and kids are in more danger of getting really sick from the virus), new research has led the Center for Disease and Control to announce that people older 60 may actually have a higher immunity to swine flu than previously thought. Via Associated Press:

"The CDC said tests show higher levels of swine flu-fighting antibodies in the blood of older people than in younger ones, probably from exposure to earlier viruses similar to swine flu."

Yet the CDC also says it's not exactly clear how safe older people are from the infection, so please folks, take the same precautions anyone would to avoid the virus and seek our medical attention if you're feeling a fluish!

Chef Nancy Russman shows us how to make a delicious looking -- and healthy -- summer meal. Yum!

Just in time for the summer, experts are saying that sunshine can help older adults reduce their risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

It's all about Vitamin D. While exposure to sunlight stimulates vitamin D in the skin - and considering the fact that many older people have vitamin D deficiencies from the natural aging process - researchers have found that sunshine can increase the level of Vitamin D in the body and decrease the chances of getting metabolic syndrome, a condition of multiple medical and metabolic disorders that cause heart disease and diabetes.

Leading researcher, Dr. Oscar Franco at Warwick Medical School, said that while recognizing the importance of sunlight is significant, he stressed what the core problem is: Vitamin D deficiency.

"Vitamin D deficiency is now recognised as a worldwide concern and metabolic syndrome has become a global epidemic. More research is needed to find out why older people are more likely to have lower levels of vitamin D and how this is linked to the development of metabolic syndrome and related metabolic diseases."

On the other hand, the folks at Bulletin Today gives us some alternatives to getting vitamin D - because while sunlight can be good for you, excessive exposure can cause other problems, like skin cancer. Check it out!

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.)

Oh, how I love yoga. It's a workout for the body as well as the mind - not to mention can be super calming. Who would have thought exercising could be calming?? What's even better is that according to some researchers, yoga can decrease a fear of falling among older adults, a problem that many don't realize is a problem:

Fear of falling is an important public health concern because it can cause older adults -- even those who have not fallen -- to limit their social and physical activity. This effort to avoid falls can create a harmful cycle that can diminish health and quality of life.

But yoga combats this feeling, as well as it literally improves one's balance. To check out yoga basics as well as tips for before you begin a yoga class, check out AARP's review of the practice - it can be very useful for newbies!

While this isn't necessarily good news, I'm sure glad it came out. According to a new study by the Yale School of Public Health, we find that feeding into negative age stereotypes - like the perception that all older people are weak - can have detrimental effects on your health. Via USA Today's blog, A Better Life:

More than 400 people, age 18 to 49, were surveyed on their age stereotypes. Thirty years later, 25% of those with more negative age stereotypes - such as the belief that the elderly are feeble or helpless - had suffered a heart problem or stroke, while only 13% of those with more positive age stereotypes experienced a heart problem or stroke. The study appears in the March issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Becca R. Levy, associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale is the study's lead author. In earlier studies, Levy and colleagues found that negative ideas about age can increase stress and decrease the likelihood that the person will live healthfully, increasing the risk of poor cardiovascular health.

This isn't too surprising, but can serve as a useful reminder to avoid getting sucked into age-old (no pun intended) stereotypes that do nothing but harm mentally and physically.

I've never heard of a better reason to play video games! The Guardian has an article on new study which found that after playing a strategy-based video game, older adults became better at certain mental abilities that tend to decline as people age, like scheduling, multi-tasking and holding two or more things in our short-term memory at one time. Check it out:

The study included 40 adults in their 60s and 70s who hadn't played a video game for at least two years. Half received nearly 24 hours of training on a game called Rise of Nations, which gives players points for building cities, feeding and employing citizens, expanding territory, and creating great works of art, technology and architecture. The other half didn't play or train on any game.

The researchers used several tests to measure each person's mental abilities at the beginning, middle and end of the study. They found that gamers improved in several measures compared with non-gamers. They became much better and faster at switching between tasks. Their reasoning and their ability to hold two or more pieces of information in their memory also improved. They also did better in tests measuring their short-term memory of visual cues and their ability to quickly identify objects that had been rotated.

The study was funded by the US National Institute on Aging, and published in the American Psychological Association's journal, Psychology and Aging. Who knew video games could potentially be good for you? Check out the whole piece for more info.

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....

Influenza infection rates usually peak around February in the United States, so now is an important time to look at some facts about the disease. Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a serious and highly contagious virus that kills more Americans every year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. And while the very young and very old are at the highest risk of serious influenza illness, all of us in the 50+ category should be concerned about this dangerous disease.

The best way to keep ourselves healthy and to protect those around us is to get vaccinated against the flu every year. However, as a physician, I often hear concerns from patients that lead them to avoid vaccination. Let me discuss some of them here.

• Vaccines do not cause the flu. The injected vaccine is made from dead virus and cannot cause influenza. Some people feel aches and even a little fever in the first day or two after vaccination, but the symptoms aren't from the flu-they represent your immune response to the vaccination.

• Influenza vaccines are effective. In younger, healthy adults, the vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing influenza. In older or sicker people, the vaccine is less effective, but can make the disease, if you get it, less severe.

• You can take the flu vaccine any time during the influenza season. Flu viruses circulate until early spring and in fact, cases usually peak in this country around February. It takes about two weeks to be protected after getting vaccinated, so now is a great time to go get a vaccine.

The bottom line? Speak with your doctor today about getting the flu vaccine and speak with your friends and family to make sure they've received the vaccine, too. Vaccinating in December, January and beyond will protect you and your families throughout flu season.

For more information on influenza and prevention, visit www.nfid.org or www.cdc.gov/flu/.

Please share your experiences with influenza and vaccination.

Susan J. Rehm, MD; Medical Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases; Vice Chair, Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic

Our favorite Nanny, Fran Drescher, has been busy lately - she just got back from visiting Europe as the United States' envoy for women's health issues.

Via New York Magazine, we hear she's also interested in that Senate seat Hillary Clinton is leaving open.

Here is a clip from our interview with Fran in our studios awhile back.

You can see more clips and hear the whole interview here.

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.

Oh Richard Simmons...you never go away do you? I was watching holiday-related videos on YouTube (don't tell my boss) and came across Richard doing the holiday hustle while shopping. Amusing? Yes. Annoying? Yes. A reminder to work out this weekend? Maybe!

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.

This isn't good. According to a new study in North Carolina, only about half of older Medicaid recipients are receiving screening tests for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer. Being the largest provider of health insurance for minority populations, all older recipients should be getting the recommended screenings for folks their age.

C. Annette DuBard, M.D., M.P.H., of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, led the study. Because Medicaid recipients are covered for cancer screenings under Medicaid, she found that this is the primary reason why the screenings weren't actually happening:

"Lack of a screening recommendation by the physician, rather than patient refusal of recommended tests, accounted for most instances of screening delinquency . . . Efforts to increase cancer screening rates among Medicaid recipients must address patient, physician and organizational barriers to the routine identification and delivery of preventive services."

While this research was only done in North Carolina, can we predict that the same is happening for the rest of the Medicaid recipients in the country?

A video from Johnson and Johnson Health Channel on YouTube explaining why proper nutrition and diet matters more as we age.

The Washington Post has a piece on how new research is showing that not only can aerobics can slow mental decline in older adults, but can actually reverse it:

Prof. Art Kramer, of the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, says there's substantial evidence showing the benefits of aerobic exercise and physical activity on such executive-control brain functions as task coordination, planning, goal maintenance, working memory and the ability to switch tasks.

As people age, a deterioration of white and gray matter in certain areas of the brain can cause cognitive decline, Kramer explained. He reviewed published research and found that several studies showed that regular moderate exercise that makes a person breathless increases the speed and sharpness of thought, the actual volume of brain tissue, and the way in which the brain functions.

I've been sick the last few days (forgive me for the lack of posting) so when I saw our recent article on Flu shots in Bulletin Today, of course it struck a chord with me.

Who should get a flu shot? While I think anyone working in an office of more than two people should get one, technically, this is the flu shot profile:

• People age 50 and older
• Nursing home residents
• Health care workers
• People with chronic diseases that weaken their immune systems
• People who are in contact with those at high risk for flu
• Children and teens, from six months to 18 years old
• Pregnant women

If you're like me, you don't have time for a doctor's appointment so you can check out senior centers, pharmacies and public clinics in your community for free or low-cost shots.

Happy vaccinating!

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!

AARP.org has a featured article that might not the most pleasurable for your Friday, but is a necessary one to be read. "Going Hungry in America" addresses the harsh reality that many older Americans are facing at a time when food and energy prices are sky-rocketing:

Today, the federal government counts 10 percent of Americans 65 and older at or below the poverty line. But that number may hide a harsher reality, some economists say.

Certainly more are struggling to stay afloat. According to a recent AARP survey, 60 percent of Americans 65 and older are having a tougher time paying for food, gas and medicine. More than 10 percent have been forced to turn for help to families or charities.

Not only are people going hungry, but are cutting back on medicine, which is just not acceptable. You must read the whole article, it's a big wake-up call, and a stark reminder of the crisis that we're all facing.

We were thrilled to have the great sexpert Dr. Laura Berman speak at our AARP Life@50+ member event in D.C. last week, and thought we'd spread the love online. AARP.org has a great article featuring Dr. Berman answering 10 questions to help make love and sex better as you age. Some of the good doctor's wise words on keeping a happy and healthy sex life:

Making it a priority! Too often older people think that great sex is no longer possible...but it is! People can have great sex lives no matter what their ages, as long as they are willing to commit to making it important in their lives.

I second that! The idea that sex isn't for older folks is just bogus; as she also mentions in the article, the older you are, the better sex can potentially be because of increased comfort with yourself and more experience. After all, practice does make perfect!

For more info about the lovely Dr. Laura and her books (one was a New York Times bestseller!), check out her bio.

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!

Dr. Ruth joined us on the exhibit floor of Life@50+ to talk about intimacy and relationship after 50. Among many things (including encouraging the crowd to shout "sex!" in unison) she offered some insight into viagra and other enhancement drugs:

"It's all very well," she remarked about the "little blue pill," "but if your wife's not happy with you, an erection from the floor to the ceiling won't do you much good." Besides, she added, "Women don't want to have sex for 36 hours. They want to go shopping."

But best of all, she reminded everyone that the hardest part of sexuality and aging isn't the physical part of it: "The challenge is saying, 'Look how fortunate we are to have each other. Let's make the best of it.'"

Bob Harper, fitness trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," really got a crowd thinking about weight, fitness and developing a healthy lifestyle.

Bob told a crowd of folks that you only need three things in order to successfully lose weight on your own, and they are the three Rs:

Relax: You can't try to do it all at once. Forget extreme dieting and weight loss. You will set yourself up for failure.

Respect: Stop being down on yourself. You are worth the effort it takes to get healthier.

Resolve: You have the power to change your behavior. You can make healthier choices even in fast-food restaurants. You can get up a bit earlier to add a half-hour walk into your day.

For older people seeking to lose weight, Harper recommends cutting junk food, doing cardio and resistance exercises several times weekly, and adding eating lots of veggies and healthy proteins.

Perhaps most important: Set realistic goals. "It's no good trying to look like those models on the covers of the women's magazines," said Harper. "They don't even look like that."

This isn't too surprising, but is definitely motivation to start running! According to a new study by the Stanford University Medical Center, older joggers were half as likely to die an early death than non-runners.

They also experienced a generally healthier life, and didn't even suffer osteoarthritis or need total knee replacements more so than non-runners. In other words, "running slows the ageing clock." Reseacher Professor James Fries says: "What we found was that if you're a regular, vigorous, long-distance runner or practice other forms of vigorous physical activity for your life, then you'll have a prolongation of the good period of life, that is, the time where you don't have any physical disability," he said.

The research also found that older runners were half as likely to die an early death from conditions like cancer.

It sounds like this doesn't just apply to running either. For those who aren't big runners, there are plenty of other alternatives to stay healthy and fit. Check out AARP's Health and Fitness Ambassador, Martina Navratilova, who can give you tips on how to start an exercise schedule.

Who woulda knew? AARP reports from the International Alzheimer's Conference in Chicago, where research is being highlighted on the effects of being a older and single. While we posted last month on the fact that older single women aren't the sad, old maids that stereotypes often make them out to be, that doesn't mean that not having a partner can't potentially have an effect on your health. In fact, this new research shows that having a partner midlife had a 50 percent lower risk of having dementia later in life. Some more stats:

• People who were single throughout their lives had double the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
• People were divorced and stayed divorced from midlife on had triple the risk.
• People who lost a spouse midlife and stayed single had more than a sixfold risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than their married peers.

What author of the study, Krister Håkansson, asks is a good question: "What is it about being in a couples relationship, whether married or not, that is protective? Is it the cognitive and intellectual stimulation that comes with living in a relationship or is it something related to other things, like social or emotional factors?"

Their guess is that it's a social network of friends and family and lack of isolation, which makes sense considering the fact that people who were lifelong singles were "much better off" than those who were divorced or lost a spouse in midlife. (Lifelong singles are guessed to have a better network of family and friends already established.)

The thing that can be upsetting about these kinds of studies is that it seems as if you almost don't have a choice in what happens to you; you get divorced and don't find another spouse, what can you do then? But rather than seeing this study as some impending doom for dementia, we should see it for what the actual implications really seem to be here: that a strong network of close loved ones is what matters in life.

*Picture from Brand New Images/Getty Images

Everyone knows that eating more fruits and veggies is good for you, right? But, if you're like me, you still don't get enough. Life - and my picky taste buds - always seems to get in the way of advance planning and culinary genius.

That's why I like this new logo that's getting slapped on over a 1,000 products in grocery stores across the country. Anything that has this "Fruit & Veggies More Matters" logo has already met strict nutrition guidelines for fat, sugar, fiber and sodium. Beats trying to do calculations with the complicated nutrition charts on food labels!

Stores that are participating include A&P, Bi-Lo, Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Safeway, Schnuck's, SuperValu, Ukrop's, Wal-Mart, and Weis.

Plus, the website has all kinds of shopping tips, recipes and ways to get the grandkids involved in cooking healthy. Check it out here.

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/

It looks like the wonders of technology may be bringing older folks a shoe that may help them avoid falls. This is not just any old shoe, people - it's an iShoe.

Erez Lieberman of MIT actually originally created the shoe as an experiment for astronauts with balance issues after returning home from the weightlessness of space life. But after Lieberman's grandmother had a bad fall, he realized that the invention could serve as a "balance diagnostic" to assist doctors and patients prevent falls before they occur.

Essentially what the shoe does is use its insole to measure the pressure of the foot and report it to a person's doctor, and in extreme cases, report an alarm when a fall actually occurs. But for the most part, this awesome tech shoe will serve as a warning so that future falls can be detected, and avoided. And considering that falls are a leading cause of death for people over 65, we'll be welcoming the iShoe with open arms.

Via Gizmodo.

The New York Times had an interesting piece awhile ago on a heated debate about the fact that women in their 80s and 90s aren't being urged to get mammograms on a regular basis:

As with most cancers, the risk of breast cancer increases with age. Yet while doctors tell women to have annual mammograms after age 40, they often advise 85-year-olds to go two or even three years between scans.

The problem, doctors say, is too little data. Large clinical trials, including those that have found that mammography saves lives, tend to focus on younger people and exclude the very old.

A recent study that tried to assess the usefulness of mammography among 80- and 90-year-olds found that very few women in this age group, 22 percent, underwent regular screenings for breast cancer, but that those who did were more likely to find the cancer early enough to avoid a mastectomy and survive at least five years.

The question is raised whether breast cancer screenings should really be a large focus when there are other more common physical conditions at that age to be looking out for, like heart disease or chronic pain. But considering the fact that two-thirds of people over 85 are women, some are saying it's just as important.

Another issue raised is that women over 74 years old haven't been studied in clinical trials on mammography, so organizations setting guidelines for older women have to use potentially inaccurate information because it's coming from research with younger subjects. In other words, the actual process of getting a mammogram or a biopsy may be a risk for women older than 80, particularly if they have other conditions like dementia or heart disease.

Check out the whole article, the read is worthwhile.

Knowing first hand the benefits of yoga, I didn't need to read "Yoga: At the Heart of Fitness" from a recent AARP Bulletin Today to know how great yoga is for me - mind and body. But after years of people poking fun at "that stretching thing," it is reassuring to have my feelings about the benefits of yoga confirmed by science. A recent study at Emory University measured the effects of a regular yoga practice on older adults with chronic heart failure. In just eight weeks, the subjects improved their ability to withstand the stress of physical activity and increased their body's ability to use oxygen efficiently. Most importantly, the participants reported having an enhanced quality of life. And that's what it's all about - quality of life. So give yoga a try or, if that's not for you, take a look at these other healthy living tips.

Via Feisty Side of Fifty, an interesting online game that tells you how old your brain is. From the post:

Many women over fifty complain they become more forgetful. In fact, some have affectionately dubbed this phenomenon "mental-pause," and there are real physiological reasons behind it. There are estrogen receptors throughout your brain, including the hippocampus, and this is the part involved in certain aspects of memory. So, when estrogen levels drop, your brain and your ability for recall are affected...

... But, before you get too worried that your own gray matter is graying, check out this fun little test. It's called "How Old is Your Brain?" I did and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I'm beginning to feel my noggin literally popping with new and sprightly dendrites!
The game's directions are not in English but it's easy to play.

1) Click here to get to the game

2) Click start

3) Wait for the countdown

4) A set of numbers flash on the screen. Memorize their positions, then click the circles in order of smallest to largest digit.

5) At the end, the game will calculate how "old" your brain is.

This makes sense. A new study in Kansas shows that patients with Alzheimer's disease still have an adult identity, and despite extreme cases of not knowing where they are or what the year is, they don't enjoy being babied or patronized. The researchers videotaped Alzheimer's patients in three nursing homes:

Researchers then analyzed the tapes, assessing how the manner in which staff interacted with patients influenced patients' behavior and the quality of care.

They discovered that when nursing aides communicated in a kind of baby talk for seniors--using a high-pitched sing-song tone, comments like "good girl," diminutives like "honey" and language that assumed a state of dependency ("are we ready for our bath?")--Alzheimer's patients were twice as likely to resist their efforts to help.

Patients would turn or look away, grimace, clench their teeth, groan, grab on to something, cry or say "no"--behaviors that can be read as indications of distress at being patronized or infantilized, said lead researcher Kristine Williams, an associate professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

"Communication can really impact care," she said.

They also discuss how in the past, experts thought that Alzheimer's patients should be corrected when making a mistake about the time of year or who they're talking to, the general agreement now is that entering their reality (rather than forcing them into ours) is the more effective way to go, says Dan Kuhn, director of the professional training institute at the Alzheimer Association's Greater Illinois chapter."Don't remind them of their disability. Don't tell them they're wrong. And by all means, don't be condescending or critical."

AARP's Bulletin Today is also running a five part series on Alzheimers as well - there's videos, resources and updated info on treatments.

This is a random but interesting article. According to a new study, older folks may not need their Zs as long as than those younger than them. While many might make the misconception that the older you get, the more sleep you need, it looks like healthy adults age 60 and older get an average of 7.5 hours of shuteye compared to an average of 9 hours for their younger counterparts.

"The most parsimonious explanation for our results is that older people need less sleep," said Elizabeth Klerman of Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School. "It's also possible that they sleep less even when given the opportunity for more sleep because of age-related changes in the ability to fall asleep and remain asleep," she added, noting that the new results apply only to healthy individuals taking no medication and having no medical conditions or sleep disorders.

The findings may also help influence treatment for insomnia in older folks. How are your sleeping habits?

When it comes to athletic prowess, many people think it runs in the family. Well there isn't a more literal case than that of the Williamson family of England. Simeon Williamson may be his country's best chance at winning gold in sprinting, but it is his grandmother who is grabbing all the headlines recently. After having her purse snatched in Northern London recently, the 78 year old Williamson chased her assailant down the street, caught her, and took her purse back. I guess we see where Simeon got his talent from.

We talked to Martina while she was here at AARP promoting the latest findings from a Red Hat Society/AARP survey. See what she had to say about working out, staying fit and her best work out buddy!

What surprised you the most from the Red Hat Society study?
Nothing really surprised me about it. It is what I experienced throughout my tennis career. We all do better when we have support and friendship. On the tennis tour, most of the women have always been supportive of each other, and we needed that. Everybody does. Chris Evert and others have consoled me after a loss, and I'd console them after a bad day too. We women were always good at getting along. We spent a lot of time with each other, and I guess that's part of it, but we also seem to have an instinct for nurturing within us.

How important do you believe the social aspect of group exercise is for women?
Group exercise is in many ways like a team sport. I always loved playing on a team because your teammates always try to find ways to make each other better. You bring the best out in each other. You build friendships too. As the old saying goes, there is no "I" in "team." Like a team, classes provide camaraderie and support. A lot of people don't stick with exercise because they never get into a group. They hop on a treadmill and get bored in a week or two. Nobody talks to them, and they don't know how to work the any of the equipment. But a class offers opportunities to create new friendships, cheer each other on, and get fit in the process.

Who's your best workout buddy?
Anyone with a positive attitude who will have a positive influence on me. How do you find that kind of person? You can tell a lot about people by the way they act and interact - how they carry themselves, how they're dressed, or whether they look you in the eye during conversations. How they do they treat servers in restaurants? Do they deal with them like human beings or treat them as someone who is subservient to them? Are they compassionate? Are they respectful of other people? Can they admit their mistakes? Positive people are dependable, they make fitness fun, and, they are committed to good health as you are. They bring upbeat, inspiring energy to your efforts. And they make the best workout buddies.

What do you recommend folks do to keep up their work out routine?
To improve your health habits and get in better shape, physically and mentally, get support from friends, family, and others. Having a support system increases your motivation so that you try harder, and even get in shape faster. No matter what your fitness level or goals, support can take you to the next level. It's the extra boost that can keep you going when you feel like giving up. It can restore your flow when you're at a low ebb. And it can make the difference between success and failure. I guess the best thing about a support system is that you always have people on your side.

Get someone from your support team to be your workout partner. You will probably walk more briskly and farther when you walk with a friend than if you walk alone, and you will most likely have more fun. You are less likely to cop out and not do it. You have a scheduled commitment with someone. You do not want to let them down. You want to help them get better. There is a synergy that helps both of you strive for your best.

What motivates you to stay fit?
Performance. Not just on the tennis court or in the gym, but to enjoy life. I need to move, I need to think, I need to be on my toes. I also like to push the limits of my body while it is still capable of pushing the limits. All of this is what motivates me. I know that I can only do as well as what I put into my body. You cannot ask your body to perform and then not put good things into it. So it is what you eat, what you drink, as well as how you work out and how much rest you get. I do not want anything to hold me back from doing what I want to do.

AARP members love to walk to stay fit, are there any tips you have for our walkers out there?
Of course, walking is the best all-round exercise. The body is designed to walk. I love to walk on the beach for exercise. I encourage walkers to "break your own records." For example, challenge yourself to walk farther each week, or outdo the distance you walk on the treadmill. To get camaraderie of group exercise, participate in a walking club, or start one in your neighborhood or at work. This gives you a great built-in support system to keep you going.

Do you know the signs of a heart attack? Most people don't, even those with a history of heart disease according to a new article on AARP Bulletin Today. But being able to recognize these signs can lead to prompt treatment and increase the chances of survival. "Obviously, cardiac patients should know how to save their own lives by learning the symptoms and getting rapid treatment," says Robert A. Phillips, M.D., cardiologist and director of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. "They should also know that cardiac rehabilitation after an attack is as effective on reducing mortality as any surgery or medicine we can offer them. So my advice is, talk to your doctor and demand it."

So what should you look out for? Signs of cardiac trouble can include:

· nausea

· brief loss of consciousness

· pain in the jaw, chest or left arm

· shortness of brief

Like the good doctor said, talk to your physician! Talk to your friends, talk to your partner, talk to your neighbor and make sure they know the signs too. You've got the heart smarts, so share 'em!

Now there's another reason besides your hearing to turn down the music. According to a new study by French researchers, loud music is linked with drinking faster. They found that the time taken to drink a beer while listening to loud music fell to an average 11.45 minutes from 14.51 minutes. (Both are pretty fast, if you ask me). A possible reason for the speedier drinking is that loud music can make conversation more difficult, causing people to drink more and talk less. Makes sense. So what should you do? Turn down the music, talk more, drink less, and be safe!

Have you guys seen those commercials for Gardasil, the cervical cancer vaccine? Usually it's young girls with their mothers saying "One less." Well, I recently found out that after requesting that the vaccine by allowed to be sold to women between the 27 and 45 year age bracket, U.S. regulators recently told Merck & Co. they weren't allowed to due to some unresolved issues that still need to be addressed.

I hope this gets resolved sooner than later, especially because when I think about women between 27 and 45 years old not getting access to the vaccine yet, it makes me wonder about women of all ages - will they ever have the option to protect themselves?

Obviously we're no prudes here at Shaarp Session, so I was naturally alarmed when friend of mine over 60 recently was diagnosed with the human papillomavirus (HPV), the sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes the majority of cases of cervical cancer (and can be prevented by getting the Gardasil vaccine). She didn't even know what HPV was, let alone that it causes cervical cancer. While many assume that women over a certain age are married and have no need for this vaccine, there are still plenty of older single women who are dating and not educated about the prevalence of HPV in the U.S. So what about them?

Scary news from TIME: a study published last week by the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections found that the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Amongst study participants, from 1996 to 2003 total cases of chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts for people over 45 increased 127%, even more than for patients under age 45 ( 97%). Dr. Sharon Lee, a Kansas City family physician and medical director of HIV Wisdom for Older Women, points to a lack of sex ed as a critical reason for this increase. She says that "as people get older, they don't worry about pregnancy as much," and without education about STDs, many older people believe infertility negates the need for protection.

So what should you do? Start by having an honest dialogue with your sexual partner and with your doctor. If you're not sure where to start, you can read more about love and relationships on AARP's website.

Yet another reason to put down that pack: according to new research from the Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease, drinking and smoking heavily increases the risk of early onset of Alzheimer's. A study of 938 people age 60 and older found that these behaviors were linked to onset as much as six or seven years earlier than average. The good news: researchers also found that lifestyle modifications can delay and even prevent the disease.

It's never too late to quit! For more information on nicotine addiction and smoking cessation, visit the Walgreens Health Library.

The sports world is abuzz this week with swimmer Dara Torres' record-setting 50-meter free-style win, qualifying her to compete on behalf of the United States at the 2008 summer Olympics. The catch? Torres is a 41 year old in a sport dominated by teenagers. She may be getting older, but she still got game.

Inspired by Torres' success (and who isn't?) The Miami Herald listed a few other athletes who excelled in their craft after hitting 40.

-Eamonn Coghlan: In 1994, the 41-year-old Irish miler and former world champion at 5,000 meters becomes the first person over 40 to run a sub-4 minute mile. Coghlan clocks a 3:58.15 at a race in Cambridge, Mass.

-George Foreman: In 1994, at age 45, the boxer regains part of the heavyweight title he lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years earlier, stopping Michael Moorer with a two-punch combination in the 10th round. Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.

-Jack Nicklaus: In 1986, the golfing great wins his last major championship, the Masters, at age 46.

-Nolan Ryan: In 1990, at age 43, threw the sixth no-hitter of his career, blanking Oakland 5-0 while pitching for the Texas Rangers. The next season, at age 44, Ryan tossed his seventh no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays.

-Darrell Green: Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February in his first year of eligibility, the Washington Redskins cornerback was 42 when he retired after the 2002 season. He had at least one interception in 19 consecutive seasons.

-Martina Navratilova: A month before her 50th birthday, in 2006, the tennis champion finished her career by winning her 59th Grand Slam title, teaming with Bob Bryan to take the mixed doubles championship at the U.S. Open. To this illustrious list, I would add hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played until the age of 53 (and on a team with two of his sons!) I suppose we could also add Roger Clemens, but perhaps with an asterix? Who else would readers add to the hall-of-after-40 fame?

There's been a lot of talk about this new study released on Monday which found that in 2005, nearly 56,000 older Americans had to be hospitalized for a brain injury resulting from a fall. Reuters reports:

"Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but our research shows that traumatic brain injuries can also be a serious consequence," said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

"These injuries can cause long-term problems and affect how someone thinks or functions," she added in a statement.

Long story short: falling is no good. This is obviously a useful study to learn more about the effects of falling, but the question is what can we be actually doing to decrease the high rate of falls among older folks? Check out this AARP article, "Better Balance Prevents Falls" which really takes a proactive approach in preventing falls. The CDC also has a really useful report that includes 14 scientifically proven interventions. Make sure to take a look-see.

This is intriguing.

Reuters had a story yesterday on the potential positive effects that whole body vibration training (WBV) may have on older folks. What is WBV, do you ask? It merely involves standing on platform that sends mild vibratory impulses through the feet and into the rest of the body.

Exercise therapy without having to exercise? Sounds like a win-win to me. They say this strategy could be particularly useful for older women:

In 1 study of 28 postmenopausal women, for example, researchers found that WBV appeared to increase bone density in the hip. The 8-month training regimen required the women to stand on a WBV platform, in a squat position, for six 1-minute cycles, 3 times per week.

Another small study of postmenopausal women found that over one year, WBV training seemed to inhibit bone loss in the spine and hip area.

In the meantime, this like an interesting new form of therapy that folks could potentially benefit from - although the idea of a platform as your exercise machine does seem a bit silly. "Going to the platform to work out, honey!"

I must have health on the mind lately (healthy drinks, health care, etc.) because when I was skimming the news this morning I found a story about these ladies who tap dance! They started tapping as a little light exercise once a week and now they're practically Vegas showgirls!

Check out this video of the Hot Flash Hoofers (I didn't make it up!) in action:

The World Health Organization has new data out on the health of its 193 member states. First, the good news: for the first time life expectancy in the U.S. has passed 78 years. This means that children born in 2006 are expected to live longer than ever. Now the bad: according to this story by AP writer Mike Stobbe, “the United States continues to lag behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span.” Hmmm … it would probably help if all Americans had access to health care, like some of our longer-living European friends. (We’re working on it. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and take your health into your own hands by checking out some healthy living tips.)

Cranberries are making an appearance everywhere nowadays…I was browsing YouTube and even Richard Simmons digs their tangy juice. I did some research and found out they are good for more than just urinary tract health (thanks for the tip, mom). Some recent studies are showing that cranberry juice increases the “good” cholesterol in your body almost the same way red wine does!

So while Congress works on Medicare– sip on some cranberry juice and say cheers to your heart!

We all know that gas prices are going up, up, up, and that as a result more people are riding mass transit. But what about commuting to work on your bike? According to this blog post from Freakonomics, Dutch workers can use up to $750 of pre-tax income triennially to purchase bikes. In offering this subsidy, the Dutch government aims to incentivize short-distance commuters and decrease air pollution. Added bonus: a more active and healthy population. Makes sense to me.

Do you ride your bike to work? If not, would you if (OK, when) gas prices rise even higher?