Vitamins D, E Might Help Maintain Brain Health
In one trial, British researchers tied low levels of vitamin D to higher odds of developing dementia, while a Dutch study found that people with diets rich in vitamin E had a lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally, a study released by Finnish researchers linked high blood levels of vitamin D to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Perhaps a new component of the senior questionnaire?
BBC News – Big head ‘may protect against dementia’
Having a big head may help protect against the worst ravages of dementia, say researchers.
They found that people with Alzheimer’s with the largest craniums had better memory and thinking skills than patients with smaller skulls.
The Munich University team believe a larger head means there are greater brain reserves to buffer against dementia-related brain cell death.
Their findings, based on 270 patients, are published in the journal Neurology.
I think I’m in trouble.
Rules Seek to Expand Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s – NYTimes.com
If the guidelines are adopted in the fall, as expected, some experts predict a two- to threefold increase in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Many more people would be told they probably are on their way to getting it.
Study: Exercise, tea and vitamin D to ward off dementia – USATODAY.com
The researchers found that participants who had moderate to heavy levels of physical activity had about a 40% lower risk of developing any type of dementia. Those who reported the least amount of activity were 45% more likely to develop dementia compared with those who logged higher levels of activity.
In a second study, including data on more than 4,800 men and women ages 65 and older, participants were followed for up to 14 years. Tea drinkers had less mental decline than non-tea drinkers. Those who drank tea one to four times a week had average annual rates of decline 37% lower than people who didn’t drink tea.
Coffee didn’t show any influence except at the highest levels of consumption, researchers say. Author Lenore Arab of UCLA says, “Interestingly, the observed associations are unlikely to be related to caffeine, which is present in coffee at levels two to three times higher than in tea.”
In a third study, British researchers looked at vitamin D’s effect on brain health. They examined data from 3,325 U.S. adults ages 65 and older from the NHANES III study. Vitamin D levels were measured by blood test, and cognitive tests were administered. Odds of cognitive impairment were about 42% higher in those deficient in vitamin D, and 394% higher in people severely deficient.
A more conservative approach to aspirin for primary prevention in adults with diabetes is called for in a joint statement issued today by diabetes and cardiovascular associations.
Low-dose aspirin can be considered reasonable for diabetes patients with a cardiovascular disease risk above 10% over 10 years and no excess bleeding risk, according to the statement released by the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and American College of Cardiology.
Meta-analysis: Excess Mortality After Hip Fracture Among Older Women and Men — Ann Intern Med
Conclusion: Older adults have a 5- to 8-fold increased risk for all-cause mortality during the first 3 months after hip fracture. Excess annual mortality persists over time for both women and men, but at any given age, excess annual mortality after hip fracture is higher in men than in women.
Facing Up to the Demographic Dilemma
This is a thought provoking article on the challenges and opportunities aging populations present to businesses. Under Article Tools you can click the PDF button for a reprint rather than page through multiple web pages. It still fascinates me to watch businesses in the US shed competent people of all ages while ignoring future workforce and critical skills needs.
Methods – A total of 13 535 Nurses’ Health Study participants who were free of major chronic diseases at baseline in 1986 and had survived to age 70 years or older as of the 1995-2001 period made up the study population. We defined successful survival as no history of 10 major chronic diseases or coronary artery bypass graft surgery and no cognitive impairment, physical impairment, or mental health limitations.
Conclusion – These data provide evidence that higher levels of midlife physical activity are associated with exceptional health status among women who survive to older ages and corroborate the potential role of physical activity in improving overall health.
The Associated Press: Pfizer Alzheimer’s disease drug fails in study
The Boomers are aging and Alzheimer’s incidence is expected to increase. This is disappointing news.
lifeunderwriter.net 
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