Exercise, proper diet, and the right vitamins can really help you have a healthier and longer-lasting life. But how to take the vitamins so as to reap the greatest benefits? Here is a detailed guide for maintaining your vitality.
seniors
Good oral hygiene could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
According to surprising research published in the journal Science Advances, there is a significant link between the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis-the leading cause of periodontal disease-and Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, a group of scientists from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, detected the presence of P. gingivalis in the brains of deceased people who had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also detected the bacterium’s Dna in spinal fluid and some toxic enzymes that are produced by the microorganism, gingipains, in the brain, where they measured higher levels of tau protein and ubiquitin, both linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Interestingly, the brains of 50 cadavers used as controls, of elderly people who did not have Alzheimer‘s disease, had low levels of gingipain instead. This is an important result, because it is true that previous studies had already found an association between P. gingivalis and Alzheimer’s disease, but it was unclear whether poor oral care was only a side effect of dementia: it now appears that the opposite is true and that oral pathology may promote the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
For confirmation, the team conducted an experiment on laboratory mice for the purpose of testing whether P. gingivalis could enter the brain following oral infection and found that within six weeks this very passage occurred; they also observed dying nerve cells and high levels of beta-amyloid protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study does not prove that the bacterium causes Alzheimer’s, but that it is a likely contributing factor in the development of the disease.
“We know that diseases such as Alzheimer’s are complex and have multiple causes, but strong genetic evidence indicates that factors other than bacterial infections are central to the development of Alzheimer’s; therefore, these new findings need to be evaluated in the context of existing knowledge,” commented David Reynolds, scientific director of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
U.S. researchers even managed to find a way to kill P. gingivalis in the brains of mice; they used a compound targeting gingipain enzymes to successfully eliminate them, reduce neurodegeneration and beta-amyloid protein formation.
Preventing the flu to avoid brain stroke
Vaccinating against seasonal flu each year can help avoid certain illnesses, lost work days and, especially among the elderly and others at risk, severe and sometimes fatal complications, especially respiratory (pneumonia) and cardiovascular. New evidence adds yet another excellent reason to protect yourself early, with the vaccine, from the most typical and widespread cold illness: to reduce your risk of being affected by stroke. Here are the details of two recent studies reporting this dangerous association.
In elderly men, hyperglycemia increases the risk of fractures
According to Japanese researchers, elderly men with hyperglycemia have an elevated risk of osteoporosis fracture.
In an article published on the online site of the journal Bone, Masayuki Iki of Kindai University School of Medicine, Osaka, reported the results of a study of a large sample of elderly community-dwelling residents, in which those with type 2 diabetes mellitus showed a higher likelihood of incurring fractures than their healthy peers.
Masayuki and his colleagues enrolled men aged 65 and older and followed them with regular follow-ups for five years. After excluding those with a history of type 1 diabetes and those who had been on thiazolidinedione, an antidiabetic drug, the team analyzed data on 1,951 subjects: of these, 200 had type 2 diabetes diagnosed at the start of the trial.
Osteoporotic fracture has been defined as a radiographically confirmed fracture occurring at any skeletal site except the head, fingers, lower thigh, and foot, and occurring in the absence of the application of an external force that may have caused the injury.
Compared with participants who had normal blood glucose values, those with hyperglycemia such as to configure the presence of diabetes (glycated hemoglobin of 6.5% or higher) had a significantly higher risk of osteoporotic fracture, with a hazard ratio that remained at 2.76 (thus nearly tripling) even after excluding confounding factors such as insulin use.
An elevated risk of osteoporotic fracture of the spine, hip, proximal humerus, or distal radius was also observed in participants who fell into a pre-diabetic category (with glycated hemoglobin of 5.7 percent or higher but less than 6.5 percent).
In contrast to previous studies, the relationship between high glycemic levels and fractures appeared to be linear: as the former increased, the risk of fracture increased in a directly proportional manner.
Nutrition in old age
In Italy, about 20 percent of the population is over 65 years old. To reconcile the increase in average life span with a good quality of life, it is necessary to follow proper nutrition. There are many factors that can worsen nutrition and consequently nutrition status: loneliness, monotonous diet, chewing problems, disability, chronic illness, depression, and inadequate food.
In both sexes, changes in body composition require an adjustment in food intake proportional to the reduction in energy requirements. It is increasingly common to detect inadequate calcium intake in people over the age of 70. In the healthy elderly, there are no indications that particular foods should be eliminated, but it is advisable to reduce the usual portions, adjusting them to the personal situation. If there is no motor activity, the daily calorie intake is around 1900-2250 calories for men in the 60-74 age group and around 1700- 1950 calories for men in the over 75 age group. The most recommended protein foods are milk, cheese, legumes, eggs, fish and meat. It is, in addition, recommended to consume complex carbohydrates such as those contributed by cereals, whole grain breads, and legumes. Alcohol consumption should be kept under control, also so as not to damage the liver.
Useful tips:
- Avoid cold and pre-cooked dishes
- Choosing oily fish
- Choose white meat, alternating it with seasonal cheeses
- Eating eggs
- Consume semi-skimmed milk and yogurt lean every day
- Reduce fat
- Use olive oil in the right amount
- Reduce simple sugars
- Frequently consume legumes
- Avoiding foods rich in salt
- Drink before you’re thirsty
- Consume fruits and vegetables every day
Finally, it is important to engage in physical activity with aerobic and resistance exercises, as it promotes physical and mental well-being.
Source: Handbook of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition by Franco Contaldo et al.
How our biological clock changes over time
Normally adults sleep 7 to 9 hours per night. After age 65 there can be changes, such as early awakenings. Let’s see what other changes occur in our internal clock and how to get it back on track.
Those medicines that adults and the elderly should use with caution
It is no secret that as we get older, the body does not function in the same way it always has. This is also true for how we react to medicines. Let’s see which medicines we should use carefully.
