National Institute on Aging awarded a $21.8 million grant to Kirk Ericsson, PhD. He will study the associations between exercise and brain health in older adults. Ericsson and his colleagues will study the effects of moderate exercise on several health outcomes including cognitive health. To read more click here.
By 2030: Women's Cancer Deaths Will Increase by 60%
A new report from the American Cancer Society has been released in regards to cancer death rates across the world. In 2012, 3.5 million women died across the world from cancer. By 2020, 5.5 million women are expected to die annually from cancer. The biggest changes were found in low and middle income countries because individuals are adopting riskier habits such as poor diet and smoking. Interventions around the world using prevention methods are necessary in order to decrease the amount of women around the world dying from cancers. Click here for the link to the article.
Should the EpiPen Be Considered Preventive Medicine?
The sky-rocketing prices of the EpiPen have recently come under fire. So, should the EpiPen be considered preventive medicine? Click here for the link to the full article and video.
Healthy Lifestyle in Old Age Shortens End-of-Life Disability
An analysis led be Boston University's School of Public Health and University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health discovered that older adult's who live healthier lifestyles reduce their disabled years by 1.7 years. This community based cohort study observed the lifestyles of men and women 65 years or older, to determine what lifestyle factors directly correlate to shortened disabled years. To read more about the study click here.
Preventive Medicine Reduces Severity of Heart Attacks
A study encompassing 15,000 patients shows a link between medications which reduce heart attacks and reduced severity of heart attacks when they do occur. The study will be presented later in October at the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology. For more information click here
Public Health Approach Needed In Suicide Prevention
A recent report from the CDC stated that mental health treatments for suicide prevention only affect a small group of individuals. The current prevention strategies help those who have identifiable risk factors, or those who can overcome social barriers. With a 27% increase in suicides, it is crucial to have prevention methods that affect a larger group of individuals. To read more about the public health approaches needed in suicide prevention click here.
Preventing Disease with Exercise
Researcher Karen Schon at the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center was inspired after a fitness course to research the potential link between exercise and disease prevention. Schon has found promising data regarding brain function and exercise. The Aging Well Institute's Dr. Rhoda Au is a mentor and collaborator on the project, which has the goal of finding preventative measures for degenerative brain disease. Read more about the fascinating study here.
The U.S Government's Task force to Excel Preventative Medicine →
As our population ages, there has been a slow shift in the focus of those fighting disease. We began attempting to react to diseases once they occur, but overtime, focus has shifted to trying to prevent disease in the first place. This tide has created changes in both public and private companies, government, universities, and individual researcher's and practitioner's goals. An example of this, is the United States government's task force focused on advancing preventive medicine.
Created in 1984, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. The Task Force works to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. All recommendations are published on the Task Force’s web site and/or in a peer-reviewed journal.
Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease →
About 14% of US adults aged 40 to 79 years have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Persons with severe COPD are often unable to participate in normal physical activity due to deterioration of lung function. The USPSTF recommends against screening for COPD in asymptomatic adults. (D recommendation)
Cohousing: Community Living for All Ages →
Loneliness and social isolation contribute to the incidence of many chronic diseases, including obesity, heart disease, depression, and dementia. Cohousing offers elders an alternative model of aging in place and community. Joani Blank is a seventy eight year old resident of Swan’s Market Cohousing Community, in Oakland, California and she shares her personal experience living in cohousing.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans—Eat Less Sugar →
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting intake of added sugars to 10% of total daily calories. If you take in more sugar than this, it becomes more difficult to get enough of the other nutrients you need without consuming too many calories.
Screening for Impaired Visual Acuity in Older Adults →
The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for impaired visual acuity in adults aged 65 years or older who do not have any symptoms of vision problems.
