‘Wisdom’ Helps Older Brains Keep Pace, Study Shows

In a matched test, the brains of older people were not as fast as those in a group of younger people, but they performed just as well because their brains are wiser, say Canadian researchers.

“It was already known that aging is not necessarily associated with a significant loss in cognitive function,” explains Dr. Oury Monchi, University Geriatrics Institute of Montreal. “We now have neurobiological evidence showing that with age comes wisdom and that as the brain gets older, it learns to better allocate its resources. When it comes to certain tasks, the brains of older adults can achieve very close to the same performance as those of younger ones,” Monchi added.

The study included a group of 24 people aged 18 to 35 and a group of 10 people aged 55 to 75 who were still active professionally. For this test, participants were asked to pair words according to different lexical rules, including semantic category (animal, object, etc.), rhyme, or the beginning of the word (attack).

“When the young participants made a mistake and had to plan and execute a new strategy to get the right answer, various parts of their brains were recruited even before the next task began. However, when the older participants learned that they had made a mistake, these regions were only recruited at the beginning of the next trial, indicating that with age, we decide to make adjustments only when absolutely necessary. It is as though the older brain is more impervious to criticism and more confident than the young brain.”

That’s interesting information to consider. A mounting body of research also has shown that keeping the brain active is one important part of healthy aging. So anything you can do to to stay busy is valuable.

For more information about the study, visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/uom-css082511.php.

Secret to Longevity: Genetics and Lifestyle

Both genetics and a healthy lifestyle are important to healthy aging. Two recent studies lend credence to both theories. New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms what other studies have uncovered. If you want to live longer don’t smoke, eat healthy, exercise and drink alcohol moderately.

During the study period, people who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were 63 percent less likely to die early, compared with people who did not practice any of the behaviors. But people can live longer if they practice even just one of these healthy lifestyle behaviors, according to the CDC. Not smoking provided the most protection from dying from all of the causes examined.

People who engaged in all four healthy behaviors were:

·         66 percent less likely to die early from cancer,

·         65 percent less likely to die early from cardiovascular disease, and

·         57 percent less likely to die early from other causes compared with people who did not engage in any of the healthy behaviors.

On the other hand, another recent study has revealed that people who live to 95 or older are no more virtuous than the rest of us in terms of their diet, exercise routine or smoking and drinking habits, according to research by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, Bronx, N.Y. That group found that genes were an important indicator of longevity.

Overall, people with exceptional longevity did not have healthier habits than the comparison group in terms of body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity or diet, that research indicated.

Let the debate continue! Take these results back to your coffee klatch and you are sure to generate even more discussion. Remember, as you all start to need support, assistance at home can help you and your friends remain independent longer. Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care^® office today for more information.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, go to www.homeinstead.com. To learn more about the CDC study, go to http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0818_living_longer.html. For more information about the centenarian study, visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/news.asp?ID=678.

Study Shows That Broken Heart Syndrome Can Kill

Unresolved grief could have a devastating effect on your health. For generations it has been said that people who collapsed and died soon after a severe personal loss just died of a “broken heart.” The cause was probably stress cardiomyopathy, which is now often referred to as “broken heart syndrome.” New research, however, indicates this acute heart failure triggered by stressful events is more common than first thought.

Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) has been known to primarily affect postmenopausal women and is characterized by acute, profound, but reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the absence of significant coronary artery disease, according to the study published in a recent issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The condition can be difficult to diagnosis, according to the report from researchers at the University of Leipzig, Germany. However, it appears that patients with SC were an average age of 69 years old and 89 percent (227) were women.

Please think about your family and how they would feel if something happened to you as well. If you are overwhelmed at the thought of being home alone or trying to take care of your house, consider contacting your local Home Instead Senior Care^® office to discuss how they might help. CAREGivers ^SM, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, are well-equipped to assist older adults who find themselves in need of companionship.

Safer travel for those with dementia

With the Labor Day weekend upon us, the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) reminds us that traveling with an individual who has Alzheimer’s requires additional thought and preparation.

The Home Instead Senior Care network has joined the AEDA, which is a group of corporations, nonprofits and government entities determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Under the leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association, this alliance will work to educate people nationwide about the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and the importance of early detection. Labor Day provides an opportunity to educate yourself about how people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers handle travel – they need to be prepared for a change in schedule and environment. Even if it is a trip you have taken before, it may feel new for the person with the disease.

Additionally, as Alzheimer’s progresses, negotiating changes in environment will become increasingly challenging. Be prepared for the individual with the disease to experience some confusion or disorientation. Exercise caution, as wandering and getting lost are more likely during transitional times. The checklist below will help you plan for the trip and make it successful and safe.
Before going
 

• Call the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the area you will be visiting. Let them know you will be staying in the area and ask about available resources. You can locate any chapter by calling 1.800.272.3900 or visiting www.alz.org/apps/findus. 

• Enroll the person in MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. You may also want to consider the Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone®, powered by Omnilink, a Web-based GPS location management service or Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone Check-InTM.

• If you are already enrolled in MedicAlert, update your records with temporary contact information (call 1.888.572.8566).

Upon arrival

• Let neighbors know a person with Alzheimer’s is staying next door and ask them to keep their eye out for wandering or other unsafe behavior.
• During the first few days after arrival, keep your schedule light with lots of down time.
• Create opportunities to re-acclimate the person to the new environment.
• Keep familiar things around.
• Limit access to money and credit cards.
• Limit access to driving.
• Be aware that the change can be chaotic for the person.
• Recognize the warning signs of anxiety and agitation.

 

For more tips on safety for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including concerns about wandering, disaster preparedness, home and medication safety, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Safety Center at

www.alz.org/safetycenter or call 1.800.272.3900 to find the Alzheimer’s Association chapter closest to you.