🤧 Older Women Wisdom: The Immunity Boost for Cold & Flu Season

As the weather cools and we naturally transition our lives indoors, we know a thing or two about navigating cold and flu season. We've seen trends come and go, but the simple, time-tested acts of self-care and prevention remain the most effective. For those of us who are well-seasoned, staying vibrant and healthy isn't just about luck—it's about confidently applying our Elder Wisdom.

As the weather cools and we naturally transition our lives indoors, we know a thing or two about navigating cold and flu season. We've seen health trends come and go, but the simple, time-tested acts of self-care and prevention remain the most effective. For those of us who are well-seasoned, staying vibrant and healthy isn't just about luck—it's about confidently applying our Older Women Wisdom.

This November, let’s tap into that wisdom to keep our immune systems strong so we can continue to rock on, effortlessly, through the winter!

🛡️ Foundational Health: The Non-Negotiables of a Wise Woman

Before you pull out the honey and lemon, remember that the most powerful immunity booster in your arsenal is strategic prevention. Our years of experience remind us that taking a few minutes for health now saves days of feeling under the weather later.

Vaccines Are Your Shield: A Confident Choice. As we gather inside with family and friends this season, protecting ourselves is an act of self-respect and care for our loved ones. If you haven't yet, make sure you are confidently up-to-date on these crucial vaccines:

The Annual Flu Shot: Always essential, as the strains change yearly.

COVID-19 Booster: Stay current with the latest recommendations for your age group.

Pneumonia Shot: A critical protection layer, especially for older adults.

Shingles Vaccine: Often overlooked, but an important part of mature health maintenance.

🥣 Comfort & Cure: Recipes That Warm the Soul (and Boost the Gut)

A powerful, resilient immune system starts in the kitchen. We’ve collected a lifetime of recipes that are more than just delicious—they are simple, healing elixirs.

Older Women Wisdom Comfort Recipes:

The Healing Bone Broth: Whether you simmer chicken, beef, or vegetable scraps, a rich, slow-simmered broth is a classic powerhouse of collagen and minerals. It’s the ultimate comfort for the gut, where much of your immune strength resides.

Honey & Lemon Soother: The original cold remedy! Mix hot water with a generous spoonful of honey (a natural cough suppressant) and the juice of half a fresh lemon (Vitamin C boost). Simple, effective, and deeply soothing for a scratchy throat.

Garlic & Ginger Power Tea: Forget the pricey supplements. A simple homebrew of hot water, fresh grated ginger, and a clove or two of minced garlic is a potent, soothing tonic.

The Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Paste: Mix turmeric powder with black pepper (to aid absorption) and warm it with milk for a nourishing, soothing "Golden Latte."

Call to Action for Readers: We all have that one recipe we swear by when a chill strikes. What is your go-to family recipe for health and comfort? Share your secret immunity weapon in the comments below!

🧘 Lifestyle Adjustments: The Time-Tested Trifecta of Well-Being

This is where true Older Women Wisdom shines: recognizing that your schedule and self-respect are your primary medicine. You have earned the right to prioritize your peace.

Prioritize Restful Sleep: Do not view rest as a luxury, but as a mandatory, non-negotiable immune-building session. Aim for 7–8 hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night. This is when your body repairs and regenerates.

Embrace Warm Hydration: Staying properly hydrated keeps your body functioning optimally and helps keep viruses from settling in. Focus on comforting, warm liquids: herbal teas, warm water with lemon, and, of course, your homemade broths.

Gentle, Light Movement: We know better than to push our bodies when they need support. A brisk, mindful walk in the fresh air, gentle stretching, or a short, joint-friendly yoga or Tai Chi session helps boost lymph flow and reduces stress, which are vital for a strong immune response.

💡 Traditional Remedies & Rituals That Still Work

We grew up with simple, effective rituals—and they remain excellent ways to find relief and speed recovery.

Vapor & Steam: At the first sign of congestion, use a humidifier or create a simple steam treatment. Carefully stand over a bowl of steaming hot water with a towel tented over your head to clear sinuses and soothe your throat.

Salty Rinse: Trust the classics! Gargle with warm salt water immediately if you feel a tickle in your throat to reduce inflammation and wash away germs.

Remember, taking excellent care of yourself is a privilege earned through wisdom and experience. 

Let’s make this season our healthiest yet!

 Marge Farrington OWRO

Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic

                              A Deep Learning Model Identifies a  New Drug That Can Kill 
                              Many Species of Anti-Resistant Bacteria

                                                             

Date:
February 20, 2020
Source:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Summary:
Using a machine-learning algorithm, researchers have identified a powerful new antibiotic compound. In laboratory tests, the drug killed many of the world's most problematic disease-causing bacteria, including some strains that are resistant to all known antibiotics. It also cleared infections in two different mouse models.
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FULL STORY


Bacterial colony in dish (stock image).
Credit: © motorolka / Adobe Stock


Using a machine-learning algorithm, MIT researchers have identified a powerful new antibiotic compound. In laboratory tests, the drug killed many of the world's most problematic disease-causing bacteria, including some strains that are resistant to all known antibiotics. It also cleared infections in two different mouse models.

The computer model, which can screen more than a hundred million chemical compounds in a matter of days, is designed to pick out potential antibiotics that kill bacteria using different mechanisms than those of existing drugs.

"We wanted to develop a platform that would allow us to harness the power of artificial intelligence to usher in a new age of antibiotic drug discovery," says James Collins, the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science in MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) and Department of Biological Engineering. "Our approach revealed this amazing molecule which is arguably one of the more powerful antibiotics that has been discovered."

In their new study, the researchers also identified several other promising antibiotic candidates, which they plan to test further. They believe the model could also be used to design new drugs, based on what it has learned about chemical structures that enable drugs to kill bacteria.

"The machine learning model can explore, in silico, large chemical spaces that can be prohibitively expensive for traditional experimental approaches," says Regina Barzilay, the Delta Electronics Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

Barzilay and Collins, who are faculty co-leads for MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health, are the senior authors of the study, which appears today in Cell. The first author of the paper is Jonathan Stokes, a postdoc at MIT and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

A new pipeline

Over the past few decades, very few new antibiotics have been developed, and most of those newly approved antibiotics are slightly different variants of existing drugs. Current methods for screening new antibiotics are often prohibitively costly, require a significant time investment, and are usually limited to a narrow spectrum of chemical diversity.

"We're facing a growing crisis around antibiotic resistance, and this situation is being generated by both an increasing number of pathogens becoming resistant to existing antibiotics, and an anemic pipeline in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries for new antibiotics," Collins says.

To try to find completely novel compounds, he teamed up with Barzilay, Professor Tommi Jaakkola, and their students Kevin Yang, Kyle Swanson, and Wengong Jin, who have previously developed machine-learning computer models that can be trained to analyze the molecular structures of compounds and correlate them with particular traits, such as the ability to kill bacteria.

The idea of using predictive computer models for "in silico" screening is not new, but until now, these models were not sufficiently accurate to transform drug discovery. Previously, molecules were represented as vectors reflecting the presence or absence of certain chemical groups. However, the new neural networks can learn these representations automatically, mapping molecules into continuous vectors which are subsequently used to predict their properties.

In this case, the researchers designed their model to look for chemical features that make molecules effective at killing E. coli. To do so, they trained the model on about 2,500 molecules, including about 1,700 FDA-approved drugs and a set of 800 natural products with diverse structures and a wide range of bioactivities.

Once the model was trained, the researchers tested it on the Broad Institute's Drug Repurposing Hub, a library of about 6,000 compounds. The model picked out one molecule that was predicted to have strong antibacterial activity and had a chemical structure different from any existing antibiotics. Using a different machine-learning model, the researchers also showed that this molecule would likely have low toxicity to human cells.

This molecule, which the researchers decided to call halicin, after the fictional artificial intelligence system from "2001: A Space Odyssey," has been previously investigated as possible diabetes drug. The researchers tested it against dozens of bacterial strains isolated from patients and grown in lab dishes, and found that it was able to kill many that are resistant to treatment, including Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The drug worked against every species that they tested, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a difficult-to-treat lung pathogen.

To test halicin's effectiveness in living animals, the researchers used it to treat mice infected with A. baumannii, a bacterium that has infected many U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The strain of A. baumannii that they used is resistant to all known antibiotics, but application of a halicin-containing ointment completely cleared the infections within 24 hours.

Preliminary studies suggest that halicin kills bacteria by disrupting their ability to maintain an electrochemical gradient across their cell membranes. This gradient is necessary, among other functions, to produce ATP (molecules that cells use to store energy), so if the gradient breaks down, the cells die. This type of killing mechanism could be difficult for bacteria to develop resistance to, the researchers say.

"When you're dealing with a molecule that likely associates with membrane components, a cell can't necessarily acquire a single mutation or a couple of mutations to change the chemistry of the outer membrane. Mutations like that tend to be far more complex to acquire evolutionarily," Stokes says.

In this study, the researchers found that E. coli did not develop any resistance to halicin during a 30-day treatment period. In contrast, the bacteria started to develop resistance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin within one to three days, and after 30 days, the bacteria were about 200 times more resistant to ciprofloxacin than they were at the beginning of the experiment.

The researchers plan to pursue further studies of halicin, working with a pharmaceutical company or nonprofit organization, in hopes of developing it for use in humans.

Optimized molecules

After identifying halicin, the researchers also used their model to screen more than 100 million molecules selected from the ZINC15 database, an online collection of about 1.5 billion chemical compounds. This screen, which took only three days, identified 23 candidates that were structurally dissimilar from existing antibiotics and predicted to be nontoxic to human cells.

In laboratory tests against five species of bacteria, the researchers found that eight of the molecules showed antibacterial activity, and two were particularly powerful. The researchers now plan to test these molecules further, and also to screen more of the ZINC15 database.

The researchers also plan to use their model to design new antibiotics and to optimize existing molecules. For example, they could train the model to add features that would make a particular antibiotic target only certain bacteria, preventing it from killing beneficial bacteria in a patient's digestive tract.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Original written by Anne Trafton. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Jonathan M. Stokes, Kevin Yang, Kyle Swanson, Wengong Jin, Andres Cubillos-Ruiz, Nina M. Donghia, Craig R. MacNair, Shawn French, Lindsey A. Carfrae, Zohar Bloom-Ackerman, Victoria M. Tran, Anush Chiappino-Pepe, Ahmed H. Badran, Ian W. Andrews, Emma J. Chory, George M. Church, Eric D. Brown, Tommi S. Jaakkola, Regina Barzilay, James J. Collins. A Deep Learning Approach to Antibiotic Discovery. Cell, 2020; 180 (4): 688 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.01.021

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic: A deep-learning model identifies a powerful new drug that can kill many species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 February 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141748.htm>

Benefits of Pets in the life of Older People

                                                      

I love pets! I love dogs! I love cats! They get me up and moving. They give me unconditional love. 

They listen to me, they are there when I am sad, mad, sick and are happy when I am happy.

I know I am a better person because they have been in my life. I think I try to live up to the person they think I am.

I have lost pets and the grief is beyond words. Getting another pet after losing one, it has felt like it diminishes the love, the value of the pets you miss. But it doesn't. They want us to be happy. And rescuing another pet is saving a life. 

The following is a study on the health benefits for older people of having pets. 

Share your positive thoughts about life with pets in the comments!

Source:
Taylor & Francis
Summary:
New research calls for increased understanding about older adults, the relationship between pet ownership and health, and the current barriers which limit older adults' chances to own a pet. The stud goes into detail about physical and financial risks for older adult pet ownership and how it can be diminished.

Research published in Activities, Adaption & Aging calls for increased understanding about older adults, the relationship between pet ownership and health, and the current barriers which limit older adults' chances to own a pet. The study, Fostering the Human-Animal Bond for Older Adults, goes into detail about physical and financial risks for older adult pet ownership and how it can be diminished.

Medical problems that arise with older adults, such as physical illness and emotional issues, have the potential to be mitigated by companionship of pets because it reduces social isolation and enhances physical activity. But illnesses that are often associated with aging, ranging from arthritis to diabetes, make it hard or impossible for older adults to provide routine care for their pets. Financial barriers are another issue that older pet owners face.

In the article, the researchers describe these common issues affecting older adults, particularly those living alone. They tell a story about Janet, a 75-year old obese woman who has diabetes and arthritis, but really wants a cat for company. Though she described herself as a "cat lady," she worries about the monetary investment and the fate of the feline should she fall ill or pass away.

When asked about what sparked the study, author Keith Anderson from the University of Montana commented "As a geriatric social work researcher, I've always been interested in finding creative, cost effective ways to improve the lives and well-being of older adults…My co-authors direct the Veterinary Outreach Program, affiliated with The Ohio State University, which provides mobile wellness care for the pets of older adults and/or homebound residents. Our interests overlapped and we began to discuss ways in which we could link pets in shelters with older adults who may benefit from pet ownership." The study was funded by the WALTHAM Foundation.

The researchers found that programs are beginning to arise to overcome these obstacles. "Programs are emerging that facilitate the adoption of pets by older adults. These programs match older adults with adult shelter animals and provide support throughout the adoption and ownership processes." 

Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks that these programs need to overcome, but the authors seem hopeful about finding potential solutions: "Lower-income older adults often live in buildings where there are fees and deposits associated with owning pets. We need creative solutions to address these financial barriers."

"Future researchers should continue to explore the human-animal bond for older adult populations, particularly for those with cognitive, physical, and financial limitations. There is so much potential benefit here for both pets and potential pet owners" wrote the research team.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Taylor & Francis. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Keith A. Anderson, Linda K. Lord, Lawrence N. Hill, Sandra McCune. Fostering the Human-Animal Bond for Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 2015; 39 (1): 32 DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2015.994447

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Taylor & Francis. "Pet ownership and its potential benefits for older adults." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 June 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150623141736.htm>.

 

Lonely cardiac patients at increased risk of death within year of hospital discharge

                                                                 

                 Science Daily -- Date:November 4, 2019 Source:BMJCardiac patients who feel lonely are at heightened risk of dying within a year of being discharged from hospital, reveals research published online in the journal Heart.

Loneliness should be prioritised in public health initiatives and regarded as a legitimate health risk in people who have a serious illness, conclude the researchers.

Previous research suggests that loneliness and poor social support are associated with a heightened risk of developing, and dying from, coronary artery disease.

But it's not clear if other types of heart disease might also be influenced by feelings of loneliness, and if living alone might be as influential as feeling lonely.

To explore this further, the researchers looked at the 1-year health outcomes of patients admitted to a specialist heart centre with either ischaemic (coronary) heart disease, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure or valve disease, over the course of a year in 2013-14.

Most of them (70%) were men, and their average age was 66.

On discharge from the centre, 13,443 (53% of the total) completed validated questionnaires on their physical health, psychological wellbeing, and quality of life (Short Form 12; HeartQoL) and their levels of anxiety and depression (HADS).

They were also quizzed about health behaviours, including smoking, drinking, and how often they took their prescribed medicines. National data were used to find out if they lived alone or with other people.

Those who said they felt lonely were nearly three times as likely to be anxious and depressed and to report a significantly lower quality of life as those who said they didn't feel lonely.

One year later, the researchers checked national registry data to see what had happened to the patients' cardiac health, as well as how many of them had died.

They found that irrespective of the diagnosis, loneliness was associated with significantly poorer physical health after a year.

After taking account of potentially influential factors, including health behaviours, lonely women were nearly three times as likely to have died from any cause after a year as women who didn't feel lonely. Similarly, lonely men were more than twice as likely to have died from any cause.

The significant differences in risk between those who felt lonely and those who didn't, suggest that health related behaviours and underlying conditions can't fully explain the associations found, say the researchers.

Although living alone wasn't associated with feeling lonely, it was associated with a lower risk of anxiety/depression than in those who lived with other people.

And it was associated with a higher (39%) risk of poor cardiac health among men. Previous studies indicate that women have larger social networks than men, so separation, divorce, or the death of a partner may disadvantage men more, suggest the researchers, by way of an explanation for this particular finding.

This is an observational study, and as such, can't establish cause. Reverse causality may also be at play, as it's not clear whether the illness or the feelings of loneliness came first.

"However, the findings are in line with previous research, suggesting that loneliness is associated with changes in cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and immune function as well as unhealthy lifestyle choices which impact negative health outcomes," write the researchers.

There are indications that the burden of loneliness and social isolation is growing," they add.

"Furthermore, increasing evidence points to their influence on poor health outcomes being equivalent to the risk associated with severe obesity. Public health initiatives should therefore aim at reducing loneliness," they conclude.
 

Story Source:

Materials provided by BMJ. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Anne Vinggaard Christensen, Knud Juel, Ola Ekholm, Lars Thrysøe, Charlotte Brun Thorup, Britt Borregaard, Rikke Elmose Mols, Trine Bernholdt Rasmussen, Selina Kikkenborg Berg. Significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality among cardiac patients feeling lonely. Heart, 2019; heartjnl-2019-315460 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315460

Own a Dog? You Just May Live Longer!

                                                               
                         
                                                                   

So, this is me with my doggie, Missy! She keeps me moving! She makes me smile, even laugh when

I don't feel like it! She is there when I am sad, mad, sick or injured. Giving unconditional love! Teaching me every day how to be better, to be more like her!

Dog ownership associated with longer life, especially among heart attack and stroke survivors

Date:

October 8, 2019

Source:

American Heart Association

Summary:

Dog ownership was associated with a 33% lower risk of early death for heart attack survivors living alone and 27% reduced risk of early death for stroke survivors living alone, compared to people who did not own a dog. Dog ownership was associated with a 24% reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a 31% lower risk of death by heart attack or stroke compared to non-owners.

Portuguese water dog. Owning a dog may be associated with having a longer life.

Credit: Copyright Michele Hogan

Dog ownership may be associated with longer life and better cardiovascular outcomes, especially for heart attack and stroke survivors who live alone, according to a new study and a separate meta-analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association.

"The findings in these two well-done studies and analyses build upon prior studies and the conclusions of the 2013 AHA Scientific Statement 'Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Risk' that dog ownership is associated with reductions in factors that contribute to cardiac risk and to cardiovascular events," said Glenn N. Levine, M.D., chair of the writing group of the American Heart Association's scientific statement on pet ownership. "Further, these two studies provide good, quality data indicating dog ownership is associated with reduced cardiac and all-cause mortality. While these non-randomized studies cannot 'prove' that adopting or owning a dog directly leads to reduced mortality, these robust findings are certainly at least suggestive of this."

Given previous research demonstrating how social isolation and lack of physical activity can negatively impact patients, researchers in both the study and meta-analysis sought to determine how dog ownership affected health outcomes. Prior studies have shown that dog ownership alleviates social isolation, improves physical activity and even lowers blood pressure -- leading researchers to believe dog owners could potentially have better cardiovascular outcomes compared to non-owners.

Dog ownership and survival after a major cardiovascular event

Researchers in this study compared the health outcomes of dog owners and non-owners after a heart attack or stroke using health data provided by the Swedish National Patient Register. Patients studied were Swedish residents ages 40-85 who experienced heart attack or ischemic stroke from 2001-2012.

Compared to people who did not own a dog, researchers found that for dog owners:

The risk of death for heart attack patients living alone after hospitalization was 33% lower, and 15% lower for those living with a partner or child.

The risk of death for stroke patients living alone after hospitalization was 27% lower and 12% lower for those living with a partner or child.

In the study, nearly 182,000 people were recorded to have had a heart attack, with almost 6% being dog owners, and nearly 155,000 people were recorded to have had an ischemic stroke, with almost 5% being dog owners. Dog ownership was confirmed by data from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (registration of dog ownership has been mandatory since 2001) and the Swedish Kennel Club (all pedigree dogs have been registered since 1889).

The lower risk of death associated with dog ownership could be explained by an increase in physical activity and the decreased depression and loneliness, both of which have been connected to dog ownership in previous studies.

"We know that social isolation is a strong risk factor for worse health outcomes and premature death. Previous studies have indicated that dog owners experience less social isolation and have more interaction with other people," said Tove Fall, D. V. M., professor at Uppsala University in Sweden. "Furthermore, keeping a dog is a good motivation for physical activity, which is an important factor in rehabilitation and mental health."

While this study draws from a large sample, potential misclassifications of dog ownership in couples living together, death of a dog and change of ownership could have affected the outcomes of the study.

"The results of this study suggest positive effects of dog ownership for patients who have experienced a heart attack or stroke. However, more research is needed to confirm a causal relationship and giving recommendations about prescribing dogs for prevention. Moreover, from an animal welfare perspective, dogs should only be acquired by people who feel they have the capacity and knowledge to give the pet a good life."

Co-authors of the study are Mwenya Mubanga, M.D., M.P.H.; Liisa Byberg, Ph.D.; Agneta Egenvall, V.M.D., Ph.D.; Erik Ingelsson, MD, Ph.D. and Tove Fall, V.M.D., Ph.D. Agria Research Foundation and the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS), grant number 2013-1673 funded the study.

Dog Ownership and Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Researchers reviewed patient data of over 3.8 million people taken from 10 separate studies for a composite meta-analysis study. Of the 10 studies reviewed, nine included comparison of all-cause mortality outcomes for dog owners and non-owners, and four compared cardiovascular outcomes for dog owners and non-owners.

Researchers found that compared to non-owners, dog owners experienced a:

24% reduced risk of all-cause mortality;

65% reduced risk of mortality after heart attack; and

31% reduced risk of mortality due to cardiovascular-related issues.

"Having a dog was associated with increased physical exercise, lower blood pressure levels and better cholesterol profile in previous reports," said Caroline Kramer, M.D. Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and an Endocrinologist and Clinician scientist at Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health System. "As such, the findings that people who owned dogs lived longer and their risk for cardiovascular death was also lower are somewhat expected."

Studies deemed eligible for analysis included those conducted among adults age 18 or older, original data from an original prospective study, evaluated dog ownership at the beginning of the study and reported all-cause or cardiovascular mortality of patients. Studies were excluded if they were retrospective, did not provide an absolute number of events that occurred and reported non-fatal cardiovascular events.

"Our findings suggest that having a dog is associated with longer life. Our analyses did not account for confounders such as better fitness or an overall healthier lifestyle that could be associated with dog ownership. The results, however, were very positive," said Dr. Kramer. "The next step on this topic would be an interventional study to evaluate cardiovascular outcomes after adopting a dog and the social and psychological benefits of dog ownership. As a dog owner myself, I can say that adopting Romeo (the author's miniature Schnauzer) has increased my steps and physical activity each day, and he has filled my daily routine with joy and unconditional love."

Story Source:

Materials provided by American Heart Association. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Mwenya Mubanga, Liisa Byberg, Agneta Egenvall, Erik Ingelsson, Tove Fall. Dog Ownership and Survival After a Major Cardiovascular Event. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2019; 12 (10) DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.118.005342

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American Heart Association. "Dog ownership associated with longer life, especially among heart attack and stroke survivors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 October 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191008083121.htm>.

Focus: Youthful Look or Healthy, Mind, and Body Spirit?

                                               

I find myself going through "growing pains." I find myself dealing with the "battle of the bulge." Coping with "love handles" that I hate. I think I've lost weight, only to find it's just "rearranged" itself.

My closet and drawers are divided into, "fits now," "may get back into," "hope to get into again", "Big time" and "fat chance."

It's really a struggle. When I was younger, I never had to worry about my weight. With age, nothing's the same. It doesn't help to be bombarded with media signals that I should want to look 20 years younger, and what I should buy to achieve that look.

I don't want to look 20 years younger. I just want to feel good about myself, be healthy and not be self conscious about what I look like.

Our society focuses on youth ... Me, well, I am focusing on a healthy mind, body and spirit. How about you?

Press Release Study: Medicaid work requirements and health savings accounts may impact people’s coverage, access to care

                                         

                                               Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health


                                              Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
For immediate release: June 20, 2018

Boston, MA – Current experimental approaches in Medicaid programs—including requirements to pay premiums, contribute to health savings accounts, or to work—may lead to unintended consequences for patient coverage and access, such as confusing beneficiaries or dissuading some people from enrolling, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The study will be published online June 20, 2018 in Health Affairs.

“There’s been a lot of recent research showing that expanding Medicaid leads to improved access to care and better quality of care—which suggests that any expansion will be better for public health than not expanding,” said Benjamin Sommers, associate professor of health policy and economics at Harvard Chan School and lead author of the study. “But our findings suggest that some of the benefits of expanding Medicaid may be at least partially compromised by some of the current innovations in use.”

Under the Trump Administration, which has prioritized increased flexibility for state Medicaid programs, some states have been experimenting with new approaches. Most recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved proposals from Kentucky, Arkansas, and Indiana for the first-ever work requirements in Medicaid, and other states, including Kansas, have expressed interest in following suit.

The researchers sought to assess views about new Medicaid approaches in three Midwestern states with different policies: Ohio, which has a traditional Medicaid expansion without premiums and with minimal cost-sharing; Indiana, which expanded Medicaid coverage in 2015 but which requires enrollees to pay premiums and contribute to health savings accounts; and Kansas, which did not expand Medicaid and where only very poor parents and disabled adults are eligible.

The researchers conducted a telephone survey in late 2017 of 2,739 low-income adults in the three states. The survey gathered respondents’ views on health insurance, access to and quality of care, financial well-being, experiences with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health savings accounts, work requirements, and private vs. public insurance coverage.

The study found:
In 2017, health insurance coverage rates were significantly higher in the Medicaid expansion states (Ohio and Indiana) than in the non-expansion state (Kansas).
Cost-related barriers to care were more common in Indiana than in Ohio. Indiana’s health savings accounts were confusing for many enrollees, with nearly 40% saying they had never even heard of the required accounts and only 36% making regular required payments—meaning that two-thirds of beneficiaries were at risk of losing benefits or coverage for non-payment.
In Kansas, 77% of low-income individuals said they supported Medicaid expansion. Although Kansas is considering work requirements for its Medicaid program, most potential enrollees in the state were either already working or had a disability that prevented them from working. Only 11% of potential enrollees said they would be more likely to seek work if required to do so by Medicaid.


“For both work requirements and health savings accounts, the policies may operate as intended for modest numbers of Medicaid beneficiaries who understand or react to the incentives. But there’s a real risk that even greater numbers of low-income adults will be adversely affected because they don’t understand the new policies, can’t afford them, or get tied up in administrative complexity. For these reasons, it’s critical that there be ongoing independent monitoring of these approaches,” Sommers said.

Other Harvard Chan School co-authors of the study included Carrie Fry, Robert Blendon, and Arnold Epstein.

Funding for the study came from the Commonwealth Fund and the REACH Healthcare Foundation.

“New Approaches in Medicaid: Work Requirements, Health Savings Accounts, and Health Care Access,” Benjamin D. Sommers, Carrie E. Fry, Robert J. Blendon, Arnold M. Epstein,Health Affairs, online June 20, 2018, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0331

Visit the Harvard Chan School website 

University Study Public Release - 'Good cholesterol' may not always be good"

                                                       

                                                     PUBLIC RELEASE: 19-JUL-2018
                                               'Good cholesterol' may not always be good
                     UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOLS OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES


PITTSBURGH, July 19, 2018 - Postmenopausal factors may have an impact on the heart-protective qualities of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) - also known as 'good cholesterol' - according to a study led by researchers in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

The findings, published today in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), indicate that this specific type of blood cholesterol may not translate into a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease in older women--bringing into question the current use of HDL cholesterol in a common equation designed to predict heart disease risk, particularly for women.

HDL is a family of particles found in the blood that vary in sizes and cholesterol contents. HDL has traditionally been measured as the total cholesterol carried by the HDL particles, known as HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, however, does not necessarily reflect the overall concentration, the uneven distribution, or the content and function of HDL particles. Previous research has demonstrated the heart-protective features of HDL. This good cholesterol carries fats away from the heart, reducing the build-up of plaque and lowering the potential for cardiovascular disease.

"The results of our study are particularly interesting to both the public and clinicians because total HDL cholesterol is still used to predict cardiovascular disease risk," said lead author Samar R. El Khoudary, Ph.D., M.P.H., F.A.H.A., associate professor in Pitt Public Health's Department of Epidemiology. "This study confirms our previous work on a different group of women and suggests that clinicians need to take a closer look at the type of HDL in middle-aged and older women, because higher HDL cholesterol may not always be as protective in postmenopausal women as we once thought. High total HDL cholesterol in postmenopausal women could mask a significant heart disease risk that we still need to understand."

El Khoudary's team looked at 1,138 women aged 45 through 84 enrolled across the U.S. in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a medical research study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MESA began in 1999 and is still following participants today.
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6 Ways For Seniors to Get a Helping Hand

                                               

Researching information for low income seniors, I found the following information:

Nerdwallet

1. Get help with utility bills
Need help paying your heating or phone bill? These programs may be able to help:

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. Grants are issued via states, which receive funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Each state sets its own eligibility requirements, including income levels.
The Lifeline program offers discounted landline or cell phone service. Lifeline is an income-based program, so you must meet certain eligibility requirements.


2. Thinking of going back to school? Check this out!

Apply for college grants
College grants, like the federal Pell Grant, can make it easier to pay for college. Students who are eligible for the Pell Grant could get up to $6,095 for the 2018-19 award year. The exact amount awarded is based on factors that include financial need, the cost of attendance and enrollment status. Students can apply for the Pell Grant by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The application is also used to qualify for many state and institutional grants and scholarships

3. In addition to receiving food and access to the nutrition services, seniors are offered daily contact with staff or program volunteers. This means someone can check up on them as well as provide company. They will provide seniors a link to additional services in their communities. Find out how to apply for Meals on Wheels

Free food is offered to seniors over 60 years of age from the federal government funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Healthy meals and groceries are offered in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and your state. Additional nutrition information is also provided in order to help facilitate good health from the USDA CSFP program.

For seniors struggling to feed their pets, free dog or cat food may be available too. Some Meals on Wheels services now provide this for low income elderly and the homebound. It is not yet offered nationwide, but an increasing number of providers are implementing this program for those elderly households that have a very low income.

The free food for a clients pet will free up their often fixed income salaries for other basic needs. In addition, having a healthy pet can really help a senior citizen or disabled person by providing companionship and other benefits. Learn where to go to get free pet food from meals on wheelsand how the service benefits the homebound.

4. Help with Rent Programs

Get help with rent and find assistance
Find help with paying your rent from various government agencies, non-profit organizations and charity programs. Some of the agencies may provide ongoing financial aid. Or learn how to apply for one time rental assistance as well as get referrals for longer term housing support. The exact type of assistance available will depend on the amount of funds available as well as the tenant’s situation. Applicants can either get help with rent or they can get support in signing up for public housing or other resources.

State and local government organizations that help pay rent
Many states as well as local governments operate agencies that administer public assistance type programs that can provide help paying rent, security deposits, or other housing expenses. For example Massachusetts offers RAFT, the THHSC is available in Texas, the Florida EFAHP program, and there is the Connecticut RAP. There are some of the state administered rent assistance programs available for struggling tenants.

The organizations offer one time or ongoing rental assistance by issuing free grants and there are many other government housing benefits available as well. Each state run program is focused on offering short term financial assistance to help pay a portion of the rent that is due, and this is done in an effort to reduce homelessness in the community.


The goal is to provide temporary rental assistance to low to moderate income tenants. To learn more on how to apply for funds, contact the assistance agencies and programs in your state. The case managers will provide information on how to get rent help from these types of resources. Each county, city, and town will often have numerous local agencies that can offer rental payment assistance, and they are also listed on the page.
In addition to the government organizations, there are many other non-profit options available for rent help, including churches, charities like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and other groups. Many of them partner with the government, and they too will offer assistance for paying rent. The information is located across this site along with details on how to apply for funds.

Or call your local community action agency to find how they can offer low income families short term rental assistance. Case managers will go over what government services and grant type programs that may be available. The staff can help tenants apply for funds as well. There is also a search box above to find local programs that can offer help with paying rent or other housing costs. Type in your need (such as need help for back rent), city, county, or state to search for assistance.

Rental assistance from Federal Housing grant programs
The federal government provides billions of dollars each and every year for housing as well as ongoing rental assistance. There is the Emergency Solutions Grants program, which is the main one. Additional support includes vouchers, free legal support, and a wide variety of other assistance programs that may all help with making rent payments. The government and ESG will also provide additional funds on an annual basis to local agencies.

The money is allocated across the nation with thousands of non-profits receiving grants, and the money is given directly to qualified applicants. All of the funds have a goal of helping tenants pay past due rent or even utility bills. There are funds being allocated each and every year to families that are struggling to keep up with their housing needs.

The name of the primary resource being funded is The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, but there are others. Most of the rental help is being distributed at the local government level. Your local social service agency, county government, charities and other organizations will process applications. Learn more and find how to apply for homeless prevention services, and discover how it combines rent help along with case management.

Find how to get help from Federal Government organizations
The largest organization is HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The agency administers several different programs for the homeless, tenants facing eviction, and low income families. Almost 1.5 million families use one or more of their programs. Housing and Urban Development helps those in need pay their rent as well as security deposits. There are also vouchers available from HUD that can help the disabled as well as senior citizens pay any rental arrears they may have. Or the vouchers can be used to access subsidized housing. Other housing costs such as energy bills may be paid for as well.

Most of the financial aid is targeted to low income individuals, including senior citizens and the disabled. In addition to offering grants that help pay rent, the government Rental Voucher Program also helps to increase the availability of affordable housing choices. It does this by allowing families to select privately owned rental housing, including apartments or townhomes. Read more on local HUD housing programs.

USDA Rural Development provides affordable housing, vouchers, and rental assistance for struggling rural families. Beneficiaries tend to be low-income residents, disabled, immigrants, farmers, and the elderly who live in multi-unit housing buildings in smaller cities or towns. Continue with USDA rental assistance programs.

Veterans and their families can get help with paying rent from a federal government resource known as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. It is a grant based program that can provide financial help for one or more months. This service is providing rental assistance vouchers as well as security deposit assistance to both veterans as well as their immediate family members. It can also be used to stop evictions from happening. Read more on rent help for veterans.

Receive legal advice to prevent evictions. Over one million people per year receive some form of free legal assistance or counsel from an attorney to help them deal with evictions as well as pay or quit notices. Lawyers not only provide advice, but often can refer clients to resources that can help them pay their rent or address other housing expenses. The assistance is provided from the federal government funded Legal Services Corp.

As part of this federal government funded service, attorneys can try to mediate a solution with your landlord in order to help with any rent payments and advise you on your rights. Or they can help you apply for government benefits such section 8, offer help with solving housing discrimination, represent the tenant in housing court, and provide applications to other forms of financial aid. There may even be lawyers that can represent the tenant in housing court, and this process may refer the client to a place that can help them with their rent. Find more details on free legal advice.

Apply for free government or private grants for paying rent. The funds will not need to be repaid. There is money available for paying rental arrears and related housing costs. Many non-profit private organizations as well as the government have information on or offer cash grants that can be used to help pay rent.

Housing First is a solution that combines money for paying rent, moving costs, lease application fees, and other costs along with a home or permanent, affordable apartment to live in. The federal government, using agencies such as HUD, partners with states and non-profits to offer this solution. The rental assistance as well as placement into permanent housing helps reduce homelessness in local communities. Learn more on Housing First programs.

Eviction prevention programs
In a crisis, tenants can find emergency rental assistance from programs that prevent homelessness from evictions. The federal government, many local and state housing authorities as well as non profit organizations have emergency eviction prevention programs in place. It combines everything from legal aid to short term housing as well as help with paying past due rental costs. The assistance is targeted at low and moderate income individuals as well as families that have notice from their landlord.

Many of the programs will try to prevent evictions and associated lawsuits by assisting with a small portion of past due rental costs, with a goal of stopping homelessness. Some even try to stop foreclosures. They provide resources such as mediation, landlord and tenant assessments, conflict resolution, direct rent payments or grants to tenants, as well as other forms of expedited rental assistance. Or an agency may be able to help you locate more affordable housing. Continue with eviction prevention.

Families with an eviction on their record due to unpaid rent or even energy bills often find it difficult to lease a new home. They often need assistance is trying to work through any legal issues or credit score challenges. Lawyers, along with non-profits, can provide help. They offer everything from free advice on dealing with courts to resources that provide help for rent, deposits, and credit counseling. Find more information on renting with a past eviction on your record.

Rent assistance from charities and local resources
For short term rent help, there are many local community groups, churches, and charitable organizations that will sometimes have funds that can help people who are having financial difficulties. Some of the non-profit organizations, such as the Salvation Army and United Way, can assist with making back rent payments if they have funding available. Find how to contact, and apply at, some of these charities below.

The demand for any time of rent assistance is always very high. Priority is often given to people living in an apartment who are faced with a short term financial hardship or crisis and that also have some form of income. Many of these charities as well as non-profits have some type of money that can help with paying housing costs. Funds can be used to cover back rent, energy bills and even security deposits.

Dozens of national and local charities help with rental expenses. They will also often provide case management, referrals, and other social services. Even if they do not have funding, staff from a charity often can provide information on how to apply for free grants for paying back rent. See the following link of organizations that can help.

There are also additional charities or not for profit organizations that can provide help with paying other housing costs, such as utility and heating bills. Resources provided are often one-time-only or they are given on a first-come-first-served basis. This means that you should not depend on these sources over the long term for ongoing rent or housing assistance.

Calling and applying at these organizations, even if you are not directly affiliated with their group or already a member, can sometimes get you the financial help you need. Or if an organization does not have funding, many can refer people to another agency that can help with paying rent as well as other bills if your need is great.

Some examples of agencies that can help with these types of expenses include Catholic Charities, government social service offices, the United Way, American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Legal Aid Society. There are other organizations that can assist with rent in a crisis, such as applicants dealing with unexpected unemployment or a reduction in household income. Find more emergency rent assistance agencies.

Many local churches are increasing their assistance programs, including offering more rent help, electric bill aid, and more. However many of these churches rely heavily on donations from the community and therefore tend to have very limited funding available.

Short term and transitional housing programs are operated by numerous non-profit agencies. For families that are behind on their rent and facing imminent eviction or individuals that are currently homeless, these programs can help them find a place to live, such as a shelter or low income apartment. They can also help clients gain self-sufficiency as they stay in this short term housing.

Once stability occurs, get assistance in locating a new, low income home or apartment to live in. While more limited, some of these transitional services can direct qualified clients to resources that can help them pay for expenses. There may be financial help to pay for moving costs, a security deposit, storage fees, or maybe even the first months rent that is due to the landlord for their new home. Find a list of temporary transitional housing programs, including apartments or shelters.

Non-profits as well as charity organizations may also offer help with paying rental deposits. In general, if a family is living in a now unaffordable home, or if an individual was homeless and they now have a job, assistance may be provided. There may also be help in paying for moving costs or first month’s rent that a landlord requires.

Financial help for a security deposit or moving expense is not as common. An agency will often want the applicant to be stable before any money is provided. However there may be short term rent assistance available as part of a rehousing program or other government backed program. Find more details on security deposit help.

Find help with rental payments for low income groups
Some agencies focus their resources on certain situation. As an example, there may be rent assistance available for the disabled, senior citizens, or maybe single parents. Other programs support families living in or under poverty guidelines or if the tenant does not have a job. Find solutions for single mothers, who may be given a cash grant that covers housing, including rent and moving costs, for themselves and their child.

Low income households with a physically or mentally disabled member may qualify for rent help. The federal government has two different voucher programs as well as income subsidized apartments, and this is in addition to any SSI payments. Government grants can help with paying rent, there may be funds for paying energy bills as well as other housing costs. The goal is to ensure the individual with a handicap has a home or apartment to live in. Find how to receive rental assistance for a disability.

Very low income families can get assistance with their rent from income based programs. The main one is HUD (Housing and Urban Development) section 8 vouchers. This will require the family to pay a portion of their income for their housing expenses, including rent, utilities, and other costs. HUD also can provide loans or grants to help a family eventually buy a home when the time is right.



Most of the support is for families living in or near poverty. But there is also rental assistance for low income senior citizens, the mentally or physically disabled, and victims of domestic abuse. The government will provide financial aid to the client, and the funds or vouchers can help pay some of their rent while the family will need to pay the balance of what is due. Read more details on HUD section 8 housing choice vouchers.

Need Additional Rent Help or Assistance?
Send us an email @ info@needhelppayingbills.com  Please include your email address and state. The information is needed to send a reply. Or visit or register in the community forum (the link is on the lower right margin) and we will reply to your message there. about resources that may offer help with rent payments.


5. THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SENIOR CITIZEN LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Posted by Ben Todd | Oct 26, 2015 |

Read Rull Article Echeck.org

There is a wide variety of assistance available for Senior Citizens throughout the United States. Many of the assistance programs available can make life easier for the senior citizens and their families. These programs covers a wide range of services and programs that include, housing assistance, food assistance as well as healthcare assistance. There are several to choose from that many are not even aware of, so as a result, this article will explore all the assistance programs available, and how and where to find them.

6. New Retirement 

Help for Seniors with Low Income: Government Benefits and More!

February 6, 2018 | by Kathleen Coxwell

A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that seniors apply for low income benefits at significantly lower rates than other demographics – even though there are greater out of pocket health care expenses and usually fewer alternatives like additional work to fund these needs.

While numerous public and private programs hope to provide financial assistance to vulnerable retirees, a sizable proportion of eligible seniors do not participate in the programs. In some cases as few as 25 percent of eligible seniors participate in a program.

The Commonwealth Fund study suggested that enrollment would increase by increasing awareness of programs and simplifying the application process. Read More

Health News: Synthetic cancer indicator: An artificial mole as an early warning system

                                                                 

ScienceDaily 
Date:
April 18, 2018
Source:
ETH Zurich
Summary:
Researchers have developed an early warning system for the four most common types of cancer. Should a tumor develop, a visible mole will appear on the skin.

Alongside cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the top cause of death in industrialised countries. Many of those affected are diagnosed only after the tumour has developed extensively. This often reduces the chance of recovery significantly: the cure rate for prostate cancer is 32 percent and only 11 percent for colon cancer. The ability to detect such tumours reliably and early would not only save lives, but also reduce the need for expensive, stressful treatment.

Researchers working with Martin Fussenegger, Professor at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel, have now presented a possible solution for this problem: a synthetic gene network that serves as an early warning system. It recognises the four most common types of cancer -- prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer -- at a very early stage, namely when the level of calcium in the blood is elevated due to the developing tumour.

The early warning system comprises a genetic network that biotechnologists integrate into human body cells, which in turn are inserted into an implant. This encapsulated gene network is then implanted under the skin where it constantly monitors the blood calcium level.

As soon as the calcium level exceeds a particular threshold value over a longer period of time, a signal cascade is triggered that initiates production of the body's tanning pigment melanin in the genetically modified cells. The skin then forms a brown mole that is visible to the naked eye.

The mole appears long before the cancer becomes detectable through conventional diagnosis. "An implant carrier should then see a doctor for further evaluation after the mole appears," explains Fussenegger. It is no reason to panic. "The mole does not mean that the person is likely to die soon," stresses the ETH professor. It simply means that clarification and if necessary treatment are needed.

The researchers used calcium as the indicator of the development of the four types of cancer, as it is regulated strongly in the body. Bones serve as a buffer that can balance out concentration differences. However, when too much calcium is detected in the blood, this may serve as a sign for one of the four cancers.

"Early detection increases the chance of survival significantly," says Fussenegger. For example, if breast cancer is detected early, the chance of recovery is 98 percent; however, if the tumour is diagnosed too late, only one in four women has a good chance of recovery. "Nowadays, people generally go to the doctor only when the tumour begins to cause problems. Unfortunately, by that point it is often too late."

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Best Foods for Women 50 Plus!

                                                         

                                 The Best Foods to Eat For Women 50 Years Old and Beyond


                                       
MD Monthly  March 21, 2018  Senior, Women's

The Best Foods to Eat For Women 50 Years Old and Beyond

By: Josh Elizetxe
Women’s bodies undergo different changes as time passes by. Apparently, these changes have huge impacts on health and wellness. At the age of 30, every woman’s metabolism begins to decline. The same is true for bone density and hormone levels.  So, imagine your overall health condition in your fifties and sixties.

In totality, it is not only your preference for music and clothes that change as you get older. You must understand that your body is no longer functioning as efficiently as it was when you were 20 or 30. And being much more selective to the food you are eating is a must. Hence, here are the best foods to eat when you are in your fifties.

Oats
Heart diseases are very common for older people – 45 and above. Women normally have a much higher risk of getting such diseases starting at the age of 55. So, including cholesterol-lowering foods and snacks is a great move.

Now, oats are natural cholesterol-lowering foods. And eating this regularly will not only help you lower your risks of heart diseases, but they can also decrease the risk of dying at an early age. Essentially, oats contain high levels of beta-glucan which is a soluble fiber that decreases cholesterol levels. A cup of this every morning will do the work effectively.

Apples
Apples are a great choice of fruit too when aiming for a clean and healthy diet. They are rich in fibers that are great for keeping your heart healthy. Also, eating more apples every day can largely decrease the risks of immobility as you age.

Alongside these benefits, apples have a lot of antioxidants that fight free radicals which are usually the causes of immunity decline.

Berries
For your brain improvements, berries are the greatest option to choose along with the other dark-colored berries. They contain phytochemicals that increase the blood flow to the brain and reduce inflammation. As a result, these fruits can help you improve your brain functions and decrease the risk of having the common short-term memory loss tendencies.

Walnuts
You may want to resort to nuts as well, instead of munching on crackers and chips for your snacks. Recently, studies show that nuts, especially walnuts and peanuts, reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death by 28%. In addition, they improve brain functionality which is great for women over 50.

Try to have at least one cup of walnuts or peanuts per day. You may include fruits while munching on them.

Lean Meats & Fish
As you reach the age of 50 and older, you must be very careful in counting your calories. Instead of focusing on calorie-dense foods, switch to foods that are nutrient-dense such as lean meats and fish meats.

These kinds of foods are very rich in protein and fiber that are significantly needed for your body in these age groups.

Soy Milk
Your hormones may act strangely and differently during this stage in life. As you get older, the menopausal stages and symptoms that you experience are evident. You will want to choose to consume foods that are high in isoflavones since they mimic how estrogen hormones function.

Soy milk, tofu, and miso are the most appropriate choices for your hormonal concerns at this age. However, be mindful of consuming too many soybeans especially when you are a cancer survivor. It is essentially advisable that you consult with your doctor first before consuming such foods.

Yogurt
Another common concern of every mid-aged woman today is their bone health. During this stage of life, the bone apparently gets thinner making it very susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis. Hence, the need for vitamin D and calcium is much higher.

The green varieties of yogurt are great sources of fiber. As for milk yogurts and non-dairy types, they are quite rich in calcium. And they are the best foods to eat regularly to help and strengthen the bones in totality.

Broccoli
Today, there are a lot of “green superfoods” to choose from. But, one of the best choices in this line of food is broccoli. You could actually gain a lot of benefits from eating broccoli on a daily basis. A daily serving of this green can help you improve brain functions and health due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory contents. Also, the calcium contents of broccoli are significant and makes it great for your bone health as well.

Oranges
An orange a day can keep you active and well-functioning even at an older age. Also, the antioxidant that they contain slows the aging process which preserves your younger health states.

Apparently, the benefits of eating oranges are already established. Nevertheless, they are found to be helpful not only in strengthening your immune system but also in decreasing the risk of having physical impairment due to aging.

Eggs
Eggs are another great food to add to your diet and meal plans. They are high in protein and this helps you maintain a great shape and figure. Also, they contain significant numbers of nutrients which are beneficial to your overall health and wellness especially when you reach 50 and above.

Try to eat one or two eggs per day.

All of the foods listed above are not the surprising and unique kinds. They are the ones you always hear or read about when it comes to having a healthy lifestyle. But, even though there’s not a major “wow-factor” in these foods, they can effectively help you manage your fitness states and health conditions during your mid-ages.
                                   
 Source : MD Monthly

More from MD Monthly : Senior Health
                                       

Science News Probiotics can protect the skeletons of older women

                                             

June 21, 2018

Source:

University of Gothenburg

 Summary:

Researchers have demonstrated that probiotics, dietary supplements with health-promoting bacteria, can be used to affect the human skeleton. Among older women who received probiotics, bone loss was halved compared to women who received only a placebo. The research opens the door to a new way to prevent fractures among the elderly.

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For the first time in the world, researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have demonstrated that probiotics, dietary supplements with health-promoting bacteria, can be used to affect the human skeleton. Among older women who received probiotics, bone loss was halved compared to women who received only a placebo. The research opens the door to a new way to prevent fractures among the elderly.

Brittleness of the bones, or osteoporosis, is characterized by porous and weak bones, which can cause them to break even when subjected to low loads, such as a fall from standing height. The proportion of the population with osteoporosis increases with age, and a majority of women over 80 years of age have the disease.

"Today there are effective medications administered to treat osteoporosis, but because bone fragility is rarely detected before the first fracture, there is a pressing need for preventive treatments," says Mattias Lorentzon, who is a chief physician and professor of geriatrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

This is the first time that researchers have shown that it is possible to cut age-related bone loss in elderly women in half if they receive health-promoting bacteria, known as probiotics.

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sciencedaily.com

New Research Results! Reversing cognitive impairments in mice with dementia

                                           
                                                               

Date:

June 8, 2018

Source:

Temple University Health System

Summary:

Reversing memory deficits and impairments in spatial learning is a major goal in dementia research. A lack of knowledge about cellular pathways critical to the development of dementia has prevented significant clinical advance. Researchers are breaking through that barrier. They show, for the first time in an animal model, that a drug can reverse tau pathology -- the second-most important lesion in the brain in patients with Alzheimer's.

The following report is from Science Daily

Reversing memory deficits and impairments in spatial learning is a major goal in the field of dementia research. A lack of knowledge about cellular pathways critical to the development of dementia, however, has stood in the way of significant clinical advance. But now, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) are breaking through that barrier. They show, for the first time in an animal model, that tau pathology -- the second-most important lesion in the brain in patients with Alzheimer's disease -- can be reversed by a drug.

"We show that we can intervene after disease is established and pharmacologically rescue mice that have tau-induced memory deficits," explained senior investigator Domenico Praticò, MD, Scott Richards North Star Foundation Chair for Alzheimer's Research, Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology, and Director of the Alzheimer's Center at Temple at LKSOM. The study, published online in the journal Molecular Neurobiology, raises new hope for human patients affected by dementia.

The researchers landed on their breakthrough after discovering that inflammatory molecules known as leukotrienes are deregulated in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. In experiments in animals, they found that the leukotriene pathway plays an especially important role in the later stages of disease.

"At the onset of dementia, leukotrienes attempt to protect nerve cells, but over the long term, they cause damage," Dr. Praticò said. "Having discovered this, we wanted to know whether blocking leukotrienes could reverse the damage, whether we could do something to fix memory and learning impairments in mice having already abundant tau pathology."

To recapitulate the clinical situation of dementia in humans, in which patients are already symptomatic by the time they are diagnosed, Dr. Praticò and colleagues used specially engineered tau transgenic mice, which develop tau pathology -- characterized by neurofibrillary tangles, disrupted synapses (the junctions between neurons that allow them to communicate with one another), and declines in memory and learning ability -- as they age. When the animals were 12 months old, the equivalent of age 60 in humans, they were treated with zileuton, a drug that inhibits leukotriene formation by blocking the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme.

After 16 weeks of treatment, animals were administered maze tests to assess their working memory and their spatial learning memory. Compared with untreated animals, tau mice that had received zileuton performed significantly better on the tests. Their superior performance suggested a successful reversal of memory deficiency.

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