Q. My 80-year-old mother stays up half the night watching old movies or playing Solitaire. I can’t convince her that this isn’t good for her health. Sometimes I think she doesn’t have enough to do during the day, but I work full-time so I just can’t get over there regularly.
Here’s a sobering note: lack of sleep has been found to be a new risk factor for colon cancer. A study finds individuals who averaged less than six hours of sleep at night had an almost 50 percent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas – a precursor to cancer tumors – compared with those sleeping at least seven hours per night. These untreated adenomas polyps can become malignant.
This new research just adds to the list of risks associated with lack of sleep such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and even death.
Of the 1,240 patients studied – who were receiving routine colonoscopies – 338 were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas at their tests. The patients with adenomas were found in general to have reported sleeping less than six hours compared with those patients without adenomas (control) patients. The association between amount of sleep and adenomas remained even when adjusted for family history, smoking and waist-to-hip ratio (a measurement of obesity).
Researchers reported the magnitude of the increase in risk due to less hours of sleep as comparable to the risk associated with having a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with colon cancer, as well as with high, red meat intake.
Try to encourage your mother to visit her doctor. There could be health or medication-related reasons why she is having trouble sleeping. It sounds like the two of you also could benefit from a caregiving companion for Mom. A CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care® could provide companionship and activity options for your mother during the day that may help keep her so busy that she would be ready for bed at night. A professional caregiving service also provides a welcome respite for busy family caregivers like you.
CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. Efforts are made to match CAREGivers with older adults of similar interests.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, visit http://www.uhhospitals.org/aboutuh/tabid/1359/~/Default.aspx?tabid=1359&newsid3423=952.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Lifestyle More Important Than Genetics, Study Reveals
Q. As an active 75-year-old widower, I am worried about the role of genetics in my future. Neither of my parents lived passed 77 and I would like to enjoy a longer life on this earth with my family and friends. I try to lead a much healthier lifestyle than that of my parents. What can you tell me about the latest research?
There has been some conflicting data on this topic throughout the years, but the latest research is good news for seniors like you. A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has concluded that lifestyle has the biggest impact when determining longevity.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, runs counter to what many people just assume – that those with parents who lived to be very old are more likely to live to a grand old age themselves.
“But that's just not true,” says professor emeritus Lars Wilhelmsen. “Our study shows that hereditary factors don't play a major role and that lifestyle has the biggest impact."
The study group consisted of men born in 1913 that have participated in health and longevity studies in Gothenburg for many years. Those in the 1913 Men Study who did not smoke, consumed moderate amounts of coffee and had a good socio-economic status at the age of 50 (measured in terms of housing costs), as well as good physical working capacity at the age of 54 and low cholesterol at 50 had the greatest chance of celebrating their 90th birthday. "The study clearly shows that we can influence several of the factors that decide how old we get," Wilhelmsen said.
This is good news that you can share with your friends. It’s important to see your doctor regularly to ensure that your blood pressure and cholesterol remain at healthy levels. Companionship or help around the house also could have a positive impact on you as well. Contact Home Instead Senior Care® to learn how a CAREGiver could assist you.
Or maybe you could be a CAREGiver yourself. In fact, CAREGivers who are seniors often share many of the same interests and hobbies with other older adults. You could help inspire other seniors with your healthy habits and encourage them to make the most of life.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, go to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02331.x/abstract.
There has been some conflicting data on this topic throughout the years, but the latest research is good news for seniors like you. A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has concluded that lifestyle has the biggest impact when determining longevity.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, runs counter to what many people just assume – that those with parents who lived to be very old are more likely to live to a grand old age themselves.
“But that's just not true,” says professor emeritus Lars Wilhelmsen. “Our study shows that hereditary factors don't play a major role and that lifestyle has the biggest impact."
The study group consisted of men born in 1913 that have participated in health and longevity studies in Gothenburg for many years. Those in the 1913 Men Study who did not smoke, consumed moderate amounts of coffee and had a good socio-economic status at the age of 50 (measured in terms of housing costs), as well as good physical working capacity at the age of 54 and low cholesterol at 50 had the greatest chance of celebrating their 90th birthday. "The study clearly shows that we can influence several of the factors that decide how old we get," Wilhelmsen said.
This is good news that you can share with your friends. It’s important to see your doctor regularly to ensure that your blood pressure and cholesterol remain at healthy levels. Companionship or help around the house also could have a positive impact on you as well. Contact Home Instead Senior Care® to learn how a CAREGiver could assist you.
Or maybe you could be a CAREGiver yourself. In fact, CAREGivers who are seniors often share many of the same interests and hobbies with other older adults. You could help inspire other seniors with your healthy habits and encourage them to make the most of life.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, go to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02331.x/abstract.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Research Says Socially Active Seniors Avoid Disability
Q. I can't convince my 82-year-old dad that he will feel better and stay healthier of he remains socially active. Since Mom died he doesn't seem to want to do anything.
Tell your dad about the latest news, which reveals that those who are socially active are at least one and one-half times as likely to avoid disability. According to research, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences and conducted at Rush University Medical Center, higher levels of social activity are associated with a decreased risk of becoming disabled.
"Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better everyday functioning and less disability in old age," said lead researcher Bryan James, Ph.D., from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center.
"The findings are exciting because social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability," he noted.
The study included 954 older adults with a mean age of 82 who are participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, an ongoing longitudinal study of common chronic conditions of aging. At the start of the investigation, none of the participants had any form of disability. They each underwent yearly evaluations that included a medical history and neurological and neuropsychological tests.
Results showed that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability involving activities of daily living than a person with a low level of social activity, and about 1.5 times as likely to remain free of disability involving instrumental activities of daily living or mobility.
Your father could be suffering from depression since the passing of your mom. Why not encourage him to visit his doctor to make sure his health checks are up-to-date. Then suggest that he reconnect with his friends or make new ones at a senior center or faith-based organization.
Perhaps he could use a little help as well. A CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care® could help on two fronts: first, a CAREGiver could provide companionship and someone to accompany him to events or activities. A CAREGiver also could assist your father in reconnecting with old friends or help facilitate his social schedule.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, go to www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, visit http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1471.
Tell your dad about the latest news, which reveals that those who are socially active are at least one and one-half times as likely to avoid disability. According to research, published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences and conducted at Rush University Medical Center, higher levels of social activity are associated with a decreased risk of becoming disabled.
"Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better everyday functioning and less disability in old age," said lead researcher Bryan James, Ph.D., from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center.
"The findings are exciting because social activity is potentially a risk factor that can be modified to help older adults avoid the burdens of disability," he noted.
The study included 954 older adults with a mean age of 82 who are participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, an ongoing longitudinal study of common chronic conditions of aging. At the start of the investigation, none of the participants had any form of disability. They each underwent yearly evaluations that included a medical history and neurological and neuropsychological tests.
Results showed that a person who reported a high level of social activity was about twice as likely to remain free of a disability involving activities of daily living than a person with a low level of social activity, and about 1.5 times as likely to remain free of disability involving instrumental activities of daily living or mobility.
Your father could be suffering from depression since the passing of your mom. Why not encourage him to visit his doctor to make sure his health checks are up-to-date. Then suggest that he reconnect with his friends or make new ones at a senior center or faith-based organization.
Perhaps he could use a little help as well. A CAREGiver from Home Instead Senior Care® could help on two fronts: first, a CAREGiver could provide companionship and someone to accompany him to events or activities. A CAREGiver also could assist your father in reconnecting with old friends or help facilitate his social schedule.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, go to www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, visit http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1471.
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