The review was published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. Dr. Sarah Booth, lead researcher at Tufts University USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, analyzed current studies to assess the vitamin K nutritional status of the elderly. A meta-analysis found that increased intake of vitamin K is necessary to lower the risk of fracture and bone among seniors. Although elderly people seem to consume more vitamin K than young adults, a subgroup of seniors is still not meeting the recommended dietary intake.

Other studies show that nondietary factors of vitamin K are important for determining the nutritional status of seniors. New research suggests that low estrogen levels during menopause can affect vitamin K metabolism. However, more research is needed to determine vitamin K status among seniors and which groups may benefit from vitamin K supplementation.

"Evidence is emerging to support recommendations to increase intakes of vitamin K among the elderly to reduce bone loss and fracture risk," Dr. Booth writes. "Much more research is required, however, to identify nondietary determinants of vitamin K status, and their impact on the elderly."

REFERENCES:
1. Booth SL. Vitamin K status in the elderly. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2007 Jan;10(1):20-3.

Although the May-December romance is often attributed to the stamina of the younger man, experts don't think this is the most important reason for the relationship. Experts believe that reasons for this trend include:

1. Older women enjoy the adventure and spontaneity of younger men.
2. Younger men enjoy the success and experience of older women.
3. Older women are remaining attractive and aging well due to a lifelong commitment to health and fitness.
4. Women are often available because they live longer than their spouses or are divorced.
5. Established older women are looking for fun and companionship with younger men, rather than financial security.
6. Successful older women are interested in younger men who support her career or are willing to remain at home to take care of children.

Experts also debunk some common myths about older women/younger men relationships, including the older woman commonly seduces the younger man, the younger man leaves her for a younger woman, and May-December romances are often short-term. Experts have found that these scenarios rarely occurred.

The study, published in the journal Nature, investigated the effects of resveratrol on middle-aged mice fed three different diets. Researchers at Harvard University in Boston administered either a regular diet, a high calorie/fat diet or a high calorie/fat diet supplemented with resveratrol to mice for 1 year. Food intake, body fat and body weight measurements, fasting insulin levels, and motor function tests were obtained from the mice.

Researchers found that 58 percent of the mice fed the high calorie/fat diet had died, compared to 42 percent of the mice on the regular diet or the resveratrol high calorie/fat diet. Furthermore, the risk of death was reduced by 31 percent for the mice on the reveratrol high calorie/fat diet. Findings also revealed that the resveratrol-fed mice had improved insulin sensitivity, decreased fasting insulin levels, improved motor function, enhanced mitochondrial function (the metabolic conversion of food to energy) and healthier body tissues.

The study findings suggest that resveratrol treatment protected mice against the unhealthy effects of their obesity and high calorie/fat diet, and produced changes associated with a longer lifespan. "These data show that improving general health in mammals using small molecules is an attainable goal, and point to new approaches for treating obesity-related disorders and diseases of aging," the study authors write.

REFERENCES:
1. Baur JA et al. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature 2006 Nov16;444(7117):337-42. Epub 2006 Nov 1.

And it seems like the elderly who live in nursing homes or assisted living homes experience a more rapid decline in normal function and homeostatis compared to those living on their own or with extended family.

Nursing homes are often the site of flu epidemic because of the close living quarters and shared care providers that can spread around infection. Many parties are searching for ways to limit the spread of infection in nursing homes as well as ways to improve the health of our loved ones during their stay.

A recent study of 92 men and women over the age of 65 found that added nutrients, including beta carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, triglycerides, and fructo-oligosaccharides help improve the health and well being of elderly men and women living in nursing homes compared to a standard nutritional beverage. The study was completed in just 10 weeks.

The study was published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. It found that those extra nutrients listed above decreased the necessity of antibiotics and occurance of fever significantly compared to a standard nutritional drink with RDA of vitamins and minerals.

Fever incidence was only 5 percent in the extra nutrients group compared to 16 percent in the standard nutrients group.

Each person was also given the flu vaccine during the study period and levels of immunity were measured after administration to determine strength of the immune response. Antibody levels were higher in those in the extra nutrients group compared to standard nutrients group, with an adequate response acheived in 43 percent compared to 23 percent in the groups respectively.

The authors concluded that nutrition has a strong role in the well being of elderly persons in a nursing home, and seems to directly affect the ability of the immune system to function properly.

Healthcare providers and family members should be sure that elderly persons in their care are receiving adequate levels of nutrients. Poor absorption, which is common in the elderly, may be reason enough to supplement with higher amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as be reason enough to provide extra nutrients.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, examined whether not driving is a risk factor for entering long-term care. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore conducted surveys of 1,593 older adults living in a rural town, every two years from 1993 through 2003. The participants were questioned on driving status and entry into long-term care. During the study, 149 participants entered long-term care.

The researchers found that participants were four times more likely to enter long-term care if they stopped driving or had never driven, as compared with seniors who drove. Furthermore, participants were 72 percent more likely to enter long-term care if they were not living with one other driver, as compared to seniors living with a driver.

"Older adults are expected to make good decisions about when to stop driving, but the hardships imposed on older adults by not driving are not widely recognized," the study authors write. "Innovative strategies to improve transportation options for older adults should be considered."

REFERENCES:
1. Freeman FE et al. Driving status and risk of entry into long-term care in older adults. Am J Public Health 2006 Jul;96(7):1254-9. Epub 2006 May 30.

The primary spice in curry is curcumin. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb that is used both medicinally and as a culinary spice. Epidemiological studies have found that cultures who use curry in a majority of their food often suffer less incidence of Alzheimer's disease and dementia compared to US citizens.

The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, gathered data on curry consumption from more than 1,000 men and women, all of whom had no previous diagnosis of dementia or decreased cognitive ability.

Each person was asked about their consumption of curry. Only 16 percent said they never or rarely ate curry, while 43 percent said is was a regular part of their diet.

The each participant completed the Mini-mental State Examination, a commonly used battery to assess cognitive ability and screen for dementia.

Those participants who regularly consumed curry scored on an average much higher on the examination than those who reported never or rarely eating curry.

This is the first study to show this connection between curry and cognitive ability. The authors hope that more studies will follow that address curry, and more specifically curcumin, as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's.

AMD is a progressive disorder of the eyes that results in total vision loss. It is mediated by damage to the eye by UV rays from the sun. It usually occurs in older age individuals. Surgery is the primary means of treatment.

The researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine assessed physical activity in more than 4,000 men and women over a fifteen year period. Their ages at enrollement were between 43 and 86 years. Each person completed a questionaire about physical activity every 5 years. Data was compiled and incidence of AMD coorelated with physical activity.

They found that about 25 percent of men and women were regularly active during the study. Having a active lifestyle or regular exercise routine was associated with a drop risk for AMD by as much as 70 percent for those most active. They could not determine the reason for this positive effect, but perhaps the body was overall more healthy in those active persons.

In any case, regular exercise, even in old age, is protective against a variety of conditions including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and now age-related macular degeneration.

1. Slow aging-
A healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet and daily exercise, has been shown to slow the aging process. Although maximum oxygen consumption, muscle and bone mass decline with aging, along with an increased tendency to gain weight, a healthy lifestyle can help prevent these changes. By committing to healthy living including a regular exercise program and whole foods diet, you can prevent and even treat age-related disease.

2. Daily exercise-
A daily fitness program including cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise, strength training and flexibility exercise can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. To increase overall fitness and reduce overuse injuries, many celebrities participate in cross-training including jogging, cycling, swimming, dance, yoga, martial arts, weightlifting, and Pilates. You don't have to be a celebrity to remain fit as a parent. If you're a parent with toddlers and don't have nannies, you can still take your small children along with you on your workouts, such as brisk walking with strollers or backpacks. With older children, you can organize family activities such as hiking, swimming, ball-playing, and bicycling. Transform your basement or family space into a gym, including active toys for the children and workout equipment for you.

3. Healthy diet-
A balanced diet of whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole unrefined grains, lean proteins such as beans, fish or chicken, and nuts is essential to maintain healthy weight and optimal health. Many over-40 celebrities remain on this simple wholesome diet, omitting fatty foods and desserts. You can do the same by preparing balanced, healthful meals at home and making healthy meal choices when eating out.

REFERENCES:
1. Gavalas E. The Yoga Minibook for Longevity. Simon & Schuster Fireside, 2003.

The study, presented at the 2006 Chicago Actuarial Association meeting, investigated possible predictors of longevity. Researchers at the University of Chicago's Center on Aging analyzed U.S. Census data, Social Security Administration data and genealogical records of 198 centenarians born in the U.S. from 1890 to 1893. They studied the family histories of the participants to identify possible predictors of longevity.

The researchers found that children born when their mothers were under 25 were almost twice as likely to live to 100. However, the father's age had less importance to longevity. Findings also revealed that other factors increasing longevity include being born first and growing up in U.S. western states.

"[The finding] may have important social implications, because many women postpone their childbearing to later ages because of career demands," say study authors Dr. Leonid Gavrilov and Dr. Natalia Gavrilova, in a statement. "Centenarians represent the fastest growing age group in industrialized countries, yet factors predicting exceptional longevity and its time trends remain to be fully understood."

Experts believe that healthcare advances and lifestyle improvements will greatly increase the numbers of centenarians by 2074.

REFERENCES:
1. Key to reaching age 100 may be mom's age at birth. Reuters Health, June 23, 2006:
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/childrens/health_library/reuters/2006/06/2006
0623elin013.html

The study was published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A total of 1260 men and women age 65 or greater were enrolled in the study and followed for an average of 6 years from 1995-2003. Vitamin D status was assessed at entry into the studyand the follow-up assessed time to nursing home admission and death, if either.

Out of all the participants, 10 percent were deficient in Vitamin D, while an additional 37 percent had low normal levels of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is an essential fat soluble vitamin. The two greatest sources are dietary and sunlight. Most elderly individuals may suffer from malabsorption, which would naturally result in decreased levels. Couple that with decreased mobility due to aging and lack of sun exposure and it is easy to see how so many can have less than optimal levels.

Vitamin D is necessary for proper bone metabolism. It also has some role in the immune system and cell growth/production.

During follow-up 11 percent of the participants were admitted to a nursing home and 30 percent died. Admission to a nursing home was significantly coorelated with low Vitamin D status. Risk of an early death was higher with low Vitamin D levels, but the significance was lessened after accounting for other variables.

The authors concluded that low Vitamin D levels are infact associated nursing home admission. The relationship between Vitamin D levels and early mortality are not as clear.

Vitamin D is an added nutrient in most dairy products. Even so most of the Vitamin D comes from sun exposure. It is recommended that adults get at least 20 minutes a day in the sun without a sunscreen, which can block production.

There are a number of theories to explain why depression occurs at this time in life, with many psychologists believing transitional changes in the household, like kids leaving for college, may play a significant role. Scientists suggest that hormonal fluctuations can trigger these symptoms, just as they do hot flashes and insomnia. Not so widely known causes include nutritional deficiencies later in life due to impaired digestion and malabsorption, poor dietary habits and systemic inflammatory conditions. Most likely, there is a combination of factors at play.

How can depression in perimenopause and menopause be addressed? Of course, the most common forms of treatment in the United States include pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy and antidepressants. However, dietary approaches like digestive support to improve digestion, specific dietary changes, and therapeutic levels of vitamins, minerals and amino acids can be very effective. Herbal supplements for addressing depression and hormonal changes are also used by nutritionally oriented physicians. Counseling is a modality of treatment often not recommended by primary care providers, but can be as effective as pharmaceuticals for depression and the results are longer lasting without the adverse effects. Each case is different, and must be addressed on an individual basis to determine the best course of treatment.

The study was published in the journal Archives of Neurology. A total of 3,700 men and women were included in the study that measured daily copper and fat intake from various sources dietary and supplemental. Cognitive decline was assessed over a period of 6 years.

Interest in copper metabolism in the elderly has been high since finding high amounts of copper in the blood of Alzheimer's patients. Copper is an essential mineral for the body and is involved in numerous reactions, both good and bad. Previous evidence found that higher than normal levels of copper can actually inhibit normal maintenance of blood vessels, allowing for plaque build up.

Fat intake, and in particular saturated and trans fat intake negatively effects cardiovascular health in all people. The latest studies have shown that even one meal high in saturated fats may be harmful to our heart. High saturated fats increase the likelihood that dangerous plaques will build up in the blood vessels causing increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

In this study more than 600 subjects had a high copper intake combined with high saturated and trans fat intake. Most copper was attributed to multivitamin use, though other sources of high copper include organ meat, beans, legumes, and shellfish.

In this study about 600 subjects were identified with high intakes of both copper and saturated fats. For this group mental decline was rapid. Over the 6 year follow-up period these subjects experienced mental decline equivalent to aging 19 years. This represented a 13 year advance over subjects who did not consume the combination of high copper and high fats.

The study authors believe this may be one link to Alzheimer's disease, though patients had not been diagnosed. In people with Alzheimer's a very rapid cognitive decline is the most apparent sign.

The study does not prove causation, but brings to light interesting coorelations between copper and fat intake. The highest levels of copper in the blood of these study subjects was 1.6 mg, which is above the recommended daily intake of 0.9 mg.

In the study more than 430 men and women who were hospitalized following a single hip injury were questioned about their general outlook on life and for any depressive symtpoms. Then each of the subjects were put through various performance tests/skills to determine their overall physical function,which was compared to pre-injury function.

They found that a large percentage of subjects with a greater positive outlook returned to pre-injury function, while those with a depressive mood did not. Positive attitude improved various performance tests including walking speed and standing from a chair. Subjects with a low positive outlook also functioned to a lesser degree than the high positive outlook patients, but did score higher than the depressed mood patients.

The study is the first to show that something as simple as a positive outlook can improve recovery. Positive outlook is defined as reporting general happiness, enjoying life, and feeling good about the future. For the elderly subjects in this study, attitude alone made such an impact on the ability to return to the pre-injury state.

Physician and healthcare providers as well as family members can take special care to nuture outlook and attitude in their elderly who suffer serious injuries such as hip fracture. Perhaps counseling or additional office visits to address mood and depressive symptoms could make a great differnce in their future.

How do we limit the amount of AGEs formed in the body? Of course, by controlling blood glucose levels through a low glycemic index diet, exercise and weight loss. If problems with glucose are showing up on laboratory tests, your doctor should order a test called Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) which is a glycosylated form of hemoglobin (a normal body protein that carries iron). HbA1c reflects the overall levels of glucose in the past three months and should be under 7 for diabetics. To further limit production of AGEs, avoiding lengthy, high temperature cooking methods devoid of water is important, as well as restricting the amount of animal products and meats.

Nutrients that can help reduce AGEs include alpha-lipoic acid and benfotiamine (a bioavailable lipid form of vitamin B1). As well, supplements to help control blood sugar levels include chromium picolinate, vanadium, cinnamon, garlic and onions, bitter melon, gymnema sylvestre, fenugreek and bilberry.

Good blood sugar control is defined as fasting blood sugars below 100 and two hour post-prandial blood sugars below 140. Another method of assessing blood sugar control is Hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c). Hb A1c should be below 7% in a healthy person with normal blood sugars, in diabetics this number can double or triple. The level of elevation in Hb A1c can determine a diabetics risk for complications.

Complications of diabetes include damage to the kidneys, eyes, and peripheral neuropathy. People with Type 2 diabetes are also at risk for other chronic conditions including heart disease and cancer.

This new study from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston examined the rate of cognitive decline in relation to blood sugar control in elderly subjects with Type 2 diabetes. Sixty diabetics were enrolled and Hb A1c was assessed to determine blood sugar control. Each person was then given a series of cognitive tests including the Mini Mental Examination and a drawing test. Activities of daily living, fall history, and presence of other disease were also taken into consideration.

As a group, the average Hb A1c was 7.9%, which is above normal and indicates most had poor blood sugar control. More than a third of the subjects had poor cognitive function as assessed by the Mini Mental Examination and the drawing tests. Subjects with pschological disorders such as depression were more likely to have difficulty completing tasks of daily living but this did not effect blood sugar control. Other impairments in the group were linked to poor control and included hearing and vision impairment.

Overall the authors believe the study supports the belief that elderly individuals with poor blood sugar control suffer greater cognitive decline than those with adequate blood sugar control. They caution that these patients may need a more individualized treatment plan to help maintain adequate blood sugar control and limit impairment in other areas. Because there is often more than one condition that needs to be addressed a comprehensive team of healthcare providers may best serve this population.