Medical Research Findings: Today and Tomorrow Can be Vastly Different

Isn't science a wonderful thing? Because of medical research, our life expectancy has changed dramatically. In 1900, the average life expectancy for a man was 47 years of age! Today it is 77 and getting older as we speak.

Medical research has allowed a death sentence for people diagnosed with HIV in 1982 to now become a chronic illness for the vast majority of those diagnosed since 1995. Cancer of the breast and prostate most often lead to death in in the 1960's. Today, the degree of the cancer determines survival. The lower the degree, better the survival rate.

Yesterday I reported that social, mental and physical activity to counteract loneliness helps to decrease the likelihood of developing dementia. Today, new research indicates that physical activity helps reduce the risk of Vascular dementia, but not Alzheimer's dementia.

These reports can become pretty confusing. You may feel as though your head is spinning. So what are you to believe?

Research reports are as good as the design and execution of the study. It is impossible for lay people to scrutinize every piece of information they hear and determine whether or not it is sound research.

Only time can really tell what will hold water in research results. While learning the results of studies is helpful, looking at the data is important to a physician, nurses, and other allied health professionals. Ask your health care provider to explain things that you hear that are pertinent to you.

Using common sense is helpful along the way. Consider the example of exercise. Does exercise help keep a person healthy? Scientific research is showing that, yes, it does. In years past, people were thinner because they did work that required alot more physical effort compared to most jobs today. Facts show that most adults in previous times did not develop diabetes. Diabetes was seen mostly in children who acquired it from a genetic or immune disorder.

Today, twenty percent of all adults age 60 years and older develop diabetes. Thirty(30%) percent of older adults who are obese have diabetes as compared to 13% of their thinner counterparts.

At least 10 million Americans at high risk for type 2 diabetes can sharply lower their chances of getting the disease with diet and exercise, according to the findings of a major clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). All of the people enrolled in this study participated in lifestyle changes with diet and exercise which reduced their risk for developing diabetes. About 15% developed diabetes within 3 years of this study. Not reported in the short report was how many continued with the lifestyle changes.

I reported early in this blog that a new study reported that exercise will help reduce the risk for vascular dementia. So why talk about diabetes? People who exercise less often have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes causes complications in the blood vessels. Vascular dementia is one of these comlications. Vascular dementia is caused by a change in the blood flow in the vessels of the brain, causing cell death. Cell death in the brain causes dementia.

A tangled web or a domino effect? Lifestyle factors play a huge role. Balance in how many aspects of life impact health overall: stress level, social interaction, sleep, diet, exercise and physical activity level are all predictors of health. This is the overall theme to learn from current medical research findings. What we learn today, the changes in lifestyle made today, can effect our health tomorrow.

Loneliness Can Increase Dementia Risk

A 4 year study completed at Rush University, Chicago shows that lonely elderly are more than two times likely to develop dementia than those who are not lonely. Older adults with a good social network, who were frequently involved in social activity, and were mentally stimulated demonstrated less risk for dementia.

Loneliness was associated with more rapid decline in overall cognition, memory, perceptual speed and visuospatial ability. Staying mentally and physically active are keys to beating both loneliness and decreasing the risk of dementia. One recent large group study found that staying mentally active reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia by nearly half by building and maintaining a reserve of stimulation.It is a case of "using it, not losing it." Another study found that older people who exercise three or more times a week had a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Even light activity, such as walking, seemed to help.

Many families struggle with the best way to reduce social isolation, loneliness, and mental and physical stagnation for their elderly family members. Environmental barriers can be obstacles to overcoming social isolation. Attending a senior center or becoming involved in a senior club can provide activities such as exercise, meals, games, and trips. Libraries, book stores offering book clubs and quilting groups are just a few of the possible choices that can improve a person's mental and physical health inexpensively.

Elderly family members who are physically unable to participate in a public venue because of decreased function can certainly benefit from visits from church members, adult day centers, and non-medical home care providers. The visits must focus on the interests of the individual. As such, a history of the elderly person's interests and lifelong hobbies is important to putting together a worthwhile and meaningful plan to decrease loneliness and stimulate interest in life's rewards.

Assistance With Aging Skin Changes

Skin changes as the body ages. It becomes thinner. It loses some of its elasticity. It is less able to protect itself from damage, and it heals more slowly from cuts or burns.

Dry skin is a common problem in older adults. To avoid dry skin:

Shower or bathe with warm water

Apply a skin lotion over the whole body, while it is still damp

Always shower and apply lotion immediately after swimming in a chlorinated pool or sitting in a spa

Avoid saunas

Apply lotion to entire skin surface at bedtime

Use only soaps designed for dry skin

Consider using a humidifier on cold, dry winter days.

It helps to be slightly damp when lotion is applied to help lock in moisture. But don't leave the skin too damp, or fungal infections can develop. Women should dry under the breasts, and both men and women should dry their genital areas well after showering or bathing.

Skin tears are very common. They tend to be shallow, involving the outer most layer of the skin. Tears occur from rubbing, pulling or touching on something in the home. For example, bumping counter tops, coffee tables or bedposts can result in a tear. It is important to try to prevent such injuries. Look around the home and remove potential targets. Consider padding bedposts or corners of tables with soft cushiony materials.

Stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound. If bleeding does not stop within a few minutes, obtain assistance from your health care provider.

Wash the wound with soap and water. If the injury occurred outside and rocks or gravel are inside the wound, they need to be removed.

If the cut or tear is small, you can apply an antibacterial cream and then a bandage. It is usually most helpful to apply a soft roll of gauze, wrapping it around the affected area and applying tape to the gauze instead of directly onto the skin since many people experience more skin tears from the adhesive sticking too well to the skin and tearing as it comes off.

Watch for signs of infection, such as: odor, pain, fever, drainage, redness, red streaks, or warmth in the area. If you notice any of these signs, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Alcohol Use and Abuse

Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Rachel takes a fifth of whiskey to her mother every 2 weeks. Rachel's mother Mary admits that she drinks a few each evening to help her get to sleep. This is common. Families, friends, and health care professionals often overlook their concerns about older people’s drinking. Sometimes trouble with alcohol in older people is mistaken for other conditions that happen with age.

The aging body does not handle alcohol the same way. The same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect as a person grows older. Some research has shown that as people age they become more sensitive to alcohol’s effects. High blood pressure, ulcers, and diabetes can worsen with alcohol use. Many medicines—both prescription and over-the-counter—can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol.

This is a special worry for older people because the average person over age 65 takes at least two medicines a day. Aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines. If a person takes aspirin while drinking alcohol, the risk of bleeding is much higher. Cold and allergy medicines (antihistamines) often make people sleepy. When alcohol is combined with those medicines, it can make drowsiness worse and driving even more dangerous. Alcohol used with large doses of the pain killer acetaminophen can raise the risk of liver damage. If your loved one is taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications, ask the doctor or pharmacist if its safe to drink alcohol.

Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time. It can increase the risk of work and household accidents, including falls and hip fractures. It also adds to the risk of car crashes— a special concern because almost 10 percent of this nation’s drivers are over age 65. Heavy drinking over time also can cause certain cancers, liver cirrhosis, immune system disorders, and brain damage.

Alcohol can make some medical concerns hard for doctors to find and treat. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack. Drinking also can make older people forgetful and confused. These symptoms could be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer’s disease. For people with diabetes, drinking affects blood sugar levels. Ulcers also may become worse with alcohol use.

Studies show that older problem drinkers are as able to benefit from treatment as are younger alcohol abusers. To get help, talk to the doctor. He or she can give you advice about your loved one's health, drinking, and treatment options. Your local health department or social services agencies can also help. There are many types of treatments available. Some, such as 12-step help programs, have been around a long time. Others include getting alcohol out of the body (detoxification), taking prescription medicines to help prevent a return to drinking once sober, and individual and/or group counseling. Newer programs teach people with drinking problems to learn which situations or feelings trigger the urge to drink as well as ways to cope without alcohol. Because the support of family members is important, many programs also counsel married couples and family members as part of the treatment process. Programs may also link individuals with important community resources.