By Rita R. Robison, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

In a recent study, specific meditation performed daily for eight weeks increased brain activity in areas important to memory and actually improved cognition or thought processes in 15 patients suffering from memory problems.

Kirtan Kriya or KK, the meditation evaluated in the study, is a 12-minute practice from the Kundalini yoga tradition.

At the beginning of the study, participants, ranging in age from 52 to 77, were given cognitive tests and blood flow was measures with imaging scans. They were taught KK and instructed to practice it each day for eight weeks.

A small comparison group, who listened to music, also was recruited. The “music group” was instructed to listen to two Mozart violin concertos each day for approximately 12 minutes.

After eight weeks, cognitive tests and scans were repeated for both groups. The study found that:

• Central blood flow was increased in the KK group.
• The KK group did better on a neuropsychological test that measures cognition by asking subjects to name as many animals as they can in one minute.
• Improvements were also seen in the KK group in three other cognitive tests that measured general memory, attention, and cognition.
• The music group had no statistically significant improvements in cognition.
• Participants found the meditation to be enjoyable and beneficial and thought their cognitive function had been improved.

The researchers believe that KK meditation can have a meaningful impact on memory and on the quality of people’s lives as they age.”

The results of the study, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Most baby boomers aren’t aware that their vision could be severely damaged or they could lose their vision due to age-related eye diseases and conditions.

Only 18 percent of Americans know that macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older, and less than a quarter of all Americans understand the effects of glaucoma, according to a recent survey by the American Optometric Association. For example, 89 percent of Americans incorrectly believe that glaucoma is preventable, when in fact it’s only treatable if caught early.

When left undetected and untreated, many age-related eye diseases can damage your vision permanently.

Age-related vision disorders baby boomers should be aware of include:

Age-related macular degeneration – an eye disease that causes loss of central vision. Activities like reading, driving, watching television, and recognizing faces require clear central vision.

Diabetic retinopathy – a condition occurring in people with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. If left untreated, it can cause blindness.

Cataracts – a cloudy or opaque area in the clear lens of the eye. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. Cataracts can cause a decrease in contrast sensitivity, a dulling of colors, and increased sensitivity to glare.

Glaucoma – a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in peripheral vision loss. People at higher risk of developing glaucoma include those with a family history of the disease, older adults, African-Americans, and Hispanics.

Dry eye – a condition where there is an insufficient amount of tears or a poor quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears contribute to clear vision and the health of the front surface of the eye.

Retinal detachment – tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue. This can be caused by trauma to the eye or head, health problems due to advanced diabetes, and inflammatory disorders of the eye.

The association’s survey showed that 92 percent of those responding understood that visiting an eye doctor on a regular basis for an eye exam can help reduce the risk of developing age-related vision problems. However, the respondents were less aware that avoiding smoking – 40 percent – and eating a low-fat, low-salt diet – 30 percent – can also reduce age-related vision problems.

Adding certain nutrients to your diet every day – either through foods or supplements – can help preserve vision and prevent age-related eye diseases. The association recommends the following eye-healthy nutrients and foods:

Lutein and zeaxanthin: Colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines.

Essential fatty acids: Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, or herring; whole-grain foods; chicken and eggs.

Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes.

Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, such as safflower or corn oil; almonds and pecans; sweet potatoes and sunflower seeds.

Zinc: Extra-lean red meat, poultry, liver.

In addition to a healthy diet, regular eye examinations are important in midlife when more Americans develop age-related conditions and begin taking medications more frequently. Mark Wilkinson, O.D., chair of the association’s Vision Rehabilitation Section, said:

Some common warning signs of age-related vision problems include fluctuating vision, seeing floaters or flashes of light, loss of side vision. However, often patients with eye diseases do not have recognizable symptoms until the conditions are quite advanced, so regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for baby boomers…

The association recommends that adults over age 60 have an eye examination once a year or more frequently if a doctor recommends it.

To find an optometrist, also called a doctor of optometry or O.D., in your area, visit the Web site of the American Optometric Association.

An optometrist receives a Doctor of Optometry degree and is licensed to practice optometry. The practice of optometry involves examining the eyes to prescribe and dispense corrective lenses, screen vision to detect certain eye abnormalities, and prescribe medications for certain eye diseases.

An ophthalmologist is a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to provide a range of eye care services, from prescribing glasses and contact lenses to complex and delicate eye surgery.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40 – the time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. Based on the results of the screening, an ophthalmologist will determine a schedule for follow-up exams.

For individuals at any age with symptoms of or at risk for eye disease, such as those with a family history of eye disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, the academy recommends that they see their ophthalmologist to determine how frequently their eyes should be examined.

To find an ophthalmologist in your area, visit the Web site of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

A survey by the academy also found that most Americans are unaware of the risks associated with age-related eye disease, despite a projected 65 percent spike in those conditions by the year 2020.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

The baby boomers “are coming”; boomers are going to get older. And as they age, they’ll want health care workers to help them in their homes. 

Baby boomers will put unprecedented demands on the nation’s long-term care resources, and policy makers should act now to prepare for what appears to be an uncertain future, said Howard Gleckman, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, speaking at a long-term care symposium this week. 

Pay is a problem; 19 percent of home care aides and 16 percent of nursing home aides are compensated at a level insufficient for them to rise above the poverty line, Gleckman said. 

But as salaries for home care aides go up, it’s more difficult for older Americans and their families to afford the care. 

The symposium emphasized the need for a national long-term care strategy including funding, education, and support for the caregiver as part of health care reform. It also highlighted the numerous legislative proposals in support of caregivers aimed at helping to solve the nation’s long-term care challenges. 

See the article “Home Health Aide Shortage Looms, Experts Warn” on ConsumerAffairs.com for details.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Some baby boomers are continuing to use drugs into their later years, causing the rate of illegal drug use to go up among boomers.

Boomers aged 50 to 59 reporting use of drugs within the past year has nearly doubled from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.4 percent in 2007, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The rates among all other age groups are staying the same or decreasing.

“An Examination of Trends in Illicit Drug Use Among Adults Aged 50 to 59 in the United States” is the first in a series of reports by the administration on drug use.

“These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age,” said the administration’s Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H., in a news release on the report.

“This continued use poses medical risks to these individuals and is likely to put further strains on the nation’s health care system…”

The report includes information on the types of substances involved, different demographic and behavioral factors associated with higher rates of use, and other issues.

The data used in the analysis comes from many sources including 16,656 respondents aged 50 to 59 participating in the 2002 through 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, a national public health survey.

The study surveyed use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and prescription drugs used non-medically.

The report is available at oas.samhsa.gov/.

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Summer is upon us. The plants are in full bloom, and the sun feels great on your skin. The longer days give you more energy. There are barbeques, beaches and pool parties with your name written all over them! Since you will be spending all that time soaking up the sun, there a few facts you may be happy to know about sunlight and healing powers of Vitamin D. Vitamin D has gone on for years as the single most underrated nutrient and only recently did it begin to get it’s moment in the spotlight. Research is showing that Vitamin D is known to help prevent osteoporosis, depression, prostrate and breast cancer and even affects diabetes and obesity. If that is not enough to get you to throw your bikini on, maybe these facts will help persuade you. Be sure to lather on that sunscreen after no more then 10-20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. That’s all the direct vitamin D healing you’ll need to reap the benefits. So get out there and soak up the vitamin D this summer.

1) Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight.

2) The healing rays of natural sunlight (that generate vitamin D in your skin) cannot penetrate glass. So you don’t generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home.

3) It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from your diet. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body.

4) A person would have to drink ten tall glasses of vitamin D fortified milk each day just to get minimum levels of vitamin D into their diet.

5) The further you live from the equator, the longer the exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most US states are far from the equator.

6) People with dark skin pigmentation may need 20-30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. This is why prostrate cancer is epidemic among black men—it is a simple, but widespread, sunlight deficiency.

7) Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without sufficient vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.

8 ) Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight: it takes months of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body’s bones and nervous system.

9) Even weak sunscreens, like spf 8, block your body’s ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. *Be sure to not be outside with out sunscreen for more then 20 minutes at a time.*

10) It is impossible to generate too much vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure: your body will self-regulate and only generate what it needs.

11) Vitamin D is activated in your body by your kidneys and liver before it can be used.

12) Having kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body’s ability to activate circulating vitamin D.

13) Even though vitamin D is one of the most powerful healing chemicals in your body, your body makes it absolutely free. No prescription required.

Key points adapted from “The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D-an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael Holick”, by Mike Adams.

Photo Credit: Superbomba at Flickr for Creative Commons

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