Anti Aging
By the time we've reached middle age, few among us haven't wished we looked a little younger, or considered the benefits of various procedures and products. For some it's a simple matter of looking younger, for others it's about regaining the energy, enthusiasm, and radiant good health of younger days. This collective longing for youth has caused an exponential growth in the industry and a tidal wave of consumer products and services catering to an aging population.
It's not all a fantasy: medical research has discovered many of the processes that cause aging of the body, and with that knowledge comes the potential to combat them. We now know that hormone levels change as we finish growing and as we approach our senior years. Free radicals, produced as byproducts of metabolism, damage body cells, causing aging of tissues and contributing to disease processes. Poor diet and sedentary lifestyles, along with exposure to environmental hazards such as pollutants and sunlight cause cumulative damage as well. The informed consumer can focus on any or all of these processes to achieve the benefits of slowing or reversing them.
Each one of us needs to do a careful self-assessment to determine where we can attain the most benefits. Many things that contribute to aging are lifestyle related, and can be changed by making different personal choices. Things that accelerate aging of the body, the mind, and the appearance include smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of physical activity, overweight, excessive exposure to the sun, unhealthy diet, and exposure to pollutants in our surroundings. These aspects of lifestyle can lead directly to life threatening health conditions, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, and cancer - or they
Painkillers don't slow dementia, study says
Results from a large government experiment are dimming hopes that two common painkillers can prevent Alzheimer's disease or slow mental decline in older people.
114-year-old man takes longevity keys to grave
A man who lived to age 114 died recently on a small Mediterranean island. His 101-year-old brother, his two daughters aged 81 and 77, and a nephew aged 85 are all still living. Does the family have super genes, perfect lifestyle or plain good luck?
Ritalin may reduce seniors? risk of falling
Taking methylphenidate ? familiar as the drug Ritalin used to treat attention-deficit disorder ? could help older people reduce their risk of falling by sharpening their mental function, Israeli researchers report.
Senior drug benefit gets mixed review
The U.S. program to help elderly people pay for medicines has made them less likely to trim spending on things like food and housing to buy drugs, but the sickest still skip medications due to cost.
Women's life spans drop in poor corners of U.S.
Women?s life expectancy declined significantly in 180 U.S. counties, mostly in the deep South and Appalachia, between 1983 and 1999, according to a study being released Tuesday
World's oldest person turning 115
 Scientists who study longevity hope "supercentenarians" can help uncover the mystery of extreme longevity.
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Happiest Americans are the oldest
 Newsflash for rock stars and teenagers: It turns out everything doesn't go downhill as we age ? the golden years really are golden.
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Larger hippocampus may ward off Alzheimer's
Scientists may have learned why some people retain sharp minds and clear memories despite having the so-called brain plaques and tangles that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
Health care system not ready for aging boomers
 Millions of baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only isn?t ready for them, but may even discourage them from getting quality care.
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Adult day care gives caregivers a break
 When Dick Lundgren realized that caring for his wife was taking a toll on his own health, he turned to adult day care.
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Nurturing the bonds between generations
With Americans living longer, many children now know their great-grandparents. But it's relationship that needs care: Kids and seniors can be wary of each other.
U.S. seniors wealthier than past generations
Older Americans have more money and are expected to live far longer than prior generations, U.S. government researchers said.
Tooth loss may predict accelerated aging
Having few or no natural teeth at the age of 70 may be an indicator of problems to come, including impaired mobility and early death, Danish researchers said.
Use of restraints declines in nursing homes
The use of physical restraints on nursing home patients declined nearly 40 percent nationally in recent years as the federal government, states and the nursing home industry placed greater emphasis on eliminating what once was a common practice.
Hospital ?boarding? takes toll on the elderly
Elderly patients who are 'boarded' for more than 6 hours in an emergency department waiting for a bed risk losing their independence and ability to live at home when discharged.
More than 5 million have Alzheimer's in U.S.
 An estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer?s disease, and it could steal the minds of one out of eight baby boomers, according to a new report.
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Loss of balance in old age tied to brain changes
How well people get around and keep their balance in old age is linked to the severity of changes in their brains, new research suggests.
may just do slow and insidious damage, causing aging of body cells. See your doctor to discuss how you could be healthier by making your own changes.
If you lifestyle is already healthy, chances are you're aging fairly well, but the passage of time affects us all in the end. Eventually, everyone will be able to reap some benefits from available products and services. It's best to start with topical skin treatments early to prevent some of the damage that will eventually cause thinning and wrinkling of the skin. Unfortunately, most sun damage occurs when we are young and only catches up with us later, so talk about benefits with the young members of your family and encourage them to protect their skin from the sun. Meanwhile, shield your skin from further damage and invest in a good skin care product.
Other benefits can be achieved with the vast variety of nutritional supplements, skin treatments, exercise programs, surgical procedures etc. now on the market. Personal regimens can be tailored to individual requirements. It looks like more and more people will be able to enjoy healthy aging in future generations if they choose to embrace these growing resources.
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