Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph. D.
As we live in the 21st century, aging is likely to emerge as a leading issue for the contemporary generation of modern scientists. With the advance of the medical technology and of the medicine, the group of the very old adults is increasing significantly. According to Walker's proper statement " Aging is associated with a decline in hormones and an increase in free radicals, glycation, and methylation that begins relatively early in life. Perturbations in growth hormone homeostasis occur first and can be detected clinically during the early thirties. This change initiates a progressive cascade of general endocrine decline with each passing decade. Not coincidentally, there is a massive oxidative shift in the human plasma thiol/disulfate Redox state between the 3d and 10th decades of life."
Questions you may ask are:
1/ Is there a Normal Pattern of Aging?
2/ How well educated are older adults?
3/ Are older people still productive?
4/ What is the economic well-being of today’s older adults?
5/ What are the social circumstances and the social well being of older people?
6/ What are the social and leisure interests of older adults
7/ What are the common age-associated physical changes?
8/ What are the common cognitive and psychological changes of older adults?
9/ What about mental health in older adults?
10/ How is their personality affected by the advanced age?
11/ How do they cope with normal age-associated changes?
1/ What is aging?
Questions you may ask are:
1/ Is there a Normal Pattern of Aging?
2/ How well educated are older adults?
3/ Are older people still productive?
4/ What is the economic well-being of today’s older adults?
5/ What are the social circumstances and the social well being of older people?
6/ What are the social and leisure interests of older adults
7/ What are the common age-associated physical changes?
8/ What are the common cognitive and psychological changes of older adults?
9/ What about mental health in older adults?
10/ How is their personality affected by the advanced age?
11/ How do they cope with normal age-associated changes?
1/ What is aging?
Any change in an organism over time is aging. There is "universal aging" (age changes that all people share) and "probabilistic aging" (age changes that may happen to some, but not all people as they grow older, such as the onset of diabetes two in some of the old population. There is also “chronological aging”, referring to how old a person is, that is the most correct definition of aging. It may be distinguished from the "biological aging" which is the organism's physical state as it ages.
2/ What are the causes of aging?
2/ What are the causes of aging?
There are primary and secondary causes of aging. The primary causes of aging are fifty percent genetic and fifty percent environmental. From the environment we get free radicals, glycosylation, and hormonal changes. We cannot do much about the genetic part, but we can influence the environmental part of aging. The medicine including the holistic can offer only ways for prevention or counteracting the environmental causes, or the environmental basis of aging. The secondary causes are our life standard- the way in which we eat, sleep, exercise, travel, metabolize our food and handle stress etc.
3/ What are best ways to slow down or reverse the aging process and extend the human life span?
3/ What are best ways to slow down or reverse the aging process and extend the human life span?
It’s a combination approach- a combination of different therapies affecting the entire body. For example: the antioxidants and the anti-glycator supplements are at the first place in the anti-aging, as they fight with 2 type of radicals- the so called- free radicals and the radicals of glycation. Apart from the ordinary vitamins and nutrients, good idea for supplementation is carnosine, DHEA, and other hormones (natural), depending upon whether you are deficient in those hormones or not. But first and foremost one has to do several laboratory tests and to find out that deficiency. In case of hypothyroid problems - there is a formula “Armour Thyroid" what is a porcine well balanced formulas containing T3, T4 and T2, but MD may not know it or disagree to prescribe it. Nutritional lifestyle and exercise is a must plus mental and sensory exercises.
4/ What is carnosine and its place in anti-aging?
4/ What is carnosine and its place in anti-aging?
That is a supplement you can take in case you are healthy. The first thing you might notice it will be- an increased level of energy. Your mental performance, memory, and other brain functions will improve as well. It's a formula that works inside the body in a long-term, to prevent all the different age-related processes and damages that happen. It is used mainly as a preventative treatment, not so much as a treatment. For example, you cannot take it if you have autoimmune diseases or cancer.
5/What is the difference between free radicals and radicals of glycation?
5/What is the difference between free radicals and radicals of glycation?
The free radicals and their oxidation are the main causes of aging. But there's another important process going on, which is called- glycosylation. It is due to glucose or other molecules attaching to proteins. This causes cross-linking and "advanced glycosylation end-products" or AGEs. This causes more damage to the body than even the free radicals. Carnosine prevents this damage in different ways. First of all, it prevents free radical and their oxidation as it's an powerful antioxidant. But it is also an anti-glycosylator. In other words, it prevents the proteins from being cross-linked. So it is the first known antiglycosylator available. Its third positive effect is that it helps the elimination of waste material out of the body. It can also prevent, eliminate and to reverse or uncross the cross linking due to glycosylation in our bodies. So carnosine has triple mechanism of action and brings three different benefits in addition to being an antioxidant.
6/ What about caffeine?
6/ What about caffeine?
Caffeine can also help, but only in case if you do not have high blood pressure or anxiety. Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 can also help your mitochondria to digest the fat and to produce energy. The antioxidant benefits of the pure, natural Coenzyme Q-10, which is essential for all cellular energy production and for life itself, are well known already. CoQ-10's energy and antioxidant protection are critical to the heart, brain, liver and skeletal muscles. Its availability declines with age, stress, medications, etc. I can add also the most powerful antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). ALA is referred to as the universal antioxidant because of its unique ability to work in either aqueous (water) or lipid (oil-based) environments, thus enabling ALA to deliver its benefits anywhere in the body. Like CoQ-10, ALA's unique properties allow it to be particularly effective in protecting our nervous system and brain, along with the liver, kidneys and immune system. NAC is a powerful antioxidant that provides an essential building block for glutathione peroxidase- one of the body's most powerful antioxidants. EGCG from green tea and resveratrol from red wine have gain allot of attention lately. EGCG is credited with the myriad of health benefits associated with green tea and the Asian diet, while resveratrol has been assigned that same role in the health benefits of red wine, the Mediterranean diet. Green tea and red wine have been revered for centuries, and decades of research have culminated in some of the most exciting anti-aging findings ever.
7/ What should you do to protect your eyes?
7/ What should you do to protect your eyes?
There are plenty of formulas on the market, containing lutein, zeaxanthine, astahanthine, blueberry etc. N-Acetyl carnosine eye drops, etc. It helps the eye in different ways. Most importantly, acetylcarnosine helps patients on cataracts development. There's quite a lot of research showing that carnosine not only prevents the formation of cataracts, but most importantly, it reverses existing cataracts as well.
8/ Is there any connection between stress and aging?
8/ Is there any connection between stress and aging?
Mild stress is even beneficial on times. But an excessive stress on a daily basis is quite damaging for our cells, organs and tissues. There is not enough time for the body to be repaired and it finally gives up. The immunity goes quickly down, and illnesses like cancer, infections or autoimmune diseases start to appear. So high level of stress is extremely damaging dangerous for your body. Try to avoid the extreme stress or at least learn to handle it. The most important advice is Do not socialize with people who are negative or influence you negatively. The best decision is avoiding them. You can use techniques as: Relaxation techniques, Sport, Meditation, Biofeedback, Positive imagery, Positive thinking.
9/ What is the true mechanism of aging?
9/ What is the true mechanism of aging?
The molecular mechanisms of aging are at the bottom of the evolutionary theory of aging, based on multiple factors such as oxidatively modified proteins as markers of aging, the role of the mitochondrial/ nuclear DNA damage in aging, and the pathogenic mechanisms in common geriatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer.
From biological point of view aging can be defined as a gradual morpho-functional degeneration of organs and systems regardless of whether these alterations are due to genetics, advanced age or predisposing factors, lifestyle, important diseases, stress, highly cytotoxic toxins or/ and medical treatment.
From social, medical and political points of view, the tendency is to set a chronological limit to age, beyond which a subject is classified as old.
10/ When adults are defined as old?
From biological point of view aging can be defined as a gradual morpho-functional degeneration of organs and systems regardless of whether these alterations are due to genetics, advanced age or predisposing factors, lifestyle, important diseases, stress, highly cytotoxic toxins or/ and medical treatment.
From social, medical and political points of view, the tendency is to set a chronological limit to age, beyond which a subject is classified as old.
10/ When adults are defined as old?
Adults are defined as old after 65 years of age and older old after 85y. The population of older Americans is itself getting older old. The above is due to the extremely high level of technology and elevated level of standard of life. With the downturn of our economy there is an observable decline which may shorten significantly our expectation for longevity.
11/ What are the common changes/ stereotypes in the aging process?
11/ What are the common changes/ stereotypes in the aging process?
Aging is known to be sufficient on its own to cause serious structural, morphological and functional alterations to the vital organs and systems as: immune system, circulatory system, digestive system, respiratory system, kidney function and connective tissue as once certain limits have been passed, to be incompatible with life. Old adults do experience age-related changes--both physical and cognitive. Common age-related physical changes include hearing impairment, weakening vision, and the increasing probability of multiple chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. While there is some degree of cognitive impairment, cognitive changes in older adults are highly variable from one person to another, but can include decline in information processing speed and memory problems. Because a large number of older adults take several medications, drug interactions and drug side effects are more common than in younger age groups. There are numerous negative stereotypes about older people. The reality is that older people live independently and maintain close relationships with family and friends.
There are few more general questions that I would like to clarify:
1/ What is a Normal Pattern of Aging?
There are few more general questions that I would like to clarify:
1/ What is a Normal Pattern of Aging?
The criterion for Normal Aging is too complex to be defined. There are two determinants for it- 1/ Optimal or healthy aging and 2/ Typical aging. “Optimal aging” is for individuals who do not have obvious physical diseases and “Typical aging” is a term selected to define a person with one or more medical conditions.
2/ How well educated are older adults?
2/ How well educated are older adults?
Educational attainment within the older population has increased significantly. In 2030, 83 percent of the older adults will have completed high school, and 24 percent will have at least a bachelor's degree.
3/ Are older people still productive?
3/ Are older people still productive?
Over one-third of older adults are involved in formal or informal volunteer work. Over 65% of the older adults still remain in the labor force work part time.
Although today's older men are less likely to participate in the labor force than previously, older women are more likely to participate than in the past.
Although today's older men are less likely to participate in the labor force than previously, older women are more likely to participate than in the past.
4/ What is the socioeconomic status of the today older adults?
The overall economic status picture of older adults has improved significantly since the 1970s- 1980s. Family and friends are key social and financial support for many older adults. In general Social Security benefits are the primary source of money income. Half the women over the age of 65 are widows. Older women are more likely to live alone than are older men.
5/ What are the leisure interests of older adults?
Older adults keep active participation in politics and in voting. They tend to pursue more sedentary, solitary activities.Few of them still vigorously persecute the active way of living.
6/ What are the common age-associated physical changes?
Hearing impairment in older adults is often mild or moderate, but it is widespread
Visual changes include problems with reading speed, seeing in dim light, reading small print, and locating objects visually. The top five causes of death are heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Common comorbidities include arthritis, hypertension, cataracts, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
7/ What are the cognitive changes associated with aging?
Information processing speed declines with age,
Greater need for repetition of new information.
Divided attention between two simultaneous tasks shows age-related decline
Ability to switch attention rapidly declines.
Filtering out information through selective attention also appears to decline with age.
Short-term memory shows relatively less age-related decline.
Long-term memory shows more substantial age changes.
8/ What about the mental health of older adults?
Older people evidence fewer psychiatric disorders than younger persons
Only cognitive impairment shows a definite age-associated increase in incidence.
Life satisfaction is associated with good health, an adequate income, adequate social relationships, and a sense of control over one's life.
9/ How do older adults cope with normal age-associated changes?
Making lists or modifying tasks. Accommodating to external influence. Training their interactive imagery. Doing crossword puzzles, playing cards. Practicing memory by learning a new language. Participating in mood and memory workshops. Visiting friends or travelling actively. Cultivating creativity, optimism, and hope in spiritual counseling. Seeking support from family, friends, neighbors, other peer groups.
10/ What are the psychological problems in an older age?
They may have recurrence of psychological disorders they have had when younger.
They can face multiple problems as major depression or a substance abuse.
They can refuse to eat, drink or to walk.
Medical problems are the most common in that age group.
They can suffer of the side effect of their medications
The most common in older adults is the generalized anxiety disorder.
Panic disorder rarely has a later-life onset.
Obsessive - compulsive symptoms wax throughout the life course.
11/ Delirium and Dementia
Rapid mental confusional state at the end of the day- “sundowning “symptom.
Dementia is a risk factor for delirium, and the two often coexist.
The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia- multi-infarct dementia. Some may have both
People with dementia often show coexistent psychological symptoms, which may include depression, anxiety, paranoia, and behavioral disturbances.
Mania in late life does occur in the absence of acute medical diseases.
Mood disorders may present differently in older than in younger adults.
Feeling hopeless is often an important indicator of depression among the elderly.
The highest suicide rate of any age group is found in older adults
Depression can coexist with chronic pain, loneliness, boredom.
12/ Psychotic disorders
The most common form of psychosis in later years is paranoia.
Schizophrenia rarely occurs for the first time in older age.
13/ Sleeping disorders.
Hearing impairment in older adults is often mild or moderate, but it is widespread
Visual changes include problems with reading speed, seeing in dim light, reading small print, and locating objects visually. The top five causes of death are heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Common comorbidities include arthritis, hypertension, cataracts, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
7/ What are the cognitive changes associated with aging?
Information processing speed declines with age,
Greater need for repetition of new information.
Divided attention between two simultaneous tasks shows age-related decline
Ability to switch attention rapidly declines.
Filtering out information through selective attention also appears to decline with age.
Short-term memory shows relatively less age-related decline.
Long-term memory shows more substantial age changes.
8/ What about the mental health of older adults?
Older people evidence fewer psychiatric disorders than younger persons
Only cognitive impairment shows a definite age-associated increase in incidence.
Life satisfaction is associated with good health, an adequate income, adequate social relationships, and a sense of control over one's life.
9/ How do older adults cope with normal age-associated changes?
Making lists or modifying tasks. Accommodating to external influence. Training their interactive imagery. Doing crossword puzzles, playing cards. Practicing memory by learning a new language. Participating in mood and memory workshops. Visiting friends or travelling actively. Cultivating creativity, optimism, and hope in spiritual counseling. Seeking support from family, friends, neighbors, other peer groups.
10/ What are the psychological problems in an older age?
They may have recurrence of psychological disorders they have had when younger.
They can face multiple problems as major depression or a substance abuse.
They can refuse to eat, drink or to walk.
Medical problems are the most common in that age group.
They can suffer of the side effect of their medications
The most common in older adults is the generalized anxiety disorder.
Panic disorder rarely has a later-life onset.
Obsessive - compulsive symptoms wax throughout the life course.
11/ Delirium and Dementia
Rapid mental confusional state at the end of the day- “sundowning “symptom.
Dementia is a risk factor for delirium, and the two often coexist.
The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia- multi-infarct dementia. Some may have both
People with dementia often show coexistent psychological symptoms, which may include depression, anxiety, paranoia, and behavioral disturbances.
Mania in late life does occur in the absence of acute medical diseases.
Mood disorders may present differently in older than in younger adults.
Feeling hopeless is often an important indicator of depression among the elderly.
The highest suicide rate of any age group is found in older adults
Depression can coexist with chronic pain, loneliness, boredom.
12/ Psychotic disorders
The most common form of psychosis in later years is paranoia.
Schizophrenia rarely occurs for the first time in older age.
13/ Sleeping disorders.
The age-related sleep patterns augment with the ages. The amount of dream sleep decreases 25% by the age 70. Insomnia is a common complaint among adults, while hypersomnia is not common.
14/ Somatodisorders. Older adults have frequent fear or increased concern about themselves or their health, with the tendency to aggravate it (hypochondriacs).
16/ Substance abuse. There is a decline in a substance abuse over the age of 60. Genetic predisposition, low income, depression or lack of education can be the reason of a substance abuse in very old age.
Older widowers have the highest prevalence rates of alcohol abuse among older adults.
17/ Other problems
Adjustment Disorder (AD) - physical illness, relocation, physical loss of a wife or husband, retirement, financial problems, family problems can lead to it.
Personality Disorder (PD) – it is also called Narcissistic, Borderline or Antisocial, Sociopathic.
Pathological Grief- frequent among older adults, as of an extensive guilt and preoccupation with death or themselves, a sense of worthlessness, marked psychomotor retardation, and functional impairment.
Physical abuse (e.g., bruises or other injuries) is frequent in the older age, and they are mainly due to members of the same family.
18. The entropy of a graceful aging
Exercise- a good anti-aging workout must be a fusion of Yoga/ Tai Chi/ Dance / Pilates.
Anti-aging Diet- by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in antioxidants, and are antiinflammatory, such as fish, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, yogurt, nuts, water.
10 "super-foods," can be included due to their anti- inflammatory activity: Acai fruit ; allium vegetables: garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots; barley and green foods, such as wheatgrass ; buckwheat, both seeds and grains; beans and lentils; hot peppers; nuts and seeds sprouts; yogurt and kefir.
Walking and moving daily
Socializing with your age group and family, neighbors and friends.
Make the commitment- and travel or dance, swim or listen beautiful relaxing music
Eliminate cafe from your diet, decrease the alcohol, and improve your sleep.
Rely on your caregiver.
If you have a chronic pain consider acupuncture
Keep the optimism and be creative while living actively
References:
http://www. mayoclinic.com
http://health.live.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/aging
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110653/aging
http://mcb.berkeley.edu/courses/mcb135K
http://en.wikipedia.org/Senescence
http://prolongyouth.com/theories.html
http://longevity-science.org/Evolution.pdf
http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx/page=List&ProdID=1356&zType=2
http://www.uic.edu/classes/socw/socw550/AGING/tsld019.htm
“ Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging” by Barbara Beckman; Jan, 2006
“ The seasons of a Man’s life”- by Daniel J. Levinson
“ How to find happiness and vitality as you age”- Mayo Clinic Plan for Healthy Aging
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php=0309050855
http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/sedap/p/sedap192.pdf
http://crab.rutgers.edu/deppen/journals.htm
http://www.agis.com/cmpid=MSN-PPC
http://www.magellanassist.com/mem/library/default.asp/TopicID=74&C
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/nutritionelderly.html
http://www.search.msn.com/results.aspx=agingandMayoclinic&first=1&form=pore
http://www.infodaily.org/Topics/Anti-Aging/Anti-Aging-Facts-and-Myths.asp
http://teampublish.allsoldout.net/teampubv3/includes/Ombcur2.pdf
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to sign for on line or phone consultation, or to request an article written to suit your wellness business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
14/ Somatodisorders. Older adults have frequent fear or increased concern about themselves or their health, with the tendency to aggravate it (hypochondriacs).
16/ Substance abuse. There is a decline in a substance abuse over the age of 60. Genetic predisposition, low income, depression or lack of education can be the reason of a substance abuse in very old age.
Older widowers have the highest prevalence rates of alcohol abuse among older adults.
17/ Other problems
Adjustment Disorder (AD) - physical illness, relocation, physical loss of a wife or husband, retirement, financial problems, family problems can lead to it.
Personality Disorder (PD) – it is also called Narcissistic, Borderline or Antisocial, Sociopathic.
Pathological Grief- frequent among older adults, as of an extensive guilt and preoccupation with death or themselves, a sense of worthlessness, marked psychomotor retardation, and functional impairment.
Physical abuse (e.g., bruises or other injuries) is frequent in the older age, and they are mainly due to members of the same family.
18. The entropy of a graceful aging
Exercise- a good anti-aging workout must be a fusion of Yoga/ Tai Chi/ Dance / Pilates.
Anti-aging Diet- by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in antioxidants, and are antiinflammatory, such as fish, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, yogurt, nuts, water.
10 "super-foods," can be included due to their anti- inflammatory activity: Acai fruit ; allium vegetables: garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots; barley and green foods, such as wheatgrass ; buckwheat, both seeds and grains; beans and lentils; hot peppers; nuts and seeds sprouts; yogurt and kefir.
Walking and moving daily
Socializing with your age group and family, neighbors and friends.
Make the commitment- and travel or dance, swim or listen beautiful relaxing music
Eliminate cafe from your diet, decrease the alcohol, and improve your sleep.
Rely on your caregiver.
If you have a chronic pain consider acupuncture
Keep the optimism and be creative while living actively
References:
http://www. mayoclinic.com
http://health.live.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/aging
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110653/aging
http://mcb.berkeley.edu/courses/mcb135K
http://en.wikipedia.org/Senescence
http://prolongyouth.com/theories.html
http://longevity-science.org/Evolution.pdf
http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx/page=List&ProdID=1356&zType=2
http://www.uic.edu/classes/socw/socw550/AGING/tsld019.htm
“ Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging” by Barbara Beckman; Jan, 2006
“ The seasons of a Man’s life”- by Daniel J. Levinson
“ How to find happiness and vitality as you age”- Mayo Clinic Plan for Healthy Aging
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php=0309050855
http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/sedap/p/sedap192.pdf
http://crab.rutgers.edu/deppen/journals.htm
http://www.agis.com/cmpid=MSN-PPC
http://www.magellanassist.com/mem/library/default.asp/TopicID=74&C
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/nutritionelderly.html
http://www.search.msn.com/results.aspx=agingandMayoclinic&first=1&form=pore
http://www.infodaily.org/Topics/Anti-Aging/Anti-Aging-Facts-and-Myths.asp
http://teampublish.allsoldout.net/teampubv3/includes/Ombcur2.pdf
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to sign for on line or phone consultation, or to request an article written to suit your wellness business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
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