Your risk for dementia is related to the glucose level in your blood.

More and more research is documenting how the risk for dementia is affected by the level of glucose in the blood. The reviewed study used 35,264 measurements of glucose levels and also 10,208 measurements of glycated hemoglobin from 2067 participants(Crane PK, et.al.,2013). Glycated hemoglobin is a measurement of long-term glucose control. The average follow up time was 6.8 years.
 
The results documented that higher glucose levels were related to higher risk for dementia even among people without diabetes. Other studies have shown that insulin resistance is related to dementia. When fasting glucose levels go up, it means that insulin sensitivity is decreasing.

It is vitally important for your memory that you stay insulin sensitive as you get older. Keeping your insulin sensitivity strong is also important to avoid other chronic conditions.
"The Special Effects" diet is a strategic plan that reveals how your food can keep you healthy.

Crane PK1, Walker R, Hubbard RA, Li G, Nathan DM, Zheng H, Haneuse S, Craft S, Montine TJ, Kahn SE, McCormick W, McCurry SM, Bowen JD, Larson EB Glucose levels and risk of dementia. N Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 8;369(6):540-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1215740.

Published with permission by Didrik Sopler, Ph.D., L.Ac : www.TissueRecovery.com Dr. Marsh has worked with and referrers patients to Dr. Sopler for co-management for years . . . He is quite simply San Diego's top functional medicine consultant.

Exercise: starting later in life still improves your chances of healthy aging

Is there any point to exercising if you are older? Don't make the mistake of believing that if you haven't exercised earlier in life, there’s no point in starting now! 

The reviewed research investigated the odds of healthy aging. During the 8 year study, participants were defined as healthy if they did not develop major chronic disease, depressive symptoms, physical or cognitive impairment (Hamer M, et.al., 2014).

The conclusion is that significant health benefits were seen even among participants who became physically active relatively late in life.

What is surprising was that compared with inactive participants the ones that were moderate or vigorously active just once a week were healthier, although being active more than once a week was better.
Just get off your couch and start, or encourage your elders to begin. 

Hamer M, Lavoie KL, Bacon SL. Br J Taking up physical activity in later life and healthy aging: the English longitudinal study of aging. Sports Med. 2014 Feb;48(3):239-43. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092993. Epub 2013 Nov 25.

Published with permission by Didrik Sopler, Ph.D., L.Ac : www.TissueRecovery.com
Dr. Marsh has worked with and referrers patients to Dr. Sopler for co-management for years . . . He is quite simply San Diego's top functional medicine consultant.

Easy way to reduce the risk of fracture

Free radicals and oxidative stress may increase the risk of bone loss and muscle wasting. The reviewed research investigated if alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) intake would influence fracture risk since vitamin E is known to reduce free radical damage.

61.433 women and 1138 men were included in the study and the participants were followed for 19 years. (Michaelsson K, et.al.,2014).

The use of alpha tocopherol supplements were found to be associated with a reduced rate of both hip fractures and fractures in general for both men and women. The men were affected to an even greater degree than women.

When taking vitamin E it is recommended to use a formula which contains the different forms of vitamin E and not only alpha tocopherol even if that is the most common form found in supplements.

Michaëlsson K, Wolk A, Byberg L, Arnlöv J, Melhus H. Intake and serum concentrations of α-tocopherol in relation to fractures in elderly women and men: 2 cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Jan;99(1):107-14. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.064691. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Published with permission by Didrik Sopler, Ph.D., L.Ac : www.TissueRecovery.com Dr. Marsh has worked with and referrers patients to Dr. Sopler for co-management for years . . . He is quite simply San Diego's top functional medicine consultant.

Speed up - and reduce your risk for weight gain!

Here is more interesting proof that it not necessary to spend a lot of time exercising to get benefits, as long as it is done a certain way (Fan JX,et.al.,2013).

The participants were 4511 adults aged 18-64 years. Body mass index was measured and accelerometers were used for measurements. The participants were divided into groups:

Higher intensity long duration walking, 10 minutes or more per day
Higher intensity short duration walking 10 minutes or less per day
Lower intensity long duration walking, 10 minutes or more per day
Lower intensity short duration walking, 10 minutes or less per day

Results showed that both high intensity long and high intensity short duration activities correlated to lower body mass index or lower risk for overweight, obesity.

The researcher stated that higher intensity physical activity of less than 10 minutes per day is highly beneficial for weight gain prevention.

The lower intensity activity did not make much difference.

Fan JX, Brown BB, Hanson H, Kowaleski-Jones L, Smith KR, Zick CD Moderate to vigorous physical activity and weight outcomes: does every minute count? Am J Health Promot. 2013 Sep-Oct;28(1):41-9. doi: 10.4278/ajhp.120606-QUAL-286. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Published with permission by Didrik Sopler, Ph.D., L.Ac : www.TissueRecovery.com
Dr. Marsh has worked with and referrers patients to Dr. Sopler for co-management for years . . . He is quite simply San Diego's top functional medicine consultant.