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Latest Developments In Aging Research

November 20, 2009 by John Brennon  
Filed under Health Insurance

There has been a lot of study on aging research and actually much of the medicine and research being conducted is about keeping you healthy so that you can live a long and happy life. Much of aging research also focuses on how specific aging decreases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s develop and what you can do to prevent them.

The life expectancy for humans as increased dramatically and while humans are living longer this also increases the number of chronic diseases associated with aging. Much research focuses on reversing or slowing the aging process and this in turn would produce individuals that would able to stay in the work force longer.

Some hot topics in aging research include understanding and preventing Alzheimer’s. The ACT-AD is a coalition that works to produce accelerated cures and treatments that are focusing on slowing down and stopping Alzheimer’s. Many national organizations belong to this coalition and some of the best aging research is being produced from these organizations.

The role of oxidation into the aging process has also been looked at extensively and this is why antioxidants are becoming so prominent in anti aging products such as skin creams. Free radicals create molecular instability in the body and with enough free radicals aging will occur. Much research is looking into how these free radicals develop and how to combat and reverse the effectives of free radicals. This is particularly important for the beauty and cosmetics industry.

A lot of research is being conducted on how your weight affects your health as you age. It is known that being overweight when you are younger is linked to diabetes and heart disease when you are older.

Also it is known that in general your health is just better if you are at a healthy weight. When you are older it is easier to move around and be mobile and that when you are overweight is important to your health when you are older.

It has also been found that those individuals that break bones, such as hips have an increased or lower mortality rate because this breakage makes them less mobile and more prone to problems. Therefore a lot of research is going into keeping bones strong and healthy as well as rehabilitation after a broken bone. Many times dementia and cognitive impairment cause the falls that result in broken bones so understanding this link can greatly reduce the number of broken bones as we age.

For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.

How To Make Aging Health Good Health

November 7, 2009 by Charles Reinhurst  
Filed under Health Insurance

If you are getting older you may have very real health concerns. But aging health does not have to be a string of doctors appointments, chronic ailments and medications. There are three different areas where work on your part can help you enjoy good health even at a very advanced age.

You need to think about the health of your body and your mind, and use nutrition to bring them into line. The good news is that since these are important at any age, if you are younger you can get a jump on the situation.

Aging brings about many different physical changes. They can include chronic health conditions such as arthritis or heart disease and a loss of muscle tissue and even bone density. These last two health conditions can be caused by dropping hormone levels. Muscle loss is often caused by a drop in a man’s testosterone levels and a woman may lose bone strength and density from a loss of estrogen. There are medications which can help to slow down these processes but they can have side effects that many people would like to avoid.

You should keep participating in weight bearing exercises because these can build up muscle mass and bone density. Ideally you should go into your later years with strong bones that have been strengthened by years of a good diet and plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Since this is not always an option, you should work at maintaining the bone and muscle you do have. The good news is that muscle mass can be increased, although this may take more time and effort than before you left middle age. The more endurance you have can make it easier for you to live independently for as long as possible.

Diet is critical both before you age and once you have grown older. You should include items rich in natural anti-oxidants such as fruits and vegetables. You should also make sure that you are taking vitamin supplements to ensure you are getting the proper levels of critical vitamins and minerals. There are specific formulas which are created specifically for people over the age of 60 which can help support your immune system and keep you in optimum health. A good balanced diet will also help you because you will have the energy to remain active and fit.

One thing that many people underestimate is the importance of staying active mentally. If you do not keep learning, your brain will get stale and you can begin to lose memory and other mental functions. If you are affected by a disease such as dementia, it can be a challenge to work with declining memory and an impaired mental state. You need to stay positive and not allow yourself to fall prey to depression and loneliness. If you are affected by the loss of a spouse or partner it is especially critical to stay active and make sure you have some interpersonal contact rather than refusing to live your life.

Aging health is critical especially since people are living longer and longer. If you work at taking care of your physical and mental health through diet and exercise you can be sure that your advanced years will not be empty or dull.

For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.