As the temperatures soar, active 50+ exercisers, myself included, need to pay special attention to hydration. There are some who say that thirst should be your guide for hydration, but that advice could be dangerous as we age. When older adults exercise, especially in hot and humid climates, they have a diminished sensation of thirst. And we know that “normal” thirst kicks in after you are already thirsty. So waiting for thirst may lead to heat illnesses.
Category Archives: Healthy Aging
Can Travel Make You Smarter?
That travelling can broaden our horizon, both literally and figuratively speaking, is nothing new. As Mark Twain once famously said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” But can it also improve our mental capacities? Scientists in Germany, who conducted a recent study of how our minds respond to new experiences that come with travel and exploration, say yes.
Despite Health Concerns, Aging Baby Boomers Find It Hard to Make Lifestyle Changes
Baby Boomers – those born between 1946 through 1964 – will live longer than any other generation before them, but they will not necessarily be healthier. In fact, many are already burdened with more chronic illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes than their parents and grandparents were. Most of these health problems are lifestyle-related and could be prevented through changes in diet, exercise and weight management, but for some reason these messages seem hard to get across.
Lifestyle-Related Ills Tend to Multiply with Age, Study Finds
Seniors who suffer from chronic health conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease often develop a host of other, seemingly unrelated health issues, including cognitive impairment like memory loss and dementia, according to a new study based on data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics. Prior studies have also suggested a link between vascular disease and dementia. Although the causes of age-related mental decline are not yet fully understood, focusing on vascular problems may be a step in the right direction.
Testosterone Treatment for Older Men Shows Only Limited Benefits, Study Finds
What is a guy to do when he starts feeling his age? What if he’s less energetic, less playful, less romantically inclined than he used to be? Could the reason be low testosterone, or “low T,” as the abbreviation goes? If so, can hormone therapy, or more specifically testosterone replacement therapy, bring some of that lost mojo back? Studies show that age-related loss of energy and vigor may have other causes than hormonal changes, and that hormone treatment may not always produce the advertised results.
Healthcare Costs for Alzheimer’s Disease Will Top All Others, Study Predicts
One of the most feared health problems the aging Baby Boomer generation will face is dementia. And it won’t just affect those suffering from mental decline but also those who care for them and society at large, at least in financial terms. A new study predicts that healthcare costs in connection with age-related dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, will soon surpass almost all other medical expenses, including for heart disease and cancer, two of today’s leading causes of death.