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People with more education and more mentally demanding occupations may have protection against the memory loss that precedes Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 242 people with Alzheimer's disease, 72 people with mild cognitive impairment and 144 people with no memory problems. Mild cognitive impairment is a transition stage when some memory problems are occurring beyond what is normal for a person's age but not the serious problems of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers tested the participants' memory and cognitive skills and used brain scans to measure the amount of brain glucose metabolism, which shows how much the brain has been affected by the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's disease. The participants were followed for an average of 14 months. During that time, 21 of the people with mild cognitive impairment developed Alzheimer's disease.

The study found that in people with the same level of memory impairment, people with more education and more mentally demanding jobs had significantly more changes and damage in their brains from Alzheimer's disease than people with less education and less mentally demanding jobs.

"The theory is that education and demanding jobs create a buffer against the effects of dementia on the brain, or a cognitive reserve," says study author Dr. Valentina Garibotto of the San Raffaele University and Scientific Institute and the National Institute of Neuroscience in Milan, Italy. "Their brains are able to compensate for the damage and allow them to maintain functioning in spite of damage. There are two possible explanations. The brain could be made stronger through education and occupational challenges. Or genetic factors that enabled people to achieve higher education and occupational achievement might determine the amount of brain reserve. It isn't possible to determine which accounts for our findings."

The results were found in both people with Alzheimer's and people with mild cognitive impairment who developed Alzheimer's during the study, suggesting that the cognitive reserve is already in effect during the mild cognitive impairment phase before Alzheimer's begins, Dr. Garibotto says.

People with Alzheimer's disease and people with mild cognitive impairment who developed Alzheimer's during the study had metabolic dysfunction in the areas of the brain consistent with Alzheimer's disease, whereas the healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment who did not develop Alzheimer's disease had no brain metabolism problems.

For more information, visit www.aan.com.

(11-11-08)

A new study shows that people who are physically active before suffering a stroke may have less severe problems as a result and recover better compared to those who did not exercise before having a stroke. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of 265 people with an average age of 68 who had a stroke and were able to walk on their own. Other stroke risk factors and other diseases and conditions that might interfere with their ability to exercise were considered. The participants were interviewed after filling out a questionnaire about their exercise habits and the number of hours they were active during a one-week period.

The study found that the top 25 percent of people who exercised the most were two-and-a-half-times more likely to suffer a less severe stroke compared with people who were in the bottom quarter of the group. The most active also had a better chance of long-term recovery.

"Exercise is one possible risk factor for stroke that can be controlled," says study author Dr. Lars-Henrik Krarup of the Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. "Staying fit doesn't have to be a scheduled regimen. For the people in this study, exercise included light housework, taking a walk outside, lawn care, gardening or participating in a sport." Dr. Krarup says the study also suggests the importance of stroke awareness programs and prevention campaigns.

To learn the five signs of stroke, visit www.giveme5forstroke.org.

(11-11-08)

A new American Academy of Peditrics (AAP) policy statement recommends that all children, 6 months through age 18, receive an annual influenza vaccine. The policy statement expands the previous recommendations to include all school-aged children, the population most likely to contract the disease and need influenza-related medical care.

The policy statement, which mirrors a similar recommendation earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calls for all children to be immunized during the 2008-2009 influenza season. The policy statement also recommends that household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions and healthy children younger than age 5, pregnant women and health care professionals, also receive a flu vaccine each year. Influenza vaccine administration should begin as soon as the vaccine becomes available, and immunization efforts should continue until May 1.

(11-11-08)

According to a recent study in The Journal of Dermatitis, five out of six patients that ingested sugar-free beverages containing aspartame, particularly diet sodas, developed migraines following consumption. Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener in NutraSweet and Equal that has been linked to a multitude of ailments. Parents that consider aspartame a good sugar substitute for kids should think again. Children raised on chemical-heavy diets can develop both mental and physical disorders later in life.

ChicagoHealers.com practitioner Dr. Robert Scott explains why aspartame is harmful and provides healthy alternatives to the artificial sweeteners. "After entering the body, the components of aspartame are rapidly released into the bloodstream," says Dr. Scott. "Methanol and phenylalanine, bi-products both found in NutraSweet, can cause serious health problems in consumers."

According to Dr. Scott, methanol can cause serious tissue damage, including blindness and in extreme cases, death. The body lacks the enzyme to detoxify methanol, making it extremely toxic in high doses. With an average can of diet soda containing 10 milligrams of methanol, heavy consumers of NutraSweet and Equal can easily surpass 100 milligrams daily, which is 13 times the daily amount recommended by the EPA.

Parents should be especially careful to look at nutritional information when buying sugar-free products. Studies regarding the long-term consumption of aspartame have shown a possible link between the sweetener and leukemia and lymphoma. Dr. Scott provides some helpful tips and artificial sweetener alternatives for aspartame:

• Check the Label! – Diet sodas are not the only source of aspartame. The sweetener is in thousands of products, ranging from yogurt to over-the-counter medicines.
• Stevia Is Sweet – Stevia is a great alternative to artificial sweeteners. It has been used in South America for hundreds of years and is 30 to 40 times sweeter than sucrose.
• Try Sucanat – Sucanat, an all-natural sweetener derived from sugar cane juice, is a great alternative to artificial sweeteners and only contains 15 calories per serving (1 teaspoon).
• Brown Rice Syrup – Another healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners is brown rice syrup, which is created during sprouting of the grain and can be used for all sweet necessities.

(11-11-08)

Ever since Coco Chanel returned from a French yachting voyage with a suntan in 1920, women, men and even young teens have revered tanned skin as a sign of beauty and good health.

Yet, the truth about skin that is exposed to the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays is just the opposite. Sun-damaged skin is prone to premature aging, causing wrinkles, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and age spots. What's more, UV exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer, which strikes one million Americans each year – nearly double the number of all other cancers combined. Although many of these cancers are rarely life threatening, they all can be disfiguring if they need to be surgically removed from the face, shoulders, chest or other commonly exposed area. Melanoma, of course, is the deadliest skin cancer and it is thought to be almost exclusively caused by sun exposure or use of tanning beds.

Fortunately, "spray-on tans" are a new alternative to "baking" on a tan that can provide a realistic, natural-looking tan without any UV exposure at all. "Based on the available research, 'spray tans' are a safe alternative to any UV-based tanning process, because they color the skin using an FDA-approved compound called DHA that simply tints the dead skin cells at the very top layer of the epidermis," says Dr. Joshua Fox, founder of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. in New York and on Long Island, and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. While a "spray tan" does not actually fade, Dr. Fox points out, "it will disappear as the layer of skin is sloughed off – usually within a week."

Getting the word out remains a challenge. "Despite the fact that 'spray tans' provide all the aesthetic benefits of a suntan without the serious dangers, recent research suggests that many sun-worshippers and tanning bed fans are still not getting the message," says Dr. Fox. For example, a study completed at Northwestern University and published in the April edition of Archives of Dermatology analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of young adults regarding indoor tanning over the course of 12 years.

Researchers found that, between 1994 to 2007, the percentage of participants who knew that limiting tanning can help prevent melanoma actually decreased from 77 percent to 67 percent – a factor that coincided with an increase in the number of subjects who thought "having a tan looks better," from 69 percent in 1994 to 81 percent in 2007. "Perhaps the most surprising statistic of all is that tanning bed use has remained at around 26 to 27 percent between 1994 and 2007, despite the fact that we learned during this time period just how dangerous these tanning beds can be," Dr. Fox says.

In another recent study, researchers at Boston University Medical Center found that 44 percent of young adults surveyed had either used sunless tanning products like a "spray tan" over the preceding 12 months or had planned to use them over the following 12 months. Unfortunately, these self-tanners were also more likely to use a tanning bed than those who had not used the sunless method.

"There are certainly misconceptions and myths that still exist about the use of tanning beds, including the notion that the UVA rays in these machines are 'healthier' than UVB rays, but this is simply not the case," Dr. Fox says. "In fact, UVA rays have been shown to penetrate more deeply than UVB rays, which are the main culprits in a 'surface' sunburn," he says. UVA also promotes skin cancer, wrinkling and other bad effects on the skin.

(11-11-08)

Women have more germs on their hands than men, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But both male and female have more bacteria on their palms than suspected. Each hand studied housed about 150 different species of bacteria, on average, and overall more than 4,700 species were identified. And hand-washing did not seem to affect the bacteria, which returned quickly after washing.

(11-11-08)

In honor of November's National Diabetes Month, The Cliffs Communities' Wellness Team – serving residents at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, America's First Luxury Family Wellness Retreat – recommends parents educate themselves with helpful information and lifestyle guidance to lead their families down a healthier path. Wellness programming at The Cliffs, overseen by Dr. Nick Ulmer, the communities' executive medical director and vice president of Health and Wellness, and supported by on-staff Registered Dietician Katherine Spinks, is designed to engage the mind, body and spirit toward vitality and health.

"Healthful living starts at home," says Dr. Ulmer. "Many diseases are directly impacted by nutrition and exercise, none more so than childhood obesity, possibly the greatest health challenge facing the nation today. There is a direct correlation with Type II diabetes and obesity, and we are seeing this occur in much younger populations now."

In general terms, diabetes is an imbalance of sugar metabolism in the blood that requires constant attention to lifestyle habits in order to control it. Decreasing the amount of sugar and processed carbohydrates and increasing vegetables and fruits to offer a balance to what a child consumes daily will provide them with a greater foundation to live a long and healthy life. To achieve that goal, Dr. Ulmer and Spinks offer these 10 family friendly tips:

• Lead by example – Children are greatly influenced by their parents' choices including food, beverage consumption, smoking and exercise.
• Kids want what they can't have – Avoid calling foods "bad." Instead, relegate them to "sometimes" status – these include soft drinks, fried foods and processed items.
• Read (and understand) packaging labels – 4gm = 1 teaspoon of sugar. Many cereals are notorious for being high in sugar but children like them. Wean children off high-sugar cereals by mixing a little in the bowl with a low-sugar, high-fiber option until the blend becomes all healthy. The same goes for white and wheat/whole grain breads and pastas – mix them together until the new flavor and texture is familiar.
• Eat regularly (every four hours if possible) – Avoid skipping meals, which leads to erratic insulin levels and over eating.
• Choose the right snacks – Snacking between meals can actually make you feel better without hurting your diet. Fresh fruit, nuts and granola bars with less than 7gm of sugar are good selections.
• Dine sans TV – Overeating and less satisfaction come from dining in front of the television. Spend time together as a family as often as possible – part of a healthy family is an open line of communication. Sharing stories from the day sets the stage for thoughtful dialogue.
• Encourage active time outdoors – Get outside! Pick a family sport or support each other's interests. Fresh air from hiking, biking, golf, tennis or a simple stroll are essential for health. Establishing a pattern of activity will carry throughout a person's lifetime just like brushing and flossing before bed.
• Slow down with fast food – Eating in the car, on the go and with food that carries hidden calories, fat, sugar and a low level of nutritional value hurts the body. Limit fast food choices as much as possible.
• Include children in meal planning – The medical manifestations of one family member's obesity affect the entire family. Healthy meal planning should include all family members and can be an avenue for providing group support and buy-in to a sustainable wellness meal plan.
• Don't wait to start –The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that over the last three decades, childhood obesity rates have doubled for those ages 2 to 5 and 12 to 19; it has tripled for children aged 6 to 11. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data shows that overweight adolescents have a more than 70 percent chance of staying overweight as adults. Everything that a parent can do to help their children be active and make smart food choices will create a foundation for a better life long term.

(11-04-08)

For many people, the brisk fall air marks the end of daylight saving time, rich autumn leaves and the start of the joyful holiday season. However, with this delightful season also comes the reality of less daylight and the approaching winter months. For some, less daylight, heightened stress and loneliness can lead to depression.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, nearly six out of 100 people in the United States experience winter depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Another 10 to 20 percent may experience some mild form of SAD. Research shows it is 75 percent more common in women ages 15 to 55, especially those who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons.

"During the fall and winter months of decreased sunshine and added stress around the holiday season, many women start to feel the 'winter blues,'" says Jacqueline Dawes, founder and owner of Brookhaven Retreat, a premier holistic women-only treatment facility for emotional trauma and addiction. "Often, we see deep-rooted feelings of depression surface during this time of the year, but we want women to know that they are not alone and that there are resources to help."

Common symptoms of SAD include a change in appetite, weight gain, fatigue, tendency to oversleep, irritability and avoidance of social situations. The symptoms tend to start around September of each year, lasting until April, and seem to be at their worst in the darkest months. Researchers believe the problem stems from a lack of bright light in the winter and have proven that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry, although to what extent is unclear.

SAD is more than just a case of "feeling down." It is an actual form of depression and it's important to see a doctor if you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms," says Dr. Arun Jethanandani, psychiatrist and medical director of Brookhaven Retreat.

A few suggestions to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder:

• Keep yourself organized to maintain a regular routine
• Increase the amount of light that surrounds you.
• Watch your diet.
• Exercise
• Take time for your mental health.

(11-03-08)

Change your clocks. Replace your smoke alarm batteries. Both are important this weekend as daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 2.

While changing your clock can keep you on time for work on Monday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises consumers that putting fresh batteries in your smoke alarms can save your life.

In recent years, an estimated annual average of 378,700 fires, 2,740 deaths, 13,090 injuries and $5.6 billion in property losses associated with residential fires have been reported by fire departments.

"Smoke alarms save lives," says CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "That's a fact. Working smoke alarms buy you valuable time to get out of your home when there's a fire."

CPSC urges consumers to install smoke alarms on every level of their home, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom. To minimize nuisance alarms, install smoke alarms at least 10 feet from the stove and oven.

CPSC staff recommends installing both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms. Ionization type smoke alarms typically detect flaming fires more quickly, while photoelectric type smoke alarms typically detect smoldering fires sooner.

In addition to replacing smoke alarm batteries, consumers should test their smoke alarms every month to make sure they are operating properly - and never disable a smoke alarm. Long-life smoke alarms with 10-year batteries are also available to consumers.

(11-03-08)

This November, the international grassroots organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder will host its 20th annual international conference at the Anaheim Hilton, in Anaheim, Calif. The three-day CHADD conference offers an exceptional opportunity to connect with parents, teachers and individuals living with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and a chance to connect with renowned experts in the field of ADHD.

Olympian Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Gold Medal Decathlon champion, will be this year's featured keynote speaker on Friday, November 14. Jenner, who has dyslexia and ADHD, is very active in associations that focus on learning disabilities and children. Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Jenner experienced firsthand the frustration of a poorly diagnosed and treated learning disability, as he struggled with reading. When he discovered sports, though, things changed. Jenner developed the skills and confidence that eventually led him to the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, where he was dubbed the "World's Greatest Athlete."

For more information, visit www.chadd.org. (11-03-08)