Living Hopefully with Alzheimer’s

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Hardly a week goes by without some progress in the field of Alzheimer’s research. Although there is no cure yet, these study results give us hope. Here are some highlights from the most recent studies…

Music Magic
Music therapy has been used for decades to help patients with a variety of ailments. Research over the years has shown that music has profound effects on the brain. For instance, there is evidence that music can help reduce chronic pain, and help stroke patients regain speech. Music therapy has also been found to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers at University of British Columbia found that music therapy helps calm Alzheimer’s patients and reduces sleep and eating difficulties. The study measured the patients’ cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol are an indication of stress. They found that music therapy had calming effects almost equal to those of a tranquilizer. Follow-up studies are needed to rule out the possibility that the patients’ improvements were due to the attention they received, not the music, the researchers say.

Diet Matters
A decade-long study has shown that diet matters for Alzheimer’s prevention. The study revealed that those participants who most closely followed the MIND diet reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 53%. The MIND diet is a cross between the Mediterranean and DASH diets. It emphasizes ten foods to eat daily and five foods to avoid (see details in story on page 3). Study participants who tried but did not follow the diet perfectly still reduced their risk of getting Alzheimer’s, while those who followed the diet most consistently for the longest time derived the greatest benefit.

Vitamin D
In one study, researchers found a link between Vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer’s. The 1,658 study participants, all over the age of 65 years, had their Vitamin D levels checked and followed up over several years. During the course of the study, 171 participants developed dementia and 102 developed Alzheimer’s. The results showed that those with low levels of vitamin D were 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and those who were severely deficient were 120% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than the participants with no Vitamin D deficiency. Although the study does not prove that Vitamin D deficiency causes Alzheimer’s, it has provided direction for further studies on the effect of Vitamin D supplements and foods rich in Vitamin D. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of the U.S. population is deficient in Vitamin D. We get Vitamin D from the sun, as well as from eating eggs, milk, cheese and fatty fish.

Dairy does it
In a recent study conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center, older healthy adults who drink milk were found to have higher levels of glutathione, a naturally-occurring antioxidant, in the brain. This finding is important because glutathione could help to prevent damage caused by oxidative stress. The researchers compare this damage to that caused by rust building up on a car for a long time. The study participants who came close to eating the recommended three servings of dairy per day had higher levels of glutathione. More studies are needed to determine the precise effect of milk consumption on the brain, the researchers say.

Ultrasound
Australian researchers have come up with an ultrasound technology to clear the brain of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that cause clumps in the brain, resulting in memory loss and a decline in cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. The study, done on mice, fully restored the memory function of 75% of the mice, and did not cause any damage to their brain tissue. The sound waves activate the brain’s microglial cells. Microglial cells are waste-removal cells, so once activated, they clear out the toxic clumps in the brain. The research team from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland will next test their results with higher animal models, such as sheep, before they begin their human trials, which they hope to begin in 2017.

Tips to help you and your family prevent kidney disease

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Did you know that one in three Americans is at risk of kidney disease? Here are some tips on keeping your kidneys healthy. If you have kidney disease, these tips do not apply. For instance you may need to drink less water, depending on your kidney function and your doctor’s advice. This is because damaged kidneys do not get rid of extra fluid as well as they should.

Stay hydrated

Your kidneys work most efficiently if they have enough water flowing through to carry away the waste they filter. Therefore, it is very important to stay hydrated. Dehydration puts stress on your kidneys. Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. Drink more water on hot days and when you exercise than you would normally drink. How can you tell if you are hydrated? The color of your urine is a good indicator. If should be clear or straw colored. Any darker and you know you need to hydrate.

OTCs and kidney function

Avoid daily or regular use of over-the-counter analgesics. Analgesics are medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which help control pain and fever. Overuse of these medications for a long time, as well as of those that contain combinations of analgesics, can damage your kidneys. Read the warning label on your over-the-counter analgesics to see how long you may take them. If you still have pain or fever beyond that time, see your doctor. If you have reduced kidney function, do not take over-the-counter analgesics without the advice of your doctor.

Be kind to your kidney

Your lifestyle matters. When you exercise regularly, you keep your weight and blood pressure healthy, which is good for your kidneys. Combine exercise with foods rich in antioxidants. Cabbage, cauliflower, berries, garlic, and olive oil are all great foods for kidney health. Fish is also good for your kidneys. The American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association recommend two or three servings of fish a week. Salmon, rainbow trout, mackerel, herring and tuna, are excellent choices.

Becoming an organ donor

More than 96,000 people need a kidney each year, but only about 17,000 receive one. Every day 13 people die waiting for a kidney. To become an organ donor after death you can register online at donatelife.net/register-now or you can indicate your wish on your driver’s license. Don’t forget to let your family know your wishes. You can also make a donation to someone you know or to a stranger, while you are still alive, if you are healthy enough.

Useful Resources

Information on kidney disease and its prevention: The National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org

Information on becoming a kidney and other organ donor: Donate Life America: www.donatelife.net

Download free cookbooks featuring kidney-friendly recipes: http://www.davita.com/cookbook

Ten percent of heart patients may be inappropriately prescribed aspirin: Over the counter use may increase numbers

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WASHINGTON (Jan. 12, 2015) — More than 10 percent of patients treated with aspirin therapy for primary cardiovascular disease prevention were likely inappropriately prescribed medication, according to a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that examined practice variations in aspirin therapy. Accessing data from the National Cardiovascular Disease Registry Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) Registry, researchers examined a nationwide sample of 68,808 patients receiving aspirin for primary cardiovascular disease prevention. By evaluating aspirin guidelines by the American Heart Association, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, and other organizations, researchers determined aspirin use to be inappropriate in patients with a 10 year cardiovascular disease risk of less than 6 percent. Researchers identified patients from 119 practices who were prescribed aspirin between January 2008 and June 2013, excluding patients receiving aspirin as a secondary prevention due to history of cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction, prior stroke, and atrial fibrillation. The study found nearly 12 percent of the patients receiving aspirin for primary prevention were receiving it inappropriately. The frequency of inappropriate aspirin use was higher among women, at nearly 17 percent compared to men at 5 percent. Patients inappropriately receiving aspirin were, on average, 16 years younger than those receiving aspirin appropriately. Inappropriate aspirin use decreased from 14 percent in 2008 to 9 percent in 2013. In practices with more than 30 patients receiving aspirin for primary prevention, researchers found a median practice-level frequency of inappropriate use of 10 percent and varied significantly across practices at a range of 0 to 72 percent. Researchers used median rate ratio to suggest that between two “identical” patients treated at two random practices, one patient was 63 percent more likely to be prescribed aspirin inappropriately than a similar patients due to the practice where they receive care. Aspirin therapy is not shown to reduce adverse cardiovascular events in patients without cardiovascular disease and a low risk of developing disease. However, it is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes which often outweighs any potential benefits. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently denied a request to allow the marketing of aspirin for primary prevention, following that decision the FDA also issued a public advisory against the general use of aspirin for primary prevention. As aspirin is available over the counter, it is also possible inappropriate aspirin use is higher if patients are taking it by their own choosing. “Medical providers must consider whether the potential for bleeding outweighing the potential benefits of aspirin therapy in patients who don’t yet meet the guidelines for prescribing aspirin therapy,” said the study’s lead and senior author, Ravi S. Hira, M.D. and Salim S. Virani, M.D., Ph.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Since aspirin is available over the counter, patient and public education against using aspirin without a medical provider’s recommendation will also play a key role in avoiding inappropriate use.” In an accompanying editorial, Freek W.A. Verheugt, M.D., of Onza Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in Amsterdam said, “Major coronary events are reduced 18 percent by aspirin, but at the cost of an increase of 54 percent of major extracranial bleeding. Each two major coronary events have shown to be prevented by prophylactic aspirin at the cost of one major extracranial bleed. Yet, primary prevention with aspirin is widely applied.” The above article is based on materials provided by American College of Cardiology. It may be edited for content and length.

Love is good for your health

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This year, don’t let Valentine’s Day just go by; celebrate the ones you love.
Love is good for your health. Truly! And not just romantic love – all kinds of love. Parents and children, friends and siblings. Here are a few ways that loving relationships are great for you.

Love is good for your heart
A study from Finland showed that married people, both men and women, were much less likely than single people to have a heart attack; and if they did they were less likely to die from it. Another study showed that our disposition in a relationship affects our heart health. The results of that study showed that women who had hostility towards their spouse had increased risk of heart disease, and men who had dominant or controlling behavior towards their spouse had increased risk of heart disease as well.

Blood pressure
One study found that happily married couples had lower blood pressure levels than single people. However, unhappily married couples had higher blood pressure than both their happily married counterparts and single people. This benefit applies to loving friendships as well. Another study found that people in quality relationships of any kind had lower blood pressure, while the loneliest people in the study had up to a 14.4-point rise in systolic blood pressure.

A loving hand
According to a study published in Psychological Science, holding hands with someone you love reduces stress and anxiety. High stress and anxiety can cause blood pressure to rise, increase heart rate, and make you vulnerable to heart disease. The study participants were happily married couples. The women were told they would receive a mild shock to the ankle. Waiting for the shock made the women anxious, but when their husbands held their hands, the women’s anxious brain activity (measured by MRI scan) reduced. A stranger’s touch was also comforting, but less so than the spouse’s touch.

Loving prose, lower cholesterol
In a study published in Human Communication Research, college students spent 20 minutes writing about their love for friends, relatives or romantic partners. They experienced significant drops in total cholesterol (the mean cholesterol levels reduced from 170 mg/dL to 159 mg/dL). Students in the control group wrote about random topics unrelated to love and did not experience the same health benefit. You might want to consider writing a paragraph in the Valentine cards you send out this year!

Remember though, great relationships aren’t built in a day. Great relationships are built daily – on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Keep loving!

Arizona Events February 2015

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Fools: Feb 6 – 28. Brelby Theatre Company. Leon has landed in an idyllic Russian hamlet, but he finds people sweeping dust back into their houses and milking upside down for more cream; the town has been cursed with Chronic Stupidity and Leon’s job is to break the curse. No one tells him that if he stays over 24 hours and fails to break the curse, he too becomes Stupid… Brelby Studio, 6835 N 58th Ave. Glendale, AZ. http://brelby.com

LEGO KidsFest: Feb 27 – March 1. University of Phoenix Stadium. All of the hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experience. An activity-filled event for all ages and builders of all skills. Features life-sized models, live demonstrations, build and race a custom car. Children and Seniors $19.50, Adults $22.50. 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, AZ http://www.LEGOKidsFest.com

Small World Miniature Doll House Show & Sale: Feb 28, 10am -5pm and March 1, 11am- 4pm – ASU West, exhibits from AZ residents, sale of furniture, accessories, dolls from artisans from throughout the U.S. & Canada, door prizes, make and take miniature projects, raffle for local charities. Children under 12 $2, Others $5, 480-488-7074 or http://www.phoenixminiatures.com

The Peoria Greekfest: Feb 6, 7, and 8, Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 11am-10 pm, Sun noon-8pm St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church. Children’s Rides & Games, Delicious Greek Food & Pastries, Authentic Dancers, Loukoumades Eating Contest, Art, Jewelry, and Clothing, Church Tours. Admission $3, 12 & under free, students & active military free. 7950 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Peoria, AZ. 623-486-8665 or www.peoriagreekfest.com

Surprisingly… Good for your heart

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Popcorn
A study by the University of Scranton found that popcorn contains healthy antioxidants called polyphenols, which are good for your heart. Popcorn actually contains more polyphenols than fruits and vegetables (though you still need to eat your fruits and veggies for other nutrients). Keep your popcorn healthy by popping it yourself at home – in a pot, not the microwave. Remember, too much butter and salt takes away from the health benefit.

Dark Chocolate
According to a review published in the British Medical Journal, people who ate more chocolate benefited from a reduction in cardiovascular disease and stroke. Of course, not any old chocolate will do. Chose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa. Flavonol, the flavonoid found in cocoa, helps lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and reduce free radical damage.

Healthy AND Tasty? Yes, you can have it both ways!

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The holidays would not be quite the same without all the delicious holiday food we enjoy. It’s a time of the year when we are likely to eat too much sugary food and too little of the healthy foods we need. This holiday season, you can give your family foods that are both delicious and healthy. Here are a few tips.

Fruit kebabs: Skewer delicious fruit – strawberries, grapes, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi – then watch it disappear off the plate. Have you tried grilled fruit skewers? Pre-soak wooden skewers in cold water to prevent them from burning, sprinkle with cinnamon, and grill for a few minutes. Enjoy with ice cream.

Chocolate dipped fruit: It looks amazing and tastes even better. Melt dark chocolate in a bowl, dip fruit of choice, and enjoy. Strawberries and banana are ideal candidates for this treatment.

Roasted Chestnuts: Whether you roast them in the oven or on an open fire, chestnuts are a holiday tradition. And did you know that chestnuts, unlike most other nuts, are low-fat? They contain just one 1 gram of fat. And they are the only nuts that contain vitamin C.

Veggies with a difference: Make your veggie dishes as appealing as all the other delicious holiday dishes on the table, otherwise they will get ignored. You can roast a colorful mixed veggie platter, tossed with olive oil and garnished with sprigs of rosemary, or add fruit, such as avocado and mango to a veggie salad.
Healthy Ingredients: Do you have some favorite healthy ingredients that taste great and will transform any dish. Stock up on those for the holidays and add them to your food liberally. They could be herbs, spices, nuts, fruit, or other tasty food items. Tis the season to be creative so be as imaginative as you can.

Try cooking with coconut oil to add both flavor and health benefits to your holiday dishes. Rice or vegetables fried with coconut oil are particularly tasty. It’s great for baking as well. Coconut oil is good for both body and mind.

Mix a bowl of dried fruits and nuts for quick snacks or to put in salads for some extra taste. Dried fruit is packed full of vitamin C and nuts are full of heart-healthy fats and protein.

Cook up a hearty stew with your favorite herbs and spices to flavor it and keep the family warm. Enjoy the food and the joy of family. Happy Holidays!

BACK TO SCHOOL

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It’s not too late for a flu shot: The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. Not too fond of the needle? Most people between the ages of 2 and 49 who are generally healthy and not pregnant can get the nasal spray version of the flu shot. Anyone 6 months of age and older can get the flu shot.

Hand washing: Over and over and over again; Washing hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time, helps prevent the flu from spreading. You can’t get the flu from the air, only from contact. Sing “Happy Birthday” twice and you will know you’ve washed long enough.

If you have the flu: Stay home from work and school when you have the flu, to avoid spreading the virus to other people.

FLU TRIVIA… Did you know…

“Influenza,” the name for the virus that causes flu, comes from an Italian word which means “to influence.” In medieval Europe, people thought flu outbreaks were caused by the movement of the stars.

The flu has been around for a long time. Hippocrates, who was born in 460 BC and died in 370 BC, described the symptoms of the flu; so we know it was around in his day.

Why cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze? When we cough, droplets of saliva travel from our mouths at speeds up to 60 mph. Droplets in a sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.

A handkerchief that has been used for only half a minute can contain 15,000 germs. Are you sure you want to keep that in your pocket?

JANUARY 2015 EVENTS

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Blood drive: Jan 9, noon – 4pm. The United Blood Services Bloodmobile will be at Larry H. Miller Dodge Ram Avondale, 10101 W. Papago Fwy, Avondale, AZ. All donors will receive a voucher to redeem online for a free General Admission Ticket to the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Appointment can be scheduled online www.bloodhero.com (please use Sponsor code: LarryHMiller)

Sunday A’Fair: Jan 11, 18 & 25, noon–4pm at Scottsdale Civic Center Park. Free admission. Concerts by the Valley’s top musicians, arts-and-crafts market, and fun activities for children and families. Food from the grill and drinks available for purchase, docent-led sculpture tours in the park and free admission to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. 480-499-8587 or www.Scottsdaleperformingarts.org

The Dirt on Compost: Jan 15, 6pm–8:30pm, 11465 W. Civic Center Library, Avondale, AZ. Free, but registration necessary. Compost is the black gold essential to successful gardening with many herbs and vegetables. Discover how easy it is to produce your own magical soil amendment and save space in our landfills. eavila@avondale.org or call 623-333-4422.

Super Saturday: Jan 31, 9am–4pm, Friendship Park, 12325 W Mcdowell Rd, Avondale, AZ. Family-friendly football themed event. Kids Zone, sports and cheerleader clinics, food and expo area, plus a few surprise guests, including All-American NFL wide receiver Cameron Colvin whose life story is subject of the major motion film “When the Game Stands Tall,” which is still in theaters. Free. Entry fee for the flag football tournament.

Mushroom extract, AHCC, helpful in treating HPV

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by Deborah Mann Lake

HOUSTON – (Oct. 28, 2014) – A Japanese mushroom extract appears to show promise in the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a pilot clinical trial at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School.

The results were presented at the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology in Houston today by principal investigator Judith A. Smith, Pharm.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UTHealth Medical School.

Ten HPV-positive women were treated orally with the extract, AHCC (active hexose correlated compound), once daily for up to five months. Five achieved a negative-HPV test result – two with confirmed eradication after receiving AHCC for three months. One patient had confirmed eradication after taking AHCC for an additional two months off study for a total of five months of AHCC treatment. The remaining two women who achieved a negative-HPV test are continuing on the AHCC for two more months, when eradication status can be assessed.

Currently, there is no effective medicine or supplement to treat HPV, which is associated with more than 99 percent of cervical cancer cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several other cancers are related to HPV, including 95 percent of anal cancer, 60 percent of oropharyngeal, 65 percent of vaginal cancer, 50 percent of vulvar cancer and 35 percent of penile cancer.

AHCC is a readily available nutritional supplement that works to improve the innate immune system. Human and preclinical studies have shown that AHCC increases the number and/or activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells and cytokines, which can help the body fight off infections and block tumor growth.

“The results are very encouraging,” Smith said. “We were able to determine that at least three months of treatment is necessary but some need to extend treatment for up to five months. Since AHCC is a nutritional supplement with no known side effects and other immune modulating benefits, we will be planning on using six months of treatment in a phase II clinical study that is under review. This confirms our earlier preclinical research.”

Smith is director of UTHealth’s Women’s Health Integrative Medicine Research Team, which focuses on the safe and effective use of nutritional and herbal supplements with pharmacologic modalities as they relate to women’s health and cancer.

The above article is based on materials provided by University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Materials may be edited for content and length.