News & Views

People over 65 should take a daily vitamin D supplement to help prevent falls, according to research.  This cuts their risk of falling by 19% if they take 17.5mg to 25mg per day, says research in BMJ Journal online. Daily Telegraph 3.10.09

• Initial tests show the substance oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oil may protect the brain against the toxic brain chemicals that cause Alzheimer’s.  Research by Dr. Paul Breslin at Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia, USA.   Published in “Toxicology & Allied Pharmacology” journal.   Further research is needed. Daily Telegraph 3.10.09

Memory Loss Tactics

Do you feel like your memory is getting worse? It happens to all of us as we age, but a growing body of medical evidence suggests that lifelong stimulation is the key to building and maintaining brain cells, staving off memory loss and maybe even preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Research has found that doing interesting work (paid or volunteer), pursuing hobbies and engaging in an active social life can help. Take up playing an instrument or singing, language lessons, learning something new or simply do the daily crossword in the paper. And, try all of these with a smile – studies show that a positive emotional state is also good for your brain. Dr Weil E News Mar 09.

Fosamax Bone Drug Warning

I saw this in the Nutri E-news supplement and thought I’d pass it on to you. Fosamax is a very common medicine given for osteoporosis (brittle bones). I’ve had my worries about it for a while – and truly prevention is better than cure with this condition so it shouldn’t be necessary.

So, here’s the story from Nutri:

“A new study has shown that women who have used the drug Fosamax are nearly twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation, which is the most common kind of chronically irregular heartbeat.The study showed that Fosamax was associated with an 86 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared with never having used the drug. Atrial fibrillation can cause palpitations, fainting, fatigue, or congestive heart failure. They can also lead to embolic strokes.Fosamax is the most widely used drug treatment for the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. It is also available under the generic name of alendronate. 

 

 

 

How Does Fosamax Work?

Fosamax works by killing osteoclasts – the cells that break down bone so that osteoblasts can then rebuild them.  The theory behind this drug is that if you kill off osteoclasts, bone will get denser but although this is true, bone also becomes weaker as a result.  This is because bone is a dynamic structure that requires the removal of unhealthy bone and replacement with new bone to stay strong. Fosamax does not build any new bone. It only kills the cells that break bone down, so your bone is not undergoing its natural regenerative process.

Fosamax has been linked to many different side effects including increased risk of ulcers, liver damage, gastric and esophageal inflammation, renal failure, skin reactions, hypocalcemia (calcium in your blood is too low), osteonecrosis (jaw bone death), serious eye inflammations and possible blindness.  Now this new study has also shown it to be linked with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.”

Source:
Archives of Internal Medicine April 28, 2008; 168(8):826-31

Give Zinc to Elderly To Avoid Pneumonia

Low serum zinc levels associated with increased incidence of pneumonia in elderly.

In a study of nursing home residents, patients with normal serum levels of zinc exhibited decreased incidence, severity and duration of pneumonia symptoms. Residents with low serum zinc levels (less than 70 mcg per decilitre) experienced increased incidence, longer duration of episodes, and required 50% more antibiotic prescriptions.

Simin N Meydani, Junaidah B Barnett, Gerard E Dallal, Basil C Fine, Paul F Jacques, Lynette S Leka, and Davidson H Hamer. Serum zinc and pneumonia in nursing home elderly. Am J Clin Nutr 2007 86: 1167-1173.

I would add a couple of things here. If you know an elderly person either in a home or going to hospital, build them up before they go – and then maintain their supplements as their diet is likley to be poor. My advice would be perhaps an easy to take nutritious powder or a Multivitamin and Mineral, plus a probiotic  and Garlic or Olive Leaf for circulation and to kill off any bugs that may be prevalent in the environment. None of these should affect any other meds they are on, but always make sure you tell the GP/staff what else they are taking. We don’t look after our older people enough – it’s time to start!