Even Diet Soda Induces Weight Gain in Elderly
June 24, 2011 (San Diego, California) — The perception that diet soft drinks are a benign alternative to highly sweetened beverages might be dangerously wrong, according to the results of the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging, which were reported here at the American Diabetes Association 71st Scientific Sessions.
Diet soft drinks have long been thought to be a healthier alternative to their sugary counterparts; however, past reports have linked increased incidence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes to the frequent intake of diet soft drinks.
In the study presented, Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and colleagues examined the effect of the long-term consumption of diet soft drinks by a population of individuals 65 to 74 years of age (n = 474).
At baseline, measures of height, weight, and waist circumference were recorded, as was diet soft drink intake. Three additional exams of the study subjects were conducted over an average follow-up of just over 3.5 years (the study was conducted over a 9-year period).
When the results of these observations were compared with those from subjects who did not drink diet soft drinks, the differences were striking. Overall, consumers of diet soft drinks experienced a 70% greater increase in waist circumference than nonconsumers. Further, among elderly drinkers of 2 or more diet soft drinks per day, mean increases in waist circumference were 5 times greater than those recorded for nonconsumers.
“These results suggest that — amidst the national drive to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks — policies that promote the consumption of diet soft drinks may have unintended deleterious effects,” state the study investigators.
Previous work by Ms. Fowler has evaluated the negative effects of diet drinks (Obesity [Silver Spring]. 2008;16:1894-1900).
Ms. Fowler has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
American Diabetes Association (ADA) 71st Scientific Sessions: Abstract 0062-OR. Presented June 25, 2011.
How Shopping May Save Your Loved One
FREQUENT SHOPPERS MAY LIVE LONGER
A study found that frequent shopping trips by elderly people may be linked to longer life.
A survey of 1,850 men and women aged 65 years and over found shopping frequencies of: every day (17%); between 2-4 times/week (22%); and from infrequently to never (48%). Accounting for potentially confounding factors – such as ethnicity, age, financial status and lifestyle – researchers found that those who frequently shopped enjoyed longer lives.
Men and women who shopped daily were 28% and 23% respectively, less likely to die.
It was not clear whether shopping was the direct cause of the lowered risk of death, or whether shopping itself is an indicator of pre-existing good health.
The research team suggested that it is possible that shopping prolongs life by ensuring an adequate supply of food, by providing exercise that does not require the motivation of attending a gym, and by promoting social contact.
This just-released study will appear in a future print issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, but it is available online now at http://bit.ly/h9LhOn.
Vitamin B-12 & Nerve Disorders
VITAMIN B12 PREVENTS NERVE DISORDERS IN OLDER ADULTS
Researchers have co
ncluded that older adults who show no anemia, spinal cord degeneration, or other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, still experience an improvement in nerve responses and function after supplementation with vitamin B12. (Vitamin B12 deficiency is very common in older adults but many people do not experience typical symptoms such as anemia or spinal cord degeneration.)
In 200 individuals aged 75 or greater, the scientists measured certain electrophysiological indices that show the level of neurological functioning. Those administered oral supplements of 1mg (1000mcg) for one year showed a distinct improvement in these indices of peripheral and central neurosensory responses, which indicates an improvement in nerve function necessary for mobility and sensory function.
This is the first study to prove deficiency-related, nerve impairment regularly occurs in seniors even in the absence of B12-deficiency symptoms; the researchers concluded that supplementation could have considerable significance for public health.
This just-released study will appear in a future issue of Nutrition Journal but is available online now at http://bit.ly/gBE5Al without charge.
A Brisk Walk Can Turn Back the Clock
MODERATE AEROBIC EXERCISE LINKED TO IMPROVED MEMORY
Researchers have found an association between moderate levels of aerobic exercise and increased size of the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in memory. This is the first study to focus on older adults who already have experienced some decrease in the size of the hippocampus, believed to be the (potentially-inevitable) cause of memory loss with age.
Some of the 120 sedentary adults were placed on a routine of brisk, 40-minute walks three times a week, while others did stretching and toning exercises. In those who walked, hippocampus size increased almost 2%; memory function improved; levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (a biomarker for learning and memory) increased; and scores on spatial memory tests were higher. (Spatial memory records information about a person’s immediate environment and geographical orientation.)
It is important to note that the effect was found only with aerobic exercise; and that only moderate exercise levels were sufficient to produce this effect.
This study was released January 31, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/hhnodP.
Can Traffic Noise Increase the Risk of Stroke?
TRAFFIC NOISE INCREASES STROKE RISK
A study has found that exposure to noise from road traffic can increase the risk of stroke, especially among those aged 65 years or older.
Researchers studying 51,485 subjects concluded that every ten-decibel increase in noise volume may raise the risk of stroke by 27% among those 65 years of age and over. Previous studies have linked traffic noise with higher blood pressure and heart attack risk, but this is the first study to link traffic noise with a greater stroke risk.
Epidemiological studies such as this, based on common factors among large populations, cannot prove cause-and-effect; but if this is a causal link, it would mean 8% of all strokes and 19% of strokes among those aged 65 and over are attributable to road traffic noise.
Traffic noise might be interfering with sleep, acting as a stressor and elevating stress hormones. The study was released today, January 26, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the European Heart Journal. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/hP9XyR without subscription or fee.
Vitamin D & Mental Agility
Cognitive performance is much improved among the elderly who are not deficient in vitamin D, and vitamin D deficiency may be common among shut-in seniors due to limited access to sunshine and other factors, according to a new study.
More than 1,000 study participants who were receiving home care were assessed for vitamin D status. Only 35 percent of participants had sufficient vitamin D levels and this group scored higher on cognitive performance tests than those who were deficient or insufficient in vitamin D. Pathways for vitamin D have been identified in the hippocampus and cerebellum areas of the brain; these are regions associated with planning, processing new information and forming new memories, suggesting vitamin D is important to the cognitive process and for independent senior living.
The study was released by the journal titled, Journals of Gerontology, Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, in a summary format. But it is available in full-text format at: http://bit.ly/d2FtYY.