Take Blueberries to Prevent Alzheimer

As a superfood blueberries have already prized for its antioxidant properties. Blueberries have benefits on memory and cognitive function. A new American research has highlighted it.

This wonderful fruit can fight against the devastating effects of dementia. For an example Alzheimer’s disease could be mentioned.

It was known earlier that blueberries protect the heart and cut the risk of cancer. Now researchers have been studying blueberries for their effects on brain aging.

Previous studies showed that daily consumption of blueberries could reduce blood pressure in eight weeks only.

A study which was published in April 2013 found that blueberries contain polyphenols. Polyphenols encourage autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular self-cleaning process. This process removes toxic proteins which is built up in the brain.

In the latest study researchers monitored 47 American adults aged 68 and older. The participants had mild cognitive impairment.

The participants were given either freeze-dried blueberry powder, equivalent to a cup of berries or a placebo powder once a day. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati, USA conducted the study over a period of 16 weeks.

Those who took blueberry powder found their memory improved. They could access to words and concepts better. In comparison with those given the placebo, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan of the brain showed more dynamic brain activity in this group.

The second experiment was focused on 94 people who were aged 62 to 80. They subjectively felt their memories declining. Actually they had no objectively measured cognitive issues. The participants were split into four groups. One group were given blueberry powder. The other groups were given either fish oil, fish oil and powder or a placebo.

The second experiment found some improvement in cognitive function in those who were given either blueberry powder or fish oil. But, there was no improvement in memory. The MRI scan showed little specific increase in activity.

Eating blueberries could be beneficial if a cognitive impairment is already established. Researchers concluded this from the two experiment.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder. It causes the progressive and irreversible destruction of neurons. According to the USA’s Alzheimer’s Association, at present more than 5.3 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s. But this number could rise by 40 percent by 2025. The number could be triple by 2050.

Mental Problems of Elders: Our Responsibility

There are some psychological problems in old age like each step of the development of human life. However, most of the people do not understand mental problems of older people or misunderstand them. Because of lack of knowledge, many people do not know the problems of the elders. As a result, they give pain to elders and suffer pain themselves too. Again, many people give this matter less importance even if they know it. For this reason, psychological problems of elders increase. But an elderly person is like a banyan tree for a family. His knowledge helps the family a lot. Not only that, all of them are emotional refuge. Let us know the problems of the elderly people:

The number of individuals above 60 years is increasing in the world currently. Due to decrease of mortality and fertility rates, the proportion of elderly people is increasing. Among them, nearly 6.6 percent are losing their movement power. Almost 15% of them suffer from mental problems. Among the mental problems, depression and dementia are common. In addition, anxiety also annoy much.

Sadness:
Due to physical condition, loneliness, family problems and thinking, could not do anything in life, elderly people suffer from depression. About 7% of elderly men and women suffer from depression. The symptoms of depression are like other people. Sometimes elders do not understand the feelings of depression. In that case, they might have this problem.

In old age, medication and psychotherapy are the treatment methods of depression. Psychotherapy works with the psycho-social causes that are responsible for depression. However, sometimes the affected person lives in so much frustration that he does not get any interest in taking psychotherapy. Then it needs to take drugs.

Dementia: 
The main symptoms of dementia is losing memory. Sometimes, although he could remember childhood memories, it becomes very difficult for him to remember the things he has done a few years ago. For this reason, family members misunderstand him. They think that the person is doing so to make trouble for them.

It is assumed that 35.6 million people worldwide are suffering from dementia. The number is becoming double in every 20 years. The harmful effects of dementia are vulnerable in middle income countries.

If you want to help a dementia affected person, you have to help his family first. The reason is that, if you foster pain in the deep of your heart, it is not possible for you to help the elderly person.

Anxiety: 
Anxiety can come in old age for various reasons. For several reasons, anxiety is seen in them, such as: decreasing income, increasing the cost of living, going away children, death of someone of the same age, losing ability to work, dependency on others etc. During this period, everybody should cooperate them with highly empathy. Pride rises at this age. So, everybody should talk to them carefully so that they do not get hurt in mind. A doctor’s advice might be taken to solve the problem.

Life after Retirement

Job occupies a big part of our life. We are engaged in different kinds of works throughout life. We do job or business or make money anyhow. Time passes away. Our age increases and strength is reduced. The time of retirement comes. How everything changes!

Complex diseases in older age such as: diabetes, arthritis, bone loss disease, heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension etc. remain along with anxiety and depression. Because of having mental problems, aged people cannot follow the treatment methods of physical illness. As a result, their physical condition becomes worse. Depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, scared to death, schizophrenia, mania etc. are appeared. The quality of lifestyle becomes very lower. Sometimes they are neglected much. Even suicide tendency is seen among many of them.

Retirement time might be beautiful. For this, the retirees as well as the society have responsibility. After retirement, to reduce mental problems you can follow the following rules:

Consider retirement time as perfection. You have done enough throughout your life. Now, it is your right of taking rest and living in joy.

Do not care negative thinking. Even, do not call them by mouth. Not indulging in despair, be optimistic.

Avoid all kinds of criticism. There is no need to take responsibility of all the people of the world to show them right paths.

For retirement, make plans earlier. Save money so that you do not face poverty. Make a real plan how you will keep yourself busy in post-retirement period.

Never think that you are old. Thinking old means old. If you do not think, your mind will be fresh. Your body will be good also.

Develop friendly relations with children, husband or wife. Settle all kinds of disputes before retirement. Stay with grandchildren and play with them. Tell them stories, take them to school and help them. Mind it, being serious, being a source of fear are not a matter of pride.

Keep in touch with your roots. Go to your relatives and childhood friends. Establish a new meaning of life.

At the time of retirement, do something which you really enjoy doing.

You can do meditation. Walk regularly. Walking half an hour daily is not bad. Find out a partner for a walk. It will make your walk easy and interesting.

Take balanced diet. Keep your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels under control. Control your body weight.

Take necessary treatment. Make medical checkup regularly. Start treatment if any problem is diagnosed. You can take physiotherapy for pain if needed. You can also take psychotherapy to reduce anxiety and depression.

Sleep adequately. However, do not sleep much. To pass time, make garden, plant trees.

Engage in household chores. Maintain a healthy routine of life

Magical Power of Beetroot Juice for Elderly

A new study suggested that Beetroot juice has significant power in improving blood pressure and exercise endurance in those elderly patients who are suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) syndrome. NDTV reported on Feb 12, 2016.

A daily beetroot juice intake improved aerobic endurance by 24 percent. 5-10 mmHg blood pressure was decreased by it.

This primary study suggests that taking beetroot juice daily a week could be a effective therapeutic option in improving aerobic endurance with HFPEF patients. One of the researchers professor Dalane Kitzman at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina, said.

HFPEF is a strong form of heart failure which occurs initially in elderly women reflects how the heart's left ventricle pumps with every beat.

Tiredness and shortness of breath are the primary symptoms of HFPEF. Some non-cardiac factors which decrease oxygen delivery to skeletal muscles are responsible for it.

The journal of the American College of Cardiology Heart Failure published details of the findings.

19 people were enrolled in the study. It was a randomized safety study for determining the better way to improve exercise intolerance. The researchers gave the patients a single dose or a daily dose of the juice over several days.

Firstly, the researchers measured blood pressure and aerobic endurance. After that, they gave the patients either a single dose of beetroot juice or a placebo.

The dose of the beetroot juice was equivalent to 2.4 ounces which contains approximately six millimoles of inorganic nitrate. More studies need to be conducted.

Beet is a wonderful root vegetable and beetroot juice has plenty of benefits. Traditionally, it has been used to cure people for a long time. According to Wikipedia, beetroot was used by ancient Romans to treat fever and constipation. Beetroot contains high amount of folic acid and manganese. Traditionally, people drink or use beetroot juice to treat anemia, tiredness and skin problems.

Old Age and Health

What is the need of elderly people in our society? Many people think they are burden, many think they are valueless. But the correct answer is, they are an asset to society. Because, they have enough experience about life. When man becomes old, they become sick frequently. For this reason, kipping their health fit is a big challenge. Everybody should know about the complications of old age. Here we will explore the world media to find out solutions of the health problems elderly people face...

How Old People Are Treated:

Old people do not get the required service. A report on BBC on Jan 28, 2016 showed the present healthcare facilities of old people in the UK. According to the report, the government of UK is failing to provide urgent help to old people. One statistics there shows how the elderly people are being treated in the UK. From the report, one can easily assume the fragile condition of elderly people around the world especially in the poorer countries.

Older People Are Happier:

A study in the UK has found that people aged between 65-79 are the happiest and 45-49 are the saddest in UK. People start becoming more unhappy again from 80 because of certain reasons such as living alone, poor health and loneliness. The researchers have found the reasons why people of 45-59 age group are unhappy. More responsibility to themselves, care for their children and elderly parents are among the causes. NDTV Health reported it on Feb 02, 2016.

Active Sex Life For Healthy Brain:

In old age, active sex life can keep the brain healthy. A study in the UK has found it. Researchers surveyed more than 6000 adults aged 50 to 89 years. The study is biased because many participated in the study did not give any answer. So, according to the researchers more study is needed. FoxNews Health reported it on Feb 03, 2016.

Old people are our wealth. As they are experienced, they can give us a lot of advice. So, we have to be very careful to them. We have to try our best to keep their health sound and fit. We should not forget that we all will grow old one day.