Now that telomeres have our attention ...

Telomeres are the talk of the day, what with the Nobel Prize in medicine being awarded to three scientists for their discovery of these small caps on DNA strands.

Today's story notes that the work identifying and exploring the relevance of these crucial bits began decades ago.

But it hasn't stopped. A story earlier this year pondered the question of just how much our telomeres can tell us: "Genetic Clues to Predicting Life Span."

It begins: "Wrinkles may betray our age externally, but our cells divulge their age -- and chronicle life's toll -- at the tips of our chromosomes. These tips, called telomeres, may also foretell our risk of early death."

-- Tami Dennis

When pain makes you feel old before your time

Having chronic pain can affect every aspect of a person's life, making daily activities a struggle. It may even make people feel older before their time.

A recent study validates those feelings. It found that people often troubled by pain may have the same level of functional limitations as those who suffer no chronic pain but are two to three decades older.

Researchers looked at data from 18,531 people ages 50 and older who took part in the 2004 Health and Retirement Study. Subjects were asked whether they were often troubled by pain and if the pain was mild, moderate or severe. Those in the moderate or severe category were categorized as having significant pain. The participants were also quizzed about their physical limitations in terms of mobility, stair climbing, upper-body tasks and daily living activities such as bathing, dressing and eating.

Almost one-fourth of all study subjects said they were often bothered by significant pain. They were also, on average, as limited functionally as people who were 20 to 30 years older who didn’t suffer from substantial pain. About a third of people ages 50 to 59 who were in pain, for example, said they could climb several flights of stairs without difficulty, compared with 39% of people 80 to 89 who weren't in pain. Study participants ages 50 to 59 who had pain also had higher rates of dependence and difficulty with daily tasks than people 80 to 89 who didn't have pain.

"When we think about taking care of patients in pain, the question is not just how do you manage their pain, but how do you help them to function better?" lead author Dr. Kenneth E. Covinksy, a staff physician at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said in a news release.

The study appears in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Alex Cruz / EPA

A clue to solving muscle loss in older people

As people age they lose muscle mass, about 1% a year starting in middle age. That muscle loss, called sarcopenia, is a major argument for continuing strength-training throughout life.

Recently, British researchers may have found a clue to why muscle loss may occur, and it could have to do with eating.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham, School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health in Derby, England, studied two groups: eight younger people, average age 25, and eight older people, average age 65. They were tested before breakfast; then they were given a small amount of insulin to replicate their body's reaction after eating breakfast.

By following a specific amino acid that revealed how much protein was being broken down in leg muscles, the researchers found that in the younger subjects, muscles were able to use insulin to halt the muscle breakdown, while the muscles in the older participants could not.

They also discovered that the younger people had greater blood flow in their legs than the older people, causing speculation that the older people might be getting lower amounts of nutrients and hormones. Weight training, they believe, could help maintain those crucial muscles.

The study appears online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

-Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times

A shampoo, blow-dry and some health advice

Hair stylists do more than make us look good--they can also be a confidante, friend, shoulder to cry on, and advice-giver.

That's why a team of researchers from Ohio State University decided to study the relationship hair stylists have with their older clients, and see how that relationship could ultimately improve the health of those clients. And what a relationship they have--among 40 stylists in the Columbus, Ohio, area who filled out surveys, more than half said they felt very close to their older clients. Said one stylist, "I have been seeing some of my clients for almost 40 years, so I have become very close, like family."

Part of that closeness comes from the information clients share about their personal lives. According to the survey, stylists said clients talk about physical health problems, family, financial and emotional problems, and anxiety and depression.

The stylists didn't just listen--they offered support and sympathy, tried to cheer up their clients, gave advice, and often tried to get their clients to speak with someone. The stylists felt they were able to spot signs and symptoms of depression, dementia and self-neglect. Almost two-thirds said they would refer older clients to a mental health expert if necessary, but some said they didn't know much about such services in their community.

"We can't expect them to do everything, but our results suggest that most stylists care about their clients and would be willing to help them," said Keith Anderson, co-author of the study and assistant professor of social work at Ohio State University. Anderson believes there could be a program that encourages stylists to identify mental health and other issues in older clients, much like the "Cut It Out" program that enlists salon workers to spot warning signs of domestic abuse and refer clients to local service.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

Women's health priorities: sleep, relax, drink water, exercise, before sex

The magazine Cooking Light has found that when it comes to getting and staying healthy, women have the burner turned down pretty low on getting "enough sex." Finding time to exercise was hardly at the top of their list, either.

In an online survey, 1,020 randomly selected women over 25 were asked to rate their priorities in terms of health and well-being. The results: Right up there at the top was getting enough sleep--the other activity often conducted between the sheets. Keeping stress levels low, finding time to relax, eating healthfully, drinking the recommended amount of water: respondents listed these priorities, respectively, as their top five priorities for their personal health.

Where did they rank "having enough sex"? Right there, in seventh place, behind "finding time to exercise."

Perhaps the women respondents didn't value "having enough sex" because there are no guidelines issued by medical specialty groups or the federal government recommending target levels of sexual activity for Americans. After all, there are recommendations for women's top priority, sleep, as well as for nutritional intake, daily water consumption and exercise. There are, however, no specific consensus guidelines for maintaining a healthy stress level, or recommendations concerning time spent relaxing, women's priorities two and three.

Go figure!

In other findings, the Cooking Light survey found that women would rather be seen as healthy than trendy, wealthy, powerful, beautiful, sexy or successful. The only quality they esteemed higher than healthy was smart. Most women say they look younger (69%) and feel younger (58%) than they are. And majorities say their self-confidence is influenced by their appearance (74%) and their overall health and wellness (72%).

-- Melissa Healy

Except for dementia, even very old people are happier

Among the most praised psychological research in recent years is Stanford professor Laura Carstensen's work on happiness and aging. Through her studies, Carstensen has found that, contrary to popular opinion that young people are the happiest, people generally become happier as they age.

Even the oldest of the old can be truly contented, according to research presented today at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Assn. The fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population are people over age 85. A study by Susan Turk Charles of UC Irvine reviewed several studies on aging and mental health. Except for people with dementia-related diseases, mental health generally keeps improving with age, Charles found.

Carstensen's work suggests that as people age, they have better emotional control and are less likely to despair over life's bumpy moments. Research also shows that social relationships influence stress management.

Carstensen, who also spoke at the APA meeting today, has a new book detailing her findings entitled, "A Long Bright Future," (Broadway Books). Here are a few of her tips:

• Envision ways to thoroughly enjoy the years that lie ahead and imagine what it would be like to live a healthy, happy 100 years.
• Design your social and physical environments -- home, spending habits, eating habits -- so that your daily routine enforces your goals.
• Diversify your expertise and activities to avoid putting your social investments into only your spouse, children or job.

-- Shari Roan

 

For older adults, strength training may keep hospitalizations at bay

Exercise isn't just for the young, and staying in shape becomes even more critical as we age. Although health experts have been hammering this into our heads for years, some people still need more proof. So here it is.

A new study found that older people who have less strength, lower muscle density and overall poor physical function are at greater risk for being hospitalized than their stronger, more fit counterparts. The key seemed to be having more muscle density, a measure of fat versus lean tissue in the muscle.

Researchers followed 3,011 healthy adults age 70 to 80 from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study for an average of 4.7 years. The participants were tested for grip strength, knee extension strength, lean mass, walking speed, and the pace at which they could stand from a sitting position.

During the course of the study, 55.7% of participants were hospitalized one or more times. Those in the lowest quartile for muscle density were more likely to be hospitalized compared with those in the highest quartile. Researchers found that even among healthy older adults who had no disabilities, poor physical function was linked with a higher risk of hospitalization, and lean muscle mass alone was not as critical as strength, function, specific force, and muscle density.

Around middle age, people typically lose about 1% of muscle mass a year -- not a huge amount, but it adds up over time. Hitting the weights regularly can offset this loss, called sarcopenia, and improve function and quality of life.

"Interventions to improve muscle strength and physical performance might not only reduce future disability," wrote the authors, "but might also reduce the large economic burden associated with hospitalization should poor muscle strength and function be causally related to subsequent hospitalizations." The study appears in the August issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Hurry up, you might live longer

Walking is a terrific and convenient form of exercise, especially as people get older. But is a leisurely stroll as good as a fast clip?

A recent study measuring walking speed and longevity says maybe not, at least when it comes to life expectancy. In research presented at the IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics earlier this month in Paris, researchers analyzed nine previous studies that included 34,000 men and women whose average age was almost 74. The long-term studies tracked participants for 10 to more than 20 years.

Overall, faster walkers lived longer than slower walkers, with those walking at a gait speed of 1.4 meters per second or faster more than twice as likely to be alive after 10 years than those who walked at 0.4 meters per second or slower. The survival gap between faster and slower walkers widened even more after 15 years.

Gait speed was a good predictor of survival across all groups, regardless of gender, ethnicity and health condition. "[Gait speed] may be useful clinically for estimating general life expectancy," wrote the authors in the study.

-- Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Don't borrow your friend's walker. Do learn to use yours correctly.

It pays to be thrifty, of course -- in these times especially. But if you need assistance walking, don't borrow your friend's cane or walker. And learn how to use your own. A recent study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that 47,000 senior citizens end up in ERs each year after falling while using an unsuitable cane or walker, or incorrectly operating one.

(This strikes close to home: I don't know what wigs out me and my siblings more, the fact that my mother's walker is so rarely used or the way she operates it when she takes it out for its monthly spin, her back leaned wayyyy over, arms outstretched, the walker just a distant blur in front of her.)

In response to these numbers, the American Physical Therapy Assn. has put out a reminder that it makes sense to consult a physical therapist so that appropriate walking aids are selected and people are taught how to use them properly. (This tip is a tad self-serving, perhaps, but also seems very sensible.)

Some tips from the association's release:

• The walker or cane should be about the height of your wrists when your arms are at your sides.
• When using a walker, your arms should be slightly bent when holding on, but you shouldn't have to bend forward at the waist to reach it.
• Periodically check the rubber tips at the bottom of the cane or walker. Be sure to replace them if they are uneven or worn through.

-- Rosie Mestel

Sure, mice on rapamycin may get some extra time…*

Even the hint -- from an animal study, no less -- that a specific drug may eventually help humans extend lifespan is enough to generate considerable popular excitement, presumably among those who have an interest in living longer. But if it's longevity you want, suppressing the immune system may not be the best way to go. That's what the drug in question, rapamycin, does.

For one thing, this suppression does tend to increase the risk of disease. An undesirable side effect by anyone's standards.

Rapamycin, an antibiotic commonly given to prevent rejection of organ transplants, was given to old mice in a recent study and, yes, the animals lived longer. Lifespan was increased up to 14% for female rodents (not to belabor the point, but it's worth repeating that the study was on, yes, rodents) and up to 9% for male rodents. *

Now, more on rapamycin.

The National Cancer Institute defines it as: "An antibiotic that blocks a protein involved in cell division and inhibits the growth and function of certain T cells of the immune system involved in the body's rejection of foreign tissues and organs. It is a type of immunosuppressant and a type of serine/threonine kinase inhibitor. Rapamycin is now called sirolimus." 

More on sirolimus from rxlist.com, which points out that the drug can increase the risk of certain types of cancer -- lymphoma and skin cancer, for example.

Here's a summary of the new research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature. It states: "Rapamycin may extend lifespan by postponing death from cancer, by retarding mechanisms of ageing, or both."

That's heady stuff. Here's a bit more context, in a more accessible version, from nature.com. And a blog post from the site pointing out just where the word "mice" first appeared in various media reports.

As a Forbes story clarifies, the significance here is actually what the research tells us about the biology of aging. There's a long way to go between one finding about a signaling pathway in the body and practical effects in people. A very long way.

But, of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to get this antibiotic and take it as an insurance policy. Mega doses, naturally, just to be on the safe side. 

-- Tami Dennis

* An earlier version of this story said the mice were all of the same type. Not so, as Mr. Miller (see comment below) was kind enough to point out.