Will Scientific Advancements and Healthy Lifestyles Increase Longevity?

Medical breakthroughs and technological advances — in combination with healthy lifestyles — will help improve the lives of older Americans during 2010, according to the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging (MLIA) based in Evanston, Ill.

“Our older adult population continues to expand as each year passes, so more focus is being placed on ways to live a longer, healthier life,” said Linda Hollinger Smith, the group’s vice president. “Progress on extending human life, either through genetic research or living a healthier lifestyle, will be one of the top trends older Americans will witness next year.”

Among the top 2010 trends identified by MLIA are:
1.  Scientific breakthroughs will demonstrate that healthy lifestyles can actually repair DNA by boosting a key enzyme, telomerase, that is vital for improving the body’s immune response and may even increase longevity.
2.  The movement to more homelike environments for older adults living in long-term care communities will grow. Programs will provide care, support, individuality and promote safety in a residential environment.
3.  Improvements in health care will lead to ever slowing rates of aging, increasing the number of adults who will reach the age of 100.
4.  There will be an increased focus on positivity and its impact on happiness, health and longevity for older adults.
5.  The use of technology among older adults will grow exponentially — whether this means surfing the Internet, joining social networks such as Facebook, or using technologic devices in the home to monitor their health as well as promote independence and safety.
6.  Progress on extending human life will be a growing focus of researchers, as we learn more about how substances in our foods – such as resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes and in several other plants  – may protect us from some life-shortening diseases such as diabetes.
7.  Older adults will play an increasingly important role in “helping the Earth age well”, by working in green jobs, volunteering, gardening, and teaching others about how to help the environment.
8.  Significant advances in treatments for diseases including cancer will occur through genetic research efforts that are preventing DNA mutations.
9.  Greater numbers of older adults will use the Internet to learn about their health. Health professionals will need to incorporate Beb-based health resources into their patients’ visits to assure that accurate websites are being sought out.
10.  Senior living residences will also make “healthy living” a priority as future prospects will be looking towards a variety of programs and amenities that support wellness lifestyles.
11.  “The ability to live a longer, healthier life will depend on the right combination of lifestyle choices, technology, advances and medical breakthroughs,” concluded Holliger-Smith.  “It’s something we call Aging Well, and the chances of that happening will continue to expand in 2010 and beyond.”

Better Than Viagra, Cialis, Levitra

New erection drug believed to be faster, safer

A still experimental erectile dysfunction drug — avanafil — promises erections in just 30 minutes or less, according to study results announced by the drug’s manufacturer.

The phase 3 study, not yet published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, included 646 men with erectile dysfunction (ED). At the highest dose tested (200 milligrams), nearly 80 percent of sexual attempts resulted in erections good enough for intercourse.

Study investigator LeRoy Jones, associate professor of urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, said the new drug will offer a new alternative to men seeking “an improved experience” with current erectile dysfunction drugs.

“These data suggesting that avanafil achieves a full effect in 30 minutes or less, with a window of opportunity extending beyond six hours, would be a welcome option for ED treatment,” Jones said in a news release from Vivus Inc., which has licensed the drug from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.

In the study, men received either an inactive placebo or avanafil at a dose of 50 milligrams, 100 milligrams, or 200 milligrams. Successful intercourse was reported by:
• 27 percent of men taking placebo (up from 13 percent at the start of the study)
• 41 percent of men taking avanafil 50 milligrams (up from 13 percent at the start of the study)
• 57 percent of men taking avanafil 100 milligrams (up from 14 percent at the start of the study)
• 57 percent of men taking avanafil 200 milligrams (up from 12 percent at the start of the study)

Avanafil’s most frequent side effect was headache, reported by 7 percent of men receiving the drug and by 1.2 percent of men taking placebo. Other common side effects included flushing (4.6 percent of men on avanafil vs. none on placebo) and nasal congestion (2.3 percent of men on avanafil vs. 1.2 percent on placebo).

Avanafil works the same way as the three other ED drugs currently on the market: Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. All these drugs target an enzyme called PDE5; avanafil appears to inhibit this enzyme more selectively than the other.

A Vivus news release suggests that in addition to working faster than Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, the new drug may have fewer side effects.

The current study, dubbed REVIVE, is the first of four phase 3 trials of avanafil. Two of the other studies will look at how well the drug helps erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes and in men who have had prostate surgery. A third study, enrolling 600 men at 40 U.S. medical centers, began in March 2009 and will continue for one year.

Vivus expects to submit avanafil for FDA approval in late 2010 or early 2011.

Study: More Older Americans Abusing Drugs

A new government study indicates a rise in substance abuse in older Americans that is likely to lead to an increased need for mental health treatment in the next 10 years.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said in a report in January that the need for substance abuse treatment among Americans over 50 is projected to double.

The agency said in a statement that substance abuse is dangerous at any age, but physiological and social changes make older adults more vulnerable to the harmful effects of illicit drugs.

The report suggests that an estimated 4.3 million Americans over the age of 50 used illicit drugs in the past year. The agency said 8.5 percent of men aged 50 to 54 used marijuana, as opposed to about 4 percent of women.

In adults over 65 who abuse drugs, nonmedical use of prescription drugs was more common than smoking marijuana.

Volunteering May Prevent the Elderly from Becoming Frail

Frailty is a geriatric condition marked by weight loss, low energy and strength, and low physical activity. UCLA researchers followed 1,072 healthy adults aged 70 to 79 between 1988 and 1991 to determine if productive activities — specifically volunteering, paid work and child care — prevent the onset of frailty.
At the beginning of the study, 28 percent of participants volunteered, 25 percent performed child care duties and 19 percent worked for pay. After three years, participants in all three activities were found to be less likely to become frail. After accounting for levels of physical and cognitive function, however, only volunteering was associated with lower rates of frailty.

The study suggests that participating in volunteer activities may prevent frailty in older adults. A randomized trial is needed to determine whether volunteering itself prevents the onset of frailty, or if there is something about the types of people who volunteer regularly that keeps them from becoming frail.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It appears in the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.

Active older adults find haven at North Area YMCA

Although the “golden years” are typically a time to slow down and take it easy, you won’t normally see Baby Boomers doing that at the North Area YMCA in Syracuse.

Active older adults are active indeed. Men and women alike come to the Y for fun, friendship and fitness.

A typical day might begin with a fitness class such as Zumba, Tai Chi or Yoga, a walk on the treadmill or perhaps some water aerobics. Once their exercise is complete, the front lobby is bustling with activity. Five days a week, they exercise together and then sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, an occasional homemade baked treat and good company.

Conversation can get lively with the sound of laughter often heard in the far reaches of the YMCA.
The active older adult population also gets involved in many other YMCA activities.

Once a month, they enjoy their book club. They take turns choosing books and engage in discussion. Book selections range from non-fiction to light romance and historical fiction.

Another monthly activity is the knitting and crocheting club. On the third Wednesday of every month, along with their workout clothes, they tote in bags filled with yarn and their latest project.

While the formal group was initiated by a staff member, the seniors had been showcasing their talents for years and had been giving informal knitting lessons to anyone who was interested.

The most recent activity established at the Y has been dominoes. What began as a small group quickly expanded—one person taught another and then another.

It is such a popular activity that the Y is now featuring a dominoes tournament.

While it may sound like active older adults sit around at their Y all day, quite the opposite is true. In order to encourage seniors to participate, activities and classes are scheduled early in the morning.

When they are not volunteering, they are out seeking other opportunities—such as taking computer classes so they can use the Internet or learning to use a digital camera so they can capture all of their adventures.

“We have a member who lost her husband several years ago. She was alone, isolated and very lonely,” a North Area YMCA spokesperson said. “Finally, she joined the Y and it changed her life. She has a reason to get out of bed in the morning and she knows she will be missed if she doesn’t show up.”

• Submitted by the North Area YMCA in Syracuse.

Extending The Golden Years

If you fear the ravages of aging (as we all do), if you have nightmares about being warehoused in a nursing home or, worse yet, being a burden on your family, if you dread losing your independence and becoming an invalid — then you might be interested in the Cenegenics Medical Institute.

This organization, based in Las Vegas, is in the business of “age management medicine,”  a treatment program that takes a holistic approach to battling aging and includes an exercise regimen, healthy diet, hormones and other supplements.

Robert Willix, a former cardiac surgeon and chief executive of Cenegenics, says, “We’re going to age, but if you’re 70 or 90 and you’re vigorous, then you’ve managed your aging.”

The 66-year-old doctor finds most of his clients among men 50 and older, 25 percent of whom are also doctors. He starts with a seven-hour evaluation that costs a healthy $3,000. He screens for cholesterol, triglycerides and blood-sugar levels, oxygen levels and body fat, bone density and arm strength and other health and conditioning barometers.

The session concludes with a low-carb lunch, including a choice of grilled lemon olive oil chicken breast, seared yellowfin tuna, orange balsamic grilled shrimp, or edamame (a preparation of baby soybeans in the pod). Desert consists of fresh berries and roasted almonds.

This healthy lunch introduces the clients to the diet regimen they will be following.

If you continue with his program, which includes the services of a nutritionist, fitness specialists and periodic consultatations with the good doctor himself, annual fees run about $10,000.
Expensive — yes — but if you want to be hitting that golf ball long and strong in your 90s, the cost is less than your annual fees at most top-shelf country clubs. Also, you will re-coup much of the investment by reducing doctor bills and the cost of medicines and drugs.

There are those who would argue that longevity is to be found in the genes rather than at the gym, but this observer believes that our lifestyle and diet will dictate whether or not we decline in that fateful 70–90 corridor. The sins of our youth start catching up with us in our fifties. A lifetime of obesity, lunch at McDonalds, a pack of cigarettes a day and lack of exercise — start taking their toll.

The Cenegenics program is but one of many that are designed to reverse the damage done by a lifetime of abusing our bodies. Of course, there is much you can do without the help of a specialists on aging. You can purchase a good bicycle for a couple hundred dollars. A membership at a local gym runs around $40 a month — or you can join the YMCA for less.

There is an excellent magazine, Life Extension, which catalogues and sells dietary supplements and other health aids. These products, found in nature, can restore calcium to our bones, rebuild cartilage, enhance blood flow, aid digestion (flax seed oil does wonders), all of which help to augment what nature is gradually taking away.

I might add that the magazine you are reading — 55 PLUS — is designed to serve the same function, and that is to extend active life. Our generation did not know that smoking, overeating and eating the wrong foods, lack of exercise and ignoring our immune system would shorten our life. We can no longer hide behind that ignorance. To ignore all of the health research, drugs and dietary supplements, available today to enhance and extend our lives is almost a selfish act for those who will have to care for us should we become indigent.

Take it from somebody who is in that 70-90 corridor — it is tempting to give in to the aches and pains and let it happen. Most do. This is the fork in the road, the time at which you must decide whether or not you want to stay in that easy chair or break out of your sedentary life-style.

Taking the road to extend your active life is not easy. Taking part in programs, such as Cenegenics, requires discipline, dedication, and a dose of PMA (positive mental attitude). My program of physical fitness, dietary supplements, and activity is somewhat less involving than Cenegenics (which is beyond the financial means of most people anyway), but it seems to be working for me.

Every time I think of slacking off, I look around at our friends and contemporaries: it scares the hell out of me — and we continue to pursue, extending the Golden Years.

Living legend synonymous with Salt City hoop success

By Lou Sorendo

A wave of brilliant orange and blue. That’s what one is hit with when walking into Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim’s office at Manley Field House in Syracuse.

When seeing Boeheim comfortably seated amidst a vast display of sports memorabilia, it’s quite evident that he is more than just at work.

He is at home.

In a phrase, Boeheim is Syracuse basketball. He has taken this CNY city to the pinnacle of basketball glory. Season in and season out, he brings a consistency that has led to a singular career unmatched in college basketball annals.

Boeheim played as a freshman at SU in 1962. He has never left.

How popular has Boeheim become as SU’s basketball leader? The university named the Carrier Dome court “Jim Boeheim Court” in 2002 in recognition of the Hall of Fame coach’s numerous accomplishments. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. His legacy intact, Boeheim still fully enjoys the next challenge on his basketball journey. At 64, he is far from done.

That’s apparent by his undying commitment to the SU hoop program and insatiable appetite for success on the hardwood.

“When you don’t feel that you really work, that’s the best kind of job to have,” he said. “Everybody would like to have that kind of job.”

“I’m lucky and very fortunate to have this job and the support I’ve had over the years,” he added. Boeheim has compiled a jaw-dropping .735 win percentage as head coach entering this season, and will most likely hit the 800-win mark next year.

Boeheim made Syracuse proud when the Orange captured the coveted national championship in 2003. He also brought the Orange to the title game in ’87 and ’96.

Boeheim also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Team, which went on to capture the gold medal in the 2008 Games in China.

Fresh start every year

Boeheim has undoubtedly soared to great heights in his sport, both on the collegiate as well as the world stage. But every year is a new one for coach Boeheim.

“The interesting thing about coaching is that you are 0-0 every year and starting out with a clean slate,” he said.

Anything accomplished in the past is rendered insignificant. “Each team is brand new,” he said. “Because you might have done something (in the past) has no effect on the season.”

“The challenge is exactly the same every year,” he said. “You have to start from scratch. I think that’s the challenge and it keeps you interested in going forward.”

“If you’re just continuing something, it could get old,” he said. “It’s brand new every year.”

Boeheim is currently the longest-tenured coach in the collegiate ranks. There have been a few who have stayed longer but are now retired. “It’s been a long run,” he said. Boeheim associates his unmatched consistency to being successful.

“It’s a matter of having a good, fundamental program that attracts good players,” he said. “No coach is successful without having good players, and we have had a number of good players over the years and have been able to win on a pretty consistent basis. That’s what you have to do.”

Some of those notable players include Dwayne “Pearl” Washington (‘83-‘86), Sherman Douglas (‘85-‘89), Derrick Coleman (‘86-‘90), Billy Owens (‘88-‘91), Lawrence Moten (‘91-‘95), John Wallace (‘92-‘96), Carmelo Anthony (‘02-‘03), and Gerry McNamara (‘02-‘06).

Boeheim served as assistant coach from 1969 until he took over the head coaching spot in 1976. He has been there ever since.

He began his love affair with SU as a walk-on player in 1962, and went on to compete in the same backcourt along with all-time Orange great Dave Bing. It was apparent he had leadership skills early: He captained the squad in his senior year along with Bing.

CNY in blood

Boeheim is a true-blue Upstate New Yorker. After getting into coaching, he settled into a comfort zone and has never entertained moving anywhere else.

“I’m not one who looks at other places or thinks other places are better,” he said. “I think this is a good place and it’s been a good place for me.”

“I’ve never really thought seriously about going someplace else,” he said.
His love for SU has transcended any need to enter into the realm of professional basketball.

Has Boeheim ever considered coaching on the NBA level?

“Not really. I though about it a little bit,” he said. “It’s a different game, and it would be fun and challenging coaching in the NBA.”

Nonetheless, he has never actively pursued going to the next level.

“You have to really go after it,” he said.

Boeheim said he has thought about retirement but “not too much.”

“I’m not going to think about what I want to do in retirement until I retire,” he said. “When you start thinking about what you want to do, it pushes you to retire.”

Boeheim is married to Juli, and the couple has three children—James, 10, and twins Jack and Jamie, 8. He also has a daughter, Elizabeth, from a previous marriage.

“If I did retire, I’d have plenty to do with them,” Boeheim said.
He enjoys fishing and hunting, and plays golf, a sport he coached in the 1960s prior to taking on the assistant basketball coaching job.

He once boasted of a two-to-three stroke handicap for many years.

Did Boeheim miss his second calling as a golfer?

“I used to be decent, but with all the things with basketball, my game has slipped every year,” he said. He now characterizes his game as “pedestrian” with a goal of breaking 80.
Even in retirement, Boeheim will be content to stay put in CNY.

“I’d go south for a month or two, but I’d stay here,” he said.

Boeheim, a Fayetteville resident, enjoys the distinct spring, summer and fall seasons in CNY, and being engaged in basketball helps to insulate him from the rigors of Upstate winters being that it coincides with the indoor playing season.

“We have tremendously supportive fans and the people here support all the charitable work we do,” Boeheim said.

“It’s just a great place to live,” said Boeheim, noting that it’s conducive to raising his children and features a solid school system.

Mixing with the best

The SU men’s basketball program has certainly built a reputation of excellence. Expectations to win naturally follow.

“We expect to win. It’s a pressure we put on ourselves. We want to win and expect to win,” he said.

“Competition is very tough in the Big East,” he said. “Right now, we’re the best conference in the country. It’s not going to be easy to win games, and we’re going to lose some games, it’s as simple as that. I think our fans understand how tough the conference is, but they still expect us to have success and we do as well. It’s the way we look at it.”

The reason why the Big East is so formidable is simple. “We have a lot of basketball programs that have been traditionally good for a long, long time,” Boeheim said. “It is a great conference, and we added four really good programs in Marquette, Cincinnati, Louisville and DePaul.”

“We built a monster conference. Every game is difficult,” he said. “There’s eight to 10 teams that are really good.”

Boeheim is no stranger to being top dog in the Big East. He’s captured seven Big East regular season championships and five Big East Tournament titles.

He’s also mentored some of the country’s finest coaches, such as Louisville’s Rick Pitino.

He said it’s a “good feeling” to have nurtured such tremendous coaching talent.

The stress factor

Stress, of course, creeps into every profession and every job in life.

Boeheim handles it in his own cool way.

He enjoys watching TV to alleviate stress, and will tape shows during the basketball season and watch them late at night.

He also tries to get as much rest as possible during the season.

“You try to get away from it a little bit,” he said. “Everyone should have a way of getting away, and that’s what I do.”

“You try to get your mind off it, otherwise you’re thinking about it 24-7,” he said.

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the last game, or being worried about the next one.

“There’s so many games during a four-month period, we’re sometimes playing two to three games a week,” he said. “It’s important to try and get away from it.”

August is normally a good month to vacation, but Boeheim has been involved in Olympic training over the last three years and hasn’t had that luxury of late.

Boeheim said stress comes from getting ready for each game and dealing with issues surrounding the program and players.

“But after a number of years, you become relatively used to it,” he said. “It’s still there, but you’re able to handle it a little better.”
Giving back

When Boeheim is not patrolling the sidelines for the Orange, he and his wife are devoting time to several charitable causes in the Syracuse area.

The Boeheims have been most active with “Coaches vs. Cancer,” a national fundraising organization affiliated with the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society.

Boeheim is a cancer survivor himself, having triumphed over prostate cancer after being diagnosed several years ago.

“I’m fine. I do some light workouts and walking, but not as much as I probably should,” he said.

He’s under no special dietary restrictions, but is careful to monitor and balance his food intake. “I just try to be careful,” he said.

Boeheim said it’s vital to get the necessary checks and physicals, such as colonoscopies and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test used to screen for prostate cancer.

“You have to take care of all those things,” he said.

Boeheim indeed has a personal stake in the battle against cancer. He lost his mother to leukemia and his father to prostate cancer.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind. It’s something we need to fight,” he said.

“I’ve lost some good friends over the last few years to cancer, and that has pushed me to take more leadership of the program,” Boeheim said.

His major objective has been to recruit more coaches into the program, and that effort has been highly successful.

“Coaches vs. Cancer” has generated over $5 million nationally this year.

The couple also supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation, while Juli is on the board of several other organizations, including the Community Health Center and ARC of Onondaga County.

“The rest of our time is spent with the kids, who are active in baseball and basketball. We spend a lot of time going to their games,” he said.

Is Boeheim tempted to jump into the youth coaching ranks?

“I’m just a parent, a Little League parent,” he said.

Boeheim also directs energy toward fundraising and speaking engagements, all of which he sees as part of his job.

The recruiting trail

Boeheim finds recruiting fresh talent both interesting and challenging, and relishes the opportunity to put a team together and have it reach top potential.

“Getting each team to play at the highest level you possibly can get them to play is tremendously challenging every year. I look forward to that,” Boeheim said.

What are the keys to successful recruiting for Boeheim?

“It’s personalities, it’s working, it’s getting to know people and getting them to understand you,” he said.

He noted having a “great university” and league to play in are advantages, along with a solid fan base and the Carrier Dome itself.

“Everybody has a good place to play, but nobody has a Carrier Dome on campus,” he said.

“It comes down to a player’s ability to want to play for you and your program,” he said.

While matching players to SU’s style of play is important, the opportunity to play is obviously of utmost importance to high school athletes, he added.

Boeheim said there is a major difference between today’s college basketball player and the ones he played with back in the 1960s.

“I think they are more motivated to play to get to the NBA,” Boeheim said. “When we played, it was about just going to school and playing basketball. We really didn’t think about playing professional basketball.”

He said most players today think they have a chance at playing in the NBA, and if not, perhaps explore pro hoops overseas or in the minor league circuit around the country

“They need to be kept on track to get their degrees so they are prepared for when they are done,” he said.

“It’s important to me as a coach to get guys through and graduate so they have that background in their back pockets. It’s something to fall back on when basketball is over,” he said

Boeheim earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

Does Boeheim still get as psyched about the game as back in the day?

“It’s the same feeling. I’ve always been competitive and play to win. I hate to lose and still do,” he said.
Boeheim said he enjoys all sports, particularly golf. He even dabbles in watching and playing poker, which he characterizes as a “sporting game.”

I always believed in aging gracefully. That was until I actually started to age.

I thought aging gracefully meant I’d suddenly have Katherine Hepburn cheekbones, beautiful white hair and an elegant collection of loose flowing slacks.

Instead I have the same face I’ve had since I was about 13, only a few inches lower, I’m grateful to have any hair at all, and my elegant slack collection consists of jeans with elastic waists.

Therefore, I’m in the process of rethinking this stage of life.

Is it necessary to look, think, act and dress “older” in order to age gracefully?
Should I stop coloring my hair? I know you’re shocked; you thought that Reba McEntire red was actually my own color.

How do we maintain a youthful internal image of ourselves and still not look like caricatures of our 30-and 40-year-old selves?

Is it necessary to still be chomping on soy bean sprouts when we’re 90 to try and maintain our figures?
Or does aging gracefully mean we just accept that our bodies are changing and stop trying to fight it?

As I sit here drinking my safflower oil, pineapple and soymilk shake instead of eating the can of anchovies I really wanted, I think that I’d be really annoyed if I got killed doing something not all that much fun, like getting hit by a drunk driver while driving to the grocery for flaxseed oil and celery, and I hadn’t yet had my fill of my favorite foods. For me, those would be blooming onions with dipping sauce that you get at the State Fair, unlimited Chinese barbecued spareribs, and buttercream icing on chocolate cake after its been in the fridge awhile and gets like fudge. Then, on the other hand, I know that a regular diet of fried anything and ribs and icing would probably provide a not so great demise anyway.

I sustained myself through years of watching my weight by telling myself that when I was diagnosed with something terminal, then I’d give up all my healthy foods and just eat what I liked. Unfortunately I’ve learned it doesn’t work that way, either because a really healthy diet may help you fight the disease or else you don’t have the ability to digest the junky foods anymore or the desire for those foods just isn’t there.

So for the last year I’ve been going with the theory that I better eat all that bad stuff now while I was healthy so I wouldn’t feel deprived when I wasn’t. And the pounds piled on. When I saw a picture of myself with friends and wasn’t sure it was me, I knew something had to change. And it doesn’t help having a husband who people keep saying looks young for his age. I decided this week was the time to revise my “live for today” theory, therefore the soymilk shake.

So the question is, does growing old gracefully mean accepting that I’m not a size whatever any more or is it a vanity issue to want to be a size and shape that takes a lot of exercise and discipline and feels like being very self-indulgent spending all that time on myself? Or is it just common sense to do what you can do to stay healthy? Between the picture and all the latest information about the dangers of visceral fat (check that one out), I know something has to change in my “live for today” eating theory.

Then there’s the hair color issue and the other body parts (hair is not an actual body part, but it might as well be.) I’ve seen women my age who look beautiful with gray hair — my mother was one them — and I have an image in my mind of myself in a grey ponytail, denim jacket, hiking boots and a backpack seeing the world. When I see women like that I follow them around the airport trying to figure out their secret of looking so alive and vital.

Maybe I can stretch the image of growing old gracefully to include forgiving myself for being superficial. That would be really helpful and leave me a large enough window within which to rationalize a number of indulgent behaviors.

On the other hand, the very best time I’ve had in years was taking kayaking lessons this summer with Sophie and Noah, two of my grandchildren, and hiking areas I would not have had the nerve to do alone.
As one of the women said, dignity just goes out the window when you’re bending over in a bathing suit at our age pulling a kayak out of the water.

I was too worried about losing the paddle to worry about my rear view and the feeling of exhilaration trumped the dignity factor. (In the interest of full disclosure, in the week since I wrote those words I’ve been laid up with the worst back pain I’ve ever had, so that theory also needs a little revising.)
I’m still working on the clothes issue and as soon as I find a clothes’ guru, I’ll report on that.

In the meantime I’m still searching for the right “graceful aging look” that is age appropriate but still fun. I know that really short skirts are probably out over a certain age, but exactly where in the vicinity of the knee should a hemline go that is appropriate for my age, but doesn’t make me feel like an old lady?

I leave you pondering those heavy issues as I finish my milkshake, which is more delicious than it sounds. Except that I drank three of them instead of the recommended one.

But at least it’s not a blooming onion.

When one reaches the three-quarter century mark (as I did with the publishing of this issue) one pauses to reflect — at least this one has. Do we have 75 years experience or do we have one year’s experience 75 times?

Arguably, I fall into the former category largely due to a couple of life threatening experiences. The first occurred when a deer slug pierced my belly 46 years ago. As I lay on the ground facing death it was not so much my life flashing before me as it was all the unfulfilled opportunities. I vowed that — given another chance — I would make more out of life. A more recent experience, which occurred 12 years ago when a well-developed malignant tumor threatened to take me out of the game, generated another vow that if I survived I would adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Good judgment comes as a result of experience — which is the result of bad judgment. Some people learn from their mistakes while others never do. In the words of a German friend; “Ve get to soon oldt und too late shmart.”

Our generation didn’t know that if we smoked a pack of cigarettes a day there was only a 20 percent chance of living an active life much beyond 60.

Everybody smoked and if the tobacco companies knew about the danger they did a pretty good job of suppressing the evidence. Most of our friends have given up smoking as I did after my bout with cancer. Thank God I only smoked a couple of cigarettes a day.

Now we preach a gospel (through the pages of this magazine) of exercise, healthy diet and abstinence from life-threatening habits such as smoking and over-eating or not eating well. We try to wring the most out of every day because time on this mortal coil has become a much more precious commodity than ever before now that the end is in sight.

Having achieved virtually every goal set for myself during the last 75 years, now it is time to establish new goals for the next stretch. Recently, an article in “Life Extension” (a great tool for keeping the golden years golden) revealed that, because of medical advances and health research, living an active life for 100 years and beyond is achievable to any person with reasonable health.

Additionally, an article in “AARP Magazine” (another great magazine for us 55-plusers) tells the story of Costa Rica’s remarkable centenarians. The village of Hojancha, on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, has one of the healthiest, longest-lived populations on the planet. Living to 100, for the people of this unique village, is almost the norm.

Their lifestyle reveals much about living healthy well into the century mark. Here are some aspects:
• Strong sense of purpose — They have a clear mission in life, which is called a “plan de vida.” They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good.
• Drinking hard water — Their water has one of the world’s highest calcium content, which perhaps explains the centenarian’s lower rates of heart disease, stronger bones and fewer hip fractures (a leading cause of death among octogenarians).
• Focus on family — Nicoyan centenarians tend to live with their families and children or grandchildren, which provides support and a sense of purpose and belonging.
• Eat a light dinner — Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known.
• Maintain social networks — Nicoyan centurions get frequent visits from neighbors. They know how to listen, laugh and appreciate what they have.
• Work hard — Centurions seemed to have enjoyed work all of their lives. They find joy in everyday physical chores.
• Get some sensible sun — Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy bodies (this message is endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce).

After researching for this article I am convinced that living an active, healthy life for 100 years and beyond is entirely feasible and therefore this has become another goal for me. PMA (positive mental attitude) is a vital part of the program. Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you’re right.

Harold Miller is a retired business leader and Auburn native. He may be contacted at HMillerMod@aol.com

Patient perception about diabetes has not changed much in more than 40 years, according to Gerald Bernstein, a physician who has been practicing at two major hospitals in New York City. In fact, he says, he still sees the same viewpoints today as when he was a director of the Beth Israel Health Care Systems diabetes management program years ago.

“In this day and age, I still get patients who believe that they developed diabetes from eating too much sugar,” says Bernstein. Although doctors and researchers are still unsure what causes the disease, Bernstein insists, “bad eating habits such as too much refined sugars, empty carbohydrates, and fructose does not cause diabetes.

Below are some of the most prevalent myths surrounding diabetes. “Baby boomers who were raised with misconceptions about the disease may be at risk,” advises Bernstein, who is also the director of medical affairs at Generex Biotechnology Corp., a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies for patients with diabetes. “There is no substitute for knowledge.”

Diabetes Will Make You Go Blind—According to Bernstein, while it is true that all people with diabetes are at risk of blindness, heart problems, and renal disease, it is equally true that in this day and age a smaller percentage actually experience the full brunt of such complications than 30 years ago. “The better the patient controls his or her blood sugar, the less likely the more serious complications associated with diabetes will progress. Anyone already experiencing the side effects of diabetes needs to achieve and maintain the most stringent possible control in order to minimize their further progression.”

Since I Don’t Have To Inject Insulin, My Diabetes Isn’t A Serious Condition—A surprising number of people still believe this falsehood. Non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) can produce destructively high blood glucose levels if not kept under control. Type 2 diabetes often grows more severe with time, so a patient who starts with low numbers will probably need to progress from diet-and-exercise-based blood sugar control, to oral diabetes medications. It is often better to start with insulin early rather than waiting to use it as a last resort.

Many older patients are finding their “oral meds” have become ineffective with time, and may need to switch to insulin injections to maintain effective diabetes control. “Type 2 diabetes, even pre-diabetes is serious even if your blood sugar isn’t that high,” warns Bernstein.

I Can’t Eat What I Like Anymore—That’s a misconception considering that what is now coined the “diabetic diet” is actually a well-balanced, sensible food plan that would be healthy for anyone to adopt, with or without the disease. “Keep in mind, you can ‘have your cake and eat it too’ but if you want to eat something rich in carbs, you will need to balance it out by cutting an equivalent amount of carbs or sugar from somewhere else in your diet,” suggests Bernstein. “Patients have a good deal more flexibility in their diets than they might suspect; the rest is just a matter of care and moderation.” Very often you can eat what you want but just not as much as you want.

I Can Tell If My Blood Sugar Levels Are Too High Or Too Low—“This myth is dangerous because you can wind up in the hospital if you ignore symptoms of hyperglycemia, which is hard to detect by the way you feel,” says Bernstein. “Making do without a regular blood glucose tests is like flying without a parachute or crossing the street with your eyes closed. You’re guessing. Learn your body’s signals when you get into trouble, but be certain to use your glucose monitor to be sure.” Bernstein also advises people with diabetes to carry a Glucose RapidSpray, that can quickly, conveniently and efficiently deliver glucose to the mouth via an easy to use spray bottle at the first sign of glucose deficiency.

Diabetes Is The Beginning Of The End—“I still get patients who believe their lives are over once complications set in,” says Bernstein. “The reality is that with the development of proper skills and mindset and the possession of monitoring equipment, patients with diabetes can continue to live full lives, even with severe complications. Many diabetics, even insulin-dependent, live well into old age.

“Pay attention to your body. Keep ahead of what your diabetes is doing—for baby boomers, this is no time for surprises! Consult with your doctor, or your diabetes educator. Discuss exercise plans, and any adjustment in medications, with your doctor, first.”

Questions pertaining to diabetes may be answered by Bernstein on the Generex Web site at askthedoctor@generex.com.

Eyelid surgery one of the top four surgical cosmetic procedures performed in 2007

Many theories have sought to explain what causes the baggy lower eyelids that come with aging, but researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have now found that fat expansion in the eye socket is the primary culprit.

As a result, researchers say, fat excision should be a component of treatment for patients seeking to address this common complaint.

The study, published in the September issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, is the first to examine the anatomy of multiple subjects to determine what happens to the lower eyelid with age. It is also the first to measure what happens to the face with age using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

“A common treatment performed in the past and present is surgical excision of fat to treat a ‘herniation of fat’ — meaning that the amount of fat in the eye socket does not change but the cover that holds the fat in place, the orbital septum, is weakened or broken and fat slips out,” said lead author Dr. Sean Darcy, a research associate in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a plastic surgery resident at the University of California, Irvine. This orbital septum weakening or herniation-of-fat theory is what most plastic surgeons have been taught.

“However, our study showed there is actually an increase in fat with age, and it is more likely that the fat increase causes the baggy eyelids rather than a weakened ligament,” Darcy said. “There have been no studies to show that the orbital septum weakens.”

The study looked at MRIs of 40 subjects (17 males and 23 females) between the ages of 12 and 80. The findings showed that the lower eyelid tissue increased with age and that the largest contributor to this size increase was fat increase.

According to a recent report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 241,000 Americans underwent eyelid surgery in 2007, making it one of the top four surgical cosmetic procedures performed.
Currently, many plastic surgeons performing procedures to treat baggy eyelids do not remove any fat at all. They reposition the fat or conduct more invasive tightening of the muscle that surrounds the eye, or they tighten the actual ligament that holds the eyeball in place. These procedures are performed despite there being no data indicating that these structures change with age.

“Our findings may change the way some plastic surgeons treat baggy eyes,” said study co-author Dr. Timothy Miller, professor and chief of plastic surgery at the Geffen School. “Our study showed that a component of a patient’s blepharoplasty procedure should almost routinely involve fat excision rather than these procedures.”

Blepharoplasty refers to surgical rejuvenation of the upper or lower eyelids, or both, depending on the extent of aging or disease. The procedure is usually performed on the lower eyelid because the most common complaint patients have is that their eyes appear tired, puffy or baggy. The surgeon makes external incisions along the natural skin lines of the eyelid to remove the excess fat and improve the contour of the lower eyelid.

“Although baggy lower eyelids are a significant result of aging and fat expansion, there are other factors that can contribute too,” Miller said. “We recommend that surgeons evaluate each component and address them accordingly in an individualized approach to blepharoplasty.”