Posts Tagged ‘Depression’

Vitamins Make Senior Brains Healthy

Thursday, October 21, 2010
posted by Gilmore
Leafy Vegetables
Image by Prato9x via Flickr

Many supplements claim to increase the power of our brains, but they do not always provide the details. Seniors who are concerned about fostering their senior health especially in regard to their brains need to know the details. Every year research has been providing additional data that vitamins perform a vital part in maintaining memory and brain function in mature adults which certainly includes seniors. For some time it has been known that the B vitamins and folate that are found in green leafy vegetables, legumes, and other foods have attracted special attention. For example a folate deficiency has been implicated in depression and various forms of dementia in seniors. Combined deficiency in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 appear to raise the level of homocysteine which may be linked to the development of AD. Elevated levels of homocysteine are certainly known to be a marker for decreasing cardiovascular health.
It turns out that one of nutrients that is very healthy for the heart, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, provides a key element for defending the brain against brain aging. The other elements that assist in defending the brain include the antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E. Seniors need to be aware that they need to consume some of the foods that provide the full spectrum of vitamin E such as nuts and avocado, because the vitamin E typically found in multivitamin supplements contains only one of the components, the alpha component, of vitamin E.

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Games To Keep Seniors Healthy

Saturday, January 23, 2010
posted by Gilmore
RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 2:  Recreational therapist...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Regular physical exercise is typically recommended to seniors, in order to promote senior health. In addition to the obvious forms of exercise that involve the entire body there are other types of exercise that do not require total body participation. It turns out that one of these forms of exercise is actually a game, so it tends to be fun. The exercise in this case is provided by playing video games. The Wii video game system that was introduced by Nintendo in 2006 was the first interactive video game, but other major corporations like Microsoft and Sony are planning to enter the field with similar systems.
The benefit of playing interactive video games is due to the fun factor which makes the game a pleasant form of physical rehabilitation for seniors who are afflicted with disease induced disabilities. For example folks who suffer from Parkinson’s disease have regained some of their lost physical abilities after playing interactive video games. People who have suffered strokes or who suffer from diabetic neuropathy have been aided in their recovery by engaging in these interactive video games. Finally, patients with Parkinson’s who suffered from depression had it lifted by participating in the video games. This is good news for seniors who either suffer from such physical disability or who know a senior who does. The path is clear for these seniors to take advantage of this new technology to improve their senior health and enjoy their senior living.

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Get Protection Against Senior Depression

Friday, December 18, 2009
posted by Gilmore
Sockeye salmon caught on an Alaskan stream
Image via Wikipedia

Several deteriorating health conditions tend to plague seniors over 65 and rob them of the enjoyment of life in their retirement. The nasty twins that are the enemies of senior health are dementia and depression. This is particularly the case for seniors 65 years of age and older. Both of these conditions have been traced to common vascular risk factors. In a recent study in Europe, over 1,000 elderly persons in that age group were studied over a four year period.
Particular attention was paid to examining them for dementia and depression. After four years about 5% of the elderly had developed dementia. The 95% of the elderly that were free of dementia were tested and found to have higher blood levels of EPA which is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in fish.
Continuing the study the researchers looked for an association between dementia and depression. In their research they were able to confirm that there is indeed an association between depression and dementia. They identified a common cause of both conditions, because they both share similar vascular risk factors. The good news for seniors looking for ways to preempt aging is that eating fish that are high in EPA content will simultaneously reduce the vascular risk factors for both dementia and depression. Getting sufficient EPA will decrease the risk of depression and dementia and promote senior health.

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