ELIXIR > ageing

Help the Aged Spring Walk Fundraiser 25-27 April UK

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Editor

A host of celebrities including, Kirsty Gallacher, Penny Smith and Amanda Lamb are calling on everyone to join the Help the Aged annual fundraising event, The Big Spring Walk, which takes place from Friday 25th April to Sunday 27th April 2008. Now in its second year, the national event will see people across the UK walking anytime over The Big Spring Walk weekend to raise vital funds for the Charity.

There are a number of ways that individuals can put their best foot forward and take part in The Big Spring Walk whether it is walking to work, school or the shops whilst making a donation or fundraising to make a difference.

Alternatively, there is the option to organise a walk over The Big Spring Walk weekend which could involve anything from a 5 mile hike to a mile long ramble in the countryside a great way to bring friends and family together!

Help the Aged is also organising 6 walking events which are taking place across the country this spring, including the flagship event in Londons Hyde Park on Saturday 26th April.

Walking is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy and The Big Spring Walk offers people a fun day out whilst raising money for a worthwhile cause perfect reasons to lace up those walking boots!

All money raised from this years event, sponsored by Abbey, will go towards funding the work of Help the Aged, including helping the Charity in its fight to combat poverty among disadvantaged older people.

For further information and a FREE fundraising pack, please contact The Big Spring Walk hotline on 020 7239 1922 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/walk

More information:
1. This is the second Big Spring Walk which is being repeated in April 2008 after a successful inaugural year in 2007, and is the annual national fundraising event from Help the Aged.

2. The event will see individuals walking for the Charity on 25th, 26th and 27th April. To find out more, call The Big Spring Walk hotline on 0207 239 1922 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/walk

3. Help the Aged is organising a series of flagship events in London and the North-West, including Hyde Park, London on Saturday 26th April, Lyme Park, Cheshire on Saturday 26th April, Carsington Water, Derbyshire on Sunday 27th April, Downham, Lancashire on Saturday 3rd May, Troutbeck, Cumbria on Monday 5th May and The Wirral Way, Merseyside on Saturday 10th May. For more information, call The Big Spring Walk hotline.

4. Abbeys community programme covers a broad range of activity including employee fundraising, corporate donations and social sponsorship. Staff are involved in fundraising for hundreds of local and national charities, and Abbey supports a small number of these causes every year by sponsoring key events. The Abbey Charitable Trust provides donations to projects that support disadvantaged people through: education and training; local regeneration projects; and financial advice. In 2007, Abbeys total contribution to the community was valued at £3.2 million.

Abbey is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. (Santander) (SAN.MC, STD.N).

Couples who row live longer

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Editor

Michigan: Couples who row over their differences are more likely to live longer than those who bottle up stress.

This is the conclusion of reserach at the University of Michigan School of Public Health where scientists studied 192 couples over 17 years, placing them into four categories.

The first consisted of couples where both partners communicated their anger and the second of couples where the husband showed anger while the wife suppressed it.

The third comprised couples where only the wife showed anger; and the fourth relationships where both parties suppressed it. The researchers found that death during the period of the study was twice as likely in the final group than in all other types.

The trend was evident even when other factors such as age, smoking, weight, blood pressure, bronchial problems and cardiovascular risk were taken into account.

Longevity experts have long said that stress is one of the biggest killers and leads to inflammation and diseases of ageing such as heart disease.

Within the 26 couples where both suppressed their anger, there were 13 deaths.

However, in the remaining three groups, 166 couples in total, there were only 41 deaths combined, half the rate.

Ernest Harburg, professor emeritus at the University said: ‘When couples get together, one of their main jobs is reconciliation about conflict.

Professor Harburg stressed that the preliminary figures are small, and that researchers are now collecting follow-up data spread over 30 years.

Can infra red light grow new brain cells to reverse Alzheimer’s?

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Editor

London: A scientist has claimed that an experimental helmet whch bathes the brain in infra-red light is capable of stimulating the growth of new brain cells in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The creators of the helmet, a County Durham, UK-based medical research company called Virulite, say that ten minutes use daily over a period of four weeks can reverse the symtoms of dementia.

Dr Gordon Dougal, a director of Virulite, bases the claims on a study at the University of Sunderland which found infra-red light can reverse memory loss in mice.

Dr Dougal says that the treatment not only stops brain decay but partially reverses it.

The study at Sunderland found that exposing middle-aged mice to infrared light for six minutes a day for ten days improved their performance in a three-dimensional maze. In the human trials, due to start this summer, the scientists will use levels of infra-red that occur naturally in sunlight.

Worrying increase in alcohol-related deaths in older women – new UK figures reveal

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Editor

London: Insreasing numbers of females are dying of alcohol-related diseases, official UK Government statistics have revealed.

The number of deaths from both men and women have also doubled in the last 15 years, with a huge rise in middle-aged women.

The figures come as Britain faces and epidemic of binge-drinking among youngsters who they warn are likely to carry on damaging their bodies for the rest of their lives.

The UK’s office for National Statistics, figures show that there were 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005 but this increased to 13.4 in 2006.

In 1991 there were 6.9 deaths per 100,000. The figures also show a rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths mainly as a result of liver disease from 4,144 in 1991 to 8,758 in 2006.

There has also been a huge increase s in deaths among middle-aged women. The death rate for women aged 35 to 54 doubled between 1991 and 2006, from 7.2 to 14.8 per 100,000 population.

Although the figures for women are increasingly worrying, men are still more likely to die from drink than women.

Two thirds of all alcohol-related deaths are among men, and there were 18.3 deaths per 100,000 population among men and 8.8 among women.

For men, the death rates in all age groups increased between 1991 and 2006. The biggest increase in deaths from alcohol consumption was seen among the 35 to 54 age group, with rates doubling since 1991 to 31.1 per 100,000.

Help the Aged Spring Fundraising Walk April UK

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Editor

Help the Aged is also organising 6 walking events which are taking place across the country this spring, including the flagship event in Londons Hyde Park on Saturday 26th April.

Walking is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy and The Big Spring Walk offers people a fun day out whilst raising money for a worthwhile cause perfect reasons to lace up those walking boots!

For further information and a FREE fundraising pack, please contact The Big Spring Walk hotline on 020 7239 1922 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/walk

2. The event will see individuals walking for the Charity on 25th, 26th and 27th April. To find out more, call The Big Spring Walk hotline on 0207 239 1922 or visit www.helptheaged.org.uk/walk

Abbey is a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. (Santander) (SAN.MC, STD.N).

World’s population getting older

Posted on January 24, 2008 by Editor

Vienna: The world’s population is growing older as people live longer, and fertility and birth rates fall.

A study, published online by Nature, carried out by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis at Laxenburg, Austria, examined population forecasts and fertility rates in 13 major regions of the planet.

The future paths of population ageing result from specific combinations of declining fertility and increasing life expectancies in different parts of the world, it says.

The “speed of ageing is likely to increase over the coming decades and to decelerate in most regions by mid century”.

The study found the overall average of the world’s population will increase from 26.6 years in 2000 to 31.1 in 2050 and then to just 32.9 in 2100, slightly less than what it was in China in 2005, owing to large differences in the regional patterns of ageing.

The researchers say the probability that world population growth will end in this century is 88 per cent, somewhat higher than previously believed. After mid century, lower rates of population growth are likely to coincide with slower rates of ageing.

By the middle of the century, the average Briton will be 48.4 years old, against 39.1 years old now.

But by 2100, the rate of increase will have slowed, with the average age rising to 53.5 years.By the middle of the century it is likely that a third of the population in Britain will be over 60 thanks to people living longer coupled with falling fertility rates

They found that by the middle of the century there is an 82 per cent chance that a third of the population in Britain will be over 60 thanks to people living longer coupled with falling fertility rates, compared with 98 per cent in Japan/Oceania and close to zero per cent for sub-Saharan Africa.

Exercise may help menopause symptoms

Posted on January 15, 2008 by Editor

New York: A regular brisk walk may help women going through menopause improve their mental well-being, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that middle-aged women who exercised regularly had lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression around the time of menopause than those who did not exercise regularly.

The findings, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Medicine, add to evidence that physical activity can benefit mental, as well as physical, health.

“With the aging population, physical activity represents one way for women to stay mentally healthy,” Dr. Deborah B. Nelson, the lead researcher on the study, said in a statement. “Physical activity can help throughout the menopausal transition and afterwards,” added Nelson, a public health researcher at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The findings are based on data from 380 Philadelphia women who were 42 years old, on average, and premenopausal at the beginning of the study. Eight years later, 20 percent were menopausal and another 18 percent were in the late transitional phase.

The researchers found that women who got moderate to high levels of exercise reported lower stress levels than inactive women did. Among postmenopausal women, those who exercised regularly had lower stress levels and were less likely to have anxiety and depression symptoms.

Exercise did not, however, seem to protect women from the physical symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.

“Physical symptoms like hot flashes will go away when you reach menopause,” Nelson said, “but mental health is something women still need to think about postmenopause.”

Importantly, Nelson pointed out, women need not work out intensely to get a mental and emotional lift.

“In the urban setting, these women walked outside on city blocks or in shopping malls,” she said. “Groups could organize to take walks after dinner. It didn’t require going to the gym.”

Life expectancy in China continues to grow

Posted on January 8, 2008 by Editor

Bejing: Chinese people are living healthier and longer lives as medical and sanitary conditions in the country have greatly improved, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health.

Residents’ average life expectancy, a key measurement of economic development and health care levels, increased to 73 years in 2005 from 71.4 years in 2000.

In addition, the infant mortality rate decreased to 1.53 percent in 2007 from 2.55 percent in 2003. Last year, 36.6 people per 100,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth, compared to 51.3 women per 100,000 in 2003.

According to the report, the improvement in Chinese people’s health conditions was attributed to increased spending on medical care and enhanced medical services provided across the country in the past five years.

In 2007, China was estimated to have spent 1.05 trillion yuan (US$144.43 billion) in healthcare, accounting for 4.82 percent of the gross domestic product, with the per capita medical expenditure standing at 781 yuan.

The government is shouldering more of the medical expenditure in the past five years. Government spending, as a proportion of the country’s total medical expenses, increased by one percent from 2003 to 2006, while residents’ spending dropped 6.5 percent in the same period.

As a result of increased investment in medical care, people are able to enjoy better medical services. By the end of last year, a total of 315,000 medical institutions were established, 24,000 more than that in 2003. The number of medical practitioners, including assistant practitioners, rose to 1.56 per 1,000 people in 2007 from 1.48 per 1,000 in 2003. The number of registered nurses per 1,000 people climbed to 1.12 from one nurse during the same period.

The report adds China has made much effort to improve the public health and medical system in the past five years, covering maternity and childcare, disease prevention and medical insurance in both urban and rural areas.

Support Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

Posted on December 30, 2007 by Editor

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK every hour at least one man dies from this disease.

It is a cause that has suffered from years of neglect, so plan NOW for Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, 10-16 March 2008 – it’s your chance to make a difference.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week 2008 aims to raise the profile of prostate cancer among the public and in the media. Hundreds of individuals and groups across the UK will join forces to help raise awareness of prostate cancer and raise vital funds to improve research, information and support services for men and their families who are affected by this disease

An early diagnosis of prostate cancer could improve a man’s chances of finding a successful treatment, yet 90% of adults in the UK do not know what the prostate gland does and the crucial role it plays in a man’s sexual function.

About Prostate Cancer Awareness Week

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week is an annual health awareness campaign organised by The Prostate Cancer Charity.

Every year nearly 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United Kingdom and 10,000 men die from it.

African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than their white counterparts.

The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front – through research, support, information and campaigning.

If you have any queries about prostate cancer call The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 – 9pm.

If you want to make a donation to The Prostate Cancer Charity call 0208 222 7622 or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk

For further information contact: Lilas Allen or Nikki Nagler on 020 8222 7653/7670. Out of hours contact: 0798 432 5001. Email: or Email Nicola.Nagler@prostate-cancer.org.uk

Longevity accelerating, says new research

Posted on November 26, 2007 by Editor

London: Longevity is accelerating and there are more 100 year olds than ever before, according to a new report by the Cass Business School.

They say that men born in 1985 can expect to live to an average age of 91, according to a new forecast of life expectancy which concludes that all existing projections are too low.

The Governments key forecast for longevity, which is also used in the pensions and life insurance industry, has seriously miscalculated how long men will live in the future, they also say.

Life expectancy is currently 76.6 years for men and 81 for women. The new research suggests that life expectancy for men born in 1985, who turn 65 in 2050, could be as high as 97 under the most optimistic scenario, although 91 is its central forecast. That is six years higher than the Office for National Statistics projection. The new Cass model has been applied only to men so far, but the next phase of the research will cover women.

The new calculation has serious implications for the Government and the pensions industry, who face having to pay an extra £160,368 per person in state benefits and occupational pensions, Cass calculates.

David Blake, director of the Pensions Institute at Cass Business School, said: Our calculations demonstrate that longevity is accelerating far beyond what is currently predicted, and there is considerable uncertainty surrounding future life expectancy. This will present a huge challenge for long-term healthcare providers and intensifies the problems faced by both government and the pensions industry. They need to update the projections they use before the pensions deficits reach catastrophic proportions.

Professor Blake said that the Office for National Statistics had a history of underestimating new trends: It completely underestimated the scale of the postwar baby boom, which had serious implications for the provision of schools and hospitals, and it has continually underestimated longevity of elderly people.

The Government has voiced concerns about the ageing population and has taken some steps to make provision for more older people. The retirement age is rising from 65 to 68 by 2044. Those actions were promoted by the ONS forecast that the proportion of over65s will go from 15 per cent now to 25 per cent by 2050. However, less provision for the older population has been made in healthcare.

The new centurions

– There are about 9,000 men and women over the age of 100, but the numbers are rising by 7 per cent a year

– By 2050, more than 150,000 people will be centenarians

– The costs of treating dementia and caring for sufferers have been calculated at £17 billion (and rising) per year

Exercise is the

Posted on November 22, 2007 by Editor

London: We are always keen to hear of the latest anti-ageing therapy, machine, pill or surgical intervention. Yet possibly the most effective therapy’ for living longer and healthier and the closest thing we have to an anti-ageing pill is regular exercise.

The International Institute for Anti-Ageing exercise expert, Professor Wayne Derman, tells us more.

There is increasing research that suggests specific forms of exercise training, in appropriate doses (duration, frequency and intensity) can slow and in some cases even reverse the ageing changes in the body. This is particularly relevant to the chronic diseases associated with increasing age.

In type 2 diabetes (when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin causing blood sugar levels to soar) strength training can improve the sufferers sensitivity to insulin, effectively helping to reverse the disease.
Exercise enhances blood flow to the brain improving cognitive processing, reasoning and memory, as well as enhancing creativity. It is also profoundly antidepressant.
Exercise is such a good anti-ageing intervention because it is effective at various levels in the biological system. Even simple exercises such as walking can have a profound effect on ones quality of life as the years add on. Because walking can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that help to keep urine in the bladder, simply walking for 30 minutes a day can reduce a womans risk of urinary incontinence by up to 25%.

The key of course, is how much we should exercise for optimal effects and what exercises should we be doing? New guidelines recommend:
moderately intense cardio-respiratory activity (eg. brisk walking) 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Moderately intense means anything that creates a sweat and raises the heart rate.
Or
vigorously intense cardio-respiratory activity (eg. jogging) 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Vigorously intense means you cant carry on a conversation while exercising.
Plus
Do eight to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week. These can be done at home with an elasticised resistance band an inexpensive and highly effective alternative to conventional weight and exercise equipment and ideal for strength training.

It is always important to remember that if you’ve been sedentary for a long time, are overweight, have a high risk of coronary heart disease or some other chronic health problem, see your doctor for a medical evaluation before beginning a physical activity programme.

New treatments for ageing hair

Posted on November 21, 2007 by Editor

New treatments for aging hair
By Alan J. Bauman, M.D.

Facelifts, anti-wrinkle creams, tummy tucks and nutritional supplements whether youre 30 years old or pushing 80, women and men are doing all they can to look younger, healthier and more vibrant. But theres one thing many people seem to overlook which is the look and condition of their hair.

After all, ask any hair stylist, cosmetologist or fashion expert, and theyll be happy to tell you: whether we look old or young, hair has a lot to do with it. Hair has an enormous bearing on a persons perceptual age. And its hard to stop aging in its tracks when your hairline shows recession, bald patches or general thinning. We may not consciously think about it, but hair provides a visual frame to the face. Hair shapes a persons face and, as such, it accentuates key physical features of the face and body, whether good or bad.

Body weight, bone structure, skin tone and age all of these can be magnified or de-emphasized by the quality, quantity, shape and cut of a persons hair. Because of the important visual impact hair has on a persons overall appearance, making sure your hair is healthy, full and youthful is an important first step in battling the effects of aging.

Restoring the Visual Frame

Restoring the face to a healthy, youthful appearance requires a multi-therapy approach of which hair restoration is a critical component. Both plastic surgery and hair restoration share the same fundamental goal: to restore a healthy, youthful look to the face. Plastic surgery achieves this objective quite directly by eliminating wrinkles and tightening the skin via face-lifts, brow-lifts and other procedures. Hair restoration, on the other hand, secures this goal more obliquely, by restoring the visual frame to the face.

By restoring a receded hairline, increasing hair fullness or density and reducing bald spots, a hair restoration physician can help a patient achieve a new look for the face that is more balanced and youthful. Ultimately, this restored visual frame will help a person to take years off of their physical appearance and will greatly accentuate any other anti-aging treatments they may wish to pursue.

New Treatments for Hair Loss

In recent years, hair restoration has rapidly evolved to become a science all of its own. New technologies, medications and advanced surgical procedures have dramatically changed hair restoration from the inadequate procedures of the 1970s and 1980s to a fully legitimized medical science field with almost limitless potential.

Here are a few of the many new non-surgical treatment options for hair loss sufferers:

Approved Medications Clinically proven, clinically-approved topical medications (e.g., Propecia and Minoxidil) are well-known, tried-and-true therapies used to maintain and restore hair. For hair restoration physicians, these are the gold-standard.

Lasers: Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a relatively new technology believed to stimulate hair follicles at the cellular level, improving cellular metabolism, protein synthesis and microcirculation thus, helping to regrow hair. The treatment is pain-free and easy to do. Patients simply sit under a laser “hood” for about 15 minutes at a time (much like sitting under a hair dryer at the salon) to boost hair regrowth and healing after hair transplantation. LLLT is also available for private home use via small hand-held devices (see next section for more details).

Nutritional Supplements: A few supplements have shown some evidence they can improve the quality of hair growth, including a European product called Viviscal, which is comprised of marine extracts and a silica compound.

Microscopic Detection: By the time hair loss is visible to the naked eye, 50-percent of the hair has already been lost. New PC-based video microscopes, like the South Korean Folliscope, enable doctors to spot areas of thinning follicles before they become noticeable to the naked eye. These high-powered scopes can also track the early, subtle results of hair restoration treatments.

Healing Accelerators: Getting better after a microsurgery just got easier. New therapies like copper-peptide soaks, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and LLLT promise to help patients return to their regular routine faster.

The Benefit of Lasers

Conclusive medical studies have yet to be done on hair and laser therapy (LLLT). While laser therapy is not considered a miracle cure, there is a good deal of supporting clinical and anecdotal evidence that it enhances hair growth.

More than 2,500 scientific studies on laser therapy have been documented in a text called Laser Therapy: Clinical Practice and Scientific Background by J. Tuner and L. Hode. European studies have also shown that LLLT stops hair loss in 85-percent of cases and stimulates new hair growth in 55-percent of cases.

Additionally, a recent study of the HairMax LaserComb found an average increase of 93.5 percent in the total hair count of patients tested over six months.

Patients can undergo laser therapy at the doctors office with the new laser hoods, or they can try it in the privacy of their own homes. Some units are found only in physicians offices, some are in non-medical clinics. Home use of LLLT is now available through new hand-held laser devices, also known as laser combs or brushes. A few examples of the latest products available include the HairMax LaserComb ($395, £207, Euros 309) and Erchonia THL-1 ($3,500, £1,838, Euros 2,741)). LLLT is not a miracle cure – but it can be a helpful non-chemical, non-invasive treatment option patients may want to discuss with a hair restoration physician.

The Microsurgery Option

In spite of the many new remarkable technologies now available for the consumer, hair restoration surgery still remains the best option for achieving dramatic results. Over the past few years, these surgical procedures have rapidly evolved into minimally invasive microsurgeries that offer the triple benefits of artistic hairline recreation, virtually scar-less incisions and extremely short recovery times. Whereas in the past, hair loss sufferers had to settle for obvious Barbie and Ken doll-like hair plugs, todays hair transplant patient can choose a microsurgical option than can recreate a 100-percent natural-looking hairline.
Here are the latest advances in microsurgical hair restoration:

FUE: Follicular-unit extraction (or FUE) is a minimally invasive procedure in which a doctor can extract single follicular units (that means groupings of 1, 2 or 3 hairs) individually from the donor area without a scalpel. The benefits? Patients dont have to worry about stitches, linear scarring or long recovery times. Currently, only a few doctors are qualified to perform this advanced medical procedure but more doctors are learning how, especially through new education programs provided by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS).

Follicular-Unit Micrografting: Moving more hair follicles than ever before, follicular-unit micrografting enables physicians to transplant large areas of hair loss as well as artistically recreate natural hairlines. Like FUE, this microsurgical procedure allows for the careful, artistic angle orientation and position of each individual hair follicle to achieve a natural-looking hairline.

Trichophytic Donor Closure: In order to restore hair to one part of the head, you have to take it from somewhere else. In the old days of hair restoration, that usually meant patients were left with a sizable scar. But today a new technique called trichophytic donor closure allows hair to grow right through the thin scar line, thus more effectively concealing any signs of surgery even with short haircuts. This procedure should be used in conjunction with follicular-unit micrografting hair transplant surgery to achieve the best post-op results.

Seeing the Doctor

Turning back the clock isnt always easy but with the right doctor and multi-therapy program, it can be done. And hair loss is no exception. Whether youve noticed a few extra hairs in the shower drain and are worried about thinning, or youre suffering more extensive baldness, treatments are available to restore hair, improve your look and keep it that way. To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on battling hair loss, its essential for patients to talk to a trained hair restoration physician who has extensive experience in the many new minimally invasive procedures and effective medical therapies. Such physicians can inform patients of all their options from a medical perspective and provide them with realistic expectations of what each treatment or combination of treatments can provide. After a careful evaluation, the patient and physician can decide together on the best course of action for achieving the patients hair restoration goals.

Contact Info: Alan J. Bauman, M.D. is founder and medical director of the Bauman Medical Group based in Boca Raton, Florida, and is a leading authority on hair restoration for men and women. Contact details: www.baumanmedical.com T: 877-BAUMAN-9 (toll free in US) or + 1 561-394-0024

Vitamin D may help against diseases of ageing

Posted on November 17, 2007 by Editor

London: Vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process and protect against degenerative diseases, according to new research from scientists at King’s College London.

Head researcher Brent Richards says: These results are exciting because they demonstrate for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.

This could help explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many age-related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. What’s interesting is that there’s a huge body of evidence that shows sunshine ages your skinbut it also increases your vitamin D levels. So, like many times in medicine, we find there’s a trade-off, Richards adds.

The study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at vitamin D levels in 2,160 women ages 18-79. It examined their white blood cells for genetic signs of aging. The women then were placed into three groups according to their vitamin D levels.

Science has placed telomeres as the most reliable measures of a person’s age. These are the lengths of genetic material that cap the free ends of DNA in a cell. With age, the telomeres shorten and the DNA becomes increasingly unstable. Eventually the cell dies.

The study found that those with the highest vitamin D levels had significantly longer telomeres (equivalent to five years of normal aging) than those showing the lowest vitamin D scores.

During summer, much of the vitamin D needed by the body is created by a reaction in the skin, which is powered by sunlight. In winter months where there is less sunshine, vitamin D comes largely from fortified products such as milk, soy milk and cereal grains. It can also be found in cod liver oil, wild salmon, Atlantic mackerel, shrimp and sardines.

Although it might sound absurd, it’s possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the aging process in general, says co-author Tim Spector.

The team of scientists opine that though large-scale trials are needed to confirm the discovery, if proved correct the finding could have a dramatic impact on healthcare.

Diabetes link to dementia

Posted on November 9, 2007 by Editor

New York: There could be a link between an adult’s diet and their risk of developing dementia, according to a newly published article in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Individuals with diabetes are believed to be particularly susceptible to reduced cognition in old age and an unhealthy diet is known as a significant risk factor for the increasingly common condition. Eating less fattening foods and maintaining a healthy weight can help people avoid diabetes and therefore should mean they are less at risk of losing cognitive capacity in later life, the authors of the recent study suggest.

Find out how to manage your stress with expert help

Posted on November 5, 2007 by Editor

London: From full inboxes and bleeping blackberries to lengthy commutes and automated messages, modern technology in the 21st Century doesn’t always make life easier. We’re working longer hours, sleeping less than ever and with global markets creating competition beyond our borders, pressure at work has never been so stark.

With so much on our plate, it’s hardly surprising that stress levels are rising. The number of working days lost due to stress in 2006-07 is estimated to be 13.7 million according to the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive. That’s a significant rise on last year so what are we getting so wrong?

Wednesday 7th November is National Stress Awareness Day and in a working world that never sleeps, it’s important to ensure we don’t neglect ourselves.

A recent study conducted by Philip Stein TESLAR, in association with the International Stress Management Association and Goldsmiths the jeweller, examined 25 stressed out entrepreneurs eager to reduce the stress in their lives. The participants took part in a Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test with Dr. Nyjon Eccles, BSc PhD MBBS MRCP, at his Harley Street practice. Each participant was given a Philip Stein TESLAR watch – a watch that contains a special de-stressing technology. After 5 weeks of wearing the watch, the participants received a second HRV test to discover the effects.

Benefits of wearing the watch include a more restful night time sleep, a reduction in stress and jet lag, improved concentration, increased levels of energy and an overall improvement of wellbeing.

Joining us online to discuss the findings is participant, Andy Henderson, a Derivatives Trainer, RFU Referee and Actor, Dermot Dennehy, UK MD of Philip Stein TESLAR and Jane Thomas, Chair of the International Stress Management Association, who will also be offering some top tips on how to manage our stress levels.

Dermot Dennehy, Andy Henderson and Jane Thomas join us online at web chat on Wednesday 7th November at 9am (GMT) to help us unwind with some top stress-busting tips.

Other useful links: www.philipsteinteslar.com

International Stress Management Association www.nationalstressawarenessday.co.uk

Heart attack screening for siblings could save lives

Posted on September 7, 2007 by Editor

Glasgow: Premature heart attacks could be prevented if close relatives of victims were screened and treated, say experts at Glasgow University.

Siblings of those with premature heart disease – which occurs in men under 55 and women under 65 – have at least double the risk of developing problems. The siblings’ children also have an increased risk.

Specialists believe routine screening for those at higher risk should be looked at.

the UK’s Glasgow University, said: ‘Family history of coronary heart disease significantly increases risk of the disease in all firstdegree relatives.’

Common genetic factors are behind the extra risk. But doctors also blame a ‘shared lifestyle’ within families, such as eating similar unhealthy foods and smoking.

Using a series of calculations, doctors worked out that 88 per cent of premature heart attacks in those with a family history that were treated in England Wales and Scotland in 2004, could have been prevented through family screening.

Sculptra – restoring facial volume with the new deep tissue filler

Posted on August 27, 2007 by Editor

One of the main indicators of facial ageing is the loss of youthful volume. This is why people carrying a little extra weight often have a younger looking face.

Until recently there was nothing to be done to restore youthful volume. Now cosmetic surgeons are able to volumise using a persons own fat extracted from the stomach or thighs. But this is a quick fix as the fat breaks down fast and is reabsorbed into the body.

A new treatment originally developed to restore facial volume in HIV patients is now available for cosmetic treatments: Sculptra is a non-invasive injectable treatment which smoothes deeper wrinkles and lines, restores facial volume and contours the face. It works gradually over time by stimulating the build up of the bodys own collagen to get rid of lines and wrinkles and restore a youthful appearance with natural looking results. The patient pictured right after Sculptra treatment.

Sculptras main ingredient is a natural substance called poly-L-lactic acid, a biodegradable polymer, which is injected deep into the skin and works from within the skins layers, stimulating the bodys own production of collagen to sculpt a smoother more youthful look. After injection the area needs to be massaged regularly to ensure even distribution under the skin. A series of injections is usually needed to achieve a gradual change.

Once collagen production has been stimulated, Sculptras natural looking results should become noticeable after approximately six weeks and can last as long as two years. This subtle enhancement allows you to gradually restore youthful skin as there is no dramatic, instant change, but rather a gradual enhancement as the skins appearance is volumised gradually from within, continuing a fresher and younger look.

Poly-L-lactic acid has been used in medical devices for over twenty years and is suitable for most skin types. It has been shown to have a good safety profile and be effective without the possible reactions associated with animal derived products. Depending on the area to be treated, Sculptra takes around 30 minute treatment time and two or three treatments are usually required. There is minimal discomfort with the procedure and Sculptra carries no risk of muscle paralysis which can lead to an unnatural looking facial expression or even drooping features.

As with all filler treatments u you can expect some minor bleeding and bruising and swelling. If you take a natural remedy such as arnica beforehand this can help minimize any bruising.

Questions and Answers on Sculptra

Who performs treatment with Sculptra?

A cosmetic doctor who has been trained to use the correct procedure for Sculptra performs the treatment in his practice.

Does the treatment hurt?

As with all injections you will feel some discomfort. It may be that you notice a brief burning sensation at the injection site. An ice pack applied after the treatment will help to calm your skin. If necessary, your healthcare professional can also give you a local anaesthetic.

What must I keep in mind after the treatment?

Your cosmetic doctor will give you special aftercare instructions. These include massaging the treated areas of your face in the first few days after the treatment. All you need is a few minutes twice a day. Inform your practitioner if any side effects occur, such as inflammation or small bumps in the treated area.

Are there any side effects?

The most common side effects with the use of Sculptra include injection-related side effects at the site of injection such as bleeding, tenderness or pain, redness, bruising, or swelling. These effects generally resolve in 2-6 days. It should not be injected if there is a skin infection or inflammation. It is also not suitable for pregnant or breast feeding women.

Are the results from Sculptra immediate?

No. At your first treatment visit, it may appear that Sculptra worked immediately because of the swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute Sculptra. In a few days, when the swelling goes down and the water is absorbed by your body you may look as you did before your treatment. Sculptra takes time to work; results should be noticeable after approximately 6 weeks. Your practitioner will see you again in a few weeks to decide if you need more Sculptra injections.
Sculptra cost is based on the number of phials needed. Cost per phial is

For more information and practitioners visit www.sculptra.com and www.sculptra.co.uk or T(within UK): 0800 0852 046. Angelica Kavouni MD, FRCS of T: + 44 (0)20 7486 9040 129 Harley Street, London W1. www.cosmetic-solutions.co.uk

Listen to the ELIXIR interview with Harley Street London cosmetic surgeon Angelica Kavouni on Sculptra or download onto your iPod to listen Angelica Kavouni

Hormone replacement Beverly Hills style

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Editor

Beverly Hills:Its becoming a common complaint. Im tired all the time, My sex drive is gone, I exercise and still gain weight. These are just some of the things patients are privately telling Andre Berger, MD of Beverly Hills posh Rejuvalife
Vitality Institute.

While each of these patients may have a different reason for being there, most of them are in need of the same treatment… a program that eliminates the maze of misinformation that is aimed at them, while giving them back the life and vitality that age and society are stripping them of daily.

Many of my patients are struggling with what I believe is fast becoming a national epidemic, stated Dr. Berger. Call it age, call it the environment, call it the rat race. Whatever it is, these men and women are struggling with a constant lack of energy, low libido, weight gain and an overall loss of vitality and zest for life.

According to Dr. Berger, over the counter pills, changes in diet and exercise may help for a short period, but in reality not much has provided these patients with the long term remedy they need. While Hormone Replacement Therapy and Bioidentical Hormones may be considered controversial, Dr. Berger has a plethora of patients (women and men) who will attest that his unique hormone rebalance and anti-aging program has given them back their energy, their lust for life and love, and an optimism for their future health they have never encountered.

The Rejuvalife Vitality Program is an annual, doctor supervised program that is tailored to each patients specific needs. It begins with an in depth patient interview and history, physical exam and metabolic testing, and in-depth state-of-the art comprehensive diagnostic testing of blood, saliva, and urine to determine the exact hormone levels and functional status of each patient.

This first level of testing helps Dr. Berger determine hormonal insufficiencies including areas such as the adrenals (that result in fatigue), melatonin (for sleep), food allergies and more so he can precisely pin-point the problem and determine an accurate diagnosis before administering any hormone replacement treatment. As a result, Dr. Berger is then able to increase or decrease the patients hormonal levels in each specific area and simultaneously optimize lifestyle areas to create the optimal balance. After balancing, patients are monitored for several months and tested regularly so that Dr. Berger can adjust to maintain balance as necessary. This process is repeated and monitored closely on an ongoing basis which for most includes 4 visits during the first 9 months and visits every 6 months thereafter, depending on the patients needs.

Dr. Berger sites various examples: A woman in her mid-40s who is experiencing fatigue, depression, and weight gain typically blames menopause for her symptoms when in reality she may need to balance her adrenal glands and estrogen levels. Once corrected and properly balanced, most women begin feeling like themselves again. Dr. Berger notes that his hormone replacement program is not just for middle aged women (or middle-aged anybody for that matter, some of his patients are in their 20s). Many men are suffering from Andropause where they feel a lack of libido, loss of muscle, weight gain, etc. Again, by putting a mans hormone levels back to where they once were when he was younger, he will feel more rejuvenated and vital.

Lastly, Dr. Berger adds that although balancing hormones is an internal process, there is a very important external result. Not only do Dr. Bergers patients feel better, but they also LOOK better. Because everything in the body is connected, when you treat the inside, it automatically affects the outside, says Dr. Berger. My goal is to treat the complete person not just the symptom, resulting in overall better health…from the inside, out!

About Dr Andre Berger: A visionary in the emerging field of holistic and anti-aging medicine, Dr. Andre Berger is the founder and medical director or Rejuvalife Vitality Institute, an anti-aging and cosmetic medicine practice that is considered Beverly Hills best kept secret. Dr. Berger incorporates a holistic approach to anti-aging therapies with a special emphasis on customized patient care, education and lifestyle changes. Dr. Berger received his MD from the University of Ottawa and completed his residency at McGill University in Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and also is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Holistic Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine. He is an active member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Holistic Medical Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Visit www.rejuvalife.md

Is your make-up ageing you – tips from the Jennifer Lopez film El Cantante

Posted on August 17, 2007 by Editor

NEW YORK: In the film El Cantante, Jennifer Lopez’ character first appears at age 17 and continues on screen till her 53rd birthday. Unlike many other actresses, the 30-something Lopez (pictured right) actually plays every version of herself. How?

Makeup artist Scott Barnes wielded a magic brush to make the always radiant J-Lo take on the even more youthful looking glow of a teenager and then again to transform her into an older woman. Here, his secrets to turning back the clock and the makeup mistakes that unwittingly advance it.

Say I Dew: “Ever notice how children have that sort of pretty sheen about their skin all the time?” Barnes asks. “That’s because their skin has optimal amounts of water, fat, and oil-all of which keep their faces looking plump and radiant.” As we age, our production of these things declines and skin gets drier and more drawn looking. In addition, when skin is dry, lines, wrinkles, and other imperfections appear more prominent. To create a vibrant looking complexion:

— Keep skin well hydrated
— Choose moisturizing foundation and lipstick formulations over matte ones, which can “suck the life right our skin.”
— Skimp on powder. “In addition to settling into lines wrinkles, too much powder creates an overly dry and pasty complexion,” he says.

Get Even: Redness, brown spots, and an uneven skin tone are just as aging as lines and wrinkles, so a good foundation is essential. But there is a fine line between makeup that creates an immaculate complexion versus an unnatural looking mask.

— Choose a dewy formulation that’s not too heavy. “Your skin should look and feel like it’s breathing,” he says. “If it doesn’t and it’s not, you’re adding years to your face,” he says.
— Use a light hand, “Over doing foundation in the hopes of looking younger only makes you look older,” he says. “When I had to age Jennifer, I literally spackled on ultra-heavy foundation.”
— Think gold. “The majority of us have yellow undertones in our skin and so should your foundation,” he says. “Anything too pink will look chalky and mask-like and definitely not youthful.”

Be cheeky: There’s nothing like blush to create a youthful looking glow. But shade and placement are crucial. “Young skin isn’t just tighter skin, it’s plumper and rosier skin, especially on the tops of the cheeks,” Barnes says. “As we age our face tends to get longer and more sallow.” If you haven’t actually blushed since the time your high-school crush finally spoke to you, here’s how you can fake that fresh, youthful looking flush:

— Apply blush directly onto the apples of the cheeks to help round them out and create a more youthful looking “fleshy” effect.
— Avoid sweeping it directly underneath cheeks (“contouring”) or you’ll make your face look drawn and hollow.
— Choose a healthy-looking, natural shade. “Too bright or too dark blush not only looks fake but can also wash you out,” Barnes says, “There’s a reason people speak about the beauty of a peaches and cream complexion,” he continues. “A peach radiates good health and vibrancy. It’s firm, plump, round, and its skin is that perfect combination of pink, gold, and peach.”
— Get your cheekbones gleaming. “I love to use a shimmery highlighter on the tops of Jennifer’s cheekbones” he says. “It makes the face look more lifted and adds a fresh radiance. When she had to look older, we skipped that step.”

Eyes

Lash out: “I always tell my older clients to use less eyeshadow and more mascara,” Barnes says. “Too much eye makeup can make the eye look heavier. And as we age our lashes get sparser and don’t grow as long as they used to. When Jennifer had to look older, I didn’t give her lashes any extra attention.”

To up your batting average:

— Try using individual false lashes to add length and thickness
— Break out your eyelash curler. “Curling your lashes raises them up and away from the eyelids and so makes your eyes look bigger and more lifted,” he says.
— Apply two-three light layers of mascara, versus one heavier one to create naturally longer and thicker looking lashes without clumping.

Brow in: “A well-shaped brow can make the face look more lifted and defined,” Barnes notes. “Pencil thin eyebrows look harsh and severe. Overly bushy ones can make the eyes look heavier.”

Lips

Plump them up: “As we age our lips get drier and thinner so keeping them moist by using creamy lipstick formulas is essential,” Barnes says. “Topping lipstick with gloss will also make your lips appear fuller because of gloss’ light-reflecting properties.”

Think natural: But that doesn’t mean neutral. “Beigey nude lip colors can literally “eliminate your mouth, while too dark or bright colors can not only wash out the complexion but make lips look thinner,” Barnes says. “When Jennifer’s character was older we gave her an extra matte, drying purple lipstick and it definitely did the trick.” The best lip tints, Barnes notes, are the ones that closely match your lip’s natural color pumped up a notch or too.

Celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes has worked on numerous films and covers for magazines, such as Marie Clare, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar. He is the creator of the Scott Barnes Cosmetics Line, which is sold on QVC, at select Saks Fifth Avenues, and Holt Renfrew. The first specially created Scott Barnes beauty boutique in the U.S. was recently installed at Equinox Fitness Clubs’ West Hollywood location. His first book is due out in early 2008.

Blood pressure drug increases longevity in elderly

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Editor

London: An international trial looking at the benefits of giving blood-pressure lowering medication to elderly patients has stopped early, after researchers observed significant reductions in overall mortality in those receiving treatment.

The 3,845 patient Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET) is the largest ever clinical trial to look at the effects of lowering blood pressure solely in those aged 80 and over. Preliminary results of the trial, which is coordinated by scientists from Imperial College London, suggest that lowering blood pressure significantly reduces both stroke and mortality in the over-80s.

A number of earlier trials had demonstrated that reducing blood pressure in the under-80s reduces stroke and cardiovascular events. However, previous smaller and inconclusive studies also suggested that whilst lowering blood pressure in those aged 80 or over reduced the number of strokes, it did not reduce, and even increased, total mortality.

Patients with high blood pressure from across the world were randomised for the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which began in 2001. Patients were given either the placebo or a low dose diuretic (indapamide 1.5mg SR), and an additional ACE inhibitor (perindopril), in tablet form once a day.

Emeritus Professor Chris Bulpitt, HYVET Principal Investigator from the Care of the Elderly Department at Imperial College London, said: “It was not clear prior to our study whether the over-80s would benefit from blood pressure lowering medication in the same way as younger people.

Our results are great news for people in this age group because they suggest that where they have high blood pressure, such treatment can cut their chances of dying as well as stroke.”

The Steering Committee of HYVET accepted on 12th July 2007 the recommendation of its Data Safety Monitoring Board that the trial should be stopped.

Definitive figures will not be available until all the data has been collected. Results will then be published in the peer reviewed scientific press.

Over the next few months all HYVET patients will be seen for a final visit, where all patients on trial medication will be offered the option of switching to active indapamide 1.5 mg SR based antihypertensive treatment. Prior to their final visit, all patients are advised to stay on their existing drugs until they see their trial physician.

HYVET was co-ordinated by scientists from Imperial College London, working with colleagues around the world. The main trial was funded by both the British Heart Foundation and by the Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier.

1. About stroke and high blood pressure

* Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the England and Wales. In 2004, 11% of deaths amongst those aged 75-84, and 14% of deaths amongst those aged over 85 were due to stroke, according to the Office of National Statistics.

* In the UK about 150,000 people suffer a stroke each year, the equivalent of 1 every 4 minutes.

* About one third of stroke patients die within 6 months of the event, the majority occurring in the first month.

* Disability after stroke is the most important single cause of severe disability of people living in their own homes.

* There are 2 types of stroke:

a. Haemorrhagic – caused by blood leaking into brain tissue from a
blood vessel within the brain
b. Ischeamic – caused by a clot occluding a blood vessel, resulting in
loss of blood supply to a part of the brain and subsequent damage to brain tissue.

High blood pressure increases the chance of both a blood vessel leaking or rupturing, and of a clot forming within a blood vessel. High blood pressure increases the likelihood of damage to the lining of the blood vessel, which in turn leads to an increased chance of spontaneous clot formation within the blood vessel.

* The over 80s are the fastest growing group in the population worldwide – in the UK currently they account for 4% of the total population and this is expected to rise to over 11% by 2050.

* The risk of stroke increases with age, with some estimates suggesting that the risk doubles every decade after a person reaches 55 years of age

* In the UK approximately 4% of the total National Health Service budget is spent on stroke services each year.

Scientists verify Vitamin A as wrinkle-buster

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Editor

New York: A new scientific study has shown it may be possible to reverse skin wrinkling.

The research, published in the Archives of Dermatology, suggests that topical application of retinol, a form of vitamin A, could make older people less prone to skin ulcerations and poor healing of wounds.

Three dozen white people average age, 87 had a skin moisturizer laced with retinol applied to one of their inner arms a couple of times a week for six months; a placebo was applied to the other arm. Neither the researcher who rubbed on the lotions nor the participants knew what was being applied.

By the end of the testing period, fine wrinkling which was assessed on a scale from zero, for none, to 9, for severe declined considerably on the retinol-treated skin, from an average of 7.25 to 5.61.

The researchers speculated that the retinol increased the production of collagen, which helps make skin elastic, and of glycosaminoglycan, which retains water.

Most of the 36 participants experienced some redness or itchiness where the retinol had been applied, though only three found these reactions severe enough to withdraw from the study.

Retinoic acid, a different form of vitamin A, is used to treat acne and sunlight-damaged skin. Sold under Retin-A and other brands, it is unsuitable for geriatric patients, the researchers noted, because of the irritation it often causes.

Eleven of the seniors who received follow-up exams found the benefits of the drug to be transitory: Six months after the study, the researchers found no significant differences between the retinol-treated skin and the placebo-treated skin.

Four of the authors of the study,are working on patents for treating ageing skin. The National Institutes of Health partially funded the research.

Mix of diseases may cause Alzheimer’s

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Editor

BETHESDA: Few older people die with brains untouched by a pathological process, however, an individual’s likelihood of having clinical signs of dementia increases with the number of different disease processes present in the brain, according to a new study.

The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and conducted at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Julie Schneider, MD, and colleagues report the findings in the journal Neurology online.

Among their findings is the observation that the combination of Alzheimer’s disease and strokes is the most common mix of pathologies in the brains of people with dementia. The implication of these findings is that public health efforts to prevent and treat vascular disease could potentially reduce the occurrence of dementia, the researchers say in the paper.

The researchers used data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project an ongoing study of 1,200 elderly volunteers who have agreed to be evaluated every year and to donate their brains upon death.

The current study compared clinical and autopsy data on the first 141 participants who have died.

Annual physical and psychological exams showed that, while they were alive, 50 of the 141 had dementia. Upon death, a neuropathologist, who was unaware of the results of the clinical evaluation, analyzed each person’s brain. The autopsies showed that about 85% of the individuals had evidence of at least one chronic disease process, such as Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, hemorrhages, tumors, traumatic brain injury or others.

Comparison of the clinical and autopsy results showed that only 30% of people with signs of dementia had Alzheimer’s disease alone. By contrast, 42% of the people with dementia had Alzheimer’s disease with infarcts and 16% had Alzheimer’s disease with Parkinson’s disease (including two people with all three conditions). Infarcts alone caused another 12% of the cases. Also, 80 of the 141 volunteers who died had sufficient Alzheimer’s disease pathology in their brains to fulfill accepted neuropathologic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease, although in life only 47 were clinically diagnosed with probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease.

“We know that people can have Alzheimer’s pathology without having symptoms,” says Dallas Anderson, PhD, population studies program director in the NIA Neuroscience and Neuopsychology of Aging Program. “The finding that Alzheimer’s pathology with cerebral infarcts is a very common combination in people with dementia adds to emerging evidence that we might be able to reduce some of the risk of dementia with the same tools we use for cardiovascular disease such as control of blood cholesterol levels and hypertension.”

NIA is conducting clinical trials to determine whether interventions for cardiovascular disease can prevent or slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. On-going trials cover a range of interventions such as statin drugs, vitamins and exercise.

SOURCE: The National Institutes of Health

Scientists unlock key to longer life

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Editor

La Jolla, California: The day when humans could enjoy at least a partial elixir of life, a pill extending lifespan by up to 40 per cent, is now closer with the discovery of a longevity gene.

Scientists studying worms have found a gene that links eating less with longer life. This confirms earlier studies carried out over the last 70 years which have looked at dogs, mice, yeast, fruit flies and nematode worms, which have shown that a reduction in calorie intake by 60 per cent of normal, while maintaining a healthy diet of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, consistently prolongs life by up to 40 per cent.

That regime also reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, while staving off age-related degeneration of the brain and nervous system.

Although some people are already imposing this strict diet on themselves, and primate experiments appear to back this longevity effect, it is still too early tell whether calorie restriction will have the same effect in humans.

The new research from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, have identified a critical gene in nematode worms that specifically links eating fewer calories to living longer and why persistent hunger leads to a longer life.

Identifying this longevity pathway opens the door to the development of drugs that mimic the effects of calorie restriction and might allow people to reap health benefits without adhering to an austere regime that only the toughest ascetics can endure.

In a paper published in the magazine Nature, Prof Andrew Dillin and colleagues show that pha-4, a gene that plays an essential part in embryonic development of the worm, has a newly discovered function in adults – increased activity of the gene is associated with longevity in the sweet spot of food consumption between the extremes of harm caused by starvation and overeating.

Professor Dillin says: After 72 years of not knowing how calorie restriction works, we finally have genetic evidence to unravel the underlying molecular program required for increased longevity in response to calorie restriction, said Prof Dillin.

This is the first gene that is absolutely essential and specific for the increased longevity response to dietary restriction.

Initially, researchers thought that the effect of calorie restriction on ageing was to do with signalling pathways related to the hormone insulin but experiments by graduate student Siler Panowski in Prof Dillins lab suggested reality was more complex and another gene called SMK-1 was more involved in the effects of starvation, to their surprise.

The work suggests that insulin signalling and calorie restriction are independent pathways, but SMK-1 plays a role in both, said Panowski. The team studied 15 genes that could be involved with SMK-1 and found that the loss of only one, a gene called pha-4, negated the lifespan-enhancing effect of calorie-restriction in the worms.

Dramatically, when researchers undertook the opposite experiment making more pha-4 in worms longevity was enhanced, suggesting that this could offer a target for life extension drugs.

Detailed work showed that the gene can boost levels of proteins called SODs (superoxide dismutase) which mop up free radicals, harmful chemicals linked with ageing.

The researchers think that this may be a defence mechanism that helps the creatures tolerate starvation. The pha-4 gene is similar to those in people called Foxa transcription factors, which also have important roles during development and act later in life to regulate glucagons – hormones made by the pancreas to burn fat – and glucose levels, particularly in response to fasting. Humans possess three genes that are highly similar to the worm pha-4, all belonging to the Foxa family.

All three play an important role in development and then later on in the regulation of glucagon, a hormone made by the pancreas that unlike insulin increases the concentration of blood sugar and maintains the bodys energy balance, especially during fasting.

When food is in short supply, these genes may alter glucagon levels or cause other changes in hormones that are ultimately able to regulate the ageing process.

The team is now going to study these human genes to see if they react the same way as those in nematodes do when the worms are denied their favourite treat, bacteria.

Prof Dillin said that they would also test a range of drugs to see if they can find some that boost the activity of the human equivalent of the worm gene and, in theory, could boost longevity.

So far, only one other gene, called sir-2, has been implicated in the life- and health-prolonging response of the boy to calorie restriction. Increased use of the gene extends longevity of yeast, worms, and flies.

However, the link is not so clean cut because the loss of sir-2 disrupts the calorie restriction response only in some strains of yeast and has no effect on other organisms, such as worms.

Is 50 the new 25 – new UK report?

Posted on May 2, 2007 by Editor

London: The over 50s are living the lives of 25 year olds, according to a new report from the UK’s Future Foundation.

The second flush of youth is the result of improved health and longer life expectancy with men expecting to live 15 years after retirement and women 22.

Martin Lloyd-Elliott, a psychologist, who contributed to the report said that there had been a shift in expectations with over 50s expecting doors to open rather than close in the second phase of life. With more wealth and more free time older people are taking the time to do more with their leisure such as travel.

Unlike their predessesors who spent their time doing domestic chores over 50s now spend their time socialising and shopping. In fact over 50s spend twice as much time shopping as their counterparts did 50 years ago. They also go to the shops for longer than today’s twentysomethings.

They are also keen on keeping fit, spending the same amount of time as on sport and exercise as 25-year-olds did in 1957.

Wrinkles see the light – and disappear – new light rejuvenation from Ellipse

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Editor

London:Wrinkles see the light and disappear with Ellipses new rejuvenation treatment

A new wrinkle busting treatment using light rejuvenation to increase collagen making skin look young and supple has been launched by the experts at Ellipse.

This new intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment has been shown to improve lines and wrinkles in less than a month. It is a non-invasive two step procedure that consists of applying a spray which contains an advanced liposome, which converts the active ingredient into a pigment called (protoporphyrin IX 2) helping to absorb the light and aiding deeper penetration. This triggers a chemical reaction that is in effect a miniature explosion that damages the skin cell, triggering a cellular repair response. This process improves the skins elasticity resulting in a noticeable 300% collagen production.

Michael Dodd, Managing Director at Ellipse explains: “What is exciting about this new extension of the product in to anti-aging is that it will add another exciting chapter to Ellipses comprehensive menu of treatments with the likes of Skin texture and Photo Rejuvnenation already under its belt. With Wrinkle Reduction we can now provide customers with a one-stop-shop, non-invasive solution to better skin management.

With the Ellipse IPL Wrinkle Reduction application, people will see lasting results for up to 12 months depending on the individual. In clinical studies it has been found that collagen production peaks at three months. A course of three treatments with three week intervals is recommended by the scientists behind the Ellipse technology but visible results can be seen after just one treatment.

Wrinkle Reduction gradually takes place from one up to twelve months when collagen stimulation is triggered offering the building blocks to smoother, youthful skin. Clinically proven by leading dermatologists Ellipses Wrinkle Reduction treatment will offer people either a non-invasive preventative measure or a solution to anti-ageing. Dubbed as the new lunchtime beauty-fix it shows significant improvement in wrinkles minus the pain or visible redness associated with comparable alternatives. Find our more at www.wrinkle-reduction.org

ELIXIR

THE WORLD'S NUMBER 1 HEALTHY AGEING MAGAZINE

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Scientists unlock key to longer life

Is 50 the new 25 – new UK report?

Wrinkles see the light – and disappear – new light rejuvenation from Ellipse