Healthwise 78       September 2006

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors by Helen Franks, journalist and author. Welcome to healthwise 78.  

For previous articles in the healthwise series visit 'more healthwise'

Taking exercise can cut Alzheimer’s and dementia

People over 65 who do light exercise 3 times a week can reduce risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia. The findings come from scientists in Seattle who followed over 1700 people aged 65 or over for 6 years. None had mental degeneration to start with, and by the end just 158 were diagnosed with dementia, just 40 per cent.

Activities included hiking, aerobics, swimming, weight training and stretching. Walking was the most common activity. Researchers found that exercising more than 3 times a week had no extra benefit.

Ginkgo biloba and Alzheimers

Ginkgo biloba’s reputation has been founded on its ability to improve circulation, especially in the brain. It is said to be able to dilate blood vessels and at the same time reducing ‘stickiness’ in the blood.

Now, some studies suggest that it may help mild to moderate sufferers of Alzheimer’s, especially those with short-term memory loss. That’s a phenomenon not uncommon in those over 60 anyway, so taking ginkgo biloba on a regular basis could be helpful. One brand is Actimind, available from Boots and other pharmacies.

You need the veg for your eyes

According to the Journal of Opthalmology, eating broccoli, sweetcorn, peas, carrots and other green or red or yellow vegetables can guard against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This protection of eyesight is due to carotenoids, which the said vegetables contain.

AMD is not curable and can lead to blindness. It is the leading cause of blindness in older people in the West.

NICE gives blessing to biological treatments for psoriasis

Psoriasis is a recurring skin condition that affects around 2% of the population in the UK. Unlike normal skin, with psoriatic skin the cells renew every two-three days compared to normal skin cells which mature every 21-28 days. This fast turnover of cells can result in raised itchy red patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) has given backing for two biological treatments for severe psoriasis in adults: Enbrel and Raptiva.

Psoriasis is not merely a skin complaint. It is a chronic disease that is deeply stressful to sufferers and can lead to arthritis.

Moderate psoriasis can also be treated with Embrel and another drug Remicade. Ask your GP about availability. For more information, look up website: www.psoriasis-association.org.uk.

New complementary treatment for psoriasis

Exorex is a new complementary treatment for psoriasis sufferers to help control their condition. It has a patented formulation which contains a small amount of prepared coal tar (1%) in a base containing a complex of esterified essential fatty acids. It can be used on adults and children and can be diluted to suit individual requirements.

Exorex Lotion is part of a management system licensed to treat psoriasis. There is a range of Exorex wash and moisturising products formulated with the psoriasis sufferer in mind complement the lotion.

The Exorex range is available from larger Boots stores and many other pharmacies.
Further product information can be found at www.exorex.co.uk
 

Fish oils and exercise

Researchers have discovered that taking fish oils along with taking exercise has a beneficial effect, resulting in faster weight loss. But taking the oils without exercise, or exercising without taking oils, does not result in any weight loss, researchers discovered. (Daily Mail 31 July 2006). Sixty eight overweight-to-obese adults at risk of coronary disease took part in the 12-week trial. They were divided into 4 groups - a group taking fish oil and exercise, another taking just fish oil, a third group taking sunflower oil without exercise and a fourth being asked to combine sunflower oil and exercise.

The clear winners in the study were those in the group who were given small daily doses of fish oil and who walked or ran for 45 minutes 3 times a week. They lost an average of 4.5lb over the 3 months.

The group who took the sunflower oil, which does not contain Omega-3 fatty acids, but who exercised, did not lose any weight. The 2 groups who did no exercise including those on fish oil - also lost no weight.

It is thought that the fish oil increases the elasticity of blood vessel walls and improves the flow of blood to muscles during exercises.
 

Launch of new rheumatoid arthritis drug

Current treatments are failing nearly 30% of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis.
MabThera is the first B-cell therapy to treat severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is set to transform the management of this debilitating disease and may make a difference to the lives of thousands of people.

MabTherab (rituximab) in combination with methotrexate, a standard RA medicine, has been licensed for the treatment of adults with severe active RA who have failed on the current gold standard anti-TNF therapies.

MabThera works by directly targeting cells in the immune system, called B-cells, which are known to play a key role in the development and progression of RA. This new therapy, with its innovative mode of action, offers a new approach to the treatment of severe active adult RA and potentially heralds a new era in its management.

The disease affects around 387,000 people in the UK alone, and occurs when a person’s immune system attacks their own joints, often causing severe damage to the joints resulting in pain and disability. One in 100 people in the UK will develop RA over their lifetime. Ask your GP for further information.

Websites of interest

www.menopausematters.co.uk : Menopause and treatment options. An independent, clinician-led site aiming to provide accurate information about the menopause.

www.profoot.co.uk : all you want to know about smelly feet, blisters, ingrowing toenails, corns and bunions, thickened and infected toenails.

www.iwdl.net : IWDL clinics test food allergies.
 

If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.

IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION

In edition 77:-   

Women are neglecting their health

Survey shows that women in the UK are not taking simple lifestyle steps to improve their health........

Things you might not know about high blood pressure

Some myths about blood pressure..

Jumping for joints

Many people are unaware of just how vulnerable their joints are..

Laughter: the best medicine

Up to 80 muscles are used when you have a really good laugh

And then there's music

There's more to soothing music than meets the ear. Music can lower blood pressure, speed up healing and soothe the troubled mind.

Useful websites

Some useful health websites

The complete family health guide

Essential medical reference that's a must for every home. Published in association with the BMA, it includes comprehensive coverage of every important aspect of health and medicine, as well as user-friendly charts for at-a-glance information and easy reference. Also lists the best medical websites...

Maximise your memory

This work provides detailed instructions, illustrations and sample exercises that show the reader how to build a system of personalized frameworks for storing and recalling information on demand.