Dear Health-Conscious Friend,
With all the health dangers we face today, losing your mind to a debilitating, memory-zapping disease is not an option.
In this weeks Monday Edition of Health News Weekly, youll find out the latest info from seven studies, which show the unbelievable link between obesity and THIS disease. Every pound you add to your body increases your chancesup to 80 percent!
Plus, your precious eyesight should also be one of your many top health priorities. As we all get older the likelihood of developing a vision-threatening problem increases, but keep reading to find out which group has been singled out to be more at risk.
If you are interested in theseand morehealth tips, then dont delay one minute! Lets get started
P.S. Be sure to check your inbox this Thursday for a surprise! You wont be disappointed
Obesity Increases Alzheimers Risk by 80 Percent!
Obesity may increase your risk for developing dementia, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Their analysis of published obesity and dementia studies over the past 20 years shows a consistent relationship between the two diseases.
Our analysis of the data shows a clear association between obesity and an increased risk for dementia and several clinical subtypes of the disease, said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, senior author of the study and associate professor with the Bloomberg Schools Center for Human Nutrition. Wang analyzed study findings with lead researcher May A. Beydoun and H.A. Beydoun.
The research team found that study participants with a healthy body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were less likely to experience dementia than their counterparts with an elevated BMI or waist circumference.
They reached this conclusion after reviewing 10 previously published studies examining the relationship between dementia and various measures of body fat.
A pooled analysis of findings from seven of the studies showed obesity increased the risk of Alzheimers disease by an average of 80 percent.
The research team reviewed studies conducted in a number of countries, including the United States, Finland, Sweden and France. The study participants included middle-aged and older adults.
Previously published research defines dementia as a number of conditions characterized by a variety of behavioral, cognitive and emotional impairments. The most common form is Alzheimers diseasea disease that impacts a whopping 5 million adults in the United States alone.
While more studies are needed to determine optimal weight and biological mechanisms associated with obesity and dementia, these findings could potentially decrease the number of people diagnosed with dementia and lead to an overall better quality of life, said May A. Beydoun, a former postdoctoral research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Preventing or treating obesity at a younger age could play a major role in reducing the number of dementia patients and those with other commonly associated illnesses such as Alzheimers disease by up to 20 percent in the United States, Wang added.
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health funded the research. Study results were published in the May 2008 issue of Obesity Reviews.
Fast Fact
Iron is a critical nutrient that helps your body produce hemoglobin. This molecule helps carry the oxygen in your red blood cells to every tissue and cell in your body. You can help boost your iron intake by eating eggs, fish, red meat, poultry, leafy green vegetables, whole grains and breads.
Aging Women Face Higher Risk of
Developing Eye Disease
Women baby boomers in the United States face twice the risk of being diagnosed with vision-threatening eye diseases each year. But the numbers are increasing for both genders as older Americans enter their golden years, a new report shows.
This finding is reported in a study sponsored by Prevent Blindness America and the government-backed National Eye Institute. Researchers said that of the more than 3.6 million Americans aged 40 and older who suffer from visual impairment2.3 million are women.
In some cases, potentially blinding diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy strike women almost twice as much as men.
Many people believe fading eyesight is simply part of the aging process. But Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of Prevent Blindness America, noted that the study findings include many women in their 40s.
Its never too early to start caring for our eyes, and we strongly encourage women to make eye health a priority for themselves and their families today, Garrett said.
The report shows age-related eye disease has risen for both sexes, but especially among women, who represent more than 1.3 million of the more than 2 million Americans aged 50 and older that have age-related macular degeneration.
And, approximately 6 million women and 3 million men have moderate to severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome, a condition caused when not enough natural tears are produced, according to the National Womens Health Resource Center. Postmenopausal and pregnant women are most at risk because of hormonal fluctuations, and without proper lubrication, their corneas can become damaged.
Fortunately, there is a simple way for women to protect their vision: get regular eye care, Garrett said.
Health E-Hints
Does Your Scalp Need Sunscreen Protection?
You might assume that your hair protects the skin of your head from sun damage. But you should know that scalp skin is just as vulnerable to sun damage as anywhere else on your body.
Whats more, when cancer does occur on the scalp, its often very aggressive.
If you are bald or have thinning hairyou should rub SPF-15 sunscreen on your hair, said Zoe Diana Draelos, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, N.C. You should also wear a hat with a four-inch brim that shields your entire head.
Even if you have a full head of hair, you should consider using conditioner or hairspray that contains a sunscreen. These simple steps can help protect your delicate scalp from sunburnand shield your health from damaging skin cancer!