From the National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging:

September 2, 2004: Biweekly Highlights
This notice provides announcements and links to new nutrition and aging information.

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Of Special Interest

• "You Can" campaign. USDHHS Administration on Aging launched this campaign to increase number of older adults with healthier lifestyles.

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Final Committee report available. Written comment deadline 9/27/04; to present oral testimony on 9/21/04 submit request by 9/14/04; USDA and HHS. 

• The Road Map to Driving Wellness for older adults. Curriculum teaches how improving your health and nutrition may help you continue to drive; The American Society on Aging and CDC.

• West Nile Virus. Risk of severe illness and death greatest for those over 50; CDC.

• Know your cholesterol numbers, know your risk. September is National Cholesterol Education month. Education kit available online; NHLBI.

• Prevention Communication Research Database (PCRD). New online resource by HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion highlights research findings. Topics include asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, healthy eating & nutrition, heart disease, obesity and physical activity.

Resources and Web links

• Guidelines for preventing high blood pressure. For consumers; National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

• Positive Aging Resource Center (PARC). For consumers and professionals; information and resources for older adults and caregivers, USDHHS.

• Inappropriate Medications Table. For consumers; list of prescription medications rated from low-high severity and concerns regarding these medications, JAMA.

• National patient safety goals. For professionals; JCAHO lists practical advice and tips.

• RealAge Tip of the Day. For consumers, strategies for growing younger.

• What Should You Expect at Your Age? A Lot! For consumers; radio show interviews with Robert Stall, MD and guests. Topics include medication related problems, memory problems, and perspectives on getting older.

Research and Reports

• Bialysto E, Craik FIM, Klein R, Viswanathan M. Bilingualism, aging and cognitive control: Evidence from the Simon task. Psychology and Aging.2004; 19:2:290-303.
   
• Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dietrich T, Orav EJ, Hu FB, Zhang Y, Karlson EW, Dawson-Hughes B. Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with better lower-extremity function in both active and inactive persons aged > 60 y. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004; 80: 3: 752-758.

• Curtis LH, Østbye T, Sendersky V, Hutchison S, Dans PE, Wright A, Woosley RL, Schulman KA. Inappropriate prescribing for elderly Americans in a large outpatient population. Arch Intern Med.  2004;164:1621-1625.

• Dangour AD, Sibson VL, Fletcher AE. Hormones and supplements: Do they work? Micronutrient supplementation in later life: Limited evidence for benefit. J Gerontol A Biol Sci and Med Sci. 2004;59:B659-B673.

• Erkkilä AT , Lichtenstein AH, Mozaffarian D, Herrington DM. Fish intake is associated with a reduced progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004; 80:3:626-632.

• Gerhard GT, Ahmann A, Meeuws K, McMurry MP, Duell PB, Connor WE. Effects of a low-fat diet compared with those of a high-monounsaturated fat diet on body weight, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;. 80:3:668-673.

• Harman SM, Blackman MR. Hormones and supplements: Do they work? Use of growth hormone for prevention or treatment of effects of aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci and Med Sci.2004;59:B652-B658

• Hyun TH, Barrett-Connor E, Milne DB. Zinc intakes and plasma concentrations in men with osteoporosis: the Rancho Bernardo Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80: 3: 715-721.

• Latham NK, Anderson CS, Reid IR. Effects of Vitamin D supplementation on strength, physical performance, and falls in older persons: A systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004; 51: 9:1219.

• Lim LS, Takahasi PY. Osteoporosis intervention in men with hip fracture. Age Ageing 2004 33: 507-508.

• Martin Riby L, Meikle A, Glover C. The effects of age, glucose ingestion and gluco-regulatory control on episodic memory. Age Ageing. 2004;33:5:483-487.

• Mysliwiec PA, Brown ML, Klabunde CN, Ransohoff DF. Are physicians doing too much colonoscopy? A national survey of colorectal surveillance after polypectomy.2004 ; 141: 4: 264-271.

• Stafford RS, Drieling RL, Hersh AL, MD. National trends in osteoporosis visits and osteoporosis treatment, 1988-2003. Arch Intern Med.  2004;164:1525-1530.

• Tierney MC, Charles J, Naglie G, Jaglal S, Kiss A, Fisher RH. Risk factors for harm in cognitively impaired seniors who live alone: A prospective study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52:1435-1441.

• Tseng CW, Brook RH, Keeler E, Steers WN, Mangione CM. Cost-lowering strategies used by medicare beneficiaries who exceed drug benefit caps and have a gap in drug coverage. JAMA.2004;292:952-960.

• Young KWH, Greenwood CE, van Reekum R, Binns MA. Providing nutrition supplements to institutionalized seniors with probable Alzheimer's disease is least beneficial to those with low body weight status. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004; 52: 8: 13.

• Wagner AK, Zhang F, Soumerai SB, Walker AM, Gurwitz JH, Glynn RJ, Ross-Degnan D. Benzodiazepine use and hip fractures in the elderly. Arch Intern Med.  2004;164:1567-1572.

 

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