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Aging News & Information
Higher Blood Pressure is Latest Clue to Walking
Problems in Senior Citizens
Harvard Health Letter identifies other
causes of balance loss in elderly
Aug. 1, 2006 – Difficulty in walking has been
associated with increased risk of dementia and death. A new study,
however, finds higher blood pressure may be a factor in the decline of
walking ability in older people. And, the Harvard Health Letter says
there are several other disorders than can rob senior citizens of their
balance.
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Walking Safely After Age 70 Requires More Attention,
Thinking - So They Say
Researchers see
slow gait (senior shuffle) as significant risk for falls
March 27, 2006 - Psychologists wanting to help old
people safely cross the street and otherwise ambulate around this busy
world have found that from age 70 and up, safe walking may require solid
"executive control" (which includes attention) and memory skills. For
the old, slow gait is a significant risk factor for falls, many of which
result in disabling fractures, loss of independence or even death.
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Tai Chi Reduces Falls in Older People: New Study
Confirms Earlier Reports
June
27, 2005 – A new study confirms what has been reported by other researchers
since 1996 – Tai Chi, a martial arts form that enhances balance and body
awareness through slow, graceful and precise body movements, can improve
balance, build strength and reduce the risk of falls in the elderly.
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Older Senior Citizens Who Don’t Exercise Can Face
Problems Even Walking
June 9, 2005 – Even for older senior citizen, lack
of exercise increases the risk of future problems with climbing stairs
or even walking, according to research published in the Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society.
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Lower Dementia Risk
Medical Studies Confirm Ballroom Dancing Keeps
Elderly Fit, Alert and Happy
May 27, 2005 – A medical study of elderly men and
women over age 75 concludes what ballroom dance fans have always known -
their favorite activity is great for health and happiness. The
complexity and moving with the music lower the risk of dementia, the
researchers say.
Read more...
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Aging News & Information |
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Balance tends to erode with age, which can lead to
falls. For older people, falls are the leading cause of death from
injury and a major cause of disability. Even if a fall doesn’t cause
severe damage, it increases the chances of another fall. Yet, experts
say, falls aren’t an inevitable consequence of growing older.
Decline in leg function is common in older people,
but factors contributing to gait difficulties in older persons are not
well understood, say researchers at Rush University Medical Center.
Their study suggests that higher blood pressure may be one factor
associated with a decline in walking ability in later life.
The research, by Dr. Raj Shah and colleagues at the
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, is published in the August 2006 issue
of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, the scientific journal
of The Gerontological Society of America.
Researchers recruited 888 older Catholic clergy
without dementia or Parkinson’s disease who are participating in the
Religious Orders Study. At baseline, blood pressure was measured, the
presence of vascular diseases and diabetes was recorded, cognitive
function was assessed, and medications were inspected.
At baseline and subsequent annual visits, gait and
balance were assessed using performance-based tasks, such as the time
and number of steps taken to walk 8 feet, the time to sit up and down
five times, the number of steps off the line during an 8-foot
heel-to-toe walk, and a comparison of ability to stand with eyes open
and eyes closed.
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Notes:
The Rush researchers said they are extremely grateful for the
remarkable dedication and altruism of the volunteers
participating in the Religious Orders Study, a longitudinal,
clinical-pathologic study of older persons without dementia The
research was supported by grants from the National Institute on
Aging.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1945, is
the oldest and largest national multidisciplinary scientific
organization devoted to the advancement of gerontological
research.
Rush University Medical Center is an academic medical center
that encompasses the 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush
Children’s Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and
Rush University. Rush University, with more than 1,270
students, is home to one of the first medical schools in the
Midwest, and one of the nation’s top-ranked nursing colleges. |
Participants completed a mean of nearly eight
annual evaluations with a high rate of follow-up. Controlling for age,
education, and gender, the study found a 10mmHg increment in systolic
blood pressure was associated with greater decline in lower limb
function. On average, lower limb function declined 28.7% faster in
persons with a systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg than in persons with
a normal systolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg.
“After memory loss, the biggest concern of older
individuals is loss of mobility,” said Dr. Raj Shah, medical director of
the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s Memory Clinic. “If high blood
pressure is impacting gait, it is a risk factor that possibly can be
controlled in order to help people stay active as they age.”
The study wasn’t able to determine why blood
pressure is impacting gait. However, Shah notes it may partially be
related to stroke. The study found that diabetes, vascular diseases, or
cognition did not change the association of blood pressure and lower
limb function. Although baseline clinical stroke had no effect on higher
blood pressure being associated with lower limb function, when
researchers took out individuals that developed stroke during the study,
the relationship between blood pressure and mobility wasn’t as strong.
Further studies examining lifelong blood pressure
measures will be necessary to fully explore why there is a link between
blood pressure and lower limb function. In addition, Shah hopes clinical
trials will study if the treatment of blood pressure improves walking
abilities.
“Gait difficulties are very common in older adults.
We hope our research will lead to better treatment options and to
preventive measures that will help older adults maintain active,
independent lives,” said Shah.
The investigators are part of the institution’s
Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, headed by Dr. David Bennett. The AD
Center is one of 30 across the U.S. supported by the National Institute
on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health to study and care
for Alzheimer’s patients.
Several Medical Conditions Can
Rob Senior Citizens of Their Balance
Aug. 1, 2006 – Although balance does tend to erode
with age, falls aren’t an inevitable consequence of growing older. It’s
possible to regain equilibrium and compensate for permanent balance
deficits, reports the August issue of the Harvard Health Letter.
Conflicting reports from our eyes, ears, and
central nervous system can affect our balance. But balance can also
suffer from such disorders as these:
● Neurological conditions. Parkinson’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, and strokes are among those that can affect balance.
● Diabetes. Nerve damage in the feet makes it difficult to walk.
● Vertigo. This sensation of dizziness may come from ear disorders or
simply from the aging of the inner ear’s balance system.
● Postural hypotension. A drop in blood pressure when you sit up or
stand up can cause lightheadedness and even fainting.
● Foot problems. Corns, bunions, and hammertoes are both a cause and a
result of uneven balance.
● Eye diseases. Cataracts and glaucoma are stealthy thieves of sight
and balance. Balance nearly always improves after successful cataract
surgery.
● Medications. Sedatives, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants,
and antihistamines are among those that may cause dizziness.
To retain or regain your balance, the Harvard
Health Letter suggests that you get active to maintain the neural
connections necessary for good balance, improve your posture so you
won’t be apt to fall, and maintain your strength for a good foundation.
Also in this issue:
● Heimlich not always best response to choking
● Benefits of chewing gum
● Viagra may help with Raynaud’s disease
● Watching TV vs. playing video games
● A doctor discusses: An alternative to atenolol, and the latest on
chronic fatigue syndrome
The Harvard Health Letter is available from
Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical
School, for $28 per year. Subscribe at
www.health.harvard.edu/health or by calling 1-877-649-9457 (toll
free).
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