Newsbriefs: Aerobic Exercise; Older Patients & Cardio Disease; Protein’s Effect on Women
Aerobic exercise improves brain blood flow to key areas
Exercising on a stationary bike or treadmill increased blood flow to areas of the brain involved in memory and cognition, according to a study that appeared online Nov. 12, 2013 in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Study participants were sedentary adults between age 57 and 75. The participants were divided into two groups: physical training (PT) and control. The PT group exercised on a stationary bike or treadmill for one hour, three times a week for 12 weeks. The participants’ brain blood flow was measured via MRI. Participants in the PT group had a higher resting cerebral blood flow in the anterior cingulate region, an area of the brain linked to cognitive functioning, and in the hippocampus, the primary brain area affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The PT group also had improved performance on tests that measured immediate and delayed memory. Other forms of aerobic exercise include brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and other activities that use your major muscle groups and elevate your heart rate and breathing.
Individualized treatment needed for older patients with cardiovascular disease
The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a statement that summarizes a review of the risks and benefits of medical and lifestyle interventions for patients ages 75 and older who have cardiovascular disease (CVD). The AHA statement, which appeared online Oct. 28, 2013 in the journal Circulation, stresses the importance of the patient’s participation in making decisions about the therapies they will receive with the goal of preventing heart attack, stroke, and other major cardiac events. The statement notes that patient preferences should be taken into account, such as whether a patient would rather forgo a surgical procedure and live with an increased risk of a cardiovascular event. The statement also emphasizes the importance of considering costs, compliance, and possible drug interactions when making decisions about medications. Patients with CVD have the responsibility of telling their doctors about any supplements and/or over-the-counter drugs they are taking. Patients also need to ensure that they understand the possible benefits and risks of all treatment options so they can make informed decisions about their care.
Eating more protein linked with better physical function, slower decline in women
Women who consumed more protein scored better on several measures of physical function than women who consumed less protein, according to a study published in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers collected data on more than 5,000 women who were ages 50 to 79 at the study’s outset; the women’s protein intake ranged from 6.6 percent to 22.3 per-cent of total calories consumed. At the conclusion of the seven-year study, women who got more of their calo-ries from protein had higher self-reported physical function, a slower rate of functional decline, greater grip strength at the study’s outset, and slower declines in grip strength than women who consumed the fewest calories from protein. Healthy protein sources include fish and shellfish, skinless poultry, low-fat dairy products, and plant foods, including beans, lentils, soy-based products, nuts, and whole grains.
Treatment for low testosterone tied to increased risk of cardiac events
Men who used testosterone therapy had a higher risk of heart attack, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality, according to research that was published Nov. 6, 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study participants were 8,709 male veterans who underwent a coronary angiography (an x-ray of coronary arteries into which dye has been injected) and had total testosterone levels below 300 nano-grams per deciliter; 1,223 men used testosterone therapy, and 7,486 men did not. Low testosterone levels, commonly referred to as “low T,” can be raised via treatment with gels, patches, or injections that contain testosterone. Although this study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between testosterone therapy and poorer cardiac health, it suggests that caution should be exercised by men considering testosterone therapy, especially if they already have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk of it.
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