Frontline: Social Isolation; Gardening Benefits; Eating Fast Food
Social Isolation Linked with Higher Risk of Dementia
Older adults who are socially isolated have a higher risk of dementia than those who had regular contact and interactions with others, according to a study published Jan. 11, 2023, in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The researchers analyzed data from 5,022 older U.S. adults who participated in a national health and aging study and found that those who were socially isolated had a 28 percent higher risk of dementia than those who were not socially isolated during a nine-year follow-up period. For this study, the researchers defined social isolation as “the objective state of having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others.” The people who qualified as socially isolated in the study lived alone, and/or they did not have two or more people in the last year with whom they could discuss important issues, and/or they did not attend religious services or participate in other activities, such as volunteer work, clubs, meetings, or groups, in the past month. Social isolation has been linked with several health issues, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression, all of which are associated with higher risks of dementia.
Gardening Is Good for Mind and Body
Participating in community gardening is associated with improvements in dietary intake, activity levels, and mental health, according to a study published in the January 2023 issue of The Lancet Planetary Health. Participants in the randomized, controlled trial were 291 adults divided into two groups. One group attended an introductory gardening course and was allocated a standard, 10-square-meter community garden plot, as well as seeds and seedlings; the other group served as a control. The gardeners consumed more fiber, got more physical activity, and reported lower levels of stress and anxiety than the non-gardeners. People in the gardening group spent an average of about 90 minutes a week gardening and visited their garden at least twice during the week. The study was conducted in Denver, Colorado, and the gardening season ran from April to October.
Eating Fast Food May Harm Your Liver
Consuming 20 percent or more of daily calories from fast food can increase the risk of developing steatosis (fatty liver disease), according to research published Jan. 10, 2023, in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The researchers analyzed data collected from almost 4,000 adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They discovered that 29 percent of participants reported getting 20 percent or more of their daily calories from fast food. The lead author of the study said, “Eating at least one-fifth of total daily calories from fast food…can increase the risk of fatty liver, which can lead to cirrhosis and its complications, including liver failure and liver cancer. The negative effects are particularly severe in people who already have diabetes and obesity.” In general, fast food is high in saturated fat, sodium, calories, added sugar, and/or refined grains; this type of eating pattern has been linked with a number of chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer.
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