Many Advantages to Staying in Shape: Recent studies have shown numerous physical and psychological benefits for older adults who are physically fit. According to one report, published in the February 16 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, physical fitness may enhance cognitive abilities and brain function in older adults. The study suggests that even moderate amounts of aerobic exercise, such as walking a couple of miles a few times a week, improves blood flow in the brain, encourages the formation of new neurons and increases the number of connections called synapses that form between neurons.

Another study, published in the February 15 issue of the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, finds that physical exercise has long-term benefits for people with early rheumatoid arthritis. Additional research, reported in the March 4 issue of Stroke, has found that repetitive arm exercises can dramatically improve the functioning of an affected arm in people who have suffered a stroke. The study finds that stroke victims who participated in a rehab program in which they used an affected arm to generate motion in a rocking chair for 30 minutes each day had much better arm function five years later than people who had not performed this exercise.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Update: Older men with lower levels of free testosterone circulating in their bloodstreams could face an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new research published in the January 27 issue of Neurology. The study finds that men who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's had about half the levels of circulating free testosterone, on average, as men who didn't develop the disease. However, more research is needed before scientists can establish a causal relationship between low testosterone and Alzheimer's.

Meanwhile, another recent study, by researchers in northern England, finds that extracts of sage and lemon balm may help improve memory and behavioral problems in people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. In controlled trials, both extracts improved memory, and lemon balm improved mood and reduced agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease.

Osteoporosis and Bone Loss Update: Providing further evidence that so-called plant estrogens may have significant health benefits, a recent study suggests that isoflavone supplements may help reduce menopausal bone loss. The study, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that, when taken for a year, the supplements appear to curb spinal bone loss in women between the ages of 49 and 65. Isoflavones are compounds found in soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes that are similar to the female hormone estrogen. However, researchers say it's too early to recommend isoflavone supplements for fighting bone loss.

Another study, published in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, finds that women over the age of 64 with low levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience bone loss than women with levels of B-12 above 280 pg/ml. The researchers note that some elderly women may slow the rates of bone loss through consumption of dietary supplements or foods rich in B-12, such as meat, shellfish, milk, cheese and eggs.

High Blood Pressure Tied to Changes in Brain: Getting high blood pressure and other threats to heart health under control might also help keep mental prowess sharp in older adults, according to study published in the March/April issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The study finds that some structural changes in the brain which affect mental function progressed more extensively among older adults with cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes.

Arthritis Drugs Work Better Together: Etanercept (Enbrel) and methotrexate, two drugs commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, work better together than alone, according to a report published in the February 26 issue of The Lancet. Researchers found that treatment with both drugs was significantly better than either agent alone at reducing disease activity, improving functional disability and slowing disease progression, and that using the drugs together does not increase the risk of side effects.

Eight Glasses of Water May Be Too Much: Contrary to previous recommendations, drinking eight glasses of water a day may not be a healthy practice, especially for people aged 70 and above. Researchers from several British and U.S. universities and the National Institutes of Health announced on February 24 that people between ages 70 and 79 who drink eight glasses of water or more per day often show signs of overhydration, due to the weakened ability of the body to process water. The researchers recommended that people aged 70 and older drink only when they are thirsty.

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