More Reasons to Join a Gym: The past few months have brought even more evidence that physical exercise benefits midlife and older adults. One report, published in July's American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that even modest physical activity, done less than once a week, can increase longevity. The study found that people aged 65 and older who exercise occasionally reduced their chances of death by 28 percent, while those who exercised once a week cut the risk by 40 percent.

Meanwhile, a study published April 15 in the journal Cancer Research found that overweight older women can reduce unhealthy estrogen levels, and perhaps cut their risk of breast cancer, by taking fat off through a moderate exercise regimen of about three hours a week. Additionally, a study in May's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that exercise can help elderly women with brittle bones lessen their odds of falling. Canadian researchers found that strength training and agility classes taken twice a week at a community center lowered fall risk among women 75 to 85 years old, all of whom had reduced bone mass or full-blown osteoporosis.

Vitamin C and Arthritis: Is vitamin C good or bad for arthritis? According to one study, published in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, prolonged exposure to high doses of vitamin C can worsen osteoarthritis. The study suggests that people with this form of arthritis should not consume more than the recommended daily allowance (90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women) of vitamin C.

In contrast, another new study suggests that consumption of foods high in vitamin C protects against inflammatory polyarthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints. Published in July's Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, this report found that people who consume low amounts of fruit, vegetables and vitamin C are three times more likely to develop inflammatory polyarthritis than people who consume high amounts. Researchers say the studies' contrasting findings may reflect the fact that rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are caused by different physiologic problems.

Other Arthritis News: A study in The Lancet's June 19 issue found that treatment with Lipitor - a cholesterol-lowering "statin" drug - can significantly reduce disease activity in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Meanwhile, a report in June's Journal of Rheumatology suggests that people taking rofecoxib (Vioxx) are more likely to develop limb swelling or to have an increase in blood pressure than those taking other similar drugs that treat arthritis, including celecoxib (Celebrex) and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

However, a study published July 1 in the journal Cancer suggests that aspirin is more effective than Celebrex for people wishing to lower their risk of colon cancer and heart disease. Both drugs work by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 or COX-2. However, Celebrex is considered a "selective" blocker because it only affects COX-2, whereas aspirin also affects related enzymes.

Alzheimer's and Dementia Update: Estrogen replacement therapy does not decrease the risk of dementia or mild mental impairment in older postmenopausal women, and may even increase the risk of cognitive decline in women. That's the latest finding from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, which appears in the June 23/30 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. The research supports initial data from WHIMS, reported last spring, which showed that estrogen plus progestin increased the risk of dementia in women aged 65 and older, and did not prevent memory loss.
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The Best Antioxidant Sources: In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a list of the best sources of food antioxidants. Beans, fruits, potatoes and pecans topped the list, which evaluated antioxidant levels in over 100 commonly-eaten foods. The study confirmed that foods such as cranberries, blueberries, red kidney beans, pinto beans, cooked artichokes, apples and spices such as cinnamon and ground cloves contain high amounts of the disease-fighting compounds. Antioxidants are thought to fight the onset of cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Previous studies have also found high antioxidant levels in dark green vegetables (like kale and chard), deep orange fruits and vegetables (like apricots, carrots and squash) and cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts).

Chest Pain? Don't Delay Calling 911: New recommendations urge everyone who experiences worsening chest pain over five minutes to call 911, particularly if they feel short of breath, weak or lightheaded. These are the warning signs of a heart attack, notes the report from the June 15 issue of The Journal of the American Heart Association, and the faster patients are treated, the more likely they are to survive without lingering complications. Other symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain radiating into the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, and excessive sweating.

Milk and Calcium Lower Colon Cancer Risk: Higher milk and calcium consumption may reduce the odds of developing colorectal cancer, according to an analysis of 10 studies published July 7 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The studies, which involved more than 534,000 individuals, found that the risk of cancers of the colon and rectum decreased with increasing milk consumption. Compared with the lowest category of milk intake, the highest intake was associated with 15 percent reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer. A higher calcium intake also significantly reduced the risk of colorectal cancer, for both men and women. In related news, a study published June 16 in the same journal found that daily calcium intake above 1200mg protects against colon polyps, particularly the advanced type that go on to become cancer.

Good News for Chocolate Lovers: Small daily doses of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves blood flow in healthy people, according to new research by scientists at UC San Francisco. The study, published in June's Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that small doses of dark chocolate consumed daily over a two-week period had positive effects on blood vessels' ability to expand. This level of chocolate intake did not increase blood cholesterol levels in the study participants.

Layoffs Linked to Higher Stroke Risk: Losing a job is always tough, but for people nearing retirement age, it may also be harmful to their health. A report from May's American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that people who lost a job close to retirement age were more than twice as likely to have a stroke as people of the same age who had not lost a job. Previous studies by the same team of Yale researchers have found links between job loss and a decline in physical function and an increase in symptoms of depression, as well as development of depression in a spouse.

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