MATURE MARKET HEADLINES POSTED 05/21/98
ACE Human Performance Gene Discovered
Alas, peak performance may all be in the genes. But don't tear-up that health club membership yet. While the evidence of a peak performance gene is intriguing, the scientists who discovered it say "the jury is still out". The specific genetic factor correlated with human physical performance is described in the current issue of Nature, page 221, by Hugh Montgomery of University College, London, UK, and colleagues.
The researchers have been looking at natural variants (or "alleles") of the gene for an enzyme called "Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme", or ACE, for short. ACE is involved in the regulation of blood pressure, but there is some evidence that it also associated with development of skeletal muscle. Development of muscle would obviously lead to greater strength and endurance. Montgomery and company found evidence to suggest that the so-called "I allele" of the ACE gene is associated with physical endurance.
Every person carries two alleles of most genes. In the case of the ACE gene under study, one might have a pair of "D alleles" or a pair of "I genes". If you carry a pair of D's or a pair of I's, you are considered to be "homozygous". On the other hand, if you carry an allele of each type, you are considered to be "heterozygous". Which is better? Well, it looks like the I's have it.
The researchers found that the "I allele" was far more strongly represented among mountaineers with a record of ascent beyond 7,000 meters without oxygen than among the general population. Indeed, none of a study group of 15 climbers who had ascended beyond 8,000 meters without oxygen were homozygous for the "D allele". Six were homozygous for "I allele", the rest were heterozygotes. In a separate experiment, the researchers found that the "I allele" was associated with a positive response to certain kinds of physical exercise.
The investigators believe that these results, while intriguing, still require further work to determine whether this correlation holds true beyond the limited groups already studied. They also hope to determine whether or not it's best to have both "I alleles" for an ACE performance, or if just one is sufficient. Here's the point. While we're waiting for further results, don't give up your health regime.
An AgeVenture meta-analysis of longevity studies found that existing research still suggests that seventy-five percent of the factors that determine the status of one's health and wellness are clearly attributed to one's lifestyle. That still leaves twenty-five percent attributed to genetic inheritance, by AgeVenture estimates. But the strength of genetic influence is still quite dramatic.
Finally, even if you don't have great genes, there's always genetic-engineering. While that's a scary prospect for many, like it or not, it's an area of research that is starting to dominate science.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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NCOA Secures Seniors' Sense of Security
Older adults report being concerned about security, while at home and out on the town. However, no one seems to worry more about the aged than their adult children, according to a study by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) in conjunction with Ameritech Corporation and the Seniors Research Group. NCOA's national survey of 800 older adults and their grown children reported that while 54% of the elderly are concerned about their own security, over 80% of their grown children are concerned about their parents' safety and security.
While a third of respondents said they needed more security, most perceived the need was greatest when they're away from home. However, according to the U.S. Department of Justice statistics, while older people aren't as high a crime risk as other groups, they are twice as likely as younger victims to be attacked or robbed at or near their home.
How are the elderly protecting themselves? The study showed that elders depend on the typical security measures such as door locks, window locks, and outdoor lighting. About 22% have a home security system and 85% have a smoke detector. What would older adults do to feel more safe and secure? About 40% of respondents said they would buy a cellular phone, reflecting the perception that more security is needed away from home.
More outdoor lighting and a home security system ranked high at 39% and 37%, respectively. Just over a third of respondents would choose a personal emergency response device, a portable wireless button that, when pushed, alerts police or medical personnel. "The study tells us that seniors and their adult children need to talk about safety and security", says James Firman, president of NCOA. Ameritech and NCOA recommend that the security conservation focus on the following issues.
SECURITY AT HOME
1. install deadbolts on doors leading outside.
2. secure sliding glass doors with pins to prevent horizontal and vertical movement.
3. fix broken door locks, windows, and lock mechanisms.
4. be sure to lock all doors and windows.
5. checkout visitors through a peephole, not an open door.
6. keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
7. replace all exterior locks when relocating into a new residence.
SECURITY AWAY FROM HOME
1. avoid traveling alone.
2. keep to well-lit areas.
3. walk with confidence, in a direct and steady pace.
4. walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic.
5. if followed, proceed immediately to a lighted, populated area.
Source: Jennifer Quasdorf, NCOA, Washington, DC.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Boomers Drive Adventure Travel Trend
The most recent explosion in the travel industry may have been ignited by aging baby boomers who still want to kick up their heels. Adventure vacations for persons over 50 years old are one of the fastest-growing areas of the travel industry, according to Purdue University travel expert Alastair Morrison.
"We are seeing a large number of 'younger-older people' in the travel market who are choosing to go on adventure vacations," says Morrison, professor of tourism management. "When they go on vacation they don't want to be passive; they want to do something." He says these aging boomers also want a high-quality experience and have the discretionary income to support their demands.
The Canadian Tourism Commission reports that the typical foreigner visiting that country for adventure travel is a male over the age of 45, who travels with a companion. Don't think that you must scale the Alps or bungee jump in order to take on an adventure vacation. Morrison says active vacations come in all shapes and sizes from the "soft" to the "hard."
"What people are looking for is a special environment with a range of activities," he says. Many adventure vacations include elements of another trend in travel, eco-tourism. Adventurers may choose to visit a rain forest, go birding or hike to Incan ruins. These vacations are seen as environmentally friendly, because they emphasize activities rather than facilities. "Adventure travelers feel more helpful and less intrusive on locals. They tend to need only smaller-scale facilities such as lodges or tents," Morrison says.
Because of the growth in active vacations, companies are packaging adventures to make them easier. Companies organize adventures for every interest and itinerary. You choose the package and they make all the arrangements. They'll even cook your food and carry your equipment. Source: Alastair Morrison, Purdue University News Service.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Volunteerism Boosts Energy and Esteem
Volunteering boosts self-esteem and energy and gives Americans a sense of mastery
over their lives, particularly in later midlife, says Professor Phyllis Moen, a Cornell University researcher. Moen reported her findings at a Cornell forum that examined how life-course factors affect volunteering.
Moen pointed out that "we become what we do -- volunteering gives us a sense of ourselves as engaged in meaningful, productive activities that help change the world and a wider view of our possibilities, which benefit our psychological well-being."
"Community commitments, especially formal participation, help enhance our sense of identity, promote on-going networks of social relationships and foster expectations of what to do when we wake up in the morning, much like paid work." Moen's findings include the following.
1) Employees age 30 to 60, describe themselves as spending about 8 percent of their time volunteering and 13 percent in leisure.
2) Volunteerism is particularly beneficial to men, urbanites, those with less income, and in poor health,
and retirees who don't work.
3) For those between 35 and 54 years of age, men spend almost 6 hours weekly compared with 4.5 hours for women. That is because many men between these ages participate in community service to enhance their careers while women are spending more time raising their families, Moen explained.
Moen is the director of the Cornell Retirement and Well-Being Study of a random sample of 762 men
and women, between ages 50 and 72, that examines the retirement transition. It is funded as part of
the Cornell Applied Gerontology Research Institute by the National Institute on Aging.
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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