MATURE MARKET HEADLINES updated 8/19/99
Religious Attendance Fosters Longevity
Older people are "closer" to death than are younger people. Right? Wrong. A new study suggests that "chronological age" alone is not the best indicator of longevity. For some elders, the event of death has been postponed. How? Religious attendance. That's right. Going to church fosters the types of health-enhancing behavior which helps elders live longer. According to a study published in the July 1999 issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, elders, especially women, who attend religious services at least once a week, seem to have a better chance at longevity than those who don't.
"The risk of dying for frequent attenders was 46 percent lower than for
those attending services less often," notes Dr. Harold G. Koenig of Duke
University Medical Center and the primary researcher in the 6-year study.
Even after adjusting for demographic factors, physical and mental health
conditions, social connections, and health practices those who attended
religious services once a week or more had a better chance of survival.
The study examined the relationship between religious attendance in 1986 and a 6-year survival in a cohort of 3,968 elderly persons living in the
Piedmont region of North Carolina. The study was part of the Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly program of the National Institutes of Health.
The participants were between 65 and 74 years. Analyses revealed that religious attendance did impact on their health and longevity. "There are number of psychosocial and behavioral pathways by which involvement in a religious community could affect health," Dr. Koenig and his colleagues pointed out.
First, frequent attenders have a larger social networks and experience greater support when compared to infrequent attenders. Greater social support may also have direct effects on the immune system to fend of disease and facilitate recovery. Second, frequent religious attendance may foster attitudes of compliance and care for the
physical body. Third, religious attendance is related to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. Fourth, as was shown in this study, religious involvement is associated with avoidance of smoking.
Hmmm. What an interesting study. It really got me thinking. Given the fact that the nation's 76 million boomers will try darn near anything to prevent, reverse, or delay aging ... you have to ask yourself, "Will the boomers cause a boom in church attendance?" Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? See you on the Sabbath.
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
Eldercare Trend: "Nearer My God To Thee"
Longevity Fostered by Faith and Friendship
Religion Enhances Mom-Daughter Ties
Religion Offers Comfort & Solace to Elders
Religious Are More Faithful to Ways of Wellness
Elder, Boomer, & GenX Views on God
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Germany's Huge Elder Market Ignored by Media
More than 20 percent of the people in Germany are now older than 60 years of age. By year 2030 one-in-three citizens will be older than age 60. One might think that Germany's market place would be swinging into high gear when it comes to targeting the needs of this huge elder market. But that's not the case at all.
Observers say that even though German society is steadily getting older, the electronic media seems to overlook and ignore this growing older population. As a case in point, although the number of elderly listeners and viewers has increased considerably, neither those who produce television and radio broadcasts nor media research or the advertising industry have taken sufficient notice of this hugh elder market.
Why do radio and television broadcasting stations hardly respond to this demographic trend? Do we need more special broadcasts which satisfy the need for information and entertainment among the elderly? How do other countries deal with the effects of the demographic trend? What do European and non-European radio and television stations have to offer the target group "Elderly People"? What images of elderly people are conveyed? How are elderly people represented in the media? These are just a sampling of the questions to be addressed at an upcoming conference that will examine the media's relationship to the growing older population.
The conference, titled "Ignored and overlooked" is scheduled for October 25-29, 1999 in Cologne. The conference is part of the International Year of the Older Person program. Those interested in receiving a conference brochure detailing the seminars, workshops, and other events may contact the address below. Conference presentations will be simultaneously translated in German, English, and French.
CONTACT
Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe
Department for Public Relations
An der Pauluskirche 3,
D-50677 Köln
Phone 0049/221/931847-0, Fax 0049/221/931847-6
E-Mail: publicrelations@kda.de
The conference is a joint effort of Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe (KDA) (German Foundation for the Care of Elderly People) in cooperation with the Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, the Ministry for Women, Youth, Family Affairs and Health of the State of North-Rhine/Westphalia and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)(West German Broadcasting Corporation).
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
Older Women's Market Is Sleeping Giant
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TV's Family Hour Not Fit For Grandkids
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Young Lawyers Court Mature Market
ODS Goes Grey and Global with Active Aging
Gerontrepreneurs: Form & Figure Media Inc
Profiles of Gerontrepreneurs: meeting the needs of elders
Calculate Your Age in Neo-Years
Age-Audit Your Business with SMART
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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MRI Heart Scan All-In-One Diagnostic Tool?
With heart attack or stroke, time is the essence. Fast treatment can save lives or prevent damage that leaves patients seriously debilitated. But, before treatment can begin, doctors must diagnose the problem. Despite a variety of tests, many patients cannot be diagnosed quickly enough. Of patients coming to a hospital emergency department with a heart attack, only 40 percent are immediately diagnosed.
In order to speed diagnosis, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland are evaluating whether advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology will improve the emergency diagnosis of heart attack and stroke, ultimately saving patients' lives.
MRI works by detecting radio signals from water in the body. It's effective because the human body is composed mostly of water. The radio signals are processed by a computer, producing a multi-dimensional image of a body's organ. Critical information from the heart scan begins to appear within as little as two minutes, and the entire scan concludes in 20-60 minutes, depending on the types of information needed.
During the evaluation study, MRI will be used on the following three types of cardiac patients.
- Those with a definite heart attack
will receive stabilizing therapies before the MRI evaluation.
- Those without a definite explanation for chest pain
will undergo an MRI to identify their condition.
- Those with milder chest pain, possibly angina
will have an MRI and a traditional clinical evaluation.
Ultimately, the new MRI could become a standard diagnostic procedure for emergency departments around the country. Although still relatively expensive, MRI could prove cost-effective for hospitals by providing an all-in-one diagnostic tool for heart attack.
The new MRI was developed by NIH under a cooperative agreement with General Electric (GE) Medical Systems. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. About 1.1 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year.
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
New One-Minute Heart Attack Test
Cholesterol Drug Lowers Heart Disease Risk
Gene Therapy Used to Treat Heart Disease
New Blood Test Predicts Heart Attack Risk
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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AARP Survey Dispels Age-related Sex Myths
Is it possible to have sex after 55? Yes, but it's safer if you pull the car over to the side of the road. That's the spirit of the latest issue of a magazine that's about to hit the news stands. Playboy? Nope. Penthouse? Wrong again. Are you ready? The latest issue of ... Modern Maturity ... the official magazine of ... the American Association of Retired Persons ... is devoted to dispelling common myths about sex.
For the first time, AARP's Modern Maturity magazine (Sept/Oct 1999) has devoted virtually an entire issue to sex and relationships. The goal, according to Editor-in-Chief Hugh Delehanty was "to examine the basic myths that are floating around society. The first is that people 45+ aren't having sex or that, thanks to pharmacological treatments, people 45+ are having lots of sex."
The results of the AARP Modern Maturity survey debunk popular myths. For example, contrary to popular opinion, newly available drugs have not greatly enhanced the sex lives of older Americans. Despite media hype, few of those with self-reported problems are taking these new drugs. Among men, 33% reported having sex once a week or more after using the drug or treatment, compared to 25% reporting that same frequency of sexual intercourse before treatment. The difference was less for women.
Another common myth is that people find each other less physically attractive over time. According to the AARP survey, people find their partners more physically attractive over time. Six-in-10 men aged 45-59 (59%) gave their partners the highest possible ratings for being "physically attractive". As for women, 52% in their 40s and 50s gave their partners the highest possible rating as "physically attractive," and 57% of those age 75 and over gave the same response.
"What we found out with this study is that yes, there is a sex life after 45 and that the graying of the boomer generation is having an enormous impact on how society thinks, feels and acts in the bedroom," said Delehanty.
Hmmm, makes me wonder just how the nation's boomers are changing the way America thinks about sex. As a case in point, the AARP study found that a generation gap exists, especially among women in sexual attitudes between those who came of age during the 1960s and their parents. For example, only 36% of women aged 45-59 think that "people should not have a sexual relationship if they are not married," whereas 66% of women aged 75 and older believe it is taboo. No wonder the country's morals are in the shape they're in. The boomers may have gotten older, but whether they've matured is altogether another question. Maybe AARP can do another survey about the confusion between age and maturity.
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
Study Says Sex is rated "R" for "Retirement"
Elder Sexuality Keeps Going and Going and Going
Depression May Lower Sex Hormone Levels
Husband Says Home Chores Lead to Sex
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Senior Law Center Calls for Medicare Reform
The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC), which represents low-income older people and people with disabilities, is calling for reform to the Medicare appeals process. “The Medicare Appeals Act of 1999 addresses two significant issues that are part of the larger, systemic problem with the current Medicare appeals mechanism,” said Vicki Gottlich, attorney with the National Senior Citizens Law Center.
“First, it establishes set time frames for all stages of the Medicare fee-for-service appeals procedure through the administrative law judge and Departmental Appeals Board levels. Second, the bill for the first time gives patients an avenue for seeking review of Medicare national coverage determinations.”
Currently, there are no time frames for appeal of denials of claims for hospital and other services under Medicare Part A or for denials of claims for doctors visits, durable medical equipment and other supplies under Medicare Part B.
Beneficiaries can wait months for decisions from the HCFA contractors that review claims, and even years for ALJ hearings and decisions. The Medicare Patient Appeals Act helps by providing a mechanism for all beneficiaries, both those in traditional Medicare and those in Medicare+Choice plans, to get HCFA to issue a national coverage determination (NSC).
“Beneficiaries need an expeditious way to challenge HCFA’s coverage decisions so they can receive the medically necessary treatment they need,” Gottlich said. “The Medicare Appeals Act moves us in the right direction.”
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
Medicare Strangled by Government's Red Tape
Govt Medicare Bureaucracy Outta Control
Medicare's MSA Risky Business for Seniors
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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Cholesterol Counts for America's Heart Health
"Keep the Beat: Cholesterol Counts for Everyone." That's the theme for National Cholesterol Education Month in September. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) urges all Americans to remember that controlling cholesterol helps keep hearts healthy.
"Watching your cholesterol should be part of everyone's health routine, even for young adults and older Americans," said NHLBI Director Dr. Claude Lenfant. "It's especially important for those with coronary heart disease." High cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading killer of Americans.
The buildup of cholesterol in arteries begins early in life. Research shows that young adults with the lowest cholesterol levels will live longer than those with higher cholesterol levels. In fact, the cholesterol level of a 22-year-old predicts the risk for heart attack over the next 40 years.
The steps to control one's cholesterol include eating a healthy diet lower in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol; being physically active; maintaining a healthy weight; and, if necessary, taking medication. To help Americans take these steps, a special Web site offers easy-to-understand information about the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol.
The web site, which premiers with its new features on September 1, is located on the Internet at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/. Information about cholesterol, including heart-healthy recipes, also is available by contacting the NHLBI Information Center at P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105. The telephone is(301) 592-8573.
See related articles in the AgeVenture archives.
Psychosomatic Study Says Meditation Lowers Blood Pressure
Scientists Test New Self-Cleaning Blood Vessel
Diet & Lifestyle May Lower Blood Pressure
AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com
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