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Study: Alzheimer's marker affects mental function in healthy adults

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Study: Alzheimer's marker affects mental function in healthy adults

02/03/12

A study recently published in the online issue of Neurology revealed that high levels of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain may affect the performance of the brain even in healthy adults.

Beta-amyloid is a protein commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease that can be harmful to a person's brain. The study researched 137 people between the ages of 30 and 89 who were very educated and showed no signs of dementia. Participants underwent brain scans and were tested for the APOE gene, which was previously linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's.

"In our study, we observed that even in adults with apparently good cognitive health, increasing amounts of beta-amyloid in the brain are related to subtle changes in memory and mental function," said study author Denise Park of the Center for Vital Longevity at the University of Texas at Dallas.

The study found that the amount of beta-amyloid discovered in the participants' brains increased with age and close to 20 percent of adults who were 60 and older had higher levels of the protein.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 5.4 million people have the disease, which might encourage some to secure life insurance in order to pay for future medical expenses.

Americans benefit from cervical cancer app

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:08 -0800

Americans benefit from cervical cancer app

02/03/12

A new Facebook application is bringing attention to cervical cancer awareness by showing users possible ways to avoid it by screening and vaccination.

The application is a part of the Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky Initiative's "Cause the Movement" campaign, which was recently started to help educate those who want to know their status and assist them to prevent the disease from developing.

Dr. Baretta Casey, the director of the initiative, which is based at the University of Kentucky, said the campaign is meant to get the message out to individuals through an outlet they are guaranteed to visit, such as Facebook and Twitter.

The Facebook application can be found at CauseTheMovement.org and includes pictures of users' Facebook friends in an educational video about cervical cancer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines that protect against cervical cancer, but other vaccines are currently being researched to assist in treating other forms of cancer.

"Right now, this is the only vaccine on the market that can prevent a cancer," said Casey. "If we had a vaccine that could prevent breast cancer, or prostate cancer for that matter, I truly believe that people would be lined up saying, 'Where's my vaccine?'"

According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be 12,170 new cases of cervical cancer this year, which might encourage Americans to secure life insurance to prepare for unexpected healthcare costs.

Study: Culture affects retirement plans

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:10 -0800

Study: Culture affects retirement plans

02/03/12

According to a recently released study from ING Retirement Research Institute, cultural influence might have a significant effect on retirement plans.

The study examined the attitudes, behaviors and preparedness of various ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics, in reference to their future retirement.

The study, "Retirement Revealed," showed that all of the ethnic groups considered retirement planning to be a stressful task, but Hispanics were revealed to be the least prepared for retirement, with 54 percent saying they feel "not very" or "not at all" prepared.

Fifty-percent of African-Americans reported feeling unprepared, while 48 percent of white and 44 percent of Asian respondents shared the sentiment.

“All Americans face the growing responsibility of planning and saving for retirement," Maliz Beams, CEO of ING U.S. Retirement, said. "However, there are distinct cultural differences that may affect some groups more than others when it comes to getting or staying on the right path. As a leading retirement provider at the workplace and in the retail market, our mission is to help individuals retire with the dignity and financial security they deserve."

With Americans retiring at an older age now, they should consider investing in annuities or life insurance to prepare.

Study sheds new light on diabetes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:09 -0800

Study sheds new light on diabetes

02/03/12

A recent study from The Endocrine Society reveals that exercise in low-oxygen environments could result in improved insulin sensitivity.

This could be promising news for diabetics as intermittent exercise may be directly related to an improvement in blood glucose control, which can improve their condition. The study has been accepted for published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

"Current guidelines suggest that health benefits can be gained when patients with type 2 diabetes spend 30 minutes exercising each day, but published data has failed to show intermittent exercise to be effective," said Richard Mackenzie, lead author of the study. "Here we have shown that intermittent exercise seems to improve the glucose profiles of type 2 diabetics with a greater positive effect when intermittent exercise is combined with mild hypoxia, similar to doing the exercise at altitudes of 2,500 meters."

Diabetes affects individuals of all ages, but susceptibility to the disease increases as an individual grows older. In fact, various health-related ailments have a stronger chance of occurring late in life, which is why young adults will want to snatch up a life insurance policy while they are still in relatively good health and rates are low.

New study released on post-menopausal women and health risks

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:09 -0800

New study released on post-menopausal women and health risks

02/02/12

A new study shows that post-menopausal women who take indigestion drugs have a greater chance of experiencing a hip fracture.

Published by the British Medical Journal, the study showed that post-menopausal females are 35 percent more likely to suffer a hip fracture if they take proton pump inhibitors, and that number increases to 50 percent if they are also current or former smokers.

"PPIs are one of the most common medicines used worldwide and are often used to treat heartburn and acid reflex," the report from the BMJ states. "They can, however, inhibit the absorption of calcium, which leads to the increased risk of fractures."

Health complications can arise in post-menopausal women, which is why they should already have the appropriate healthcare coverage or health insurance policy in place as well as a life insurance policy if they have dependents or loved ones that rely on their financial contributions. Comparing life insurance quotes online is a useful way to locate a policy at an attractive rate.

Series of reports released on pain and the elderly

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:08 -0800

Series of reports released on pain and the elderly

02/02/12

The two most recent entries in The Gerontological Society of America's From Publication to Practice series focused on the pain suffered by senior citizens and how to remedy it.

The series addresses new labeling changes for acetaminophen, one of the most-used pain medications, as well as pain management techniques and improving the quality of life for the elderly.

“Taken together, these two new resources will enable the gerontological community to identify opportunities to improve pain management services,” said Cathy Alessi, the 2011 chair of GSA’s Health Sciences Section. “Research indicates that severe pain in older adults leads to a decreased quality of life, including both satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life.”

Treating pain in senior citizens is important not only for their quality of life but also for longevity and reducing the risk of further health-related issues. It is recommended that young adults invest in a life insurance policy as early as possible in order to bring in the most competitive rates for coverage, because those quotes can get higher as they get older and contract further medical issues.

Money invested in glaucoma treatment

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Money invested in glaucoma treatment

02/01/12

In efforts to find a more effective treatment for glaucoma, the National Institutes of Health recently gave a $1.85 million grant to a University of Houston vision scientist to determine if his techniques in understanding the disease, which affects vision, should be more widely adopted.

The NIH hopes Jason Porter, an assistant professor of vision science and biomedical engineering, can innovate a way to diagnose glaucoma earlier, ultimately leading to reduced cases of the disease.

Porter uses state-of-the-art equipment that takes a sharper and higher-resolution image of the eye than typical clinical instruments.

"Even when wearing glasses or contact lenses, our eyes still have subtle optical imperfections, and these imperfections limit the ability of current clinical instruments to obtain high-resolution images in the eye on a cellular-level," Porter said. "The AOSLO uses a technology called adaptive optics to correct for these subtle imperfections, thereby improving the eye's optical quality and allowing our instrument to capture sharp images of single cells in living eyes. This could potentially lead to more sensitive imaging techniques that may better clarify the causes of glaucoma."

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma can cause blindness if left untreated and is the leading cause of blindness. With no cure developed yet, Americans should consider a life insurance policy or annuity that could help fund future healthcare costs.

Retirees with back problems face financial issues

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:08 -0800

Retirees with back problems face financial issues

02/01/12

A study by Australian researchers that was published in the January issue of Pain showed that people who retire early because of back problems may experience difficulty meeting financial challenges in the future.

According to the study, retirement limits the immediate income available to early retirees because of health problems in addition to reducing their financial capacity in the future by damaging their ability to save money.

"Relative to those who retired early due to other health problems, there are more than twice as many people who have retired early due to back problems who are estimated to have no savings by the time they reach the traditional retirement age of 65," according to lead researcher Professor Deborah Schofield. "For most of the age and sex groups analyzed, even those who reported back pain and were working full time accumulated less wealth than full-time workers who suffered no chronic health conditions."

Researchers based their study on "Health&WealthMOD," which is a simulation model used to measure the economic impacts of bad health on Australian workers aged 45 to 64.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 85 percent of Americans experience back problems in their lifetime. With the number of Americans reporting back problems being so high and finances being an issue for those who are forced to retire, investing in an annuity might be a great source of income in the future.

Drug approved to treat cystic fibrosis

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Drug approved to treat cystic fibrosis

01/31/12

A drug was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a rare form of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affect the lungs and other organs and leads to early death in most cases. The new drug, Kalydeco, which was approved in three months under the FDA's priority review program, may cause significant changes to the disease's treatment.

“Kalydeco is an excellent example of the promise of personalized medicine - targeted drugs that treat patients with a specific genetic makeup,” FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg said. “The unique and mutually beneficial partnership that led to the approval of Kalydeco serves as a great model for what companies and patient groups can achieve if they collaborate on drug development.”

Cystic fibrosis is caused by defects in a gene that encodes protein called CTFR, regulating ion and water transport in the body. Kalydeco improves the function of the protein related to CTFR.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have the disease. Americans who are conscious of the risks of this disease might look to life insurance.

Study shows steroid may be beneficial to arthritis patients

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Study shows steroid may be beneficial to arthritis patients

01/31/12

Recent research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy showed steroids can prevent protein changes in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers from Sweden, the United States and the Netherlands collaborated to look at the levels of citrullinated proteins in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis and found that higher levels were found in the knees of people with the ailment.

"Our work has been able to establish for the first time that different treatments have different effects on protein citrullination, an important process in the progression of RA," said Dr. Anca Catrina, lead researcher from the Karolinska Institute and University Hospital.

Treatment with methotrexate, which is an anti-rheumatic drug used to treat RA, had no effect on the levels of citrullinated proteins, but a single injection of the steroid glucocorticoid was able to reduce the level of protein citrullination and the enzyme PAD4, shown by a decrease in visible signs of inflammation.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 46 million Americans show signs of arthritis, which is the second leading cause of work disability. Americans looking to prepare for their future and unexpected healthcare costs should look to invest in life insurance as well as annuities, which can be a source of funds for medical costs incurred later in life.

New technology to benefit Parkinson's research

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:08 -0800

New technology to benefit Parkinson's research

01/31/12

New technology from the University of Bonn in Germany is allowing researchers to observe the development of the brain cells responsible for Parkinson's disease.

The new tissue slicing method will be demonstrated in the Journal of Visualized Experiments, the world's only peer-reviewed science video jounal. It will allow scientists to observe the development of the brain cells for the first time.

"Little is known about the behavior of these neurons during their differentiation and migration phase," said Dr. Sandra Blaess, author of the article. "And with this technique, we can really observe how these cells behave during development."

The new technique will also make these cells susceptible to genetic manipulation, and with more information available on how they develop and function, additional treatment options could be developed.

Parkinson's disease affects individuals of all ages but senior citizens are especially susceptible. Seniors who are prone to medical issues and other negative health factors are encouraged to have a life insurance policy in place to protect their loved ones financially.

Changes made to vets' life insurance program

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:00:07 -0800

Changes made to vets' life insurance program

01/31/12

New changes made to the Veterans Group Life Insurance program may benefit members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, according to a new report from the group.

Eligible former service members who are covered under VGLI may have the ability to increase their coverage limit to the current maximum amount under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

"Veterans can increase their coverage by $25,000 at each five-year anniversary date of their policy to the current legislated maximum SGLI coverage, which is currently$400,000," Paralyzed Veterans of America states. "The VGLI program allows newly discharged veterans to convert the SGLI coverage they had while in the service to a civilian program."

For regular consumers who are not eligible for these life insurance benefits, there are a number of other affordable life insurance options available. Consumers may also want to consider investing in an annuity in order to fund retirement and other future costs. It is recommended one consult a licensed financial professional before investing in an annuity of any kind.

Stop Diabetes campaign kicked off

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:11 -0800

Stop Diabetes campaign kicked off

01/31/12

The National Basketball Association, Women's National Basketball Association and NBA Developmental League recently kicked off the second year of the Dribble to Stop Diabetes campaign in association with the American Diabetes Association.

The campaign is designed to encourage basketball fans to live healthy lifestyles and raise awareness about diabetes prevention so Americans can avoid the disease.

“As a professional basketball player and a father, I know how important it is to take care of your health,” said Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls forward. “Living a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a proper diet and getting regular exercise, is important for those at risk of developing diabetes and those who already have it. Dribble to Stop Diabetes will continue to raise awareness about the disease and will provide fans with important information to help themselves and their families.”

The event recently tipped off on January 25 with the annual NBA FIT Live Healthy Week. Fans will be able to receive material on healthy living in NBA, WNBA and NBA D-League arenas every night.

While healthy living is a crucial part of avoiding medical issues throughout a lifetime, there are no guarantees, which is why obtaining life insurance is so important. With the number of Americans diagnosed with diabetes recently coming close to 26 million, according to the American Diabetes Association, having a policy in place is a necessity.

Checking blood pressure in both arms possibly saving lives

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:09 -0800

Checking blood pressure in both arms possibly saving lives

01/31/12

Researchers at the University of Exeter Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry recently did a systematic review that led to the discovery that difference in systolic blood pressure between arms could indicate the risks of dying from vascular causes.

The recent findings add to the notion that both arms should be tested during blood pressure checks as standard procedure, as opposed to just one.

Researchers reviewed 28 papers covering the difference in systolic blood pressure between arms and found evidence that a difference of 15 mm Hg or more could be associated with an increased risk of peripheral vascular disease, pre-existing cerebrovascular disease and mortality.

"We set out to investigate whether there was an association between differences in systolic blood pressure between arms and vascular disease and mortality," said Dr. Christopher Clark, clinical academic fellow at PCMD and study leader. "Our findings indicate a strong association, and that differences of 10mm Hg or 15mm Hg or more might help to identify patients who are at risk and who need further vascular assessment."

With cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, Americans should look to secure a life insurance policy in order to prepare for an uncertain future.

Diabetes drug could lower pancreatic cancer risks

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:08 -0800

Diabetes drug could lower pancreatic cancer risks

01/31/12

According to a recent study conducted by Dr. Christoph Meier of the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland and his colleagues, taking a diabetes drug could lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The researchers looked at a database of more than 8 million people in the United Kingdom, including 2,800 who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 1995 and 2009. Researchers found that women taking the diabetes drug metformin were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than males.

"While these could be associations, we cannot really say that what we have here is a cause-and-effect," Dr. Michael Choti, professor of surgery and oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, said to HealthDay. "Pancreatic cancer is a multi-factorial disease. So, while it makes sense conceptually that these drugs could have an impact on the pancreas, which is a metabolic organ, it's still too early to be sure what's happening."

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 44,030 Americans die from pancreatic cancer every year, which might encourage those who are preparing for the future to secure a life insurance policy.

Musical training could prevent hearing loss

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:07 -0800

Musical training could prevent hearing loss

01/31/12

Americans who believe hearing loss is an inevitable result of aging might be interested in a recent study from Northwestern University that reported musical training could prevent hearing loss.

Northwestern's study is the first to provide evidence of musical training preventing hearing loss as people age. The Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory discovered older musicians had a distinct neural timing advantage over those that didn't receive any musical training.

“The older musicians not only outperformed their older non-musician counterparts, they encoded the sound stimuli as quickly and accurately as the younger non-musicians,” said Nina Kraus, Northwestern neuroscientist. “This reinforces the idea that how we actively experience sound over the course of our lives has a profound effect on how our nervous system functions.”

Previous studies conducted by the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory showed musical training might also offset losses in memory and trouble hearing speech in noise.

Krause stated that the study is not definitive proof that musical training has a positive effect on hearing and suggested that some musicians show positive results in hearing tests while others may not.

According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins, nearly a fifth of all Americans 12 or older have hearing loss that may make communication difficult. With a cure-all treatment of hearing loss still undiscovered, Americans might look to annuities to help with financial losses if a condition is diagnosed in the future.

February is American Heart Month

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:10 -0800

February is American Heart Month

01/30/12

The National Stroke Association is spreading the word that February is American Heart Month, and individuals all over the world should educate themselves on risk factors and other relevant information concerning various heart-related diseases and conditions.

Allsup, a nationwide Social Security Disability Insurance representation company is also promoting the cause as it works with thousands of stroke and heart attack survivors every year, and recognizes the importance of raising awareness. In particular, the organization wants to get the word out about risk factors such as atrial fibrillation, or Afib, which is irregular beating of the heart.

“The link between Afib and stroke is too serious to be ignored by patients who can be effectively treated to prevent a future stroke,” said Jim Baranski, CEO, National Stroke Association. “We want people to be empowered with the knowledge they need to take charge of their health. That’s why National Stroke Association is proud to partner with Allsup in a shared dedication to educating the at-risk general public and stroke survivors about Afib and other stroke risk factors that can be controlled.”

Although heart attack, stroke and other heart-related conditions have a greater chance of occurring later in an individual's life, it is strongly encouraged one already have a life insurance policy in place before reaching old age. Comparing life insurance quotes as a young adult will typically yield lower rates than those offered later in life.

New study correlates risk factors, major CVD events over lifetime

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:10 -0800

New study correlates risk factors, major CVD events over lifetime

01/30/12

A paper that was published in the January 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that heightened risk factors, such as high blood pressure, can contribute to major cardiovascular disease events over a person's lifetime.

In what has become one of the largest-ever analyses of lifetime risk factors for cardiovascular disease, researchers discovered that middle-aged adults who have one or more elevated traditional risk factors for the disorder have a stronger chance of experiencing a major CVD event than those with optimal levels of risk factors.

"This paper adds to the substantial body of evidence that modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy men and women heavily influence the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, regardless of their backgrounds," said Susan Shurin, acting director of the National Institutes of Health's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Cardiovascular disease risk increases as an individual gets older, which is why everyone should have the proper financial protection in place in terms of health and life coverage as they age. Comparing life insurance quotes online is a smart way to locate quality policies at competitive rates.

Americans planning for retirement early

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Americans planning for retirement early

01/30/12

Young workers are beginning to plan for their retirements after seeing the struggles of their parents, many of whom have been forced to work longer because of a stagnant economy.

Americans in their 20s aren't expecting to receive Social Security or traditional corporate pensions to fund retirement, CNBC recently reported. After some witnessed their parents' lack of preparation for retirement, younger Americans are making sure they are ready for retirement in ways their parents didn't consider. Still, many are struggling to know what the best planning strategies are.

“It’s intimidating," Elena Nikolova, a 23-year-old associate for an energy consultant group in Washington, D.C., said to CNBC. "First of all, I don’t know what to invest in, and I’m not even sure this money is going to grow. I feel like I need to hire somebody to do it for me, which defeats the whole purpose.”

Young workers are seeking out other investment options besides 401(k) plans,opting for saving money in individual retirement accounts through local banks, the source reported.

According to statistics from the office of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, which might be an issue, considering an alarming number aren't prepared for retirement. Forward-thinking young adults would do well to consider annuities and life insurance as they plan for the future, as annuities offer a stable investment option for retirement income and life insurance rates are often most affordable for younger policyholders.

Adults who continue to drink milk could be benefiting their brain, study finds

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:09 -0800

Adults who continue to drink milk could be benefiting their brain, study finds

01/30/12

The results of a new study published in the International Dairy Journal reveal that drinking a glass of milk every day could benefit an individual's brain.

Researchers discovered that adults with higher intakes of milk and milk-related products scored substantially higher on memory tests as well as other brain function tests as opposed to those who drank little to no milk.

"Researchers at the University of Maine put more than 900 men and women ages 23 to 98 through a series of brain tests – including visual-spatial, verbal and working memory tests – and tracked the milk consumption habits of the participants," stated a release from Weber Shandwick Worldwide.

Milk has well-established benefits for young children and their growing bones, which need the appropriate amount of calcium, but these new findings could provide greater incentive for individuals to continue drinking milk late in life. Health benefits like this can increase longevity, but health complications can still strike at any time, which is why young adults are encouraged to already have a life insurance policy in place just in case the unforeseen occurs.