A recent NIA-supported study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggests that obesity may be associated with an increased risk for developing dementia. Obesity, like cardiovascular disease and stroke, is a modifiable risk factor for dementia since it generally can be countered through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
For the study, researchers at University College London analyzed a group of participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) who were at least 50 years old when enrolled in the study. Baseline measurements, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, were collected when the participants enrolled. The participants were followed up on average 11 years later to determine whether they had developed dementia.
The researchers found that participants who had a BMI corresponding with overweight or obese were more likely to develop dementia. This outcome supports previous studies that indicate obesity is a risk factor. The research team also found that abdominal obesity, associated with high waist circumference, at baseline is a risk factor that affects women more than men. In addition, the study found that the association between obesity and dementia was independent of whether a person was a smoker, had hypertension or diabetes, or carried the APOE ε4 gene, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Obesity continues to be a major public health issue across the world, so further study could help determine whether early interventions and lifestyle changes could reduce dementia risk. There is also a need to understand the mechanism by which obesity increases the risk for dementia, such as through inflammation or genetic factors. Subsequent studies should involve frequent check-ins to monitor the development of dementia and potentially find common symptoms or factors among obese participants.
This research was funded in part by NIA grant R01AG017644. ELSA is funded in part by NIA grant R01AG7644.
These activities relate to NIA’s AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestone 2.B, “Determine interrelationships among aging, cerebrovascular disease and risk factors, resilience factors, genetic variants, amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration.”
Reference: Ma Y, et al. Higher risk of dementia in English older individuals who are overweight or obese. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2020;dyaa099. Epub 2020 Jun 23. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaa099.
At the next monthly meeting, on Thursday, Oct.15, Amy Towner, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Care Foundation for Ventura County, will give the East Ventura Community Council an overview of the Foundation’s mission and its role in stepping up to help in the Pandemic.
In addition, a representative of the Ventura Unified School District will present information on Measure H, the parcel tax extension measure on November’s ballot.
Additional agenda items may be added if time permits. Please check the website for updates.
The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84566749793?pwd=VXNMY1EwRmlNdHNRY3pMTHZrb1NJUT09
You will first need to download the Zoom app on your desktop or smart phone. You do not need an account. If you miss the meeting, you can view it later on the website www.eastventura.org.
The meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact EVCC Chair Marie Lakin at [email protected]
Ventura’s libraries are alive and well! Their doors may be closed, but their community access is wide open, with ongoing outreach and services to the citizens of Ventura.
Welcome to the first column of “The Bookmark,” dedicated to informing Breeze readers about the activities and offerings of the libraries and the Friends of the Library.
Nancy Schram, Library Director, has this to say about her staff, “After the closure of the Ventura County Library branches on March 16 due to COVID-19, the library employees immediately went into action and pivoted quickly to find safe ways to continue to provide library services and resources in as many ways possible. I’m so proud of the Ventura County Library team.”
At the beginning of the shutdown, the eLibrary proved to be invaluable. During the month of April, checkouts of eBooks increased 80%. In response, the library system made considerable investment in increasing the eLibrary offerings, which now consist of over 100,000 ebooks.
In May, The Ventura County Library website rolled out a new look under the banner “Your Library at Home” featuring pages of interest to kids, teens, and adults. It is a onestopshop for individuals, parents, and teachers looking for librarian-curated lists of online resources for distance learning as well as fun. For those less comfortable with online resources, there are “Video Tutorials” and “Need Help?” Live Chat options.
Librarians began livestreaming and recording Storytimes, including bilingual Storytimes and STEAM themed Storytimes. One of the Storytimes has logged 6,000 views! Storytimes are available at the Ventura County Library Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/VenturaCountyLibrary68759970694/) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/vencolibraryVideo.)
In June, the library resumed lending out physical materials –with patrons using the online catalog to request items with curbside pickup. During the hours for curbside pickup, you can also speak to a librarian on the phone or chat online through the vencolibrary.org website.
Did you know the library will buy books you want to read? There is a link on the website, “Tell Us What to Buy.” Requests are reviewed; if the book is approved it is sent to your house! After reading it, you take it to your branch to be added to the collections.
Here are a few more of the accomplishments of the Ventura library system during the pandemic:
Enabled over 600 children to participate in Virtual “Summer Reading Program 2020”
Provided school districts with thousands of student “e-Cards” to connect to free library resources and books online
Gave out 3,000 STEAM takeaway kits to children during Summer 2020
Offered free, live online Homework Help and Tutoring in English and Spanish, 7 days per week, 63 hours per week
Provided Universal Free Public Wi-Fi outside all branches, 12 hours per day at each location
Distributed over 600 Grab-and-Go book/snack bags this summer at Avenue Library
Truly a remarkable record of achievement. Schram concludes, “The Ventura County Library continues to provide much needed library services during these challenging times, and we are here for you and your family. Our libraries have always been needed, but with the pandemic and resulting economic hardship for so many, our libraries are absolutely vital.”
∙In this special issue of the Breeze, we feature the candidates for the Ventura City Council, Mayor Matt LaVere’s 2020 State of the City, Jim Friedman’s thoughts about council districts and a tribute to retiring council member Cheryl Heitmann. I hope that you enjoy it, and please vote ( mailing in is the safest way right now).
∙The Ventura City Council voted 6-1 to keep the city’s red-light detection cameras for another two years. The “no” vote was from Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann who said she’s been opposed to the cameras from the very beginning.
A majority of the council aren’t thrilled with the cameras saying that they either want the cameras gone after the two years or they want a new system with a new company (not Redflex Traffic Systems who have been providing the system for Ventura for almost 20 years).
I wish they hadn’t continued this and will give serious consideration to eliminating them completely.
∙Major Walter Reed, M.D., U.S. Army (September 13, 1851 – November 22, 1902), was a U.S. Army physician who in 1901 led the team that confirmed the theory of the Cuban doctor Carlos Finlay that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact. This insight gave impetus to the new fields of epidemiology and biomedicine, and most immediately allowed the resumption and completion of work on the Panama Canal (1904–1914) by the United States. Reed followed work started by Carlos Finlay and directed by George Miller Sternberg, who has been called the “first U.S. bacteriologist”. The now more well-known Walter Reed Medical Center is named after him.
∙A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the median age of people with COVID-19 in the U.S. has declined with Americans in their 20s now accounting for more cases than people in any other age group. The findings suggest that if the U.S. wants to get the coronavirus outbreak under control it will need more compliance (and government reaching out) from younger adults.
∙A Maryland man was sentenced to a year in prison for hosting two parties in defiance of the state’s coronavirus orders barring large gatherings. Shawn Marshall Myers, 42, had 50 to 60 people in his home for the first occurrence on March 22.
When officers arrived to shut down the party he was “argumentative.” He eventually agreed to shut down the party. But, he went right back to throwing another large party with more than 50 people less than a week after his first one was shut down.
I’m glad that he was found guilty of a crime. Large unprotected gatherings can kill people and spread the virus. Anyone who has unprotected gatherings should perhaps go to jail.
∙A federal appeals court has upheld Governor Gavin Newsom’s restricting indoor worship during the pandemic. The court determined California’s health orders did not discriminate against religious expression, and the conditions apply the same to worship services the same as other indoor events. I certainly agree, religious freedom doesn’t mean jeopardizing lives.
∙Tik Tok won a significant victory against the Trump administration when a federal judge ruled in favor of the tech company’s request to delay a ban on the app. Tik Tok will remain available in the US and continue to provide software updates. If they are a national threat, I think much more evidence needs to be provided. They provide a needed service for many Americans.
∙Approximately 83% of Democrats consider wildfires to be a serious threat while only 59% of Republicans share this belief. Amazing the very basic differences between people of different political parties. Much of California is burning to the ground – isn’t this a serious threat?
∙Joseph I. Castro, the grandson of farmworkers who rose during a career in higher education to lead Cal State Fresno, has been named the chancellor of the California State University system. He is the first person of color to lead this system. His life will be an inspiration to 43% of Cal State’s 480,000 students who are Latino.
∙Apparently, Biden (and logical people) is not wrong for wearing masks. Perhaps those that don’t are the wrong ones. I wonder if Trump still thinks it is a hoax by the liberal left to make him look bad? If it is, it certainly has succeeded.
∙Adopted in 1971, the 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18. California voters can decide if 17-year-olds can vote under certain circumstances by approving proposition 18. I support it. Especially with today’s youth, they are so much more knowledgeable about affairs because of the time they spend on social media (all of it is not a waste).
∙I’m opposed to Amy Coney Barrett being on the Supreme Court because she is a Roman Catholic. Wait, am I some kind a racist? No, but with her on the court, 67% of the justices will be Roman Catholics even though they represent about 20% of the US population. The Supreme Court should at least make some attempt to represent the whole country. Can you imagine the backlash if 67% of the court were Jewish or some other minority?
∙Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, announced Saturday morning he tested positive for COVID-19, one day after revealing nobody wore a mask while preparing for the first presidential debate with President Donald Trump. Three Minnesota congressmen who flew on Air Force One with Trump have also tested positive for COVID-19.
Many of those involved with Trump will be testing positive. Will they be angry with him? I certainly would be. Will his fans finally understand that masks and distancing have a purpose and this has never been a hoax?
∙Just when I think Trump can’t be more irresponsible, he states he’s feeling good and the nation should not “be afraid of the virus” and let it dominate your life. A virus that has killed more than 209,000 Americans. I wonder how the relatives and friends of the 209,000 feel about it. Also, he has medication not available to anyone else and the White House has an entire medical facility in it to care for him.
Ventura Land Trust is pleased to present its 9th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour on Friday, October 16th via an exciting new digital livestream format. This signature fundraising event supports Ventura Land Trust’s mission to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.
One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival uses film to inspire activism. For Ventura Land Trust, the festival fosters a deeper understanding of the connection we share with the planet and our role as stewards to keep it healthy. The festival raises $50,000 each year for the organization’s efforts to offer protected open spaces for free public access, build new trails, and provide hands-on environmental education to thousands of Ventura County students.
This year, guests will be part of the festival from the safety of home and the comfort of their athleisure. Snacks and meals included with ticket levels create a fun food and drink atmosphere. A single household film festival ticket is $35. Household film festival tickets and food packages range from $50 to $125.
Ventura filmmaker Jason Hernandez will be featured in the film line-up with his film The Lower Ventura River. The film depicts Ventura Land Trust Preserve Director Dan Hulst’s work managing the impact of humans on sensitive habitat in Ventura’s lower Ventura River and coastal estuary.
Visit www.venturalandtrust.org for tickets, or purchase tickets directly at https://qudio.com/event/ventura. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Development Director Leslie Velez at [email protected] for more information.
The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, opened in June 2020. Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve. All preserves are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. Connect with them online at www.landtrustalliance.org.
Ventura’s music scene is far from rockin’ but at least the process of healing has begun and the County/City is allowing music once again as long as venues follow their strict rules to keep everyone concerned safe. Though I shared it in my last column, it bears repeating what is allowed, “Live solo or duet (from same household) singers/musicians can perform outdoors at restaurants, bars, or wineries. The soloist/duet must stay at least 20 feet away from patrons and not amplify the music to the point where people have to lean in to be heard. The live music cannot cause people to gather. It should be for the benefit of the business patrons who are already seated and not to attract people to gather around the performers and/or stage. All other local and state guidance must be followed.”
Stepping up to the plate to date here in town are Leashless Brewing, Winchesters, Bombay Bar and Grill, the Winery and Copa Cubana. I’m as diligent, if not more than most, when it comes to taking the virus seriously. I hope all venues will heed the rules and ensure there is space between the musician (s) and the patrons. Not all venues have the luxury of the extra space needed, which is sad, but at least we’re on the road now to heading back to more live music.
Just added to Concerts in Your Car (CIYC) at the fairgrounds here in Ventura is the band 311 which pretty much defies being pigeon-holed into one genre. Hip hop, rock, reggae, funk, in a nutshell? Flat out danceable fun. The band is playing two shows on Saturday, November 14. The other two venues for CIYC have ramped up and I’m happy to report that all bands playing in Arizona or San Diego have or will be playing here locally.
New music on the scene includes Star Goes Nova, a project by my good friend Christine Law who is known as a bassist supporting such acts as hard rockers, Tantrum back in the day, and her husband’s band, Charles Law & Jagged and Suzanne Paris. She calls it melodic bass and dubstep cinemata EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and she sent me the single, “The Apprentice.” Another good friend has been hard at work producing music on her own for the first time, Sally Williams of the Swilly’s and she worked with Doug Pettibone and Taras Prodaniuk; she sent me her single called “Suffering.” And finally, Bill Rotella is about to release a new album next month called Smoke and the Earthtones, he sent me a single off of it called, “The Other Side.” I’m super excited to share all three songs on the Pam Baumgardner Music hour (episode 119) which airs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 and Sundays at noon, and will run 10/6 – 10/18 at 104.1 FM, KPPQ-LP out of Caps Media.
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.
∙SPAN Thrift Store is now open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools if you’ve got items you no longer use.
SPAN Thrift Store regularly provides $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.
Two upcoming clinics in October are: Friday, October 9th at the Albert H. Soliz Library – El Rio, 2820 Jourdan St., Oxnard, 93036 and a second on Friday, October 23rd at SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main).
Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.
HSVC kennel staff feed and care for a group of farm animals evacuated during the Easy and Maria fires of 2019.
∙Fire season has arrived early; be prepared.
The fall was commonly known as fire season in Ventura County, but “fire season” should now be expected all year (going on right now) . High heat, low humidity, dry brush and high winds occur these days with increasing frequency, creating disastrous conditions for extreme fire behavior. The Humane Society of Ventura County has learned to be prepared year-round.
The HSVC has assisted in the safe evacuation and relocation of animals displaced by wildfires, which erupt regularly across the region and have hit close to home. For the past three years, Ventura and Los Angeles counties have been hit hard with wildfires and, in each case, the HSVC has been there to help.
Sadly, the Thomas Fire of 2017 was not the first time the HSVC has been called into action. “The HSVC was very busy sheltering animals during the Wheeler Fire of 1985,” said shelter director Jolene Hoffman, who can recall rescuing animals during the conflagration that consumed 118,000 acres and 26 structures and caused mass evacuations. “We had over 170 dogs, 150 cats and about 35 horses that we took in during the 15-day fire that burned around the Ojai Valley.”
In the 2017 fire season, the HSVC sheltered 320 animals. In the 2018 season, it sheltered 244 animals and last year, 284 animals.
In preparation for this year’s fire season, the HSVC has increased capacity for animal intake as well as outfitting its fleet of trucks, vans and stock trailers with equipment and supplies. “It’s one of those situations where we plan for the worst but hope for the best,” said HSVC Humane Officer K King.
The Humane Society of Ventura County offers a sanctuary for pets as well as temporary crates, kennels, pet food, ID tags and other supplies for those in harm’s way. “We will also send out our Emergency Response Teams to assist with animal evacuations at the owner’s request,” said Hoffman. “Our primary concern is for the safety of people and their pets. Please do not hesitate to take them to animal rescue centers in the event of an emergency.”
Budgeting in advance for disasters presents a unique challenge, since they are impossible to predict, so financial support from the community is crucial to help offset the costs incurred for the HSVC’s services, noted Greg Cooper, director of community outreach for the HSVC.
Those who would like to support the HSVC’s emergency preparedness can drop off supplies at the Ojai shelter, at 402 Bryant St. Also, the HSVC Amazon Wish List has been updated to include examples of requested items.
Congratulations to the six newest canine disaster search teams.
∙ On the morning of August 28, 2020, six search teams graduated from Search Dog Foundation (SDF’s) Handler Course: Felicia Lee & Jax and Paul Sandigo & Cassie (California Task Force 3), Kiegon List & Chloe and James McCandless & Mac (California Task Force 7), and Andrew Pitcher & Storm and Mark Schroder & Koda (Nebraska Task Force 1). The handlers completed the course despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, observing distancing and safety protocols throughout their two-week stay on campus.
The graduating class was a combination of four brand new handlers from the Bay Area and Sacramento in California, as well as two veteran handlers from Lincoln, Nebraska, providing ample opportunity to learn, share experiences, and build lifelong friendships.
∙Only days after the previous dog food recall, the FDA is drawing attention to another voluntary recall of dog food, this time over the risk of Salmonella contamination. The recall impacts one dog food brand and shouldn’t be mistaken for the dog food recall from earlier this month, which involved the presence of a potentially deadly toxin that results from a naturally-occurring mold. As expected, dog food owners are advised to get rid of the potentially contaminated dog food to protect both their own and their pet’s health.
The latest dog food recall in the United States was issued on September 22 from Real Pet Food Company, which offers a range of different dog foods, including chilled, dry, and wet versions, with an emphasis on high-quality ingredients. One particular brand of food sold by the company was voluntarily recalled because routine sampling found Salmonella bacteria.
According to Real Pet Food Company, one lot of its Billy+Margot Wild Kangaroo and Superfoods Recipe 4lb bags of dog food have been recalled. As with humans, pets that eat food contaminated with Salmonella can develop an uncomfortable illness that, in a small percentage of cases, may become severe.
I’m Houdini a hound/lab mix from New Jersey and Georgia. I made my red eared slider turtle friend disappear with my magic. Our favorite song is “Tiptoe through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim.
