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What Do We Know About Healthy Aging?

A study found that taking 8,000 steps or more per day was associated with a 51% lower risk of death.

by National Institute on Aging (NIA), Home

Many factors influence healthy aging. Some of these, such as genetics, are not in our control. Others — like exercise, a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, and taking care of our mental health — are within our reach. Research supported by NIA and others has identified actions you can take to help manage your health, live as independently as possible, and maintain your quality of life as you age. Read on to learn more about the research and the steps you can take to promote healthy aging.

While scientists continue to actively research how to slow or prevent age-related declines in physical health, they’ve already discovered multiple ways to improve the chances of maintaining optimal health later in life. Taking care of your physical health involves staying active, making healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, limiting your alcohol intake, and proactively managing your health care. Small changes in each of these areas can go a long way to support healthy aging.

Whether you love it or hate it, physical activity is a cornerstone of healthy aging. Scientific evidence suggests that people who exercise regularly not only live longer, but also may live better — meaning they enjoy more years of life without pain or disability.

A study of adults 40 and older found that taking 8,000 steps or more per day, compared to only taking 4,000 steps, was associated with a 51% lower risk of death from all causes. You can increase the number of steps you get each day by doing activities that keep your body moving, such as gardening, walking the dog, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

As people age, muscle function often declines. Older adults may not have the energy to do everyday activities and can lose their independence. However, exercise can help older adults maintain muscle mass as they age. In a 2019 investigation of data from NIA’s Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, researchers found that moderate to vigorous physical activity is strongly associated with muscle function, regardless of age. This suggests that exercise may be able to prevent age-related decline in muscle function.

Although many studies focus on the effects of physical activity on weight and BMI, research has found that even if you’re not losing weight, exercise can still help you live longer and better. There are many ways to get started. Try being physically active in short spurts throughout the day or setting aside specific times each week to exercise. Many activities, such as brisk walking or yoga, are free or low cost and do not require special equipment. As you become more active, you will start feeling energized and refreshed after exercising instead of exhausted. The key is to find ways to get motivated and get moving.

Making smart food choices can help protect you from certain health problems as you age and may even help improve brain function. As with exercise, eating well is not just about your weight. With so many different diets out there, choosing what to eat can be confusing. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide healthy eating recommendations for each stage of life. The Dietary Guidelines suggest an eating pattern with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, research confirms that even if you’re 60 or older and have been smoking for decades, quitting will improve your health.

Ventura Fire Department puts new ladder truck into service with ‘push-in’ ceremony

Push-in ceremonies date back to the early 1800s.

The Ventura Fire Department firefighter-paramedics received a helping hand from the Mayor and City staff who lent their strength for the Department’s ‘push-in’ ceremony on September 14. A new state-of-the-art fire truck was unveiled and officially put into service, signifying its readiness to respond to emergencies and slated to serve Ventura for the next 25 years.

Push-in ceremonies date back to the early 1800s when firefighters utilized horse-drawn equipment; the animals could not back into the station, requiring the horses to be detached and crews to push the equipment into the bay. The push-in ceremony remains a symbol of fire service unity and serves as a way to pay homage to fire departments across the nation.

“This push-in ceremony not only celebrates our new apparatus but also our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of our community,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “Firefighting is a demanding profession that requires the best equipment and tools to protect lives and property. Our firefighters are dedicated to their duty, and this cutting-edge ladder truck will empower them to respond even more effectively in emergencies.”

The $1.5 million 2022 Pierce fire truck, equipped with a 107-foot aerial ladder, advanced modern safety systems, all-electric tools, and an elevated platform for a strong stream delivering up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute, further enables firefighters to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively. It will also be used to perform advanced and high-angle rope rescues for hard-to-reach environments, and vehicle extrication for trapped victims.

The truck is staffed with one captain, one engineer, and two firefighter-paramedics.

The Fleet Fire Apparatus Replacement schedule evaluates the economically practical life of fire engines per the National Fire Protection Association’s recommended 20-year life. The new fire truck will be used daily on the front line, while the current fire truck will be placed into a reserve status, utilized when the front-line apparatus is down for maintenance or assigned to a mutual aid event.

Lessons from National Bee Day and pollinators

Lincoln Elementary School teacher Owen Garrood instructed his students to come to school dressed in yellow and black.

by David Goldstein

Honeybees work all day in service to their hive, and their pollination is essential for the growth of many plants, but the whole venture is sustainable only because the bees are paid. The payment is made by plants in the form of nectar. The lesson: work must be rewarded to be sustainable.

Lessons from honeybees were also applied to human society shortly after National Bee Day, was the third Saturday in August, by an innovative teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura. Owen Garrood, known as “Mr. G” to his kindergarten students, instructed his students to come to school dressed in yellow and black. He wore a yellow and black striped shirt, and they all wore antennae head bands. Mr. G noted, “Using color as a theme” creates “a community feel… connects them to their classroom and unites them as a group.”

Even bees’ buzzing sound was part of his lesson. As instructed, the kids made a low, buzzing sound as they walked across the courtyard and through the school. As he wrote to me in an email, “It is scientifically proven that the vibrations made in the throat cause the mind to settle and calm anxiety; hence the reason they use it in yoga.”

Last month, other organizations also used the occasion of National Bee Day to schedule educational outreach. At an event on August 31, the Museum of Ventura County hosted an event educating the public about pollinators such as honeybees and monarch butterflies. The museum, in Ventura, hosted presenters from the Ventura office of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Participants planted yarrow seeds in pots they personalized and were allowed to keep.

Bee Day at the Ventura County Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula, on August 19, had many more activities. Dozens of children scurried from crafts to displays and entertainment. Children made candles from wicks rolled into small sheets of bee’s wax, and presenters gave context to a year-round highlight of the museum — a working beehive. The hive, on permanent display within the museum, is fully enclosed with transparent plastic, but has an access port to flowers and plants outside.

During the remainder of the school year, Students for Education and Agriculture, SEEAG, a non-profit organization serving schools throughout Ventura County, will teach students about the importance of honeybees and other pollinators to local agriculture. Their third-grade education program, Farm Lab, observes pollinators at work amidst lemon blossoms. SEEAG’s middle and high school programs, which focus on agricultural careers, spotlight local insectaries, beekeepers, and companies working to preserve and cultivate pollinators, according to SEEAG Education Director Seth Wilmoth

Just as flowers “pay” bees with nectar, human society must also pay a debt to pollinators if we want to sustain their work. You can see the types of plants best suited to sustain the work of pollinators at the Ventura County Government Center’s two pollinator gardens. The newer of the two consists of two planters between the Hall of Justice cafeteria and the Hall of Administration north entrance. In addition to plant selection, using only organic pest control methods in those gardens also boosts pollinator populations, according to General Services Agency facilities manager Patrick Squires.

David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, may be reached at (805) 658-4312 or [email protected]

Ventura Women’s Conference: Balancing the Successful You

The special keynote speaker will be Laura Diaz.

by Carol Leish, MA

The upcoming Women’s Conference (www.womensconference.com), will be on Saturday, October 21, 2023. It was the inspiration of Shannon Vasques, who grew up in Ventura and is the owner of Vasquez Float Reiki. She said, “I have had a vision to create a gathering of women that focuses on us becoming empowered and encouraged. An event in which women can learn from experts in health and wellness, mental health, yoga, and meditation. One in which women can also learn through art therapy, business, finance and more. Through learning we can learn the tools and tips for improving life and giving back to others.”

The special keynote speaker will be Laura Diaz, who is the14-time Emmy Award Winner. She is on KTTV’s Fox 11 American newscaster. Other speakers will include: Robbie Gluckson, who will talk about Health. Gina Found will talk about Mental Wellness. Andi Girl will speak about Sexual Wellness. Allison Perks will discuss things related to Motherhood. Meghan Terry will focus on Business. And, Monica White will talk about Food Share, which this event is benefiting.

Through White’s leadership as President and CEO of Food Share since 2017, relief needs were met during both the Thomas Fire and the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2022, Food Share distributed the equivalent of over 16 million meals in Ventura County (www.foodshare.com).

The women’s conference will also include local vendors with special shopping deals. There will be goody bags and prizes. Networking with local women will occur. Attendees will also have a delicious breakfast and lunch.

This empowering women’s conference will be Saturday, October 21st, 8:00am—4:00pm at the Poinsettia Pavilion at: 3451 Foothill Rd. Ventura. It will be in the Ventur Room. For further information about this upcoming event, look at the website at: www.womensconference.com. Tickets are available through the Eventbrite link on the website. Students from area high schools, stay tuned for information on the above website regarding discounted tickets and complimentary tickets for each high school in Ventura.

Come register in order to join the fun and learn some new things. Come also to help benefit Food Share for them to be able to continue to help those in need.

Community invited to Port of Hueneme’s 10th annual festival

The Port of Hueneme’s 10th annual Banana Festival returns Saturday, September 30 from 10 am to 5 pm. This family-friendly, free admission festival will be full of live music and entertainment, vendors, landside and waterside Port tours, and banana inspired food and drinks, even banana beer! Families can enjoy the Kids Zone filled with games, crafts, bounce houses and more.

Parking is free and can be found at Port of Hueneme’s Sunkist Lot on the corner of Market and Surfside Drive in Port Hueneme. More information is available at www.bananaportfest.com.

Did you know? The Port of Hueneme is the #1 banana port on the West Coast and the festival will highlight the positive impacts and contributions the Port has made to the local community and the world.

More than 5 billion bananas come through the Port each year, imported by Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte.
Bananas come from Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico and they go all over the US West Coast, Hawaii and Southwest Canada.
It takes a couple of weeks from origin to get the bananas to our grocery stores.

“The Banana Festival is a special opportunity for us to give back to our community,” said Jess Herrera, Oxnard Harbor District Board President. “The Port has a rich 86-year history in Ventura County that has strengthened the community through strategic partnerships, created good high-paying jobs, and served as an economic engine for the region.”

Port operations play a vital role for Ventura County by bringing $2.8 billion in economic activity and supporting more than 24,997 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $173.2 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services.

“The Banana Festival lets us teach our neighbors about trade and commerce, and the good work we perform in the community and for the environment,” said Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director. “You won’t want to miss these show-and-tell experiences, Port tours, educational booths, culture, music and delicious food.”

The Port recognizes all of its event sponsors including Admiral Level Sponsors Glovis, Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole.

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – The Pet Page

• Congratulations to the recently certified National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Certified Teams. These teams achieved FEMA certification between May and August of this year, allowing them to deploy with their task forces whenever they’re needed.

Recently Certified SDF Teams

•According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more than 3 million cats enter shelters each year in the United States. Along with shelter life, comes stress for many cats. However, enrichment activities can reduce stress.

“Dogs living in animal shelters are often taken out of their kennels for walks and play groups, while cats typically remain within the confines of their kennel for the duration of their time at the shelter,” Allie Andrukonis, postdoctoral research associate in the Montgomery County School of Animal Sciences within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and one of the researchers in the study, said.

“Despite the increasing popularity of strollers and backpacks for cats, no study has actually assessed the impact of taking a cat in a stroller or backpack on cat behavior. Our study will be the first to assess that as well as if training the cat ahead of time to hop into the stroller impacts the number of stress-related behaviors we see,” Feuerbacher said. Training the cats to be in strollers may increase their chances for adoption.

Julianna Scardina, a member of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2024, said a stroller is an excellent choice to balance enrichment and the safety of the animal and the environment.

“Some owners may not be comfortable taking their cats outside for a number of reasons like stray animals, parasites or they don’t want their cat roaming and hunting wildlife,” Scardina said. “And not all cats tolerate leash walking, so utilizing a stroller can allow pet and owner to get outdoors with less worry because it’s enclosed but easily portable.”

The study also found that human wellbeing was enriched by walking a cat in a stroller.

Confirming if strollers are the answer is not yet known, but the team is still analyzing data. The team hopes to continue their work by implementing a volunteer walk at the shelter for the cats to increase adoption rates and by studying whether walking a cat increases the human-animal bond.

We all know that cats are peculiar beings, and their happiness can set the tone for the entire household. To shine a light on the importance of feline happiness, September is recognized as National Happy Cat Month.

Cats come in a variety of personalities. Some can be high maintenance in their demands of love and attention, while others play hard to get and make their humans work for their affection. Oftentimes, cats are thought to be self-reliant, aloof and less in need of regular veterinary care than dogs.

Happy Cat Month is designed to counteract these stereotypes and ensure cats are well cared for, enriched, and receiving the preventive care they need. Whether the family feline is the friendly type or the “do not bother” variety, there are several things we can do to make sure they are living their best lives.

Regular Vet Visits

Monitor Litter Box Habits: Cats often like to express their feelings via their litter box behavior. If the family feline stops using the litter box, he is not necessarily staging a revolt.

Give Them Spaces: Spaces to climb, spaces to hide.

Scratching Posts Are A Must: Scratching is an important characteristic of cat behavior.

Add Enrichment Activities: Cats need their mental health taken care of in addition to the basics.

Give Them Safe Outdoor Access: Cats are curious about the world outside the window

Consider A Friend: Most cats enjoy the companionship of a feline friend.

Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer manager of Animal Rescue New Orleans, a nonprofit, volunteer-based, no-kill shelter..

• Scientific Reports,

Summer weather is here: time to enjoy the outdoors with our pets! Dr. Canaan Shores, a veterinarian with the urgent and convenient care service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, offers advice to help keep your fun-filled summer safe.

Never, ever leave pet in car. Perhaps the most important warning Dr. Shores has for all pet owners is to never leave your pet alone in the car. “On a sunny 70° F day, the temperature in a car can rise to 100° F within 20 minutes and will only continue to rise,” he says.

As you and your pet start to enjoy the warmer weather, it may be a good idea to do it slowly. Dr. Shores says, “Some of those very warm, humid spring days can trigger heat stroke because dogs are not adjusted to it. Gradually expose your pet to heat and humidity in short bursts.”

Pet owners should learn the signs of heat stroke and how to prevent it.

“The early signs of heat stroke include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, abnormal gum color (pale or purple to blue), excessive salivation, and disorientation,” says Dr. Shores.

As the condition progresses, the signs may change. “The pet may develop bloody vomiting, diarrhea with blood, very small red spots on the skin or gums, bruising, seizures, and/or collapse,” he says.

The temperature of your pet will be very elevated. “Normal temperature in dogs and cats is <102.5° F; heat stroke occurs when the temperature is above 105.8° F.”

Dr. Shores wants pet owners to know pets may have clinical signs of heat stroke at lower body temperatures, so, if signs are noticed, the pet should be transported in a vehicle with air conditioning to the nearest emergency veterinarian.

If there is a delay in reaching the veterinarian, he advises, “Owners should move the pet to a cooler environment and run tepid (not cold) water over the pet and place them in front of a fan. Applying cold water, ice packs, wet towels, or alcohol to pets can be counterproductive and is never recommended.”

As soon as possible, get the pet medical attention.

Certain physical characteristics may predispose some dogs to overheating. Dr. Shores explains that dogs with brachycephalic syndrome—those with shortened snouts and flat faces such as English and French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, and pugs—should be monitored very closely in the heat.

“Other breeds shown to be more susceptible include Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers. Pets with long hair, significant fat covering, or that are well-muscled can also be predisposed to heat stroke,” says Dr. Shores.

Study of green tea and other molecules uncovers new therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s

Study of green tea and other molecules uncovers new therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s

Study of green tea and other molecules uncovers new therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s Researchers have discovered how a molecule found in green tea breaks apart tangles of the protein tau, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on this finding, the team identified other molecules that can also untangle tau and may be better drug candidates than the green tea molecule. Results from the NIA-funded study, published in Nature Communications, suggest that this approach may one day provide an effective strategy for treating Alzheimer’s.

In Alzheimer’s, tau abnormally sticks together in fibrous tangles that spread between brain cells, leading to cell death. The molecule epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) — the one found in green tea — is known to untangle these tau fibers. However, EGCG is not on its own an effective Alzheimer’s treatment because it cannot easily penetrate the brain and binds to many proteins other than tau, weakening its effect. Therefore, researchers wanted to find molecules that replicate the effects of EGCG but have better drug properties for treating Alzheimer’s.

In this study, a team led by investigators at the University of California, Los Angeles, isolated tau tangles from postmortem brain tissue donated by people who had Alzheimer’s. The tangles were treated with EGCG and flash frozen. Images of the EGCG and tau fiber complexes were captured with a technique called cryogenic electron microscopy.

These EGCG-tau fiber images helped reveal how EGCG attaches to and dismantles the tau fibers. According to the team’s model, EGCG binds to clefts, or openings, along each layer of the fibers, destabilizing the layers and slowly prying the fibers apart.

Using computer simulations, the researchers identified other molecules likely to work in a similar way as EGCG but that may be able to enter the brain more easily. They tested these other molecules in a cell model for tau tangle formation and additionally on tau tangles isolated from brain samples donated by Alzheimer’s patients after death. In both setups, several of the molecules untangled tau fibers. Although researchers caution that more work is needed, the experiments indicated that certain molecules also prevented the untangled tau from spreading and forming new tangles.

Overall, the findings suggest that these newly discovered molecules that can penetrate the brain and dismantle tau tangles may be a promising strategy for treating Alzheimer’s. Future research into these molecules may help uncover more about their therapeutic potential.

This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG070895 and R01AG048120.