Area Agency on Aging

Aging is a part of life many of us would rather ignore, especially as time goes on. However, aging doesn’t have to mean stopping the things you love. While no one can completely avoid the effects of time, you can still see significant benefits with the right combination of exercise and diet. To find out which foods are best, keep reading.

• Garlic: Vampires had it all wrong. Scientists have found that eating a clove of garlic at least once a week decreases your risk of colon cancer by 50, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and even thins the blood more effectively than aspirin.
• Beets: While high in flavor, beets are actually low in calories. Within their tasty makeup, they contain folic acid and antioxidants, which protect against heart disease and cancer. Researchers have also discovered beneficial properties on skin and lung tumors. (more…)

In 2004, Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey (yes, that’s his real name) made a bold claim: that the first child to live to the age of 1,000 had already been born, and was 60 years old. That would make them 66 today. Obviously, this claim is not accepted everywhere, and while de Grey does have a doctorate from the University of Cambridge, not all of his theories have been widely accepted. Still, the question remains: will the expected human lifespan change drastically in the near future?De Grey is from the United Kingdom, which has an average overall life expectancy of 79.4 years old (the average for men is slightly lower and the average for women slightly higher). This is the 22^nd highest value worldwideJapan comes in first with an average expectancy of 82.6. The United States are 38^th, with an average overall life expectancy of 78.2 years. Worldwide, the average expectancy in 2009 was 66.57 years. The drastic differences are due to the high levels of HIV and AIDS in many African countries, as well as higher infant mortality rates. (more…)

Unfortunately, hearing loss and aging often go hand in hand. Studies have found that almost 33 of Americans age 65-74 suffer from hearing problems ranging from missing certain words in a conversation to being completely deaf. Over the age of 85, the numbers go up to 50.It’s not known exactly what causes age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis. It sometimes develops from sensorineural hearing loss, which results from inner ear, auditory nerve, or brain pathway damage. Avoiding exposure to loud noises (for any length of time) and certain prescription drugs can lower your risk, but other factorsincluding heredity, high blood pressure, and aging itselfare sometimes unavoidable. Tinnitus the ringing in the ears that sometimes comes along with hearing lossis also mysterious, but it can be avoided by refraining from smoking, alcohol, and other loud noises. (more…)

Topretirements.com’s annual list of the most popular retirement communities always has some surprises. New to the list in 2010 were La Jolla, CA (100), Walla Walla, WA (90), Spokane, WA (80), and 22 other sites. Of course, what you’re really interested in are the top ten communities, right? Without further ado10. Ft. Myers, FL: Florida is the most popular state on the list, with 23 showings. The charming town of Ft. Myers has the Caloosahatchee River and a restored downtown to recommend it.9. San Diego, CA: This city has been attracting retirees since the end of World War II. The slightly higher housing is worth the temperate climate and attractions, including the San Diego Zoo and UC-San Diego.8. Beaufort, SC: With the popular vacation spot Hilton Head Island just off the coast and 304 acres designated as a Historic Landmark, Beaufort is the perfect combination of old and new.7. Winston-Salem, NC: The “Twin City” is not only popular, it’s affordable, making the list of “Top 10 Value Towns for Retirees in 2007″. Shopping fans will flip for the Hanes Mallthe largest one in North Carolina. (more…)

Professional sports are a young man’s (or woman’s) game. Stars are often past their prime by their mid-30s, and this can lead people to believe that sports and exercise are only important on the first side of the hill. Nothing could be further from the truth. Researchers have discovered that in men over the age of 40 who began exercising after a lifetime of avoiding physical fitness, the chance of cardiovascular problems went down by 55.While some sports will definitely be out of your zone (no rugby, for example), there are a variety of activities that people of all ages can enjoy, and which provide benefits well into later age. Bowling is one sport which can keep your mind and body strong as you age. It’s so widely applicable, in fact, that it’s also an official sport of the US Deaf Sports Federation, the Special Olympics International, the National Disability Sports Alliance, and the American Wheelchair Bowling Association. (more…)