Newsletter Issue #2
In this issue, we meet a 77-year-old world record holder, look at new research on regaining lost health, and try a quick test to see if you’re a mighty oak or a weeping willow.
It’s not just about ‘chair workouts’ as we get older
When it comes to exercise, we’re often told to ‘keep things gentle’ as we get older. While we don’t all have to be like Jeannie, it does suggest that us ‘oldsters’ can still achieve great things. She first started running when she was 35, just to ‘lose a little weight’! Don’t limit yourself based on outdated attitudes to ageing.
At Age 77, Jeannie Rice’s Just Keeps Running Fast
By Abby Carney, Runners World
“…in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the authors shared that Rice has the highest V02 max (47.8) ever recorded for a woman aged 75 years or older, and a surprisingly high max heart rate of 180.”
Multivitamins could protect memory in seniors
My attitude toward multivitamin supplements has ebbed and flowed over the years as various positive studies are following by others debunking the previous one. I still take them daily as a kind of ‘reluctant insurance policy’ for any dietary shortfalls. I didn’t see them providing any ‘game-changing’ benefits but this study on the benefits for memory and cognition in seniors could be what keeps multivitamins in my pill box—for now.
More evidence shows multivitamins could protect memory, slow cognitive ageing in seniors
By Lauryn Higgins, health.com
“The meta-analysis of all three studies showed strong and consistent benefits of multivitamins on episodic memory, which is the ability to recall day-to-day memories. It also showed benefits for global cognition, which includes being able to pay attention, practice reasoning, and plan ahead.”
This study shows you can reverse the decline and reclaim your previous well-being
When I talk to people my age about health, I’m often met with the ‘It’s too late for me” defence. This study shows that decline as we age isn’t inevitable. In fact, almost one in four people regained well-being over 3 years. It’s not easy, but it can be done. And it’s well worth the effort.
Exercise, healthy diet can help older adults regain ‘optimal well-being’ within 3 years
By Corrie Pelc, Medical News Today
“The finding that nearly one-quarter of struggling older adults could regain optimal well-being after getting appropriate comprehensive support in 3 years is encouraging. It powerfully counters the common narrative of ageing as an inevitable, one-way decline,”
From the Blog 📚
When it comes to balance, are you a mighty oak or a weeping willow?
A few weeks ago, I went for a walk and while negotiating various stiles and walls, noticed my balance wasn’t what it was. It crept up on me silently, and it could be the same for you. Try this quick self-test to see how your balance is holding up.
Home at last—the first six weeks
With my heart attack and quadruple bypass now firmly behind me, I’m back at home and ready to start my ‘new life’.
Final thought 🤔
Healthspan isn’t something you build for later. It’s something you can use now—on walks, workouts, hobbies, getting up off the floor without a fuss. Build it, yes. Keep it, yes. But don’t forget to use it—every day.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. The needs of every reader are unique; please consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or medication. Never ignore professional medical advice because of something you read online.