100 year old Japanese female swimmer sets record of 1,500 metre freestyle swimming

Came across this enthusiastic news about a 100 year old Japanese swimmer Mieko Nagaoka who became the world’s first centenarian to complete a 1,500 metre freestyle swim in around an hour and sixteen minutes.

It is interesting to note that she took up swimming at the age of 82 to recover from a knee injury. She currently holds 24 world records and plans to set more records. More details are available on: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-04/05/c_134125635.htm

She is a perfect example of active ageing and is really an inspiration for those young and middle aged people who feel that they are too old to learn swimming at their age.

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'MIND' diet for reducing risk of Alzheimer’s disease

In a recent study done at Rush University (USA), the Director of Nutrition and Nutritional Epidemiology Dr. Martha Clare Morris and colleagues developed the “Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay” (MIND) diet. The  MIND diet is a mix of Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets, both diets have been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions and have also been found to provide protection against Dementia.

The 'MIND' diet has 15 dietary components, including green leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil and cheese. For more details see: https://www.rush.edu/news/press-releases/new-mind-diet-may-significantly-protect-against-alzheimers-disease

The study was done in Chicago in which it was found that the MIND diet lowered the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 53 percent in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously, and by about 35 percent in those who followed it moderately well.

It is an interesting and much needed study for the prevention of Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Such type of study needs to be done in other parts of the world as well for exploring ways of reducing the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Pomegranate increases Lifespan

Pomegranate has always been associated with health benefits. A recent study done by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Transdisciplinary University (TDU) and Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bengaluru, has found that pomegranate juice increases healthy lifespan. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4267107/)

This study was done on a species of fruit fly called Drosophila melanogaster and it was found that fruit flies fed with pomegranate juice not only lived longer but also were resistant to some diseases and produced more offspring.

  

As per the research team, this study provides the scope to explore the potential of pomegranate juice as a nutraceutical to improve health span and lifespan in human beings.

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102nd Indian Science Congress

The 102nd Indian Science Congress, began today in Mumbai. It is organised by the University of Mumbai. This congress looks forward to powering possibilities for the future of advanced safety, healthcare, agriculture, environment, education, industries and entrepreneurs.

In the inaugural session of the congress very interesting and thought provoking speeches were given by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis and India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, where along with other issues they emphasized on topics of concerns like Climate Change, Malnutrition, Nuclear Energy.

These issues are very important for the overall development of our country and its people; however being a gerontologist I wish and hope that through such kind of initiatives some efforts should be put to find cures for diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s. With increase in longevity this has become a matter of serious concern.  Along with this, efforts should also be made to develop some elder friendly gadgets and tools so that more and more elderly can lead an active, healthy and productive life.

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Initiatives to promote Ageing issues in CSR unit and Media sector

Recently attended two interesting workshops on Ageing issues at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Both workshops were organized under the UNFPA-ISEC-TISS-IEG Collaborative Project on Elder Advocacy. 

The first workshop was on CSR and Ageing, which was attended by Researchers, Academicians, CSR and NGO professionals.  The discussions in this workshop were mainly focussed upon inclusion of elder friendly projects in the CSR unit of a company.

The second workshop was on Media and Ageing, it was attended by professionals from Media sector, Media Faculty, Researchers and Academicians.  Main aim of this workshop was to sensitize the media on ageing issues and to encourage them to cover elder specific news items mainly on positive topics.

More and more such workshops are required to bring ageing issues in the forefront and also to address the needs and rights of older persons for promotion of healthy and productive ageing.

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Ageing in India: Concerns and Challenges

Sharing my paper "Ageing in India: Concerns and Challenges" (http://www.slideshare.net/DrNidhiMishra/ageing-in-india-dr-nidhi-mishra), which is recently published in BOLD, a quarterly journal of the United Nations International Institute on Ageing, Malta. 

This paper gives an overview of the situation of older persons (60+) in India with a special focus on demographic, psycho-social and policy issues related to the elderly in India. It also highlights the various challenges faced at micro and macro level towards the promotion of the health and well-being of older persons in India. In addition to this, it covers the contribution of various role players such as older persons, family, educational institutions, civil society, for-profit ventures and government in facing those challenges.In the end, based on the review of the situation of older persons in India, it suggests some action points which can be taken as a way forward towards promoting the health and well-being of older persons. 

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Slowing of Ageing process through Jogging

Great news for all those health conscious 60+ people who want to keep themselves healthy by exercise and jogging.

In a recent study done at Humboldt State University on 60+ people, it was found by researchers that jogging at the age of sixties and seventies could help slow down the ageing process. 

For more details please read:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2843484/Slow-ageing-process-feel-like-20-70s-jogging.html

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Proud of you Dad!

This post is in honour of my dad Dr. Ashok Mishra, who is an inspiration for me. He is a 67 year old General Physician, who is passionate about his work and is always ready to help people with medical needs. I feel from him only I have acquired the passion to work for social cause.

I am proud of my Dad and he is a perfect example of active and productive ageing.

Sharing one of his recent photograph where he is talking to his patients during a free medical camp.

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Healthy food for a fit body

Interesting article by a naturopathic doctor Dr. Akilah EL (http://bit.ly/1fmSaXN) on foods that look like various body parts and are useful for keeping those body parts fit too.

A useful article for both youngsters and elderly for keeping their mind and body fit and leading a healthy and active life.

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World Alzheimer's Day- 21st September

Today on World Alzheimer's Day I would like to request both younger and older persons to try keeping their mind active and fit through some positive mental exercises which is one of the major step towards preventing Alzheimer's in later life.

A healthy mind keeps a body fit.

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