Your 'Elderly' Parents Aren't 'Too Proud': Redefining Old Age

Decades ago, many countries decided to classify a chronological age of 65 or above as "old age", including Japan. However, there is no medical evidence to support this increasingly outdated benchmark. Many so-called "elderly" are healthy, active and don't even look over 65 these days, and do not want to be seen as "old". This may include your parents, although you may see them as old. Based on this, a recently published study shows that maybe it's time, at least in Japan, to move the "elderly" category up to 75.

When Japan's Geriatric and Gerontological societies analysed data on the health of older adults, they found that decline in walking speed and grip strength, two markers of biological aging, had improved significantly from 1992 to 2002. These changes were equivalent to a delay in aging of 5-10 years! When men and women were divided into 65-69, 70-74, 75-59 and 80+ categories, each group in 2002 could walk at least as fast as the group five years younger than them in 1992. Women over 80 could walk as fast as women over 70 in 1992. The same applied for grip strength in women, except in the 80+ category, though they were almost as strong as the women aged 74-79 in the early 1990s. In men, these gains were only significant in the 65-69 and 80+ groups. Because of these results, it is now proposed that the 65-74 age group be classed as "pre-old age", 75-89 as "old age", and 90+ (up from 85+) as "super-old". Although Japan does have the longest life expectancy out of all fully-independent nations, it is expected that the global improvements in living standards and lifestyles will create a need for this re-classification everywhere.

These changes, if they are implemented, will benefit Japanese society as a whole. Currently, so many are pushed into retirement at 60 or 65, regardless of their health, which does not benefit the younger generations as it increases pressure on the welfare system. And in a cabinet office survey, only 5% thought that people reached "old age" at 65. With stroke rates also declining among over 65s since the 1990s, the authors of this study state that these changes are long overdue. Before he died in mid-2017, we should have asked the 105 year old Shigeaki Hinohara, who continued to practice medicine after he turned 100 and advocated for other older Japanese people to maintain their own interests. He was one of the nation's 65,692 centenarians, who made up more than 1 in 2,000 Japanese citizens for the first time. It's time for change.

Epigenetic Memories May Be Passed Down for Up To 14 Generations

For several decades, the popular belief was that everything about our health and even our nature as individuals was controlled by our DNA. This century, fortunately, the effect of our environment on gene expression, known as epigenetics, is becoming more widely known and understood. The epigenetic changes to our gene expression can even be passed down generations, and new research has found that this effect can be stronger than we thought.

To see how long epigenetic changes may be able to hang around in an animal's DNA, researchers genetically altered worms to carry a protein that made them glow under ultraviolet light. Then, they put them in containers with different temperatures to see what effects heat or cold had on their ability to glow. Worms in the container that was constantly 20 degrees Celsius barely glowed, as this temperature decreased the expression of their new gene. When they were moved to a container that was 25 degrees, the gene was much more active and they glowed brighter.

We have power over our health!

The usual expectation would be that once the worms were put back into the cooler container, they stopped glowing so much. However, they continued to glow, likely meaning that their genes kept a "memory" of the warmer temperatures. This persisted for seven generations, even though these worms never experienced the warm climate. The researchers then kept worms in the warmer container for five generations and transferred the next set of offspring to the cooler one. Their glowing gene was able to persist for fourteen generations - the longest time that scientists have ever documented the passing down of epigenetic changes! While these worms do have a very short lifespan, and 14 generations only took 50 days, this brings us another step closer to understanding epigenetics in all animals, including humans, and how we can use it to our benefit.

This phenomenon has already been documented in humans. Rachel Yehuda, whose specialty is the inter-generation effects of trauma, studied the effects of living through the Holocaust on survivors and their children. Among both survivors and children, stress hormone profiles were different to your average person. Both generations had low levels of cortisol, a stress hormone which helps you recover from trauma, especially in children whose mothers had PTSD. The children had higher than usual levels of an enzyme which breaks down cortisol. These changes may be intended to protect against the harmful effects of chronically high cortisol. The mind has powerful effects on our physical health, as demonstrated in research on meditation where the practice has even been found to make our cells younger. In conclusion, genes are not destiny. We have power over our health, but if we choose to have children, we must keep the health of future generations in mind.

Startup Brings Clean Electricity, Water...and Health...to Those Without It

Electricity and clean water are behind so much of the improvements in health and life expectancy that we have seen over the past 100-200 years. However, some people in the world still do not have access to either, due to poverty and remoteness. This has led to the rise of decentralised solutions, which are turning out to be far more cost-effective, environmentally friendly and health-promoting.

One of the latest products on the market is the OffGridBox container. It can provide 16 kilowatt hours of clean energy and 24,000 litres of filtered, sterile water every day, which can provide for up to about 300 families (or 1500 people). All in a six-foot cube, it's designed for remote use, off-grid living, disaster relief and backup power. As it is modular, more units can be added, and different add-ons are available such as Wi-Fi, desalination and drip irrigation. So far, 28 units have been sold and installed, and there is an upcoming pilot project in Rwanda that will see 18 more put to use. Hopefully, this will improve the lives of millions of people around the world, who cannot or do not want to deal with large corporations and the grid.

Why is this so important? The use of fuel instead of electricity is actually responsible for the deaths of millions of people every year. Pneumonia, stroke, lung cancer, COPD and ischaemic heart disease can all be caused by indoor air pollution. There is also evidence that it can increase the risk of tuberculosis, low birth weight and other cancers. Burns and other injuries can be caused by open fires and kerosene lamps. To make things worse, the greater amount of time spent on gathering fuel and unpaid caring work negatively affects gender equality and wealth, keeping people trapped in the cycle. Outdoor air pollution, although usually less dangerous, also kills millions every year by causing similar diseases. As for access to clean water, lack thereof (as well as poor sanitation) takes many lives too, by diseases such as dysentery, typhoid and even polio.

Fortunately, things are changing, and the energy situation in Africa may even turn out better than in the West (at least until we catch up). Progress towards renewables is happening, with thousands of people every day skipping fossil fuels and heading straight for solar and other clean sources of energy. This is likely to help with continuing rapid increases in life expectancy and quality of life. Overall, there are so many positive developments in the world, which we just don't know about because they do not fit the interests of the corporate media.

Guernsey's Journey to 100

In the United Kingdom's channel islands, a new frontier of health and longevity is being sought: a life expectancy of at least 100, and better health to go with it. The ambitious island of Guernsey has begun their journey towards a much longer, better life, and hopes to be the first area of the world to break the 100-year barrier.

On Friday, the 30th of June, the small island held a "Journey to 100" conference, which kicked off a ten-year project aimed at breaking the 100-year barrier. All day, twenty leading health, lifestyle and longevity experts shared their ideas on how we can extend our lives and improve our health, without massive costs to the system.

A castle in Guernsey.

So, what did we learn? First, we know that longevity is possible but challenging, as a multitude of individual and community factors have to be addressed. Fortunately, Guernsey's small size and population of about 63,000 makes it a good testing ground for new ideas. Other good news is that the longest-lived communities are not all that technologically advanced or dependent on pharmaceuticals and other medical interventions. Sense of purpose and meaning; little to no processed foods; moderate physical activity as an inseparable part of life and strong social connections form the foundations for their health. This is why reliance on drugs and technology does not equal longevity. People need a wide range of plants available as both food and medicines, which also means removing the barriers to their access that have been imposed by pharmaceutical and chemical companies.

It's not just what we should do, but how we should do it. In the case of growing our plant foods and medicines, we need sustainable forms of agriculture that preserve and improve the soil microbiome in the same way that natural health practitioners now care for the gut microbiome. As for our health, prevention and dealing with the underlying causes of disease is far better than treating symptoms as they appear. Personal responsibility and helping children develop healthy habits for life are key.

Guernsey may be the most ambitious, but other communities have taken up the challenge to live longer, healthier lives, such as Albert Lea in Minnesota. Adopting principles from the world's "blue zones", where you have the greatest chance of living to 100, has greatly improved the future of its citizens. People are picking up old dreams or finding new ones, and according to one measure, life expectancy has risen by just under three years. Living longer has never looked so good.

Brain Damage Reversed By Oxygen Therapy

Brain injuries are currently notoriously difficult to treat, and so usually result in death or permanent disability. Fortunately now, researchers and clinicians are looking into regenerative therapies, such as the BioQuark team who are soon to publish their initial results on reversing brain death with a stem cell-based treatment. Another essentially natural therapy that shows potential in reversing brain damage is oxygen therapy, which managed to save an American toddler from a life of severe disability.

Oxygen therapy could mean freedom for many with brain injury.
Source: Shahriar Sovon.

Eden Carlson, a two-year-old girl whose heart did not beat for two hours after drowning, showed deep injury to the grey matter of her brain, and cerebral atrophy involving both the grey and white matter. She could no longer speak, walk or respond to others talking, but would uncontrollably shake her head and squirm around. In what could be described as a miracle, a course of oxygen treatments was able to reverse the vast majority of this damage. While her very young age and early intervention played a role in her recovery, this may pave the way to a better life for so many others. The extent of her injuries inspired one of her doctors to give her hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). HBOT delivers oxygen to a patient at a higher than atmospheric pressure, through a sealed and pressurised chamber. This is aimed at increasing tissue repair beyond what would occur normally. As HBOT was unavailable at the time, doctors gave her oxygen therapy at air pressure for 45 minutes, twice a day, starting at 55 days after her accident. After three weeks, Eden became more alert, squirmed less and had more movement in her arms and hands. She was able to laugh, speak short sequences and regained some ability to eat normally. Then, she relocated to New Orleans, where she could receive hyperbaric oxygen. After only ten treatments, her mother saw that she was back to "near normal, except gross motor function", so she began physical therapy alongside HBOT. After 39 treatments, her walking improved, her speech was even better than before the accident, and overall she showed near normal motor function, cognition and scan results. The team studying Eden say that they have never seen any therapy reverse brain damage in this manner before. They don't fully understand it either, but it is clear that oxygen therapy can fight inflammation and boost cellular survival and repair.

This, however, is not the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown to promote healing in brain injury. Multiple studies have found improved survival and clinical outcomes, with the earliest dating back to the 1960s. Unfortunately delayed treatment, subjective assessment and inappropriate paradigms are preventing oxygen from becoming a mainstream therapy, but hopefully the case of Eden will trigger more demand for it.

Progress in Reviving the Brain Dead

So many of us have lost relatives or friends to accidents and conditions resulting in brain death, and even if we haven't, many would like to see the end of such tragedies. Fortunately, some good news is developing. Revita Life Sciences, a company focused on advancing regenerative medicine, has announced that its clinical trials on interventions for brain death will continue. This comes after their study was inappropriately removed from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) database, despite the fact that this council has no regulatory oversight on such research in India.



Bringing back those who have
drowned was once a new idea!
Source: Wellcome Images

So-called "moral crusaders" accuse Revita Life of "playing God", and assumed that the removal meant that the Indian government was on their side. However, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Drug Controller General of India, had no objection to the trial. Regulatory approval is not required for research on those who are legally dead, although consent from the IRB and family members is still necessary. Death is defined as the cessation of the biological functions that keep us alive. Brain death is the loss of brain function, including involuntary processes such as breathing, and is the legal definition of death. It is also the final pathological process that over 60 million people suffer each year, and it is hoped that at least some of these people will be saved in the future by this research.

What this study primarily involves is the intrathecal administration (injection into the spinal canal) of the patient's own stem cells, derived from their fat and bone marrow tissue, twice a week. Of course, a list of other interventions is being used too, hence the study title of “Non-randomized, Open-labelled, Interventional, Single Group, and Proof of Concept Study with Multi-modality Approach in Cases of Brain Death Due to Traumatic Brain Injury Having Diffuse Axonal Injury”. It sounds like a mouthful, but a more pleasant one than hospital staff telling you to say goodbye to someone you love. So far, initial outcomes range from minor blood pressure changes with painful stimuli, to eye opening and finger movements with temporary or permanent EEG pattern changes. This is impressive for the first human trial on reversing "irreversible" damage to the most difficult to heal organ. But perhaps a simple natural intervention could complement it? There have been at least a couple of cases where high doses of fish oil were able to promote healing from brain injury, by both stopping the inflammation which continues to kill neurons, and stimulating cell growth. Both of these patients were in a coma.

While essentially resurrecting the brain dead is controversial now, consider this: resuscitation of people who had drowned was once a very new and probably controversial concept. In the 1760s (when learning to swim would have been out of reach for most), a few wealthy Dutch men decided to form a society focusing on recovering drowned people. With the techniques and ethical changes they began to develop, they saved many lives, perhaps including someone you know. Like me, you may have also had to learn them yourself. Life extension has a much more human face than the popular fear that we will all be forced to become cyborgs or androids. In fact, humanity is strengthening as a result.

The Ageless Generation Appears

Usually when we hear about life expectancy rising and death rates falling, the good news is accompanied by handwringing about living in a "greying world" and a supposedly increasing proportion of people who must depend on others for health reasons. But times are changing, as life at certain age groups is not what it was even one generation ago.

The sun rises on a new era.
Source: vonderauvisuals (CC: 2.0)

Who would have thought that this could be a 51 year old woman's life: teaching yoga at a hip hotel and club; sharing clothes and yoga challenges with her 19 year old daughter; and in love with travelling? Such is the life of Polly Kemp, and it's becoming increasingly common. While she is "under no illusion" that she is or looks 19, she knows that she is far more youthful than her mother at the same age. She says, "When I hear the term “middle-aged”, I have to stop and think, 'Is this meant to be me?' I don’t polish silver or plan menus, and I’m not interested in housework. I am also spontaneous  and I don't think that's a quality traditionally associated with middle age". Even the author of the article adds that 40 years ago, she would have pictured her 53 year old self as having much shorter, greyer hair, and wearing "frocks and face powder" instead of jeans and CC cream. And it isn't just these two women, either. In a survey of over 500 women performed by the UK Telegraph, 96% of women over 40 do not consider themselves to be "middle-aged". Ninety percent said they had a younger attitude than their mothers at the same age; 84% used products and services aimed at younger women; and almost two thirds said they felt as vibrant and young as they ever had. Unfortunately, the media hasn't caught up to these changes, choosing to hold onto the old ways. Women over 40, 50, 60 and sometimes even older are no longer confining their lives to, as the Telegraph describes, "lawnmowers and Rotary Clubs, cheese and wine parties, elastic waists, river cruises and walking tours of Madeira". I myself could not imagine my friends of those ages living in such a restricted way!

The "ageless generation", also referred to as "perennials", is also gaining ground in a literal sense. As far back as 1939, British statisticians Major Greenwood and J.O. Irwin found that aging seems to stop at around 90! Even they were confused, stating that "At first sight this must seem a preposterous speculation". Not only did their findings seem counterintuitive, but 1939 was also a bad year to attempt making scientific history because of other world events. Much more recently, Michael Rose has done more research on the matter, with even data from other species showing that there is a point where aging stops if you live long enough - at about 90 for humans, but at different times for other animals.

In Defense of Coconut Oil

If you read the mainstream health news for whatever reason, by now you would have seen the USA Today article advising Americans to stop using coconut oil and replace it with omega-6 rich vegetable oils. Of course, for this article, based on an American Heart Association statement, to be true, it must be assumed that saturated fat is the enemy and inflammation isn't the key driver of health problems such as cardiovascular disease. But as this is not the 1980s anymore, we can't assume this to be true.

So many uses! Source: Crisco 1492 (CC 3.0)

High consumption of omega-6 fatty acids, and a low intake of omega-3 fats, can contribute to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Cooking with so-called "heart healthy" vegetable oils such as canola or safflower oil raises your omega-6:3 ratio. While we need both omega-6 and -3 fatty acids, their ratio should be, according to different sources, anywhere from 5:1 to 1:1, but most of us consume far too much omega-6 and too little omega-3. These fatty acids are used to make a type of signalling molecule known as eicosanoids. Omega-6 fats are converted to pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are used in immune responses, by the enzymes cyclo-oxygenase and lipo-oxygenase. These enzymes also convert omega-3 fats to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Why am I telling you this technical information? Many common painkillers work by suppressing cyclo-oxygenase, even though it isn't always the real enemy, too many pro-inflammatory fats often are. Research has even found that supplementation with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, can prolong remission and reduce symptoms of some autoimmune diseases. It can also improve nerve cell communication and inhibit neuroinflammation.

However, the USA Today article ignores all of this, instead focusing on the possibility that it could raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol. But the most recent Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee removed cholesterol as a cause for concern, stating that there is "no appreciable relationship between dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol or clinical cardiovascular events in general populations”. Many studies have found that low cholesterol may in fact be associated with a higher risk of dementia, suicide, homicide, accidental death and depression!

Coconut oil is not only safe, it also could have health benefits! In a small study of 20 people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which coconut oil is rich in, resulted in improved cognitive performance in some patients. Only patients who had a 4- APOE gene saw improvement in their condition. Higher levels of ketones were associated with better performance in paragraph recall with MCT use relative to placebo. Additionally, in another study, taking coconut oil helped patients to achieve reductions in weight, BMI, waist and neck circumference, and diastolic blood pressure. Coconut oil also gave them higher HDL ("good") cholesterol. All patients had coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, and most of them were "elderly" with an average age of 62. Looking at newer and more nuanced evidence, there is no reason to throw out your coconut oil! It's vegetable oils that belong in the bin.

Old Age Isn't Old Age Anymore

This year, the oldest of the Baby Boomers are turning 70. But the eighth decade of life isn't what it used to be, with celebrities such as Cher (who also turns 70 this year) no longer holding a monopoly over looking and acting younger. Life expectancy is still rising, and the UK's Oxford Institute of Population Aging is recommending that people in their 70s and 80s be called "active adults" instead of "old". Even the Daily Mail has added to the discussion, with a few writers who are, well, rewriting what it means to be over 70.

She may be 67 here, but has no monopoly
on retaining youthfulness.
Source: David Carroll (CC 2.0)

First up is Angela Neustatter, who at 73 looks years younger than you'd expect. She attributes her youthfulness to yoga, Pilates, a house full of stairs, sex and stepping back from emotional conflict. Angela does and wears what she wants, even mini skirts and leggings! Lesley Pearce also appears to be in her 50s at the age of 72. Her "normal" involves parties, swimming and scrambling around her cliff-top garden. Jan Leeming is still a BBC newsreader at the age of 75. As part of the first generation of women to have lifelong careers, she doesn't see the point of retiring or giving up travel or physical activity. Jo Foley is also very grateful for a life of freedom, so unlike her mother's generation. She describes the new and improved "normal" as: "In our 70s we shop at Zara, drink pisco sours, take slow boats along the Mekong and talk to ourselves without contradiction." Jo then adds, "Did we ever think to thank our parents?", referring to the restricted life of marriage, children, staying home and growing old that she saw in previous generations.

Older age groups growing younger are nothing new, however. Dr Martin Connolly, Freemason's Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Auckland University, says that 90-somethings today are the same in terms of health and fitness as 70-somethings at the end of World War One. He describes meeting someone over 90 as "rare" thirty years ago, but common now. And despite his position, he struggles to pinpoint the age of someone over 90 by looking at them, even though he has an easy time of doing the same for someone under 90. This may be because researchers have found that aging appears to stop at around 90 in humans (with a range of 80-100), and at different ages in other animals. It's hard to get your head around, but we do have our own mechanisms of fighting key drivers of aging such as oxidative stress and inflammation, and the aim of this research is to keep those mechanisms strong. Overall, these days, we don't have as much to fear or put up with as we once thought, as times are changing in ways we didn't previously expect.

Terminally Ill Toddler May Be Saved By New Treatment

Most of us take our lives and those of our children for granted, but for an unfortunate minority, rare genetic diseases don't just threaten to steal lives away, they are serious enough to follow through with it. This is the case for one such genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but a recently released drug holds promise as its first known treatment.

Unfortunately, not everything is going smoothly. Some children, such as toddler William Storr, have been denied access as not all hospitals in the UK are providing it. His version of the disease is so severe that 95% of children like him do not live to see their second birthday. He can only move his hands and toes, cannot swallow and cannot breathe properly. While clinicians, charities and patient groups are calling on the NHS to make the drug, known as Spinraza, available to all people with SMA, the NHS claims there are a lack of staff and beds (even though SMA is rare). Until NICE, another UK health organisation, approves the drug themselves, Spinraza is only available through an expanded access program run by the pharmaceutical company that produces it. Fortunately, the Sheffield Children's Hospital is opening a discussion with the Storr family and six others whose children need the treatment, as it is likely to be available there soon.

Spinraza.

So what is all the fuss about...does it really work? Spinraza is a biologic drug, designed to increase expression of another gene that produces the "survival motor neuron" protein. Without it, motor neurons die off and victims lose muscle function. Multiple clinical trials have shown that Spinraza is able to bring about neurological improvements in the majority of participants receiving it. Most children were also able to meet the developmental milestones that almost all of us take for granted. Survival rates, of course, improved too.

Natural therapies do not exist for spinal muscular atrophy, as there are only a very small number of in vitro (test tube) studies showing an effect of nutrients on the remaining spinal motor neuron protein gene, SMN-2 (SMN-1 is the gene lost in SMA). In one of these, curcumin (from turmeric), EGCG (from green tea) and resveratrol (from red grapes and Japanese knotweed) were able to increase the rate of SMN-2 producing the full-length, functional SMN proteins, as it usually makes shorter, useless ones. This of course meant that cells of patients with SMA began to contain more of the full SMN proteins, and it may mean that these polyphenols could be a useful adjunct to Spinraza. The drug should be available to anyone who needs it, as should anything that is the only treatment for a disease this serious.

UN Admits Pesticides Aren't Necessary

Since World War Two, the idea of "better living through chemistry" has remained persistent throughout the world. We have been told that we can't live without chemicals, that we would starve without those such as pesticides, but it's becoming common knowledge now that this is not the case. Even the United Nations is now waking up to this, with a new report due to be presented to the UN human rights council.

The new report is strongly critical of the corporations that manufacture pesticides, accusing them of unethical marketing, systematic denials of harm and lobbying governments to prevent regulations against chemical usage. It describes catastrophic effects on the environment, human health and society, including 200,000 deaths a year from acute poisoning. "Acute" does not include whatever chronic illnesses that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals may cause.

Organic farmland growth, 2000-8.

About the supposed "benefits" of pesticides, “It is a myth,” said Hilal Elver, the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to food. “Using more pesticides is nothing to do with getting rid of hunger. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), we are able to feed 9 billion people today. Production is definitely increasing, but the problem is poverty, inequality and distribution.” Many of these pesticides are used on commodity crops, such as soy and palm oil, which are not typically used in food. Elver has visited Paraguay, the Philippines, Morocco and Poland in order to write this report, and says that while corporations will always deny the harms of pesticides, the testimony of the people still stands.

Some of the diseases belong to one of our biggest killers: cancer. Multiple studies have shown that pesticide exposure, whether at home or after parental exposure at work, is linked with an up to three, even four or six, times increased risk of childhood leukaemia. For brain cancer, exposure during pregnancy has been linked with the greatest increased risks, as well as home and garden use. There is also some evidence linking pesticide use to other childhood cancers such as Wilm's tumour, retinoblastoma (eye cancer), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and neuroblastoma.

Fortunately, organic agriculture is more popular than ever. In 2015, the number of organic farmers stood at 2.4 million, up by 7.2% from 2014. Organic farmland was up to 50.9 million hectares, up by 14.7% from 2014. The highest market share was Denmark, at 8.4%, while Australia has the most organic farmland at 22.7 million hectares (as we are a quite arid country, the quality may not be as high as in other regions). India has more than half a million organic farmers, the most of any country, with Ethiopia and Mexico following at over 200,000 each.

New Research On Magnesium

At first, it seems strange that one simple mineral could have such dramatic effects on our health. But three months ago, yet another study was published, showing that optimal magnesium intake could lower the risks of certain chronic illness and mortality.

Released on the 8th of December, 2016, this study is a meta-analysis, in other words, a study of studies. Led by Fudi Wang, a research team from Zhejiang University's School of Public Health analysed 40 studies that involved a total of over one million people. Magnesium intake was determined by food frequency questionnaires and dietary recall. It was found that for every 100mg increase in magnesium intake, there was a 22% reduction in heart failure, a 7% reduction in stroke risk and a 19% lower risk of developing type II diabetes. The risk of dying from any cause fell by 10%. However, while supplementation is indeed effective, the authors noted that boosting magnesium intake by dietary changes can be hit and miss. There are many foods, such as some nuts, beans and whole grains, that are rich in magnesium, but it is best to not rely on only one food source if you want to improve your magnesium status.

If you grow your own food, this is how
 magnesium deficiency looks in plants.

As Dr George Lundberg points out, magnesium deficiency is unfortunately so common in spite of all the research demonstrating its benefits, and could be killing those we love and care about. In his article, Did Carrie Fisher Die From Chronic Magnesium Deficiency?, he raises the very real possibility that she may have died from an undetected mineral deficiency. With the recent study showing a 22% drop in heart failure for every 100mg of magnesium, chances are looking high. Years before this recent paper, it has been known that low magnesium can trigger cardiac rhythm abnormalities, and that magnesium infusions can restore healthy heart rhythms. And sudden, unexpected deaths affect several hundred thousand people in the USA alone, every year. This should concern us all, but half of all Americans, including two-thirds of teenagers and those over 80, do not consume the recommended amount of 300-400mg of magnesium.  Almonds, cashews, shellfish, spinach, peanuts, pecans, whole grains, soy, black beans, edamame, dark chocolate, brown rice, oatmeal, figs, apricots, and bran are some food sources of magnesium, but too many people primarily consume processed foods. Alcohol, cola and some pharmaceuticals such as diuretics and PPIs further deplete the mineral, and use of these are so common, especially in the elderly. Magnesium is used for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including nerve impulse conduction and energy production.

It may not just be what we eat, but how these foods are grown. Magnesium is found in significantly higher levels in foods grown organically, along with other nutrients such as vitamin C, iron and carotenoids. Fortunately, thousands of farmers across the world are turning to organic farming methods in order to improve their health, as well as that of their customers and the environment. And awareness of natural health, both things we can do ourselves and those that require a qualified naturopath (or other practitioner), is growing every day. Sudden death is not fate, it is preventable!

Progress for a Medicinal Herb in Australia

After what has seemed like forever, some Australians are finally getting close to obtaining access to legal cannabis. The federal government has recently loosened the restrictions on importing cannabis, meaning that suppliers of medicinal products can import to Australia in bulk, store a surplus and mail it to patients with a doctor's prescription.

Legal: blue. Multiple sources.

Previously, the only products that could have met Australia's strict standards for quality would have all been classed as "unapproved medicines", as they have not been tested in the country. Apparently, Australians must be of a much different breed of human, with entirely different biology. Licensing and legal cultivation has been possible since October 2016, but it takes many months to set up a farm and then grow plants to a point where they can be harvested. Australia is also far more repressive with cannabis than regions such as Colorado. It is not legal to grow your own plants, or for just anyone to buy anything from a retail store - a prescription must be obtained from the Special Access Scheme, that requires approval from the state and federal governments. Until last Wednesday (16th of February), medicinal cannabis products had to be shipped directly from a foreign manufacturer to the patient on this same case-by-case basis, which cost thousands per patient. Another problem is that doctors who can prescribe the herbal medicine are not allowed to advertise this. Additionally, the main beneficiaries of these new changes are large companies such as GW, Tilray, Bedrocan, AusCann and companies involved in pharmaceutical logistics.

Imported medicinal cannabis could be available to certain Australians in eight weeks. Some of the qualifying conditions are severe epilepsy, cancer (for certain symptoms) and multiple sclerosis; all debilitating, chronic and painful illnesses. Unfortunately, prevention and milder ailments still do not count as "valid". The Australian Medical Association still believes there is not enough evidence for even the small list of "allowed" illnesses. On the other hand, currently eight US states allow cannabis for recreational use, with several more likely to join them in the near future. These previously legalised the plant for medicinal use, so it looks unlikely that a restrictive, prescription-only policy is here to stay. Overall, cannabis laws are liberalising, with use for serious illness, milder ailments, prevention or as an alcohol (tobacco, etc.) substitute becoming possible for more people, even though it can be quite slow.

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Found Ineffective for Neck and Back Pain

Just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's a good idea. A new Australian study has found that common anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, are no better than a placebo for neck and lower back pain.

Points controlling kidneys, Wellcome Images

For this study, the results of 35 clinical trials, totalling six thousand patients, were analysed to see if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had any real effect. Researchers then found the success rate was so low that six patients had to be treated for one to benefit. "Compared with placebo, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not provide a clinically important effect on spinal pain," Associate Professor Manuela Ferreira said. As back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and affects 80% of Australians at some point in their lives, this study has far-reaching effects. And to make things worse for those who prefer pharmaceutical drugs, previous research showed that paracetamol and opioids are also no better than placebo for treating spinal pain.

NSAIDs also come with sometimes nasty side effects. The study's safety analysis revealed that the drugs increased the risk of gastrointestinal side effects by 2.5 times compared to placebo. These included stomach ulcers and bleeding. With no significant benefit, plus these side effects, safe and effective alternatives must become common practice.

One such alternative is acupuncture. Multiple studies have found that it can provide at least short-term relief from chronic back pain, with correct acupuncture outperforming "sham" treatment and sometimes even the sham treatment performing better than standard treatment. The guidelines from the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians both state that acupuncture should be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with chronic lower back pain. It is theorised that acupuncture works by modulating neurotransmitter and neurohormone production; modulating immune cells and/or by modulating nerve signal conduction. Even the World Health Organisation recognises that acupuncture is proven to be effective in a range of conditions, including neck and lower back pain. You don't have to suffer from pain and the side effects of ineffective drugs, there are alternatives out there.

Essential Oils and Dementia: Thoughts From the Alzheimer's and Dementia Summit

As I had posted on my Facebook page, I signed up to the free online screening of the Alzheimer's and Dementia Summit, which is running from the 25th of July to the 1st of August, with talks available for purchase for those who have to watch them later. The talks featured in this summit cover a wide range of ways to prevent and treat dementia (Alzheimer's is a form of dementia), from often complex nutritional medicine and detoxification to the simpler things such as use of essential oils. While changing your diet can take a long time, as old habits are hard to break, essential oils, whether they be inhaled or used topically (on the skin), don't require often major changes.

One of the studies described in the talk on essential oils tested the use of rosemary and lemon essential oils in the morning, and lavender and orange oils in the evening. The study involved 28 patients, who were given aromatherapy with these oils for 28 days after a control period, with another 28 day washout period afterwards. After the aromatherapy period, all patients showed significant improvement in personal orientation, related to cognitive function, on two scales used to measure the severity of dementia. Patients with Alzheimer's disease showed significant improvement in the total scores of the Touch Panel-type Dementia Assessment Scale. Routine laboratory tests showed no changes, suggesting a lack of side-effects. There were also no significant changes in the Zarit's score, meaning that caregivers had no effect on the results.

In another, essential oils of lavender, sweet marjoram, vetiver and patchouli were blended into a cream and massaged into the bodies or limbs of 56 patients with moderate to severe dementia. Patients were divided into two groups, where one would receive the treatment for 4 weeks and the other would only receive a plain cream, with interventions switched for the next 4 weeks. During treatment, both groups showed significant drops in frequency and severity of "dementia-related behaviours" in comparison to control periods. In one group, "resistance to nursing care" increased during treatment, which likely reflected greater awareness and alertness. There was also a small but significant increase in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, suggesting increases in cognitive function, for the seven residents who scored above 0 on the MMSE before treatment. One important thing to remember, as stated by the speaker, is that inhalation of the essential oils is only effective when the patient still has a sense of smell. If they have lost this, then the oils must be given in a cream.

In a third trial, lavender, geranium and mandarin oils in an almond oil base were applied to the skin of 39 patients. Increased alertness and contentment; improved sleep; and less agitation, withdrawal and wandering were observed. An open-label trial that was also discussed involved the use of several essential oils, including ylang ylang, rosemary, patchouli and peppermint. These produced a marked decrease in "disturbed behaviours", thus leading to reduced usage of pharmaceutical drugs. In a placebo-controlled trial, lemon balm and lavender oils were given to six patients, which increased functional abilities and communication while decreasing "difficult behaviour". Overall, essential oils seem to be a simple and effective complementary therapy for dementia, and even if you want to add something more complex such as dietary changes, it's a good place to start.

(Image: lemon balm. Source: Werner100359; CC BY SA: 3.0)

Has Pokemon Go Helped Players with Depression?

Since Pokemon Go was released this month, it has had some surprising impacts on its millions of users, including offering benefits for players who suffer from mental health conditions. Users have taken to social media to report unexpected improvements in depression and anxiety since downloading the game, which requires the player, or “trainer”, to go outside and walk, often for hours at a time. This is commonly a struggle for people with depression or anxiety to achieve for even a few minutes.

A few tweets from some users read as follows:

“PokemonGo has already been a better treatment for my depression than anything my doctor prescribed or therapist recommended.”

“Took another 4 mile walk and talked to 4 people along the way. PokemonGo may solve obesity and social anxiety in one app.”

“PokemonGO is gunna cure my social anxiety. Everyone has been so nice. People are not as scary as originally perceived.”

As playing the game requires going out and exploring one’s neighbourhood to find and capture Pokemon, leaving the house does not come with the forced social interaction which can make it so difficult. While there are hundreds of apps attempting to improve mental health by affirmations or mood tracking, many lose interest after a few days or weeks.

Video games have come a long way since I owned this.

But is there any scientific evidence to explain these benefits? Yes, for both the increased physical activity and the fact that some of the best Pokemon are found near trees or water. A study has found that spending just 30 minutes a week in nature can reduce the risk of depression by 7%, and high blood pressure by 9%. With the high prevalence of these conditions, even 7 and 9% means a significant number of people benefit. Social cohesion, measured by trust, reciprocal exchange and general community cohesion, also improved. Another found that going for a 90-minute walk through a grassland area decreased activity in the area of the brain responsible for negative rumination when compared to brain scans before the walk. Rumination means repetitive thoughts focusing on negative aspects of the self, and can increase the risk of depression. Yet another found that walking down a tree-lined street could significantly lower stress levels, even when the participants were preparing a speech or performing mathematics in front of judges. This has been a familiar concept to Japanese culture for many years, known as “nature bathing”. As for simply exercising, a study on 1,904 women with depressive symptoms, mild or moderate depression found that 200 minutes of walking a week, or 150 minutes of moderate exercise (golf, tennis, swimming, aerobics or line dancing) was linked with improvements in mental health. They had more energy, socialised more, felt emotionally better and were not as limited by their depression. 150 minutes is equal to just over 20 minutes a day, while 200 minutes can be spread out and rounded up to 30 minutes a day. More exercise was associated with greater improvements, though there were still benefits at lower levels of exercise. However, the average Pokemon Go player is likely to walk for much longer than 30 minutes at a time. Overall, it looks like a game that is not only enjoyable and world-famous, but also leads to much-needed exercise and time outside, should not be automatically dismissed as “stupid” or “childish”.

Unfortunately for me, my phone does not support the game, but hopefully I can update it.

Stem Cell Injections May Help Stroke Patients

Patients once left dependent on wheelchairs to get around from suffering strokes are now walking again, since participating in a trial involving stem cell injections into the brain. With 18 patients, this is the second trial to test the effects of stem cell injections on stroke-related disabilities. Patients in the first trial, which was conducted by the UK company ReNeuron, also experienced significant reductions in their disabilities for more than a year after their injections. All patients in this second trial showed improvement, with an average mobility score improvement of 11.4 points, using a 100-point scale where 100 equals full mobility. It may seem small for those of us who haven't met these patients, but was deemed clinically significant for patients. The most dramatic improvements were in walking, communication, hand co-ordination and strength. One woman, who could only move her left thumb at the beginning of the trial, can now walk and lift her arm above her head. These effects wouldn't have happened spontaneously, as all of these patients' progress had plateaued long before the trials began.

Unlike some trials, the stem cells used in this study did not come from the patients, but instead from two donors. These were injected into areas of the brain that typically control motor movements through holes drilled into their skulls (it wouldn't sound so bad if you were paralysed!), at amounts of either 2.5, 5 or 10 million cells. These stem cells are known as mesenchymal stem cells, which come from the bone marrow. While experiments on rats showed that these donor cells disappear in a month, these cells were engineered to possess a gene which activates pro-brain development factors in babies, and so produced growth factors that build connections between brain cells and promote blood vessel growth. The ReNeuron trial used stem cells from aborted foetuses which were grown to produce larger numbers of cells. Both companies are planning further, larger trials, while there are 30 others currently in progress. None have showed results as significant as those where the stem cells are injected right into the brain. In a rare news article speaking positively about international stem cell clinics, it has been reported that former and even current professional athletes are embracing stem cell therapy in order to maintain or regain health. These clinics are often located in Spanish or Russian-speaking countries, such as Mexico and Kazakhstan. It was noted that mesenchymal stem cells have a side-benefit of producing anti-inflammatory and pro-healing chemicals. [Image Source: Nissim Benvenisty/Wikimedia].

So why am I writing about this, besides the fact that I am completely obsessed with stem cells? Natural medicine is being found to have a place in stem cell therapy, as more research is released showing that  natural substances can improve the efficacy of these procedures. In one such study, curcumin (from turmeric) was shown to improve the survival of stem cells transplanted to heal heart tissue. These cells also produced more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were less likely to be injured and improved heart function more. In another, a combination of spirulina, blueberry, carnosine, vitamin D3 and green tea increased the growth of neural stem cells and protected them against inflammation-induced destruction. This was inspired by research that showed a reversal of age-related cognitive decline and an increase in brain cell growth in rats after levels of the inflammatory interleukin 1-beta were reduced. Would I like to be involved in stem cell therapy, using natural medicines to improve outcomes and quality of life? Yes!

Graduation and Qualification!

Finally, after four years, I've done it! I have finally finished my degree, a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy! I have made so many friends, learnt so many things, and even self-published a book and started this blog! Years of studying nutrition, herbal medicine, biology,  chemistry, clinical skills and practical training will soon pay off even more for me.

So what am I going to do? I'm going to Europe for a month's holiday next Saturday first, partly to see if I would like to work there or at least have a deeper involvement with the world of health on the continent. Then, it's time to begin the task of setting up clinical practice, which takes time as I first need my transcript to update my association membership, in order to get my insurance and health fund access. I need an account with pathology labs, a dispensary, furniture and a clinic room too. Then there's marketing, I am thankful for all my views and followers but I need better search rankings and visibility, especially here in Australia!

I would love to be antiaging and longevity royalty someday. I am looking at starting a line of skincare products and/or writing more books and even courses. I will probably do clinical practice part time to accommodate these. I want to have a balance between work and fun, so I can travel, dance, be with friends etc....you probably don't know that I am a semi professional belly dancer in a troupe! We are the Stars of the Sahara, and becoming more well-known on the Gold Coast. Will I even be able to combine my two passions, using dance or music as therapy? Who knows. I have my role models: that is you, my dance teacher; Angela Counsel; Kathy Wong (Moeloco flip flops); Dr Ursula Jacob; Dr Thomas Vogl; David McLelland and all of my teachers and other friends I have not listed behind me (even the chiropractor I had for over a year, an upstanding example of work/life balance). No one I studied with or under can get too far away from me, all us naturopaths know each other anyway.

My book is sold here: www.lulu.com/spotlight/alexandra_preston/
My Facebook page: www.facebook.com/springchickenhealth/

Good News From The Pharmaceutical Industry

I never thought I would ever say this, but: Congratulations Pfizer!

Source: Predrag Stakic/humanrightslogo.net

Why am I saying this? Well, a few days ago, the drug giant Pfizer announced that it will impose tight controls on the sale of drugs used for lethal injections, in order to prevent their products being used for the barbaric practice. As a fan of the Undertale PC game, I would like to say, thank you for choosing Mercy. While more than 20 other pharmaceutical companies in the USA and Europe have taken similar measures, Pfizer is the second largest such company in the world and the last FDA-approved manufacturer of execution drugs, making this news even more significant. Now, it will be almost impossible for states in the USA to obtain them. The reasoning behind this is that Pfizer and others want their products to "save or improve lives", and while patients go to naturopaths like me for better and non-toxic results in that department, I do sympathise with their reasons. Using something meant to heal in order to kill is sick, it is disgusting, and it does not make you more "humane"; I will only trust you less. If you support the death penalty: I make no apologies to those who I may offend by saying this; I am valid and have a right to what I say and value, and I value human rights. No I am not being "emotional", I am standing up for myself and my values because I have to. Also, I am Australian. The last execution in Australia happened more than 20 years before I was born, and my state ended it almost 100 years ago. And yes, these measures are already making a difference. States are finding it harder to find ways to execute inmates, and approval of backup plans is generating yet more backlash against the death penalty. Ohio has been repeatedly delaying executions; conservative lawmakers are beginning to turn against the practice when in the past they were the least likely to do such a thing. It is about time that the 31 US states which retain the death penalty put an end to it, so the country can join the majority of the world's countries that have either banned it or have not practised it in years.

Biotech Company Permitted To Resurrect Clinically Dead

Just in on ScienceAlert: A US biotechnology company, BioQuark, has recently been given permission for a trial involving 20 clinically dead patients, where they will attempt to revive "dead" central nervous systems. If successful in reanimating the upper spinal cord/lower brain stem area, the vital functions of breathing and heartbeat may be restored, which the clinically dead can only do with the help of machines.
Ira Pastor, CEO of BioQuark, stated that "This represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual reversal of death in our lifetime," after being granted permission for this trial, known as the ReAnima Project. This Phase I trial is a proof-of-concept, non-randomised study meant to determine whether it is actually possible to reverse brain death. Failing that, researchers will be investigating if they can produce any changes in the meninges of the brain (tissue that sits between the brain and skull).
This treatment will involve the following:
-Daily injections of peptides, which are short proteins, into the spinal cord
-Twice-weekly injections of stem cells into the brain
-Transcranial laser therapy, which uses light to penetrate the skull in order to activate the body's natural repair processes, and
-Nerve stimulation, where electrical impulses are applied to the median nerve of the upper limb.

If all goes well, hopefully there will be a place for the natural side of medicine in bringing back the clinically dead, with all our anti-inflammatory, stem cell-assisting, nervous system-repairing tools available now and in the future. However, it will take years for any treatment like this to be available to the public, if it is successful at all. There will, of course, be much ethical debate, but many antiaging and longevity types like myself do approve of such measures. Although, this is the strangest news article I have covered so far.

Salmon, an oily fish. Also what antiaging can feel like.

So what is an example of how natural medicines can help? Well, there is the story of Bobby Ghassemi. After a car crash, this young man was taken to a Virginia hospital in a state closer to death than life. Doctors were surprised that he was even alive enough to be in a coma; his reports stated a Glasgow coma score of three, which is the worst possible. Fortunately, his father found Army Colonel Dr Michael Lewis through his army buddies, who recommended high doses, 20 grams daily to be exact, of fish oil. The omega-3 fats in fish oil are required to both relieve inflammation and promote neuron growth. The first point is equally essential, as when someone is in a coma, their neurological condition often worsens due to the inflammation killing off the remaining brain cells. Within several months, Bobby was able to graduate high school, although he still required therapy for walking difficulty and some weakness on his left side. I just wish cases like this were more widely publicised.