50 Plus

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Memory Medic

Midlife obesity may hasten mental decline

Pg. 2

Fall recipe

Chef Diane Lestina whips up pork chop recipe

Pg. 3

September 2012 • Vol. 5, Issue 6 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Making music Young and old participate in Brazos Valley Community Band PAGE PA GE 10

How older drivers can cut vehicle costs PAGE PA GE 19

50plus October 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com 2

Midlife obesity may hasten mental decline You know you are getting older when your belt size increases every couple of years. In the span of two decades, I went from 36 to 38 and now to 40, even though I try to control what I eat. That doesn’t qualify as obese, but it is still worrisome.

Conf Confocal microscopy reveals that a pound of fat contains approximately one mile of capillary tubing.

Obviously, adding weight adds miles of tubing that the heart has to pump blood through. The diet that produces new fat may well contribute to hardening of the arteries, which in turn compounds the added workload on the heart.

People who are obese commonly have ha high blood pressure and other risk factors invo in lving metabolism.

Obesity is a common cause of diabetes, which adds its own toll on blood vessels and the heart, as well as on nerve cells. No wonder, nder then, that nder, obese people may develop mental deterioration. In fact, a new study at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research and partially funded by the U.S. N.I.H. indicates that obesity in middle age can accelerate decline in cognitive gniti skills over gnitive time.

The study invo in lved 6,401 people with an average age of 50 at the start of the study.

Inf mation on body mass Infor index (BMI) and the risk factors was gathered at the beginning of the study. The participants took a battery of tests invo in lving reasoning, short-term memory and verbal fluency three times over the next 10 years.

In this study, midlife subjects were regarded as ha having metabolic abnormality if they exhibited two or more of the following risk factors: high blood pressure or taking medication for it; low HDL or “good” cholesterol; high blood sugar or taking diabetes medication; and high triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) or taking medication to lower cholesterol.

Over the 10 years of the study, people who were both obese and metabolically abnormal experienced a 22.5 percent faster decline on their

cognitive gniti test scores than gnitive those who were of normal weight without metabolic abnormalities. Even the obese subjects who were metabolically normal exhibited more rapid mental decline than subjects of normal weight. If this is what happens in the first 10 years after 50, imagine how bad things can get in the next several decades.

The inve in stigators challenged the common belief that there can be such a thing as “metabolically healthy obesity.” To be “fit and Dr. BiLL KLeMM fat” is an the memory meDiC oxymoron.

Brain circulation is impaired by those miles of vessels added with extra pounds and typically accompanied by increased blood lipids and cholesterol. At the same time, the diet creating the fat is promoting insulin resistance, which may raise blood sugar levels that damage nerve cells.

The problem may be worse in women. The more a woman weighs, the worse her memory. No, I am not a chauvinist pig. This claim comes from actual research —by a woman, no less. Diana Kerwin and her colleagues at Northwestern Unive Uni rsity studied 8,745 women ages 65 to 79 and found that for every one-point increase in body mass index, the score on a 100 point memory test dropped by one point.

The problem was greatest in women who had put the weight on around the hips, which is fairly ir typical irly for weight gain in women.

Nobody knows why this is so.

Fat deposits may increase the amount of cytokines, which are hormones that can cause inflammation. I have ha written columns befor bef e about how damaging inflammation is to the brain.

These findings remind us that gaining weight can not only compromise the heart, but also the brain. There are only two ways to lose

See Memory Medic pa 6 page

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CONTENTS Chef Diane: Pork chops Financial Literacy: What papers to keep Bradway: Hip pain Calendar Cover: Brazos Valley Community Band Travel: Chesapeake Bay

3 4 5 8 10 13

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To brine: Dissolve 1/4 cup table salt in 2 quarts water in large bowl or container. Submerge chops in brine, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, sage and lemon zest in pie dish. Whisk egg with water in shallow bowl to blend. Place flour on plate; season generously with salt and pepper. Coat pork por chops on both sides with flour; shake off of excess. Dip chops into egg mixture, then coat on both sides with breadcrumb mixture.

Sage and Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops make mak for a tasty meal for the family or dinner guests.

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon dried sage, or 1 tablespoon fresh sage

Zest from 1 lemon 1 large egg mixed with 2 tablespoons water 1/4 cup flour

Melt butter with oil in a heavy hea large non-stick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork por chops to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer skillet with pork por to oven. Bake until por chops are crisp on the outside pork and meat thermometer inserted into por registers 150 degrees Farenheit, pork about 20 minutes.

Diane Lestina, a certified pe personal chef, holds cooking ing classes and cook ing oks for residents nt in the Brya nts Br n-College Stat St ion area. To learn more, re visit re, www hefd www.c he iane.com

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Sage and Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops 4 bone-in, center-cut pork por loin chops, 1 ¼ inch thick 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1 tablespoon butter plus 1 tablespoon olive oli oil

October 2012

Cooler days and chilly nights always turn my thoughts to oven-cooked meals. One of my favo fa rites is juicy pork por chops with a nice crispy crust. This recipe browns Diane Lestina the pork por chops Cook it Simple on the stovetop www.ChefDiane.Com and then finishes them in the oven. I prefer thicker por chops since they are less likely pork to be dry, dry although I have ha found that brining pork por chops for 30 minutes in a salt water solution befor bef e cooking will keep them moist regardless of thickness. The brine, through a chemical process, lets the chops trap and hold moisture, which keeps them juicy. The way I make them crispy is to use panko breadcrumbs found in the International aisle of the grocery store. This recipe is quick enough to be used for a weekday meal but special enough to be served when ha having dinner guests. Happy fall!

50plus

Sage and Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops good for fall cooking

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50plus October 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com 4

How long should you keep all those papers?

Now that you have ha all your papers sorted into tidy locations, how long do you ha to keep them around? have Organize your records in terms of duration of time to retain such as short-term, mediumterm and long-term.

The length of time to keep a tracY stewar ewart ewar art document finanCial literaCy iter depends on the nature and purpose of the document.

The following are guidelines that may be helpful.

Short-term, from one to three years: • Bills for living li expenses except those that support income tax deductions. (Expenses such as utilities are short-term except if you claim a home office of deduction).

• Papers on insurance policies that no longer exist Medium-term, from six to seven years: • Income tax returns and supporting documentation • Bank statements • Brokerage statements • Cancelled checks and checking account registers • Loan documents for paidof loans off Long-term or indefinitely • Documents showing retirement plan and IRA contributions • Records regarding tax disputes • Medical history documents • Pension plan and other retirement plan documents • Documents related to Social Security benefits • Statements regarding cost basis of inve in stments or

other property • Home owner or sale documents • Home improvement documents and receipts What the IRS recommends about your record retention (from the IRS website) How long you should keep the records? cor cords?

Generally, you need to retain records that back up an income or deduction item until the “period of limitations” for the tax returns runs out. The period of limitations is the period of time in which you can amend your tax return to claim a credit or refund, or that the IRS can assess additional tax.

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The following list (from the IRS website) shows the periods of limitations that apply to income tax returns.

Unless otherwise noted, the years refer to the period after the return was filed.

1. If you owe additional tax and the situations described in items 2, 3 and 4 below do not apply to you, then keep your records for three years.

2. If you did not report income that you should ha reported and it is more have than 25 percent of the gross income on the return, then

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and other conditions can cause osteonerosis and the hip is the most common site affected af by this condition.

8. Hip Fractures - Most hip fractures occur in people older than 65 because bones weaken with age, patients take multiple medication or have ha poor vision and balance problems. All of these factors can increase the risk of falls, which is the most common cause of hip fracture.

In all of the above, except numbers 7 and 8, treatment often begins with rest and over the counter pain/antiinflammatory medication as your own doctor prescribed. If that doesn’t do the trick after several weeks, you’ll most likely be referred to a physical therapist as the problem appears to be more than just inflammation. Let me describe several possible treatment options.

• Physical therapy is one of the more conservative approaches as it is natural (does not invo in lve medication), has no side effects ef and addresses the root cause of the problem. While some people remain on medication while being treated by a physical therapist (PT), others do not and many reduce the amount of medication needed as the therapy progresses. PT can address

all the causes noted above except for Osteonecrosis and hip fractures; in these instances you must see your doctor for treatment options.

An experienced PT will have ha many treatment options available at his/ her disposal, including; manual therapy, py manipulation, Trigger Point py, Dry Needling, targeted exercises and stretching, electrical stimulation, occasionally ultrasound or traction and hot/cold treatments. In addition, the PT should work with you to adjust your plan if you are not progressing as planned.

• Injections of Corticosteroid are administered by a doctor directly into the hip joint. The purpose is to reduce the inflammation and thus the pain and discomfor discomf t. The injections are normally done at specific intervals. When swelling is severe, fluid may need to be drained from the hip.

• Prescription medications are often give gi n to those with arthritis, depending on the severity of their disease. However, er someone with er, arthritis might also use physical therapy to decrease pain, increase

See Bradway pa 9 page

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2. Tendonitis – tendons (rope like tissues connecting muscles and bone) become inflamed due to repetitive petiti or petitive strenuous movement.

3. Muscle strain – small tears in the muscle from overuse, trauma or over-exertion.

4. Nerve Irritation – Pain, weakness and numbness resulting from nerve irritation. A common example is sciatica pain coming from the sciatica nerve.

5. Herniated Disc – A disc is the small spongy “shock absorber’ that separates the vertebrae in your back.

If the disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. Trauma, injury, injury overexertion and the aging process can all contribute to a herniated disc. If the disc presses against the nerve, it can cause the nerve to become irritated.

6. Arthritis - Bones are protected by cartilage, loss of this cartilage from trauma, injury, injury age, and inflammation can create pain, stif stiffness and swelling, restricting normal daily activities acti of life. This is one of the most common causes of hip pain in those 65 and older.

7. Osteonecrosis - Occurs when insuf insufficient blood flows to the bone, destroying bone cells. Years of Corticosteroid use, alcoholism

October 2012

I’m 50 years ar old and very active. ars I exercise er ercise five days da a week and have maintained a healthy weight for the last 30 years. ar So why ars. wh am I experiencing hip pain? I woke up a few weeks ago ag with hip pain. Since then it has gotten progressively worse wor to the point I can’t work wor out, even in the pool. My doctor told me to take over the counter medication and not exercise er ercise for two weeks. It’s been two weeks; I’m still in pain. Now what? SZ Brya Br n This is a great question because hip pain is more Leon BraDwaY Dw DwaY common than p hySiCal therap herapy people realize. As you described, it can come on without apparent cause while at other times it follows a trauma, injury or episode of overexertion. First, let me describe the most common causes of hip pain and then I’ll address the differ dif ent treatment options.

1. Bursitis – inflammation of the fluid filled sacs between the tendon and skin/bone (bursa). Bursitis is often caused by overuse, trauma, arthritis, gout or infection.

50plus

Hip pain: causes and treatments

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Memory Medic from page pa 2

weight: eat fewer calories and exercise more. Though exercise doesn’t do much to cause weight loss, it has many other benefits (including improved circulation of blood to the brain) that can directly benefit memory and cognitive gniti gnitive function.

What is your waist size these days? I think I will be more concerned about mine.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2012

Sources: Kerwin, D. R. et al.

2010. The cross-sectional relationship between body

6

Stewart

from page pa 4 keep your records for six years.

3. If you filed a fraudulent return, then keep your records indefinitely.

4. If you have ha not filed a return, then keep your records indefinitely.

5. If you have ha filed a claim for a credit or refund subsequent to having ha filed a return, then keep your records for three years after the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.

6. If you filed a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bed debt deduction, then keep records for seven years.

7. If you have ha a business, keep all employment tax records for at least four years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.

When can you toss or shred?

You should retain records that relate to property until the period of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the property in a taxable disposition. You need to keep these records to calculate any depreciation, amortization or depletion deduction and to calculate the gain or loss when you sell or otherwise dispose of the property.

If you have ha receive cei d ceive property in a nontaxable exchange, your basis in the property is the same as the basis of the property you ga up, increased by any gave money you paid. You need to keep the records on the

mass index, waist–hip ratio, and cognitive gniti perfor gnitive perf mance in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative ti . Journal tive of the American Geriatrics Society. 58 (8): 1427–1432,

Sheetrock Cracks?

House Shifting?

Singh-Manoux, A. et al (2012). Obesity phenotypes in midlife and cognition in early ear old age. Neurology. 79 (8): 755-762

Dr Klemm is a senior Dr. profes of sor of Neuroscience at ofes Texas A&M and author of two recent memory books, Better Grad Gr es, es Less Effor Eff t, and Memory ry Power 101. He also has a learning ning and memory ning blog at thanky kyoubrain br . brain blogsp og ot.com. ogsp old property, ty as well as on ty, the new property, ty until the ty, period of limitations for the year in which you disposed of the new property in a taxable disposition.

When someone else needs to find your records Let’s say that you have ha meticulously retained your records. How will your loved ones find these records if you become disabled or when you pass away? You could show them where you store your documents and hope they remember or you could keep a record of important data and storage locations.

There are many products to help you keep a record for your loved ones. My Internet search using the search term “famil “f y record organizer book” produced 1,610,000 results. You can use a book or do this on your computer with a CD. If you ha an inve have in stment advisor advisor, visor, you might ask if they have ha a free resource for clients.

I am currently trying out an organizer on CD that includes sections for legal and financial, practical matters, present and future health and family and friends. The cost was about $25.

You might consider looking into one of these organizers. This is a place where you can record not only the location of important documents, but also critical estate and personal inf mation. It can serve as a infor guide for those who will care for you, your family and your home.

Contac nt t Trac ntac Tracy acy B. Stewart, CP PFS, CPA, PFS CFF, CF CDFA, CDF CF through CFP® ug her blog at ugh www.Texas www.T .TexasDi exasDivorceFin eF ance. eFin com.

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By JAMES GAGGNEY Mature Life Features

Leg cramps can be an unpleasant surprise at any time. At night, they disrupt sleep with a jolt of pain, most often in the calf.

The pain from night leg cramps can vary in intensity and last from just a few seconds to 15 minutes or more. Cramps are most common in the calf, but also can affect the feet or thighs.

While the risk of night leg cramps increases with age, pinpointing

an exact cause is often difficult.

Possible causes include dehydration, prolonged sitting, inadequate amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium in the diet, and medications including diuretics, beta blockers and others used to treat blood pressure. Night leg cramps also can be associated with thyroid conditions, diabetes, or cancer that has spread to the spine.

The Mayo Clinic offers ways to prevent these typically harmless but painful cramps.

--Untuck the covers: loosening covers at the foot of the bed may reduce the incidence of night leg cramps.

When a calf cramp occurs, putting weight on the affected leg and slightly bending the knee can offer relief.

If putting weight on the leg is too painful, flexing the foot can help.

Gently massaging the affected muscle may relax the muscle. Applying ice or a cold pack may reduce pain. Another option is applying heat, with a warm towel, heating pad, or warm bath or shower.

--Stay hydrated: drinking plenty of fluids helps the muscles contract and relax more easily. Replenishing fluids is especially important when engaging in physical activity.

--Stretch before bed: for those who experience night leg cramps, stretching before bed can help.

--Do light exercise: riding a stationary bike a few minutes before bed may help prevent cramps during sleep.

--Choose the right shoes: wear shoes that offer plenty of support.

50plus

What causes leg cramps at night and how to ease the pain

Techniques refined to improve effects of aging on skin Mature Life Features

blood vessels without bruising the skin by adjusting the laser to the patient’s skin.

“Laser technology continues to evolve and provide dermatologists with more options to target not only specific signs of aging, but specific cells responsible for age-related changes in our appearance,” Kim said. “In the future, lasers could even produce significant skin tightening or effectively target oil glands to improve acne, decrease oily skin, and reduce large pores.”

Individuals looking to rejuvenate their appearance without a trip to the doctor’s office should find no scarcity

of over-the-counter products designed to improve the look of skin.

Kim recommends patients look for ingredients such as retinoids (chemical compounds derived from vitamin A), peptides (smaller proteins that stimulate collagen production), and growth factors (compounds that act as chemical messengers between cells and play a role in collagen production).

Added to inexpensive skin-care products, these have the ability to repair skin damage from sun exposure or other toxic chemicals and, in some cases, stimulate collagen production.

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There’s good news for folks who would like to handcuff the hands of time from leaving such aging marks as crow’s feet, sun-damaged cheeks, sagging eyelids, and wrinkled brows on our faces.

There has never been a time in medicine when more treatments – both surgical and non-surgical -- are available to dermatologists to help people return to or keep a youthful appearance, according to the Academy of Dermatology.

“Many fillers for the aging face are now designed to create a fuller, more youthful appearance instead of targeting only wrinkles or fine lines,” said dermatologist Dr. Jenny Kim, associate professor of medicine at the University of California - Los Angeles.

“In addition, facial rejuvenation with lasers is now more targeted, resulting in quicker results and less down time. Couple these treatments with the wide range of inexpensive skin-care products with high-quality ingredients that are now available and patients can see dramatic results for many problem areas.”

Common treatments may include skin fillers and botulinum toxin, the most widely used procedures to rejuvenate the skin. But Kim said the newest fillers coming on line are designed to work as “volumizers” that help replace the plumpness of the face that is lost with aging.

Similar to how a balloon deflates over time, the face loses its youthful roundness or fullness with age. Most facial-volume loss occurs after age 40, although some people start noticing this change in their late 30s. When this happens, areas of the face that once were full get depressed and are made more prominent by shadowing or darkening, making the face look older.

“As much as lines and wrinkles make us look older, we’re learning that volume loss is just as critical,” she said. “Because of that, we’re looking at the aging process a little

differently now and understanding the importance of replacing volume loss in the face to restore the fullness of a more youthful appearance.”

Among new Federal Drug Administration-approved fillers for facial rejuvenation is calcium hydroxylapatite, which restores facial volume and promotes collagen production, lasting for up to a year in most cases. This filler is thicker than the widely used hyaluronic acid fillers and this thickness, she was quick to point out, is associated with slightly higher adverse effects than hyaluronic acid fillers.

“I expect that we’ll see more advances in volumizing fillers in the near future, which should offer patients better results and fewer side effects,” Kim said.

“Since each filler has unique advantages and disadvantages, it is important that patients discuss their expectations with their dermatologist to determine which procedure is best for them.”

New laser technology also offers an alternative to rejuvenate the skin with fewer side effects than earlier lasers.

Fractional photothermolysis, for instance, works by targeting a small percentage of the skin during each treatment, improving the damaged area and resulting in lessadverse effects and down time for the patient. Even pulseddye lasers, which have been around for a long time, have evolved so a dermatologist can treat visible broken

October 2012

By JAMES GAGGNEY

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50plus

CALENDAR

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2012

Ongoing Sit and Fit – Seniors meet from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Southwood Community, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line dancing – Line dancing for seniors is held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Fridays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. For more information, contact Southwood CommunityCenterat979-764-6351or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bluegrass Jam Session – A Bluegrass Jam Session is held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie All levels welcome.

Participants are asked to bring an instrument. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

42 dominoes – Seniors meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays to play 42 dominoes at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bible study - Seniors meet for Bible study from 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Thursdays at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor. For more information call 979-764-3779 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or email awilliams@cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 2

8

Beginning Computer 101 Class – Three-week class on basic computer skills will be held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

The class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Cost is $60. Class size limit is five people.

To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov, call College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 Krenek Tap Road in College Station. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Intermediate Computer 102 Class – Intermediate computer class will start Oct. 2 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for three weeks. Cost is $60.

To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov, call College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 Krenek Tap Road in College Station. For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 3 Computer Club for Seniors – The Computer Club for seniors will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. for a “Learn about Home Security” presentation by Audio Video. The club will meet at the Carter’s Creek Training Room, 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station. Free and no pre-registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 10

Oct. 15

Senior World Passport Program – Free program for seniors will be held Oct. 10 and 24. Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach, The Confucius Institute and College Station Parks and Recreation Department provide the program. On Oct. 10, the topic will be “Scenery in the Basin,” a perspective on Chinese horticulture and how it reflects on Chinese philosophy. On Oct. 24 the topic will be “Cuba.” Samples of foods from the country being discussed will be served. No reservation necessary.

For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-7646371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Computer Tips Class – Class will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 and 17 at Southwood Community Center. Topics include how to organize documents and folders.

Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov, call College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 11 Senior Fall Fest - Seniors are invited to a picnic in the park from 5 to 7 p.m. at Veterans Park, 3101 Harvey Road in College Station.

The event includes hamburgers, live entertainment, door prizes and games such as a cakewalk. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 17 Exploring History Lunch/ Lecture on “Hidden Treasures of Cushing Library” – Dr. Mary Manning will speak at noon at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway South. A reservation is necessary, and a $5 lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. RSVP with Kelly Kelbly at 979-764-6351 or kkelbly@ cstx.gov.

“A Thousand Words” at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Movie starts at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 24 Writing Your Family History Workshop - This free workshop will be held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. To register, call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Brazos County Retired School Personnel - The Brazos County Retired School Personnel, a local unit of the Texas Retired Teachers Association, will hold a luncheon meeting on Oct. 24. For details call Dixie Tracy at 979-690-0655.

Oct. 26 Bingo and Birthday Celebration

Oct. 18

See Calendar page 9

Movie and Popcorn – Seniors are invited for popcorn and to watch

Oct. 5 Transition of Life Series – Fiveweek series starts Oct. 5 and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. The program presents information on local healthcare resources and senior services. A light lunch will be served.

RSVP for each session; contact 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Oct. 8 Internet Computer Class – Two-day class on Internet and how to use various search tools will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday at Southwood Community Center. Cost is $45.

To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-7643486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

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- Seniors are invited to celebrate October birthdays at 1 p.m. with cake and Bingo, at Southwood Community Center. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

Lincoln Center Senior Birthday Celebration Pot Luck – The Lincoln Center will hold an October birthday celebration from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share. For more information contact Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30

from page pa 5

doctor if you have ha questions.

You can also contact a physical therapist directly. As more insurance companies and the government reduce healthcare benefits or restrict your healthcare benefits, it is imperative ti that you become a tive wise consumer of healthcare services. You can no longer af rd to be passive affo passi in your recovery process; you must ask questions and become in lved in your treatment invo options. Further, ther just as any ther, other consumer, consumer you need to choose wisely. Ask questions about experience, training, and specific treatment options, because the final choice is yours. As healthcare providers we want you to be comf table and satisfied with comfor your decisions.

Leon Brad Br way is a ph physical therap er ist and director of erap the Sports Back and Pain Manage na ment Clinic. Contac nage nt t ntac him at www vphysicaltherap www.b erapy. erap apy.com.

Brazos Valley Foot Care has been providing quality caring service for over 30 Years. Our friendly, iendly iendly, caring, efficient staff is here to make your visits with us as convenient and pleasant as possible . Our medical co team te am believes in taking a systematic approach to your foot ot problems, starting with conservative treatment & providing surgical correction when needed.

ACCEPTING SCOTT AND WHITE HEALTH HEAL PLAN PATIENT PA S

By CECIL SCAGLIONE SCA Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

It never goes away. When you were young, you weren’t old enough. Then you were often told “you’re too old for that” when you spotted something you liked in a shop in town. You swore you were never going to get old and act like those old people around you. When you got old, you didn’t feel old. You still don’t. And you don’t like being treated like you’re old.

That’s why you’re still working, full- or part-time. You probably can use the money, money of course.

But if you quit, everybody will think you’re too old to work.

Old is not quite like dying. Everyone knows they’re going to die. They don’t want to, but they don’t see growing old as an alternative ti . tive That’s changing.

The widening gaps in how baby boomers perceive cei their phalanx is just one piece of ceive evidence.

Those at the younger end of the 1946 1964 generation have ha begun disassociating themselves from the vanguard that already has entered Social Security country.

The under-55s don’t see themselves as being anywhere near “retirement age” as they steam roll ahead in their drive dri to the top. They don’t identify with the needs and wants of anyone already getting government, military or corporate pensions.

Besides the growing trend to lengthen their

working live li s, many also are seeking second careers that are more satisfying and fulfilling than their first. And most of them can use the money.

The recession that dampened the first decade of this century has forced these boomers to recalibrate their focus on their financial future. Many, if not most, have ha had their inve in stment portfolios tf tfolios gouged by as much as 40 percent over the past half dozen years.

And the value of their homes has dropped by one-third in most parts of the country.

They’re also looking at Social Security funds becoming insolvent in the next 20 years or so.

Forecasters predict the current rate of benefit payments will be slashed by as much as 30 percent.

At the same time, politicians are pushing to increase the old-age-benefits barrier to 67 years from the current 65. Medicare funds also are melting away.

So, as you maintain or adjust your course in the working world, what steps should you take to bolster your retirement revenues?

Your first step is to retire your debt befor bef e you retire, according to most money mahouts.

Start with credit-card debt, paying down the largest amount and/or the card with the highest interest rate.

See Old pa 13 page

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ease of movement and decrease the amount of medication or number of injections they receive cei . ceive • Surgery is required if you’ve fractured your hip or if more conservative methods ha not been successful. have However, er after surgery it is er, important to seek physical therapy as it is key to recovering your mobility. In many cases, physical therapy can begin immediately after surgery. Getting out of bed and putting weight on the joint can often speed recovery.

To answer your question, it is probably time to speak with your doctor about a referral for physical therapy.

Most health care providers recommend these more conservative treatment options initially, so ask your

Antique Show and Tell – Bring an antique and have Shirley McShan with Classic Consignments give an estimate of its value. Program will be held at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. For more information, contact 979-764-6351 or 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Senior Advisory Committee - The Senior Advisory Committee will meet at 10 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. For more details, contact 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

October 2012

Bradway

Oct. 29

‘You’re getting old’ is getting old

50plus

p.m. or email awilliams@cstx.gov.

Calendar

Calendar of Events Tuesday, October 16 • Open House Preview- 3-4 pm Wednesday, October 17 • Open House- 4-6 pm Tuesday, October 23 • “Why Sell Now?” Realtor Seminar- 11:30 am

RSVP for all events by calling 888-899-7077

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50plus

50plus

Making music Young and old participate in Brazos Valley Community Band

By Holli L. Estridge

Part of the Brazos Valley Community Band recently peforms at a preschool pr graduation at the Becky Gates Children dr ’s Center on the Texas A&M University dren campus.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Brazos Valley Band schedule Rehearsals and perfor perf mances are free and open to the public.

Rehearsals: Dec. 3, March 4 and April 1 7 to 9 p.m., Veterans Park in College Station

The Eagle • theeagle.com

10

In the 1980s Doyle Gougler’s son – a long-time tuba player who last perfor perf med with the Texas A&M marching band – placed his horn in a case and never touched it again.

Little did he know that his father, ther an 88-year-old ther, World War II veteran, would find years of enjoyment not only in learning to play the instrument – but also perf ming in a community venue. perfor For four years the Brazos Valley Community Band, a loosely organized group of 30 musicians of all ages and skill levels, has give gi n Gougler a social outlet, as well as a musical one.

“I sit in the back of the band and just take care of the little notes,” said Gougler, Gougler who said he has been playing the tuba since 1989, when he located an instructor in Brenham and began making weekly trips for lessons.

The Brazos Valley Community Band rehearses at 7 p.m. on Mondays at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Rehearsals are open to the public; no audition is required to join.

Gougler became a charter member of the band after he and several friends known as the Brookside Brass heard that former school band director Elmer Jackson and a Bryan Independent School District board member were starting the community band.

Jackson, founder and current band director, ector is a ector, former high school band director and veteran of the

music.

The age range of the band spans some 60 years, with college student perfor perf mers up to individuals indi over the age of 50.

“For people who are musicians over the age of 50, doing something they love to do is a big enticement for joining the community band,” Jackson said. “It’s a place people are able to enjoy themselves, relax and play with other musicians. And, we have ha a lot of perf mances throughout the year.” perfor Katey Lenox, president of the band and a piccolo and flute player, said the only requirement to participate is the ability to read music. While many people bring their own instruments, Lenox said band members can direct participants to stores in town that offer of instrument leases.

For the non-musical person who enjoys music, Jackson said a band perfor perf mance can be enjoyable as well. The band plays marches, pieces from opera and broadway and military compositions.

For more infor inf mation, contact Lenox at 865-414-8381 or Gougler at 979-696-7682.

October 2012

October 2012

Special to The Eagl Ea e

war in Iraq, with more than 48 years of perfor perf ming and teaching music, including 22 years in Army bands.

The band consisted of the same six brass musicians for a while, but professors from Texas A&M, church musicians and others trickled in over the years, expanding the fledgling band.

“W eventually left Davila “We Da Middle School, where we had been practicing, and moved to Rudder High School,” Jackson said. “The numbers got larger and larger until we were 68 people strong.”

The group’s participation waned after Jackson went on deployment to Iraq and returned.

But Jackson said the band is in the process of regrouping, with some 30 members now participating.

The band has been playing for various community events for about two years. Jackson said he hopes to continue expanding the number of perfor perf mances for the public. The group also wants to continue tapping into the wealth of musical talent in the Brazos County area and attract more musicians.

“W always have “We ha a platfor tf m for tfor people who want to play, but there is a specific group – clarinets, a few more trumpets, percussion, tuba, trombone and tenor saxophone – that it would be nice to have, ha ” Jackson said. “It give gi s a band a nice, fuller sound.”

Jackson said he has always led a community band in the towns in which he has taught. “It’s very important to have ha a band that can gi back to the community,” give community he said.

“It’s something I’ve always loved doing.”

He said the Brazos Valley Community Band experience has been enjoyable for him, because the members have ha a heart for playing

Perfor rf mances: rfor •Oct. 22 - 7:30 to 9 p.m., Wolf Pen Creek in College Station •Nov. 14 - 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m., Covenant Presbyterian Church in College Station •Nov. 17 - 7 to 9 p.m, Holt Park Amphitheater in Brenham •Dec. 10 - 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Covenant Presbyterian Church in College Station •March 25 - 7:30 to 9 p.m., Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater in College Station • May 27 - 7:30 to 9 p.m., Covenant Presbyterian Church in College Station

11

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Call today. We’re ready to listen.

provided with exceptional compassion and unmatched professionalism. We put our heart into everything we do so that our residents get the most out of life. Healthcare services at Crestview provide a soft place to land, a helping hand and a listening ear. ear With age, comes wisdom. And we think you’ll agree—our wisdom is starting to show. show www.crestviewrc.org

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IN

G1

O

ERVICE

ends meet.

The good news is that there are many easy-toinstall, personalized products that can be incorporated into a very subtle remodel that fits the way people want to live li now as well as later in life.

Today’s tech-savvy h-sa h-savvy seniors are increasingly embracing new technologies, enabling greater independence.

Here are some tips for incorporating technology updates into an aging-in-place remodel: Install easy-access lock Door Doorknobs and house keys can be difficult dif to grasp and turn for people with arthritis or limited dexterity, dexterity so install door locks that provide easier access. For example, Schlage of offers electronic keypad lever and deadbolt locks that deli r an easier, delive easier secure and flexible solution. To enter the house, simply enter a unique four-digit access code on the touch keypad, then press down the lever to open the door.

For added conve con nience, the keypad locks have ha backlit keypads, making them easy to

C E L E BR A T

50plus October 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

(ARA) - It’s hard to think about getting older, older but it’s even harder to think about ha having to move out of the comf t of a beloved home comfor when adva ad nced age makes it dif difficult to get around your space easily and safely. But with today’s technologies, it’s easier to update your home in ways that make it possible for you or a loved one to age in place gracefully, without being forced to make major changes in the home’s structure or decor.

Aging-in-place remodeling - adapting a home to live li in it safely, comfor comf tably and independently regardless of age or accessibility level - is becoming more prevalent as the population matures, and seniors overwhelmingly prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older.

Indeed, we are at the dawn of a new day: The number of adults age 65 and older is expected to nearly near double over the next 20 years, and more than a third of American households already include one or more residents over the age of 60, according to AARP and the U.S. Census Bureau.

In addition, many in the 76-million member baby boomer generation are not only thinking ahead for their own future housing needs, but more than 60 percent are providing some kind of support for their parents.

This can be especially challenging, give gi n the current housing marke mar t and the fact that many seniors are either li living on fixed incomes or delaying retirement to make

We listen.

FS

12

Home security updates for aging residents

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sensitive eco-system, the herd cannot exceed 150.

Capt. Mary Dipietro of Proud Mary Too made sighting of these famous ponies cavorting along the shore a reality. They seemed to enjoy the attention as they posed for the passengers of Proud Mary Too and a few kayaking souls.

The Museum of Chincoteague Island houses the history of this region, including the development of the oyster industry. The giant Fresnel lens from nearby Assateague Lighthouse is a featured exhibit.

Back on the mainland just off Chincoteague Island is one of the oldest rocketlaunching sites in the world.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight Facility is where the U.S. space program began. The first research rocket lifted off from here July 4, 1945, more than a decade before the creation of NASA. The only way onto the island back then was by ferry.

Now there’s the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Others Is a Life Worthwhile” r o f d e v i L e f i “ L A The giant Fresnel lens from the nearby Assateague Lighthouse is a feature of the Chincoteague Island museum just off Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

By SANDY KATYZ Mature Life Features

EASTERN SHORE, Va. -- You’d think that, with wild ponies having free rein, the serenity of this 70-mile unspoiled peninsula flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay would be threatened by a stampede at

Old

from page 9 Since your home probably is your biggest single investment, you should look at the amount of insurance you have on it. There should be enough to rebuild it in case of catastrophe, not how much you think it’s worth on the real-estate market; how much it will cost for contractors

any second.

But the ponies seem to be pleased with their little island about an hour north of Virginia Beach, leaving the serene shore of Chesapeake Bay for the rest of us.

While nature provides refuge for the ponies as well as egrets and shorebirds that

to rebuild it. For one thing, its realty value includes the price of the land it’s on.

Wait for the current real estate ups and downs to subside before considering any further action involving residence, such as moving to a less-expensive city or neighborhood, downsizing to a smaller house, or, if you’re 62 or older, applying for a reverse mortgage.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

historic homes representing Federal architecture. Ker Place was restored to its original appearance and is a museum where visitors can glimpse life as it was on an 1800s Virginia plantation. The town park, which has been called a “slice of old-time America,” is the stage for an old-fashioned community icecream social every July.

Continuing north is Chincoteague Island and its wild-life preserve that juts out into the Atlantic and is home to a herd of wild ponies that has been running along these shores for centuries.

Legend claims the ponies are descendants of wild mustangs who swam to shore after a Spanish galleon sank offshore. Others say their origin is traced back to the 1600s when early island settlers turned their herds loose to graze tax-free on the island.

Cared for by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Co., the ponies are still permitted to graze on the refuge. But, to protect the

October 2012

flock here, visitors wander through waterfront towns packed with quaint eateries and galleries filled with local art.

The 1886 glory days of Cape Charles on its southern bay shore can be seen on a golf-cart tour of the art-deco Palace Theatre, specialty shops, family friendly beaches and free fishing pier.

Nearby are the Bay Creek Resort and Club with its endless bay views and Signature golf courses designed by legendary golfers, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Up north a ways is Onancock, which was charted in 1680. You can walk in the footsteps of early American Indians and Capt. John Smith who, in 1607, explored Eastern Shore and wrote this Chamber of Commercesounding review: “Heaven and earth seemed never to have agreed better to frame a place for man’s commodious & delightful habitation.”

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50plus October 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com 14

Locks

from page 12 see in the dark. They come in attractive styles and finishes, blend beautifully with a variety of design motifs, and can be installed easily with just a screwdriver.

Increase home security Another easy upgrade to consider is an alarmed lock, a cost-effective way to detect activity at the door. An alarmed lock will sound an alert if someone starts to exit the home unattended. This can be a great help to those who not only need to look after their parents, but their grandchildren, too. Alarmed locks can also sound alerts for a variety of activities at the door, to increase overall home security. For example, the alarmed lock from Schlage will sound three distinct alarms to alert to various activities: 1. When a door is accessed, such as someone leaving the house 2. If someone is tampering with the lock 3. If someone is kicking or putting undue pressure on the door in an attempt to break-in The easy-to-install alarmed lock is battery-operated, requires no wiring, and can be retrofitted to fit an existing door.

Monitor for safety One of the challenges being alone at home is the possibility that something will happen without anyone knowing or being able to help. For added peace of mind, a Nexia(TM) Home Intelligence system makes it easy for someone such as a relative or caregiver to check in or monitor home functions from anywhere, using a smartphone or Web-enabled computer.

Nexia System users can lock and unlock doors; create temporary or scheduled entry codes for someone needing limited access, such as a care attendant or visiting nurse; adjust heating and cooling with a Trane thermostat; turn lights on and off at different times; open or close window shades for privacy; and view any activity around the home via indoor and outdoor cameras. They can even receive a text alert when a window/door sensor or motion detector identifies a situation at home that needs attention. Visit www. nexiahome.com or more information.

How nutrition, diet affect visual performance (ARA) - Did your mother or grandmother tell you that your vision would improve by eating carrots? She was partially correct, in that eating fruits and vegetables can improve vision, but it’s also important to understand how the eye is affected by proper nutrition.

Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that two dietary nutrients protect and enhance vision: zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin) and lutein. For casual and serious athletes or those who lead an active lifestyle, this information is very important because eating a diet rich in those nutrients can result in significant visual improvements.

Zeaxanthin and lutein are macular pigments that function like a pair of internal sunglasses to filter harmful blue light and enhance vision. Thick or dense macular pigments protect the photoreceptors, which are responsible for and vital to our vision. Healthy macular pigment density provides a host of visual performance benefits including: • Improved contrast sensitivity - for example, seeing a white golf ball or baseball against a light blue sky.

• Enhanced glare recovery time - recovering faster from temporary “blinding,” caused by high intensity lighting such as automobile or stadium lights.

• Reduced light sensitivity and visual discomfort - experiencing less discomfort on bright sunny days or other times when exposed to bright light.

• Increased visual processing speed seeing an object more clearly facilitates visual processing speed, enabling improved reaction time.

So, how does one increase macular pigment density to get these benefits?

One way is to add these nutrients to a

diet or take them as an eye vitamin. The average U.S. daily diet doesn’t consist of an adequate quantity of fruits and vegetables necessary to achieve a proper macular pigment density in the retina.

Dr. Stuart Richer, a pioneer in ocular nutrition recommends that 50 percent of daily caloric intake should be derived from fruits and vegetables. The average American only obtains 8 to 10 percent of their daily caloric intake from these sources.

Because of this, zeaxanthin is scarce in the U.S. diet. To achieve an adequate daily intake of dietary zeaxanthin, one must consume a significant quantity of brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

For example, one would have to eat 20 ears of corn or 10 orange bell peppers per day to obtain 8 to 10 milligrams of dietary zeaxanthin - the minimum daily intake most commonly associated with improved visual performance.

Since eating large quantities of fruits

and vegetables is impractical for many, dietary zeaxanthin supplementation is an alternative.

People who took an eye vitamin containing 8 milligrams of dietary zeaxanthin daily for one year in the FDA-registered clinical study, “The Zeaxanthin and Visual Function Trial,” by Richer and his colleagues improved several aspects of their visual performance including: seeing 8.5 more letters on an eye chart, improved vision while driving, fine details more clearly, and elimination of blind spots in their visual field.

Dr. Larry Lampert, a leader in the sports vision field, emphasizes the visual performance benefits of optimal nutrition and zeaxanthin supplementation. Lampert has worked with professional athletes from the PGA, LPGA, MLB, NFL, ATP, and is one of only 450 doctors worldwide to have completed a fellowship in developmental vision.

“Many athletes take their vision for granted, unaware that there are simple, natural ways to maintain healthy eyes and improve athletic performance,” Lampert says. “They also need to consume certain nutrients to sustain optimal visual performance. Numerous studies reveal that the key nutrient for maintaining visual performance is dietary zeaxanthin.”

Whether you’re an athlete or someone who simply wants to improve their vision, zeaxanthin and lutein can help. Eat more brightly colored fruits and vegetables regularly and take an eye vitamin like EyePromise that contains natural forms of these important ingredients at an optimal daily amount.

Increasing the density of macular pigments in your eyes to protect your visual cells and enhance your visual performance.

Are You Interested in Getting Involved in Research at Texas A&M University?

First

Presbyterian yt Church

The Texas A&M University Department of Psychology is looking for volunteers to participate in research studies on cognition.

Compensation and parking will be provided.

Bryan, Texas

Sunday nda Church School - 9:30am nday Sunday nda Worship Services - 10:45am nday 1100 Carter Creek Pkwy • 979-823-8073 www cbryan.org www.fp

Who:

We are looking for volunteers who are over the age of 65.

What:

Studies typically take between 1 and 2 hours. You will be asked to take various memory and attention tests.

Where: The Department of Psychology at Texas A&M University.

To hear more details and decide if you are interested please contact: The Aging and Cognition Lab (979) 458-0901

The Eagle • theeagle.com

enough participants,” says Sherer.

“Even more disturbing, 30 percent fail to recruit a single subject. This under-enrollment stalls the drug development process, and new treatments take longer to get to the patients who need them.”

Helping everyday people get in lved invo It is not for lack of patient interest that Parkinson’s trials suffer suf from low enrollment. In fact, according to a recent survey, ey 88 percent of ey, Parkinson’s patients say they are willing to participate in a clinical trial. Unfor Unf tunately, fewer than 10 percent ultimately enroll.

MJFF created Fox Trial Finder to make it easier for everyday people to studying a drug to treat dyskinesia; are notified when new studies that get invo in lved in the research process. the uncontrollable movements that match their criteria come online, so The tool is currently active acti in the can be a side effect ef of levodopa, there is no need to keep checking United States, United Kingdom, the best available treatment for back. Furthermore, Fox Trial Finder Ireland, Canada and Australia, with Parkinson’s. staf ensures the most up-to-date list staff plans to expand to Western Europe in of ongoing trials, providing the most Faculak said, “The only way these 2013. opportunities to potential volunteers. drugs are going to be approved is to go The tool is user-friendly and through these trials, and if we don’t “If we don’t do it, who will?” volunteers can get started by do it, who will?”

Deb Faculak, 62, is another answering as few as three basic To register, gister visit foxtrialfinder. gister, Parkinson’s patient and registered questions (the more infor inf mation org. For more infor inf mation, contact Fox Trial Finder volunteer. The tool provided, the better the matches support@fox t@f trialfinder.org. t@fox helped her find and enroll in a trial will be). After providing basic Voted “Favorite Nursing Home” in The Eagle Readers’ Choice 2012 inf mation such as infor Voted “Best Memory Care Center” in The Brazos Valley 2011 location and medical history volunteers history, immediately see a list of the best potential matches in their area. Stateof-the-art security protocols ensure that identity and personal inf mation remain infor confidential.

Research trial coordinators can also register with the site to search for qualified volunteers for their studies.

Unique technology and the most complete list of trials “What makes Fox Trial Finder unique Your Local Experts in Dementia-Care provide this distinctive program designed from a technology to honor the individual life story of each resident while addressing their standpoint is that it pairs smart-match unique needs throughout the aging experience. technology with two-way, ay anonymous ay, messaging between potential volunteers and clinical trial teams,” says Sherer.

“Our goal is to make this process easier for everyone.”

By saving sa a profile, registered volunteers DADS License #102654

October 2012

(ARA) - For people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the second most common degenerative ti brain disease tive after Alzheimer’s, a new Web-based service makes it easier to turn a dif difficult situation into something positi . positive Participating in research can be a great way for patients and their families to contribute to speeding a cure.

Claudia Garrido-Revilla, 47, a busy mother of two who live li s in Peoria, Ill., near Chicago, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in May 2010. She unexpectedly discovered that a passion for research participation has give gi n her a new sense of purpose.

“Completing a clinical trial makes me feel as if I’m doing something proactive oacti toward finding a cure,” she oactive says.

Garrido-Revilla is one of more than 10,000 people, with and without Parkinson’s disease, who have ha registered with Fox Trial Finder (www.fox .f trialfinder.org). This new .fox website makes it easier than ever for everyday people to find the clinical trials that need someone like them, taking geography and medical history into account, and always safeguarding patient priva pri cy. Thousands more volunteers are needed.

“Participating in clinical research makes you an agent of change,” says Michael J. Fox in a statement released by the Parkinson’s research foundation he founded, which is behind Fox Trial Finder. Completing a Fox Trial Finder profile is quick and easy.

A critical shortage of volunteers Research into brain diseases like Parkinson’s is moving faster than ever. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) alone has inve in sted $300 million in research since 2000, and promising potential drugs are adva ad ncing toward Parkinson’s patients (an estimated 5 million people worldwide, including 1 million Americans).

But a key challenge in bringing these drugs to marke mar t is a critical shortage of volunteers for the clinical trials that are the final stage on the long path to regulatory approval.

Research studies urgently need more people with and without Parkinson’s disease to participate in the scientific process.

No amount of funding or other resources can make up for a lack of volunteers, notes Dr. Todd Sherer, er er, chief executive ecuti officer ecutive of of MJFF. MJFF “Currently, across all diseases, 85 percent of all clinical trials finish late due to difficulties dif finding

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Research participation speeds treatment breakthroughs for Parkinson’s disease patients

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Dairy-based diet may shield women from Osteoporosis

By JAMES GAFFNEY GAFFNE

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2012

Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

A diet high in dairy-based protein and low in carbohydrates is under study as a way to help overweight and obese young women from developing osteoporosis, a disease that robs millions of women of bone mass as they age.

Results of recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests a calorie-restricted diet higher in protein mostly from dairy foods and lower in carbohydrates coupled with daily exercise has a major positive positi impact on bone health in overweight and obese young women.

Canadian researchers followed a group of overweight and obese but otherwise healthy pre-menopausal women for 16 weeks. They were di divided into one of three groups that consumed either low, medium, or high amounts of dairy foods coupled with higher or lower amounts of protein and carbohydrates. Calcium and vitamin D levels were also graded from low to high across the groups in conjunction with the dairy foods they consumed.

The women exercised seven days per week, a routine that included

aerobic exercise every day and two additional workouts of circuit weightlifting per week.

“Our findings demonstrate the importance of diet composition to the maintenance of bone health status during weight loss,” said Andrea Josse of the McMaster Unive Uni rsity Department of Kinesiology in Hamilton, Ontario, and lead author of the study.

“Our data clearly ear show dairyearly source protein is important when aiming to avoid harmful consequences, such as accelerated bone-loss during weight-loss. In our view, young women attempting to lose weight should consume a diet higher in dairy-source protein.”

A previous study from the same team in the same subjects showed there were identical total weight losses across the groups, but very dif ent results for body-composition differ change. The higher-protein, highdairy group experienced greater whole-body-fat y-f and abdomen-fat y-fat domen-f domen-fat losses and greater lean-mass gains.

Maintaining or even improving bone health in young women, particularly ticular in those trying to ticularly lose weight, is important for overall health, and may have ha great implications for decreasing the risk of

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weight loss, which we defined as loss of fat and sparing of muscle, and the promotion of bone health in young women,” said Stuart Phillips, senior author and a Department of Kinesiology professor.

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Traveling better

Video captures vacation memories

By IGOR LOBANOVBANO BANOVROST STOVSKY OV Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

October 2012 you plan should be “a noun plus a verb.” In the case of a wedding, for example, the shot is not “The Bride,” it’s “The Bride Cuts the Cake.”

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If you plan to record your vacation on video, it’s best to begin planning the project befor bef e you leave lea home.

That’s just one of several suggestions made in “Video “V That Doesn’t Suck” (Wor (Workman orkman Publishing, 240 pages, $13.95) by Steve Stockman, who has produced television shows, music videos and hundreds of commercials.

The guide opens with a flavo fla r of how its direct-to-the-point nontechnical advice ad can help you produce a video that not only doesn’t suck but is an entertaining record to show to family and friends.

For example: 1. “Zoom” with your feet, not the lens. Don’t depend on the zooming power of the camera to take you closer to the subject. Move yourself closer because the more you zoom in, the more you reduce the quality of the image.

2. Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes. “Faces are the billboards of human emotion,” said Stockman. “Lose them, and you lose the emotional inve in stment of the viewer.”

While there are times when a beautiful panorama of a still lake and snow-capped mountains is worth including, “If we can’t see someone’s face, we don’t know how they feel. We don’t know how we feel.”

And “if you can’t see your subject’s eyes, you’re missing most of the communication cues we use when we interact.” A broad shot of a person crossing the street shows action, but not emotion, he says.

3. Keep it short. And that also applies to the length of time each shot takes. Shorter is almost always better, better he said, pointing out that movies, TV shows and music videos rarely have ha shots lasting more than 20 seconds.

The briefer the image the more likely you are to get the viewer’s attention because, with each new one, the viewer is forced to figure out what he or she is looking at and what it means. “Keep them under 15 seconds; 10 are better, better and fewer than five works most of the time,” he said.

The book moves beyond vacation visuals to deal with family gatherings, graduations, parties, perfor perf mances, and even sporting events. It also

brightness behind him covers such basics as framing, or her, her the camera will lighting, sound (use an external mike record the background, for better audio quality), editing and lea leaving your subject special effects ef (it’s best to turn them dar or in silhouette. dark of . off) If your subject is in a Another key idea is to start by low-light envir en onment, recording moments leading up to the camera will strain the journey: getting passports, the to record the setting, faces and actions of family members producing a dim or as the final steps befor bef e leaving, lea washed-out image. even loading the car or boarding the Don’t feel you have ha aircraft. to shoot all through the To make your video more personal ha to and display the character of members day. You’ll only have edit out a ton of footage. of the family, move in close and do a short interview with family members. And keep in mind that, as noted earlier earlier, lier, people Their expressions and words, when are more interesting viewed months or years later will than scenery, scenery especially illustrate how they have ha changed or if they are doing things. grown up as well as revive vi memories vive You need not have ha of the trip or adve ad nture. a script for your epic, but you better Take your camera into the action. ha a plan. have If there are water activities acti planned, Finally, said Stockman, every shot get a waterproof camera to get close.

If you’re a biker, er er, consider fastening a camera to your helmet. Film glitches that occur: wrong turns, misplaced or misdirected luggage, sudden weather changes or other unf eseen events unfor that may force you to change plans.

Stockman also suggests you have ha a clear idea of the story you want to tell, and its theme.

Think in terms of the shots you will need to document the theme and carry your story along. Try to anticipate key shots -- your grandson receiving cei ceiving his diploma or an emotional moment between family participants -- as well as the shots that will represent the beginning, middle and end of your story.

In the case of a trip, ask yourself, “What is William H. Marr, M.D., P.A. its biggest and most Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthamology interesting aspect.”

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Move to dodge aging bullet Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2012

The old adage “move it or lose it” could be the international slogan for the aging population.

“Physical activity acti is the only thing we know for sure that works to help preserve function with age,” said Dr. Barbara Nicklas, a Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Center WinstonSalem, N.C., geriatrics and gerontology professor who specializes in and conducts research on aging and related aspects such as fitness, physical activity activity, vity, obesity and nutrition. obesity, Nicklas said older adults may experience more frequent setbacks and barriers but being able to set manageable and realistic resolutions and separating these into short-term (daily) and longterm (monthly) goals is most effecti effective fective for achieving consistent habits.

“It is never too late

Use your health plan the way it works for you.

to change one’s habits in order to improve health and quality of life,” she added. “Older adults can benefit from resolving to make small changes in one or two lifestyle behaviors beha that are known to enhance well-being.”

Examples of realistic resolutions Nicklas recommended for older adults include: --Join an exercise class that is geared specifically for older adults.

Class participation leads to better accountability and increases social contact.

--Find opportunities to increase movement in your daily life. For example, walk up and down at least one flight of stairs daily, carry a shopping basket instead of pushing a cart when possible, and stand up when you talk on the telephone.

--Begin a walking program to regain or maintain walking endurance. Start by walking as long as you feel comfor comf table and pain-free.

Add 30 seconds or a minute the next day, and every day thereafter. If you miss a day, or even a week or longer, er er, start again at the level of walking you are comfor comf table with.

Make the Switch. Move up to St. Joseph.

If you have the Original Medicare Plan, you may choose any physician or hospital that accepts Medicare. All St. Joseph clinics, Express locations and hospitals and most physicians accept the Original Medicare Plan.

If you have a Medicare Replacement Plan that replaces the Original Medicare Plan, St. Joseph accepts many of these plans. If you choose to purchase a Medicare Replacement Plan, you should carefully review the in-network hospitals and physicians to ensure they include the hospitals and physicians you want and use. Please be aware that out-of-network providers may result in significantly higher charges when seeing a provider. St. Joseph facilities and physicians are not network providers on the Scott and White SeniorCare Plan.

If you’ve seen a St. Joseph Physician in the past, its as easy as calling and making an appointment with that doctor. If you’ve not experienced the St. Joseph difference with our physicians, call 979.774.2121 or go to switchtosj.org to see St. Joseph Physicians across the Brazos Valley.

www.st-joseph.org Looking for a Primary Care Doctor?

Call our Physician Finder line at 979.774.2121.

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Fuel efficienc ef y After insurance, fuel can be one of the highest costs of operating a vehicle, especially for those who trave tra l far, such

AARP offers of these tips for improving fuel ef efficienc y: • Lighten the load. The hea heavier your vehicle and contents, the more gas it will consume moving down the road. Remove excess weight from the trunk and avoid tra ling with luggage or trave bike racks that create drag, add weight and decrease fuel economy.

• Watch your speed. While it’s important to safely keep pace with the flow of traffic traf around you, keep in mind most cars are at the optimum fuel efficienc ef y around 50 mph.

• Drive Dri smoothly. Abrupt stops and starts, and fast, erratic movements in traffic traf all decrease fuel economy.

• Try to consolidate trips.

Rather than making one trip to the grocery store today, then the doctor’s office of tomorrow and your book club the next day, try to group errands together. Starting a cold engine consumes more gas than keeping it running longer.

Maintenance With the average age of cars on the road approaching 11 years, according to R.L. Polk & Co., an automotive automoti mar t research firm, marke routine maintenance is more important than ever.

Doing simple tasks like oil changes, windshield wiper replacement and air filter changes yourself can help sa you money. save Tasks that you can easily perf m yourself include: perfor • Changing the oil and oil filter.

• Changing the air filter.

• Monitoring tire inflation and adding air if needed.

• Checking and cleaning battery connections.

• Replacing worn windshield wipers.

• Replacing headlight or brake light bulbs.

Other DIY tasks, like replacing brake pads or spar sparkplugs , or flushing the radiator, tor require a bit more tor,

know-how.

Fortunately, plenty of online resources offer of step-by-step guides for doing more complex vehicle

maintenance tasks. And, you can always check with your local community college to see if they offer of a basic auto maintenance course.

The Most Important Thing in any Relationship of the

Winner

2012

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Insurance Older drive dri rs have ha lower rates of police-reported crashes per capita, limit their dri driving to familiar routes and better weather, her and drive her, dri fewer miles than other age groups, but accident rates per mile start increasing when dri rs reach 70, according drive to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Even if your personal driving dri record is clean, your age may put you in a demographic that insurance companies view as higher risk - and you’ll pay higher auto insurance premiums because of it.

Shopping around for auto insurance may help you secure a better rate, but if you’re facing very high premiums, it may make sense to take an extra step. Many insurers offer of discounts to dri rs who complete drive drive dri r safety courses. Check with your insurance company to see if such a discount is available to you, then look for a program, like AARP Dri r Safety’s course, that is Drive specifically designed to help people 50 and older refresh their driving dri skills and adapt to age-related changes. There are no tests to take for the course. To find an in-person course near you, visit www. aarp.org/findacourse, or sign up for an online course.

as older drive dri rs commuting from winter to summer residences. Car makers ha improved overall fuel have ef efficienc y for many newer vehicles, but you can take steps to cut your gas costs more - even if you have ha an older car.

October 2012

(ARA) - For most of us, dri driving is a necessity, necessity and so is doing it as cost-effecti cost-effective fectively as possible - even in retirement when most of us stay in our suburban homes.

Sa Saving money on automobilerelated expenses like gas and insurance can help free up cash for other important things.

Fortunately, many tactics can help you minimize vehicle costs, from doing basic maintenance tasks yourself to taking a drive dri r safety course that could qualify you for insurance discounts.

The driving dri experts at AARP recommend drive dri rs 50 and older focus on three key areas of opportunity for costreduction:

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How older drivers can cut vehicle costs

Robert Herring, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

3030 E. 29th Street, Suite 117 Bryan, TX 77802 www.listenhearaudiology.com 19

50plus The Eagle • theeagle.com

October 2012

Come join all the Former Aggies that call Watercrest at Bryan home!

Enjoy maintenance-free living with amenities that include a movie theater, heated salt water pool, fitness center, beauty salon, massage therapy and much more! We offer one, two and three bedroom floor plans with granite countertops and appliances included. If you are visiting Aggieland for a sporting event, ask us about our available suites and avoid the hassle of trying to find a hotel room.

Call today to schedule a tour or to book a suite to watch the Aggies win!

of the

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2012

2010, 2011, & 2012

888-738-8069  3801 East Crest Drive  Bryan (Corner of University Drive and Boonville Road)

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www.watercrestbryan.com