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In Parks and Rec, Rob Lowes Chris Traeger is a perennially positive, supplement-popping 45-year-old who glides through the rooms of Pawnee City Hall with golden retriever energy. He brings vegetable loaves to birthday parties, regularly runs 10 miles during his lunch breaks and touts just 2.8% body fat. In Season 2 of the show, Traeger reveals his lifes goal: to live to 150.

Scientists believe that the first human being to live to a 150 years has already been born I believe I am that human being. At first, it sounds like just another quotable line from a show thats famous for them. Traeger isnt to be taken seriously, after all. One of his other signature adages is simply Stop pooping. (On the exceedingly rare occasions that Traegers body fails him, he lands in a dark place.)

Believe it or not, though, Traegers right. At least one scientist has been predicting humankinds potential to live to 150 for the better part of a decade, a man whos furthered the notion of aging as disease since he arrived at MIT in the late 1990s. That would be Australian Dr. David Sinclair, a biology rockstar and former Time 100 honoree with an Order of Australia (Down Unders version of knighthood), and his own genetics lab at Harvard Medical School.

In September of last year, Dr. Sinclair released Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Dont Have To. Its an explosive call to arms detailing Dr. Sinclairs core belief, which hes spent decades researching: most humans leave decades of high-quality life on the table simply because society doesnt afford aging the same attention and dollars it reserves for other health crises like cancer and heart disease. The book is one part memoir (Dr. Sinclair recalls the drawn-out final decades of his mother and grandmothers lives), one part crash-course in epigenetics (we hold far more in common with yeast cells than the common person knows) and one part sneak peek into the advancements being made in the worlds preeminent genetics labs (Dr. Sinclairs team has successfully cured blindness in mice).

Most refreshingly, though, Lifespan delights in giving answers. On top of the many science-fiction-esque wonders on display at Harvard Medical School each week (Dr. Sinclair is a pioneer of a practice called cellular programming, which effectively means resetting cells back to a younger age), the book includes functional day-to-day advice on how the layman or woman can activate survival processes in their epigenome, engaging specific sirtuin proteins (a class of protein that helps regulate cellular aging) to help foster greater longevity.

Basically, Sinclairs hypothesis is that eating a certain way, working out a certain way and exposure to a certain kind of temperature can make living past 100 a relative breeze. We recently caught up with Dr. Sinclair to discuss his book, intermittent fasting, Benjamin Button and more.

InsideHook: This book definitely doesnt mince concepts or words. Why was it important to you to write so boldly on aging as a disease?

Dr. David A. Sinclair: The world is in a stupor when it comes to aging. Theres a blind spot. I wrote the book to shake things up, and hopefully wake up those who dont think aging is important or worth working on. We focus as a society far too much on the end consequence of aging, playing whack-a-mole with these diseases that kill us. We ignore whats actually driving these diseases. The more we study aging, though, the more we realize that the diseases we treat are all manifestations of an underlying process. And its treatable.

Some of your peers in the field have said it isnt a good look to be so declarative in your predictions on aging. Have they changed their tune since the book was released?

I havent had any criticism from colleagues since the book came out. Either they havent read it, or theyre okay with my arguments. But also, the world is changing. What used to be considered crazy 10 years ago is no longer crazy. For example, scientists didnt used to say the phrase reversal of aging. But now, its a fact thats doable. Our field has proven that many aspects of aging are reversible, including blindness. Its also partly that I was ahead of the curve, and that things which were once forbidden are now in the realm of discussion and debate.

Im fascinated by the cellular reprogramming work your lab has done. In the book, you invoke F. Scott Fitzgeralds Benjamin Button story to describe how a 50-year-old could soon begin a routine that will have him/her feeling and looking 30 again. Are we actually close to seeing that sort of treatment in the developed world?

The first thing to say is we now understand that changes in your lifestyle can dramatically improve your age and physiology. We used to think that aging was just something that was in our genes, something that we couldnt modify. But very rapidly, within months of changing diet and exercise, you can reverse many aspects of aging. Its never too late, unless youre on your last legs. The fact that its that easy to slow down and reverse aspects of aging just with lifestyle changes totally fits with our understanding of molecular mechanisms. We should be able to slow aging even better with the reprogramming of cells. I see the work weve done as a proof of concept. While its true that Im working hard towards restoring eyesight in people whove lost their vision, its really just the beginning. This work is proof that its possible to restore the age of a complex tissue. In the same way that the Wright brothers werent building rockets to the moon, they could at least imagine that one day it would be possible. Weve shown that there is a backup copy of a youthful epigenome that we can turn on to reset the cell and get it to work again. If thats doable in the eye, it would be rather pessimistic to say we were just lucky to choose the right body part for this to work.

High-intensity training is one of the practices you cite as vital to this process. What about it encourages longevity genes?

Weve found that high-intensity training will induce the sirtuin defenses in the body, similar to what intermittent fasting does. When those genes come on, they defend the cell against diseases, and aging itself. When we dont engage those sirtuin genes, we dont reap the benefits. High-intensity training is particularly good at turning on the sirtuins, because it encourages a hypoxic response, which weve shown leads to the activation of these defense mechanisms. While walking is good, its not as good as doing high-intensity training.

Im glad you mentioned intermittent fasting, another practice you endorse. Are there any mistruths or misunderstandings in the way that popular media portrays it?

Based on recent results in animal studies, its not so much what you eat but when you eat. Of course, you cant eat a hamburger morning, noon and night, then fast the next day and expect to get the maximum benefits. That said, it seems to be more about just having a period of fasting in general. Theres one misconception that people need an optimal mix of protein, carbohydrates and fat, and that thats the most important thing to get right. Id say worry about that less, as long as youre getting nutrients and xenohormetic molecules, which are molecules produced by plants when theyre under stress. As long as youre doing those things, its far more important to skip meals.

One other thing: people claim that there is an optimal intermittent fasting protocol. The truth is, we dont know what the optimal is. Were still learning, and its individual. There are individual differences in all of us. There is a subset of people, myself included, who start producing glucose out of their livers early in the morning, at around 6 a.m. Which means, for me, to start eating breakfast around 7 a.m. makes no sense. Some people, though, have such low blood sugar in the morning that they can barely function. We also dont know the best method. Is it the 16/8 [hours, first on and then off of the fast]? Two days fasting out of every five? We really dont know yet. But we do know that if youre never hungry, if youre eating three meals a day and snacking in between, thats the worst thing you can do. It switches off your bodys defenses. Some fasting is better than none.

Do you eat meat?

I do, but its a gradient. Its mostly plants, then fish, rarely chicken, and almost never red meat.

From an aging perspective, do you recommend that people give up meat?

For the average person, focus on plants. Meat isnt going to kill you if you eat it once in a while, but the reason for the plant-based diet is we know where the hot spots are for longevity. We know what theyre eating. Its not a mystery. Theyre not carnivores. Theyre eating mostly plants, and a little bit of meat maybe, a bit of fish. Theyre consuming olive oil, avocados, red wine and other plants that have xenohormetic molecules. I dont think that thats a coincidence.

Theres been some coverage recently about the rise of wild swimming. In the UK, especially, people have started jumping into freezing cold water and claiming all sorts of health benefits. It reminded me of your points in the book about challenging the thermoneutral zone. Does one need to frequently experience extremely cold temperatures to reap benefits?

Cold baths, cryotherapy I was skeptical. I started out skeptical until proven otherwise. But theres some evidence that making brown fat is good. Adult humans can make brown fat as long as theyre not super old, and cold is a good way to do that. One of my favorite genes, the third of the seven sirtuin genes, boosts brown fat. All of these things that were talking about exercise, fasting, cold therapy, even a sauna its best to mix it up. You dont want to be constantly exercising, constantly hungry, or constantly at one temperature or another. You want to shock the body. Putting a few days of recovery in between makes a lot of sense. As for exposing yourself to cold, a little is still better than nothing. I do it once a week. But Im still trying to figure out when to do these ice baths. There was a study that an ice bath after a workout potentially lowers the benefit of the workout.

Lifespan devotes a ton of pages to metformin, the anti-diabetic medication thats been discovered to activate longevity genes. Are there adverse side effects from taking metformin? It seems a little too good to be true.

As far as drugs go, metformin is very safe. The World Health Organization declared it one of the essential medicines for humanity. One in 10,000 people have an adverse side reaction and have to stop taking it. The majority of complaints are attributed to a queasy stomach feeling until you get used to it. I actually dont mind, because it stops me from getting hungry. [Editors note: Dr. Sinclair takes metformin daily.] It doesnt give you anything like a greater risk of cancer or heart disease. The data actually suggests the opposite. The risk of getting old is pretty high, but the risk of taking metformin is pretty low, based on millions of people taking it.

Youre on the record saying the first person to live to 150 has been born. Would that person need to combine every single practice and innovation that you outline in this book in order to do so?

An important point of clarification: I dont think we have any technology today that would get us to 150. But if youre born today, you can be around until the mid-22nd century. Theres a lot thats going to happen between now and then. Were on a path of technological development. Once you see the trajectory and barriers are broken down, it gives me the license to say someone born today will live far longer than we can imagine. People born today will benefit from technologies that come about after were dead. The big breakthrough is being able to reprogram the body. If we can get that to work, wed be literally able to turn the clock back on cells. Weve done it once we managed to restore vision in mice but you might be able to reset cells twice. Or 100 times. Well just have to see.

Related: The Healthiest Blue Zone in Every State, Mapped

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A Conversation With a Harvard Geneticist on How to Live (Well) Past 100 - InsideHook

Why do some people feellike they need three cups of coffee just to get through the day when others are happy with only one? Why do some people abstain entirely? New research suggests that our intake of coffee the most popular beverage in America, above bottled water, sodas, tea, and beer is affected by a positive feedback loop between genetics and the environment.

This phenomenon, known as quantile-specific heritability, is also associated with cholesterol levels and body weight, and is thought to play a role in other human physiological and behavioral traits that defy simple explanation.

It appears that environmental factors sort of set the groundwork in which your genes start to have an effect, said Paul Williams, a statistician at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). So, if your surroundings predispose you to drinking more coffee like your coworkers or spouse drink a lot, or you live in an area with a lot of cafes then the genes you possess that predispose you to like coffee will have a bigger impact. These two effects are synergistic.

Williams findings, published in thejournal Behavioral Genetics, came from an analysis of 4,788 childparent pairs and 2,380 siblings from the Framingham Study a famous, ongoing study launched by the National Institutes of Health in 1948 to investigate how lifestyle and genetics affect rates of cardiovascular disease. Participants, who are all related to an original group from Framingham, Massachusetts, submit detailed information about diet, exercise, medication use, and medical history every three to five years. Data from the study have been used in thousands of investigations into many facets of human health.

Paul T. Williams. (Credit: Roy Kaldschmidt/Berkeley Lab)

Williams used a statistical approach called quantile regression to calculate what proportion of participants coffee drinking could be explained by genetics as the study follows families and what must be influenced by external factors. Past research shows that the most significant environmental factors influencing coffee drinking are culture and geographic location, age, sex, and whether or not one smokes tobacco; with older male smokers of European ancestry drinking the most, overall.

The analysis indicated that between 36% and 58% of coffee intake is genetically determined (although the exact causative genes remain unknown). However, confirming Williams hypothesis that coffee drinking is a quantile-specific trait, the correlation between a parents coffee drinking and an offsprings coffee drinking got increasingly stronger for each offsprings coffee consumptionquantile, or bracket (for example, zero cups per day, one to two cups, two to four cups, and five or more cups).

When we started to decode the human genome, we thought wed be able to read the DNA and understand how genes translate into behavior, medical conditions, and such. But thats not the way its worked out, said Williams, who is a staff scientist in Berkeley Labs Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) Division. For many traits, like coffee drinking, we know that they have a strong genetic component weve known coffee drinking runs in families since the 1960s. But, when we actually start looking at the DNA itself, we usually find a very small percentage of the traits variation can be attributed to genes alone.

The traditional assumption in genetic research has been that ones surroundings and lifestyle alter gene expression levels in consistent and measurable ways, ultimately creating the outward manifestation called a phenotype of a trait. Williams statistics work shows that the situation is more complex, which helps explain the diversity of traits we see in the real world.

MBIB Division Director Paul Adams commented, Pauls statistical studies complement the genomics research that Berkeley Lab bioscientists conduct to learn more about the relationship between genes and the environment.

Next, Williams plans to assess whether quantile-specific heritability plays a role in alcohol consumption and pulmonary function. This is a whole new area of exploration that is just now opening up, he said. I think it will change, in a very fundamental way, how we think genes influence a persons traits.

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and a gift from HOKA ONE ONE. The Framingham Study Data were made available through the Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

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The complex biology behind your love (or hatred) of... - ScienceBlog.com

OAKLAND, Californiaand SAN DIEGO, March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ Blue Shield of California has become the first health plan in the United States to cover rapid and ultra-rapid Whole Genome Sequencing to help critically ill babies and children in intensive care with unexplained medical conditions receive precision care.

Rady Childrens Institute for Genomic Medicine researchers have pioneered the fastest use of this advanced diagnostic technology to rapidly identify and decode the root causes of rare genetic disorders for some of the sickest infants and children hospitalized in intensive care across the country.

The Rady Childrens Institute team offers the quickest turnaround of genomic test results available nationwide, delivering a preliminary diagnosis in less than three days for medically urgent cases. The blood samples can be taken at any hospital and sent to Rady Childrens Institute for sequencing and analysis.

Our system is optimized to identify or rule out most genetic diseases in a single test, and provide the medical team at the bedside with child-specific, disease-specific information so they can make better, faster medical decisions, said Stephen Kingsmore, M.D., DSc, president and CEO of the Institute.

Whole genome sequencing scans a childs entire genetic makeup for thousands of anomalies from a blood sample. Rady Childrens specialists also provide consultation to the medical team caring for the patient to offer targeted guidance that can enable timely and precise personalized care.

We know that uncertainty and long testing wait times can create tremendous risks for children in intensive care, and anxiety for their families, all the while creating more challenges for physicians and specialists, said Terry Gilliland, M.D., executive vice president of Healthcare Quality and Affordability at Blue Shield of California. By providing our members with access to Rady Childrens Institute for Genomic Medicines pioneering work in rapid whole genome sequencing, were supporting them in what is often the most difficult time in their lives.

Blue Shield members with Individual and Family Plans or employer-sponsored health plans who have a critically ill child, up to age 18, hospitalized in neonatal or pediatric intensive care at any location with an undiagnosed condition may be eligible.

This is the latest example of Blue Shields leadership in making the newest evidence-based medical technologies and services available to its members.

The nonprofit health plan also was the first insurer to cover confirmatory testing for members who received a positive Ashkenazi Jewish BRCA finding from consumer genetic-testing companies such as 23andMe, as well as prostate gene expression assays for patients with low risk prostate cancer, helping them to avoid unnecessary radiation treatment and surgical intervention.

Without medical insurance coverage, access to rapid Whole Genome Sequencing is often not readily available for many hospitalized children who could potentially benefit from this service. Families in need of this care have often had to rely upon funding provided by private philanthropy and research grants to gain access to rapid Whole Genome Sequencing and associated precision care.

Genetic disease is a leading cause of infant death in the U.S. and Blue Shield is paving the way in providing coverage for this rapid, molecular diagnosis that can result in life-saving treatments, Dr. Kingsmore said.

Located on the campus of Rady Childrens Hospital-San Diego, the Institute houses a state-of-the-art genome sequencing lab and employs a multi-disciplinary team of experts who specialize in providing timely and accurate guidance to physicians caring for children with rare genetic disease.

About Blue Shield of CaliforniaBlue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates providehealth, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visitnews.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

About Rady Childrens Institute for Genomic MedicineThe Institute is leading the way in advancing precision healthcare for infants and children through genomic and systems medicine research. Discoveries at the Institute are enabling rapid diagnosis and targeted treatment of critically ill newborns and pediatric patients at Rady Childrens Hospital-San Diego and partner hospitals. The vision is to expand delivery of this life-saving technology to enable the practice of precision pediatric medicine at childrens hospitals across California, the nation and the world. RCIGM is a subsidiary of Rady Childrens Hospital and Health Center. Learn more at http://www.RadyGenomics.org. Follow us on Twitterand LinkedIn.

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Blue Shield of California Becomes First Health Plan in US to Cover Cost of Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing for Critically Ill Children - Hispanic PR...

By Jessica Hamzelou

Fei Maohua/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

People who have the new coronavirus are most likely to die if they are older or show signs of sepsis or blood clotting problems. Thats according to a study that followed a small group of people infected with the covid-19 virus from diagnosis to hospital discharge or death.

Early on in the outbreak, two hospitals in Wuhan were designated to treat people who were infected with the new coronavirus. Until 1 February, people who were diagnosed with the virus in other hospitals were transferred to one of the two for care.

By January 31, 191 adults had been treated for the virus and either discharged or died at one of the two hospitals. Bin Cao at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University in Beijing, and his colleagues assessed these cases, looking for patterns in the characteristics of those who survived the virus and those who didnt.

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The average age of these individuals was 56, and 62 per cent of them were men. Around half of them had underlying medical conditions most commonly high blood pressure and diabetes.

Of the 191 individuals, 137 were eventually discharged and 54 died. The average time from the onset of the illness to discharge from hospital was 22 days, the team say. Those that didnt survive the virus died an average of 18.5 days after symptoms began.

Death was more likely in people who already had diabetes or coronary heart disease. Older people were more likely to die, as were those showing signs of sepsis or blood clotting problems. Overall, more than half of those hospitalised with the virus developed sepsis.

Poorer outcomes in older people may be due, in part, to the age-related weakening of the immune system and increased inflammation that could promote viral replication and more prolonged responses to inflammation, causing lasting damage to the heart, brain and other organs, said study co-author Zhibo Liu at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan.

The team also found that people with covid-19 continue to shed the virus, and could potentially be able to infect others, for around 20 days, or until they die. The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed covid-19, said Cao.

Journal reference: The Lancet, DOI: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)30566-3

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Coronavirus: Risk of death rises with age, diabetes and heart disease - New Scientist News

DUBLIN, March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Disease Analysis: Type 1 Diabetes" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The research estimates that in 2018, there were approximately 46.6 million prevalent cases of type 1 diabetes in adults aged 20 years and over worldwide, and forecasts that number to increase to 51.8 million prevalent cases by 2027.

In children and adolescents aged below 20 years, there were approximately 1.08 million prevalent cases of type 1 diabetes worldwide in 2018, which are expected to increase to 1.12 million prevalent cases by 2027.

The overall likelihood of approval of a Phase I type 1 diabetes asset is 16.3%, and the average probability a drug advances from Phase III is 73.9%. Type 1 diabetes drugs, on average, take 8.5 years from Phase I to approval, which is the same as the average duration to approval in the overall endocrine space.

Despite the presence of multiple well-established products, the type 1 diabetes market is expected to see limited growth over the next decade. Future growth opportunities in the type 1 diabetes market are expected to be limited by its saturation with multiple maturing insulins, pricing pressures following the launches of biosimilars, and the expected failure of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors to gain approval in the lucrative US market.

It is expected that patients will continue to switch from Novo Nordisk's Levemir to its successor product Tresiba due to the company's promotion of Tresiba's longer duration of blood sugar control compared to Levemir.

Likewise, Sanofi is pursuing a comparable commercial strategy to Novo Nordisk by promoting its next-generation insulin glargine product Toujeo over Lantus, as Lantus continues to lose patient share to the more affordable biosimilar Basaglar. However, key opinion leaders interviewed by the research analysts suggest that physicians are unconvinced that Toujeo possesses tangible benefits over biosimilar insulin glargine to justify its higher price.

Payers are severely restricting the use of specific insulin brands in the US. As the list price of insulins continues to increase, cost is becoming a strong determining factor for the choice of insulin treatment. Interviewed endocrinologists emphasized the impact of pricing on prescribing trends, as price fluctuations in the US lead to regular switching among patients.

Tresiba is forecasted to see the greatest uptake of all the long-acting insulin therapies in type 1 diabetes. Its long-acting duration of 42+ hours and its flexible dosing window (it can be administered at different times each day) offer improved convenience for patients, along with strong glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reductions. In addition, favorable pricing compared to Lantus and Toujeo within the US market is expected to drive growth of Novo Nordisk's market share.

The maturation of multiple short-acting insulin products has resulted in companies promoting switching to successor products with extended patent protection to maintain their diabetes revenues. Novo Nordisk's NovoLog will be facing biosimilar competition from Sanofi's SAR341402, therefore Novo Nordisk is actively encouraging patients to switch to NovoLog's successor ultra-rapid product Fiasp, which is positioned as having a faster onset of activity than NovoLog. Similarly, Eli Lilly has developed a faster-acting version of Humalog, ultra-rapid lispro, which is currently in preregistration in the US.

Increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients and competition from Sanofi's Admelog (a biosimilar of Humalog) have resulted in developers of branded products launching authorized generics in order to increase competitiveness in US government-insured patients, who must make co-payments based on a percentage of a drug's list price. In May 2019, Eli Lilly launched an authorized generic of Humalog at 50% of the list price of branded Humalog in hopes of maintaining government-insured patient share. This was followed in January 2020 by Novo Nordisk's launch of an authorized generic version of NovoLog, also at a 50% discount to the branded product.

Pipeline product teplizumab has shown promising potential to prevent or delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, as Phase II data have demonstrated that a single course of the drug significantly delayed disease onset in at-risk patients by a median of two years. The data will support a planned rolling Biologics License Application (BLA) submission for the prevention or delay of type 1 diabetes in H1 2020, and the review process will be fast tracked due to breakthrough therapy designation granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, if approved, teplizumab is likely to face two challenges when attempting to enter the market, the first of which is appropriately pricing the product to reflect the market value of delaying or preventing diabetes while ensuring that a high upfront cost does not prevent reimbursement. Indeed, achieving widespread reimbursement will be particularly challenging given the lack of a currently approved comparator and the fact that the mean duration of any delay in the onset of diabetes may not be known at the time of approval. The second challenge is the lack of existing screening programs to detect patients that are at risk for type 1 diabetes, which could severely limit the drug's target population (at least initially). Teplizumab's commercial success will therefore require healthcare services, physicians, and industry to collaborate on creating and integrating accessible screening programs into different health services globally.

Lexicon continues to pursue first-to-market status for Zynquista for type 1 diabetes in the US, and launched an appeal against the FDA's initial complete response letter (CRL), but this was unsuccessful. Thus, the company has now appealed to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and is expecting a final judgment to be made in February 2020, but we expect this will also fail given that no new trial data have been added to the NDA to allay safety concerns and Lexicon has stated it does not wish to initiate further studies. An FDA decision on Jardiance's supplementary New Drug Application (sNDA) is expected in late Q1/early Q2, but a rejection is widely expected given the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee panel voted 14-2 against approval in November 2019. While SGLT-2 inhibitors may offer benefits to type 1 diabetes patients beyond improved glycemic control (namely blood pressure reduction and weight loss), our base case is that the class will not gain FDA approval for type 1 diabetes without additional studies to further investigate the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the effectiveness of proposed risk-management strategies, and thus far none of the companies have publicly announced any intention to conduct such studies.

Key Topics Covered:

1. OVERVIEW

Story continues

2. DISEASE BACKGROUND

3. TREATMENT

4. EPIDEMIOLOGY

5. MARKETED DRUGS

6. PIPELINE DRUGS

7. KEY REGULATORY EVENTS

8. PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS

9. LICENSING AND ASSET ACQUISITION DEALS

10. CLINICAL TRIAL LANDSCAPE

11. DRUG ASSESSMENT MODEL

12. MARKET DYNAMICS

13. FUTURE TRENDS

14. CONSENSUS FORECASTS

15. RECENT EVENTS AND ANALYST OPINION

16. KEY UPCOMING EVENTS

17. KEY OPINION LEADER INSIGHTS

18. UNMET NEEDS

19. BIBLIOGRAPHY

20. APPENDIX

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2020 Disease Analysis on Type 1 Diabetes - Licensing and Asset Acquisition Deals - Yahoo Finance

There is a significant correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD); up to 40% of patients with diabetes develop CKD as a direct result of diabetic complications. Patients with CKD have a need for a disease-specific diet, making management of diabetes challenging. Patients with CKD also face increased risk of complications associated with malnutrition, necessitating dietary needs and nutritional requirements tailored to individual patients.

Researchers led by Nourhan Khaled Hassan, MD, recently conducted a systematic review to examine nutritional requirements for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic renal failure. The researchers screened 85 articles; of those, 22 were analyzed and included as per the study criteria. The data search included PubMed using medical subject headings terms, and a literature review through the Cochrane library and the British Medical Journal. Results were reported online in Current Diabetes Reviews [doi:10.2174/15733998166662000211120402].

The review highlighted nutrients and minerals needed to be maintained within a specified range defined by a patients needs and conditions. Dietary restrictions to prevent disease progression were also necessary. Patients receiving hemodialysis required vigorous monitoring of blood glucose levels as well as strict management of dietary intake. Risk-to-benefit ratios were utilized to determine optimal protein intake in patients on hemodialysis.

Dietary requirements should be individualized based on the patients disease severity and progression. Assessment of the patients previous and current diet, as well as matching it with their dietary requirements and preferences is crucial, the researchers said.

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Nutritional and Dietary Requirements in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and CKD - DocWire News

More than 100 million people in the United States have diabetes or prediabetes.

Its also estimated that more than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Those numbers have been rising, but researchers say there is a free and relatively easy way to reduce your risk of developing one of these diseases.

Its the simple act of walking.

The standard recommendation for physical fitness is 10,000 steps a day.

But even a fraction of that can work, according to the authors of a new study.

The researchers state that middle-aged study participants who walked the most steps per day over an average of 9 years had a 43 percent lower risk of diabetes and a 31 percent lower risk of high blood pressure.

The research was presented today at the American Heart Associations Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The benefits of exercise, specifically walking, have been studied extensively the past several years, David DaPrato, DPT, who works in sports rehabilitation and is a professional triathlon coach, told Healthline. There is good reason behind getting your 10,000-plus steps in each day.

The study was based on data from 1,923 participants in the national Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

In addition to their overall conclusions, the researchers also reported that every set of 1,000 steps taken daily over the course of 9 years lowers the risk of obesity by 13 percent in middle-aged women.

In the study, participants wore accelerometer devices to measure physical activity at least 10 hours a day for at least 4 days.

The average age of the participants was 45. Almost 60 percent were women and about 40 percent were black.

The average follow-up time was 9 years.

Those with the highest step count were 61 percent less likely to have obesity, compared to women who walked the least.

The study didnt show any association between a lower risk of obesity and the number of daily steps walked by men.

Many people think that walking is not considered exercise and that walking on a daily basis is not enough to have a positive effect on your physical and mental health, said Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes, an online coaching program helping people with diabetes reverse insulin resistance. For people with diabetes, even a short 30-minute walk before or after a meal has profound impact at lowering your blood glucose levels.

The 10,000 step benchmark goes back to 1965 when a Japanese scientist reportedly responded to the fitness craze surrounding the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by inventing the pedometer.

It was called the Manpo-kei, which translates to 10,000-steps meter.

It sounded like a semi-lofty but achievable goal. And it stuck.

Of course, there can be variations to all those steps.

My recommendation is 4,000 to 8,000 steps, but quality matters. Four thousand steps out in the countryside going up and down hills may give better health benefits compared to 8,000 steps in a mall. But its still better than nothing, said Sarah Sato, a nurse practitioner specializing in diabetes who recommends daily steps to her clients.

We see lovely, whole-person changes when someone starts walking regularly, Sato told Healthline. People often find their sleep improves, their mood can be more stable, and their digestion can become more regular.

Khambatta said the extra benefits can go even further.

Most people think that walking is only for their heart and diabetes but being active can also improve blood flow to your brain, which improves cognition, he told Healthline. Studies show that taking more steps on a daily basis can also reduce depression and anxiety. Given an increasing number of people diagnosed with mental health disorders, walking is a simple way to dramatically improve your mental health for free and can also be a social activity at the same time.

DaPrato says to start slowly and your body will adapt. And you may be grateful later when the cold and flu season comes.

After some time of consistent walking usually 3 or 4 weeks (what was) stress is now not so concerning to the body and is considered normal, he said. The body has adapted. So, since either exercise or a foreign bacterium is considered a stressor, the body more efficiently responds to invading bacteria once the tissues have adapted to exercise. This is why individuals who exercise regularly dont get sick as often.

Beth Auguste, a fitness trainer and registered dietitian, said walking gets blood to where it needs to go.

Imagine a credit card. Now imagine trying to tear it in half. You cant, she said. Now, imagine that you bend that credit card backward and forward multiple times. High blood pressure is often the result of stiff blood vessels. When you take a walk, your body needs to get more blood to your muscles quickly. If you think about your veins as similar to a hose, this means that the pressure will be increased. And, in the short term, this is a great thing. Your blood is pumping faster and harder and that increased pressure will have a similar effect on your veins, as the credit card. The frequent recurring pressure and release against the walls of your blood vessels may help to create a loosening effect, leading to more relaxed blood vessels and a lower resting blood pressure.

Mimi Secor, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, is a family nurse practitioner and author of Debut a New You: Transforming Your Life at Any Age.

She said the habit of walking is more important than the intensity. Among her recommendations on how to incorporate more walking into ones life:

View original post here:
Daily Steps Can Reduce Risk of Diabetes and High Blood Pressure - Healthline

PURPOSE:

We investigated whether the relationship between diabetes and all-cause and CVD-related mortality differed between women with and withoutbreast canceramong a cohort drawn from the same source population.

We interviewed 1,363 women newly diagnosed withbreast cancerin 1996-1997, and 1,358 age-matched women withoutbreast cancer, to assess history of physician-diagnosed diabetes. All-cause (n=631) and CVD-specific mortality (n=234) was determined by the National Death Index through 2009. We estimated multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the rates of all-cause and CVD-specific mortality and, to account for competing causes of death, and subdistribution HRs (sHRs) for risk of CVD-related death.

Among women with and withoutbreast cancer, respectively, diabetes was associated with: all-cause mortality [HR (95% CI) 1.52 (1.13, 2.05) and 2.17 (1.46, 3.22)]; CVD-specific deaths [1.74 (1.06, 2.84) and 2.06 (1.11, 3.84)]; and risk of CVD-related death [sHR 1.36 (0.81, 2.27) and 1.79 (0.94, 3.40)]. Differences in effect estimates between women with and withoutbreast cancerdid not reach statistical significance (p-interaction>0.10).

We found that the positive association between a history of physician-diagnosed diabetes and risk of all-cause and CVD-related mortality is of similar magnitude among a population-based cohort of women with or withoutbreast cancer.

Go here to see the original:
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among A Population-Based Cohort of Women with and Without Breast Cancer - DocWire News

Research over the last decade has considered the potential role of gut microbiota in the development of obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Although initial findings in mice showing the relevant contribution of gut microbiota to weight change have not been translated in a straightforward way in humans, scientists hypothesize that gut microbes may help us understand the effectiveness of weight-loss strategies such as diet and bariatric surgery.

Kaplans group experiments in mice were among the first to find that changes in gut microbiota composition could account for some of the weight loss that happens after a gastric bypass. Although it seems microbes work by allowing animals to burn more energy, how exactly an altered intestinal microbiota might cause weight loss and metabolic improvements remains to be seen.

New research in obese diabetic women shows that gut microbiota composition before Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is linked to postoperative type 2 diabetes remission.

The authors sought to explore to what extent metabolic benefits after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are related to gut microbiota profile in obese diabetic women.

Anthropometric and body composition variables improved up until 12 months after surgery. More interestingly, preoperative gut bacteria composition at the genus level differed between patients with and without T2D remission after surgery (57% versus 43%). Total type 2 diabetes remission after RYGB (assessed according to American Diabetes Association criteria) was associated with specific gut microbiota signatures before surgery. Those microbiota changes consisted of lower levels of Asaccharobacter and Atopobium and higher levels of Gemella, Coprococcus, and Desulfovibrio.

Specifically, the preoperative abundance of 10 gut bacteria genera correlated with the type 2 diabetes remission status, showing good sensitivity and specificity.

According to Karina Al Assal, one of the studys lead authors, These findings show that we can predict who is going to remit T2D before the surgery using the gut microbiota profile as a biomarker. This signature, if confirmed, may enable the prediction of future remission state of T2DM.

By contrast, postoperative changes in the relative abundance of gut bacteria and their richness were observed regardless of whether participants showed T2D remission or not.

The authors also reported some correlations between gut microbiota richness (defined as the number of species in fecal samples, without taking into account the abundance of each one) and food intake based on a 7-day record. For instance, before surgery, gut microbiota richness showed a positive correlation with fiber intake and inverse association with lipid intake, with the latter persisting until 12 months after surgery.

Although limited in sample and despite the quasi-experimental design of the study, these findings show that improvements in body and metabolic parameters secondary to RYGB surgery may be partly explained by gut microbiota composition.

Regarding how these findings might impact on clinically managing obesity in the foreseeable future, Karina Al Assal highlighted to GMFH editors via email that the study of gut bacteria signatures at the preoperative period in obese patients might pave the way for using gut microbiota as a marker to help clinicians when deciding on whether to recommend bariatric surgery. Likewise, based on associations found between gut bacteria and food intake, adding fibers and reducing lipid intake might improve the outcome of bariatric surgery.

Reference:

Al Assal K, Prifti E, Belda E, et al. Gut microbiota profile of obese diabetic women submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and its association with food intake and postoperative diabetes remission. Nutrients. 2020; 12, 278. doi: 10.3390/nu1202278.

Read the original:
Gut microbiota composition tied to type 2 diabetes remission following bariatric surgery in obese diabetic women - Gut Microbiota for Health

Diabetes mellitus (DM) plays an important role in restenosis and late in-stent thrombosis (ST).The current study using optical coherence tomography (OCT) aims to compare target lesion neointima in patients with or without diabetes after zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) treatment.OCT images of 90,212 struts and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) in 62 patients (32 with DM and 30 without DM) with 69 de novo coronary lesions (34 DM and 35 non-DM) both after ZES implantation and 121month angiographic follow-up were recorded. Patient characteristics, lesion characteristics, clinical outcomes, and OCT findings including neointimal thickness, coverage, malapposition, and intimal morphology were analyzed.Baseline patient characteristics and lesion characteristics data were similar between the two groups. Higher neointimal thickness (0.140.09mm vs. 0.090.04mm, p=0.021), more neovascularization (3.036.24 vs. 0.521.87, p=0.017) and higher incidence of layered signal pattern (12.1919.91% vs. 4.289.02%, p=0.049) were observed in diabetic lesions comparing with non-diabetic lesions. No differences were found in malapposition, uncovered percentage, and thrombus between the two groups (all p>0.05). Occurrence of clinical adverse events was also similar during the follow-up period (p>0.05).Although more neointimal proliferation and more neovascularization were found in diabetic coronary lesions whencompared with non-diabetic lesions, treatment with ZES showed similar stent malapposition rate at 1-year follow-up. The data indicated that ZES treatment could possibly beeffective in treating diabetic coronary lesions.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01747356.

Here is the original post:
Efficacy of Zotarolimus-Eluting Stents in Treating Diabetic Coronary Lesions: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study. - Physician's Weekly

The report on Diabetic Care Market offers an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, etc. Along with qualitative information, this report comprises the quantitative analysis of various segments in terms of market share, growth, opportunity analysis, market value, etc. for the forecast years. The global Diabetic Care Market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and geography.

The report researches into the Diabetic Care market to evaluate its current and future potential. It leverages historical statistics about the Diabetic Care market, data from various other websites and sources, and inputs by the experts of the industry. It focuses completely on analyzing the regional subdivisions of the Diabetic Care markets.

Global Diabetic Care market is estimated to reach $112.2 Million by 2025; growing at a CAGR of 6.23% till 2025.

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Competitive Landscape

Key Players in this showcase are:

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LPBristol-Myers Squibb CoDexcom, Inc.Eli Lily and CompanyJohnson & Johnson Services, Inc.MedtronicNovo Nordisk A/SRoche Diagnostics LtdSanofi S.A.Terumo Europe NV

Diabetic Care showcasing different procedures and strategies, providers and merchants working in the Diabetic Care market, investigates components convincing Diabetic Care market development, generation patterns, and following systems. The overall Diabetic Care market report performs SWOT examination and PESTEL Diabetic Care investigation to uncover the steadiness, imperfections, openings, and dangers in the Diabetic Care industry. Moreover, it thinks about the earlier years information to see the deterrents looked by new players in the Diabetic Care market universally, the danger from other administrations or items, and the general showcase limit of the aggressive players.

Global Diabetic Care Market Segmentation:

The Diabetic Care Market report also covers segment analysis, including product type, application, and region, etc. cover different segment market sizes, both volume, and value.

Global Diabetic Care market segmentation:

By Type

Youth Onset DiabetesAdult Onset DiabetesGestational DiabetesBy End-User

Research InstituteHospitalHome Care

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Global Diabetic Care market segmentation by Geography:

The estimates for all segments including type and application have been provided on a regional basis for the forecast period mentioned above. We have implemented a mix of top-down and bottom-up approaches for market sizing, analyzing the key regional markets, dynamics, and trends for various applications. The Global Diabetic Care market has been estimated by integrating the regional markets.

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See the article here:
Diabetic Care Market by Type (Youth Onset Diabetes, Adult Onset Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes), By End-User (Research Institute, Hospital, and...

Published: 3/8/2020 6:31:19 PM

Nearly $713,000 in federal funding is going to Dartmouth College to support research to test new ways to better treat and control type 1 diabetes.

The funding will go toward a five-year study that will use digital tools to support behavioral changes to help young people with diabetes follow a complicated medical regimen and achieve better health outcomes.

It will be distributed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

The funding was announced recently by New Hampshires congressional delegation.

Research like this can help to improve quality of life and, ultimately, medical outcomes for countless patients, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan said in a statement.

The funding to Dartmouths Center for Technology and Behavioral Health will go toward a study led by Dr. Catherine Stanger.

I am grateful to the NIH for their support of this work since 2012, and look forward to leading this national project, where we will reach out directly to young adults with type 1 diabetes to support them in learning to better manage this complex and challenging condition, said Stanger said.

Associated Press

See the original post here:
More than $700K to go toward type 1 diabetes research - Concord Monitor

HOUSTON Pain, numbness and tingling in your hands and feet can be a sign you have neuropathy or nerve damage. Common treatments include pain medication, injections, or tens (an electrical stimulator), but Dr. Bao Thai from Advanced Nerve and Health Center says these treatments aren't effective for neuropathy.

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Advanced Nerve and Health Center is located at 8558 Katy Freeway, Suite 116, Houston, TX 77024.

For more information, log on to NerveAndHealth.com.

This content is sponsored by: Advanced Nerve and Health Center

See the rest here:
Reverse symptoms of diabetic neuropathy with life-changing treatment - KHOU.com

As the number of UK cases of coronavirus continues to rise, what has become clear is how many of the patients to die from the virus have underlying health conditions that make them susceptible to catching it.

Thethird person in the UK to die, after testing positive for the coronavirus upon his return from Italy, was being treated at the North Manchester General Hospital for underlying health conditions when he died.

The UKs second death was a man in his early 80s, who also had underlying health issues, as did the woman in her 70s who became the UKs first death linked to the virus.

Its a new infection, but from our experience with dealing with flu epidemics, we know that people with various conditions will fare worse, says Fan Chung, a professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College. A paper has just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that looked at the first 1,001 cases in Wuhan. The figures showed those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, COPD, cancer and renal disease, fared worse. And I suspect the people who very unfortunately died in the UK had one or any of those conditions."

A Chinese study hasfound people with heart disease, diabetes and cancer had a 79 per cent chance of being admitted to intensive care or dying from the virus, due to their weakened immune systems.

Here are the underlying health conditions that put you at higher risk of getting the coronavirus a reminder of how it might initially spread.

People with diabetes face a higher risk of complications if they get the coronavirus, due to the fact their fluctuating or elevated glucose levels leave them with lowered immunity. This also means they have less protection against getting the virus. Coronavirus or COVID-19 can cause more severe symptoms and complications in people with diabetes, says Dan Howarth from Diabetes UK. If you have diabetes and you have symptoms such as a cough, high temperature and feeling short of breath you need to monitor your blood sugar closely and call the NHS 111 phone service.

People with diabetes who dont experience symptoms and have recently travelled to any of the affected areas need to follow information on the NHS and theGOV.UKwebsites, adds Howarth. "These are updated regularly and are the most up-to-date source of information available.

Its believed around 40 per cent of hospitalised coronavirus patients have heart disease. Somebody with a heart condition is more likely to have a compromised immune system, so their immune response wont be as strong if exposed to a virus. COVID-19 also targets the lungs, which could cause problems for a diseased heart that has to work harder to get oxygenated blood around the body.

Asthma is a respiratory condition that leads to inflammation of the breathing tubes that transport air to and from the lungs.Coronavirus can cause respiratory problems for anyone, but for the 5.4million people in the UK with asthma, the risk is greater, says Jessica Kirby, Head of Health Advice at Asthma UK. Respiratory viruses like thiscan triggerasthma symptoms and couldlead to anasthma attack.

Kirby says if youre a sufferer, itsessential to takeyour preventer, daily as prescribed. This helps cut the risk of an asthma attack being triggered by any virus, including coronavirus, she says. Keeping a reliever inhaler to handis vital, soyoucan use it ifyou get asthmasymptoms.

Ifyourasthma symptomsgetworse, and you havent travelled to an at-risk area or been in contact with someone who has, make an appointment to see your GP as soon as you can. If you think you might have coronavirus, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service."

COPD is the name for certain lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema, which is characterised by damage to the air sacs in the lungs,and chronic bronchitis, which is a long-term condition involving inflammation of the lungs airways. People with COPD are more likely to get coronavirus if exposed to the virus because they have damage to their epithelial lining, which makes it easier for viruses to enter the body.

Cancer patients are more susceptible due to their compromised immune system. Various cancer drugs and treatments, like chemotherapy, mean your immune system may be suppressed, says Prof Chung, and this would increase your chances of catching it. And if you do get it while you havecancer, you would probably fare worse than somebody with the virus who didnt have cancer.

Not a health condition as such, but many of the thousands of deaths so far have involved elderly people with underlying health conditions. The elderly are at greater risk, and government advice for the elderly to avoid crowded areas is sound advice, says Prof Chung. The figures we have so far seem to imply the risk increases above the age of 70. However its even worse for those over 80. The chances of getting it and faring worse increase two or three times above the age the 70, but even more so above 80.

In terms of children, who appear to be less prone to getting the coronavirus and, if they do, getting a more benign version of the illness, Prof Chung says that a young person with an underlying health condition isn't at a greater risk: A young person with asthma, or heart disease, wouldnt be predisposed to get the coronavirusor suffer from it, in the same way an adult with the condition would, he says. Maybe its their immune system, and how its different from older people, but in terms of their susceptibility of getting the coronavirus, health conditions in young people dont seem to increase their chances of catching it.

Read the original here:
The underlying health conditions which affect how you cope with the coronavirus - Telegraph.co.uk

A series of paintings on inspiring figures ranging from Mother Teresa and Subramania Bharati to Mirra Alfassa, or The Mother, who founded Auroville and former President APJ Abdul Kalam has been hosted at the Gandhi Thidal as part of a campaign to raise glaucoma awareness.

The exhibition, jointly organised by Aravind Eye Hospital and Puducherry Municipality, throws light on the sneak thief of sight, which is an oft-cited epithet for one of the important causes for irreversible blindness caused by a condition where the visual nerve gets damaged because of the rise in pressure within the eye.

This disease has no warning symptoms till it reaches an advanced stage and because of its irreversible nature, it is important to get screened at the stage.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness and the top cause of irreversible blindness in the world. In India, more than 12 million people are affected by this disease, but only 5-10% are aware about it.

S. Sivakumar, Commissioner, Puducherry Municipality, opened the exhibition on Saturday in the presence of V. Govindaradjou, president, Rotary club of Pondicherry Elites.

The exhibition curated by R. Venkatesh, Chief Medical Officer of Aravind Eye Hospital, was hosted as part of the World Glaucoma Week, which is a joint initiative of the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association.

According to slides exhibited at the event, glaucoma more commonly affects people beyond the age of 40. So it is recommended that everyone must have a regular eye checkup after this age.

A positive family history has been proven to be a strong risk factor for glaucoma. Strengthening family screening and bringing awareness in families and communities will help reduce blindness due to glaucoma.

As there are very few symptoms in the earlier stages of glaucoma, most people are unaware till the time they lose significant amount of vision. Early diagnosis can reduce progression of the disease and prevent blindness. Since staying informed is the first step to tackle glaucoma, there is a great need to create public awareness on the importance of periodic screening, Aravind Hospital said.

Jipmers Opthalmology department will be screening public and health care workers of the institution for glaucoma in the Eye OPD from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from (Monday) to March 14 (Saturday). The glaucoma screening is done by checking the eye pressure by a non-contact method and examining the optic nerve using a fundus camera, Subashini Kaliaperumal, Professor and Head of Ophthalmology, Jipmer, said.

This year, the special focus is on family members (siblings and offsprings) of glaucoma patients.

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Awareness, early screening key to treating glaucoma - The Hindu

So often, we hear about folks declaring that theyd like to live to be 100. Most of us are probably more likely reach the average life expectancy of a little over 78 years for men and about 81 years for women in the U.S. In places where excellent healthcare is available more people surpass average life expectancy and more often reach their 90s and beyond. Is this a great thing?

stubborn old man

Its time for a reality check. Longevity in aging parents can be wonderful but it can also be very difficult to manage.

Take the case of Bertrand, age 91, well fixed financially. He is confused but still driving around and participating in some activities. He loses track of his bills. His memory is shot. He cant take care of his bedridden wife, but he hires helpers and they take advantage of his confusion. His only son, Dominic, lives an hour plane flight away but he has his own family and his own problems and cant be available at every moment. Bertrand authorized Dominic, to be his agent on his Durable Power of Attorney to help with finances. When his son tried to step into one of Bertrands messes, Dad pushed him away and said he would not allow it. What is Dominic to do?

The burden on Dominic is overwhelming. Of course he wants his dad to have a long life, but now that creates problems he never thought about. He sees his father showing signs of dementia, but Bertrand refuses assistance with the very thing most needed: managing money. That leads to the danger of Bertrands assets being depleted, as no one is keeping track of them. Dominic called his fathers estate planning attorney to ask what to do.

His attorney cant make Bertrand honor the Durable Power of Attorney he signed, as anyone can revoke such a document as long as one is still competent. Bertrand is at the last edge of competency to handle money but hes too stubborn to admit it. And hes also too stubborn to give up control and allow his son to help him.

Is there a way out of this dilemma? Perhaps. Bertrands physical health is fragile, as he has numerous diagnoses and goes to his doctor often. Dominic also is appointed on his fathers Advance Healthcare Directive, which gives him the opportunity to speak to Bertrands healthcare providers. He can call the main treating doctor and explain the situation. The estate planning lawyer told Dominic that with a letter from that doctor stating that Bertrand is incapacitated for managing his finances, Dominic can take over the family trust even if his Dad doesnt want him to do so. Thats how the trust was written. Now Dominic has to get the letter and break the news to Bertrand, which is likely to set off a firestorm from Bertrand. Dominic knows that taking this next step is the only way to keep his parents finances safe. He is at least in good position that he just needs one letter from dads treating doctor to move forward to protect his dad.

Diminished financial capacity is an issue many adult children face with parents who live to be 90 and more. Mental capacity to manage money may not last for an entire lifetime, no matter how good an aging parent was at this before. At times, the children have to take over against the elders wishes. Some estate planning attorneys correctly predict this possibility and make the trust language easier to work with when a parent has to be removed from the position of authority. Other lawyers put horribly burdensome language into the trust, almost forcing the adult children to go to court in a pitched battle between parent and child when the parent is cognitively impaired. Here at AgingParents.com, where we mediate family conflicts like the one between Bertrand and Dominic, we see the dangers of badly written trusts. What does your parents trust say about possible incapacity? It is well worth a discussion!

Here are some points to find out about and correct if you need to do so.

Notice that what Dominic needs to do with his father is directed by the words a lawyer put into legal documents for Bertrand. It is worth the effort now for you to find out what might be your responsibility in the future and see that it is workable for all in your family. Getting a trust amended (changed in this particular limited way) is generally not a long nor expensive task.

See original here:
Aging Parents And Longevity: The Big Issue That Affects Families And How To Fix It - Forbes

Lori Sedowski lived in, on and around furniture her whole life. From a young age, she followed and learned from her father through many of his jobs within the North Carolina furniture world, gleaning hands-on experience of the ins and outs of the entire process from building to covering to selling. In 1989, Lori and her father started McKinley Leather Furniture together with Loris sister. From the beginning and now more than ever Lori has helped build her family business into one of the most respected furniture manufacturers in North Carolina. Her knowledge of this luxurious material and creative incorporations of it into the home have made Lori somewhat of a leather furniture guru and we learned a lot from her. Get to know this impressive, community-involved and quality-driven executive and hear some of her best furniture advice and stories.

For more insightful words from Lori, check out her blog, Loris Corner. Image: Bob Huffman

I grew up in the furniture manufacturing world. My father was the General Manager of Hickory Hill Upholstery Co., and I worked various jobs in the office and factory during summers. When I left home for college, my father had changed jobs moving to a leather furniture manufacturing company, Hickory International Leather. I worked with him in merchandising on a part-time, temporary basis. Mostly, I helped accessorize and set up their Market showrooms. I originally studied education in college, but then graduated with a degree in business administration. When I graduated, it just felt natural to go out on the road as a manufacturers rep.

Leather is an emotional covering. It is amazing to see the colorations and various textures that our tanneries have developed. I love the natural aspects of leather. Even though you have a specific article, each hide is unique. I love seeing how it all works together.

Weonlyhave 24 full-time employees, so we are a small, boutique operation. We always personally interview applicants and look for those with experience. We have had a very low turnover since we started in 1989, but now those employees are retiring and we have an extremely difficult time hiring new craftspeople. The skilled labor shortage is one of our greatest challenges right now. Larger companies are paying signing bonuses and even getting government incentives for their workforce. We always hope that if we can get them in our door and work within our small business, family culture that they will stay. Unfortunately, higher wages from my competition has taken quite a few of our employees. It is an ongoing battle.

RELATED: 3 Women Wielding Hammers & Wearing Hard Hats

The North Carolina furniture industry is thriving in spite of inconsistent business. Creativity abounds throughout this industry, and it is exciting seeing how others are responding to the challenge to remain relevant in this ever-changing business climate.

I have four sisters and my parents raised us to dream high and not allow gender to define our capabilities. My advantage is that I have strong attention to details that many men would overlook, and I have the tenacity to take care of those details. This can also be a disadvantage, as I can miss the big picture from focusing on the smaller parts.

Its apparent: the Sedowski family (Lori is pictured with her father on the far left, her husband and two sons) is as tightly knit and beautiful as the seams of the leather pieces they create. Image: Fanjoy Labrenz

All of our projects are fulfilling to me. The Industrial Revolution and manufacturing are built on repetition. I enjoy the assembly-line feeling of doing the same task, keeping an eye on quality and maintaining efficiency. There is always a bit of excitement, even in this rigor and rote, because leathers have their own life and require finesse for the most beautiful outcome.

However, our custom projects present more challenges. Its like traveling to a place where you dont speak their language. You have to listen to their ideas and figure out how to bring them to life. Heather Daily (a renowned Southern interior designer) brought a challenge to us about 18 months ago. Her desired designs incorporate hand-lacing across two adjoining pieces of leather, like on corners, that would not normally have even been sewn together. McKinley customers have loved taking Heathers designs and methods and applying them to their visions. To me, thats what its all about inspiring others to take our designs, along with Heathers designs and personalize them with their own flair.

RELATED: This Womans Story Will Give You Hope and Inspire Gratitude

It feels like a sham to me when a piece of furniture is beautiful on the outside, but not built well inside. A customer cannot see that part, but they will clearly feel the effects within a relatively short time period. At the very least, leather itself is chosen for its longevity (four to five times longer than many fabrics), so the inside construction has to be built to last as long as the leather. But for me, its more elementary than that. I dont change furniture very often I select items that I love and dont want to give them up. My team and I want to build furniture that will last through generations and that only comes with a solid foundation. We have found that hardwood frames with joints that fit well for a strong base and 8-way hand-tied spring suspension will uphold substantial wear. Our end goal is always integrity and beauty we would never even consider not starting on the inside.

A McKinley craftsman upholding the beauty is only great when matched by what is inside philosophy. Image: Facebook

McKinley Leather has always operated on short two- to three-week production lead times, so it is second nature to us. We continue to partner with quick, responsive suppliers so that I can fulfill my commitment to our customers. Since we are a custom furniture builder, rather than one who works from cut and sewn covers in a limited selection of leathers, it is a struggle to have the right materials on hand. We depend on historical data to achieve this. My track record is very good on this, except for when it might be the most important when we open a new account or hire a new sales rep. In these cases, we know we have something to prove, but they frequently order/sell something that is off the curve. Thats really where the partnerships come in to play we work with suppliers that will go to bat for us when we miss our forecasts.

I talk a lot about furniture lasting a long time, but this does not mean that cushions dont soften and relax with use. As cushions soften, your weight presses lower into the seat and the leather on the seat cushions stretches as low as you go. Customers usually want a soft seat when they first get their furniture but are then unhappy with the amount of wrinkling and puddling that occurs. Furniture will only get softer as it is used, so we would prefer to firm up our cushions on initial orders. Unfortunately, many customers really want that softness from the very beginning.

Another common problem is fading from heat or light. Once leather has faded, you cannot go back at least not much. Uniters North America sells some phenomenal products in their Leather Masters line and can offer some remedy, but its better to select the correct leather for intended usage. Leathers that have a pigmented topcoat (designated in our line as Aniline Plus Pigment, or AP) work better in a room with direct sunlight or heat from multiple windows like a sunroom, but they are still not infallible. We recommend investing in windows that block UV rays to protect your furniture and flooring. Its shocking how quickly an unprotected full aniline leather can fade. Our beloved leather sofa, chair and ottoman (30 years old) were originally placed in our basement. When we moved to a new home, we placed this furniture in a sunroom. We do not have direct sunlight coming into the room, but quite a few windows. The furniture started noticeably fading within one week. We had already had this set for 14 years. We replaced our windows immediately and the fading subsided, but we were unable to recover the original coloration.

How unique is this two-toned circular ottoman? McKinley makes staples and statement pieces alike. Just take care of your leather, they ask! Image: Facebook

Loaded question! I have a hard time parting with any piece of furniture that I own. The leather sofa, chair and ottoman mentioned before were built 30 years ago. The leather is faded but still intact. I know that my friends think we are crazy when they enter our house and see it still there especially since we build so much furniture but it carries so much history for us. My older son (whos now 23) raced his cars across the ottoman, leaving scratches. Our various dogs have created their circular nesting path on the chairs seat cushion. Its comfortable and we use it daily. We even have a leather chair that we had built for and then inherited from my husbands father more than 30 years ago. Other than a button that is hanging loose, it is still beautiful and my favorite seat in the house. I always think of Big Joe every time I sit down. I have more pieces that I want to keep for the rest of my life, like a custom sideboard that we had made for our dining room. It has served our family Christmas and holiday gatherings for more than 20 years. I dont think I need to go on each piece carries a story and it comes back to our family. THIS is why we commit to making quality furniture to last for a lifetime. It seems self-defeating in a world that needs repeat customers, but we want to build furniture that can transcend generations because I am sentimental and thats where my heart is.

Thank you, Lori, for this lovely leather-covered conversation. Find out more about Lori and McKinley Leather here.

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A Leather Company With Longevity: McKinley Leather Furniture - StyleBlueprint

KEY POINTS

How to live longer is a quest that almost everyone engages in. A lot of people are conscious of the kind of food they eat, as well as the kind of beverages they drink. One hot drink that has been proven to help in lowering mortality is green tea. By drinking this daily, you would be able to increase life expectancy.

The Evergreen Studies

A study conducted in Japan by the Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine showed how daily green tea consumption could result in reducing mortality. The study involved 40,530 people aged between 40 and 79.

The participants did not have a history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cancer at the start of the experiment. They found after the 11-year experiment that green tea did wonder for the overall health of the participants and significantly reduced mortality rates. green tea for longevity Photo: Free-Photos - Pixabay

In another study that was published in ScienceDirect, it also ascertained how consuming green tea was associated with the same great benefits as with other studies concerning mortality rates.In the above study, the researchers from the Department of Epidemiology at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine investigated around 14,001 elderly citizens who were between 65 to 84 years old.

They completed a questionnaire, which asked them about the frequency of their green tea consumption. The researchers found that those who consumed up to 7 cups of green tea a day lived longer compared to those who consumed less than a cup.

As per the Division of Health in Warwick Medical School, it showed how green tea would create highly favorable effects, especially on getting the heart healthy and avoiding cardiovascular diseases.Aside from this, they also found out that green tea can help lower bad cholesterol. It also staves off high blood pressure. With all these great benefits that green tea provides to the body, you will experience what it is like to be healthier the moment you consume green tea.

More Longevity Tips

In addition to drinking green tea daily, try to engage in a more active lifestyle. Try to engage in cardio exercises daily; you can spend 30 minutes a day to exercise. Also, try to control your blood sugar and blood pressure. Getting these under control will also help in giving you more years.

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Beverage For Longevity: Drink This Hot Cup Daily To Increase Life Expectancy - International Business Times

To furnish your home, buy exercise equipment, find a realtor, or financial advisor, you don't have to travel far to find everything you need.

For nine years, the Morden Home and Life Show has been holding its signature trade event, showcasing the numerous businesses within the community, with over 50 vendors featured at this year's event which happened Friday and Saturday at the Access Event Centre.

Morden and District Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Candace Olafson says the event's longevity is only possible due to community support.

"Each year, we get lots of people to check out the show, and that keeps our vendors coming back. We're always impressed with how many people who go and check it out, and of course, our vendors. They put in a lot of work, and there are just a lot of great businesses here."

You never know what you're going to find, says Olafson, a new business, product, or service you didn't know existed.

That exposure and hard work from businesses do make an economic difference, giving them an excellent opportunity to market themselves.

"People know what it is, and it books up quickly," she says. "Exhibitors want to be part of this show and showcase their business."

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Home And Life Show Longevity Thanks To Community - PembinaValleyOnline.com

As we age, it can seem like our bodies are breaking down. We lose our hearing, our vision, our mobility, and our memory. We develop back pain, neck pain, diabetes, and depression. But one recent study, published in Cell, suggests calorie restriction is a comprehensive way to solve most aging ails.

Aging, the studys authors say, is to blame for the functional decline of tissues in the bodya process that can be delayed, though not stopped, by caloric restriction. So the solution to aging gracefully is conceptually the same as skipping dessert, or not having that extra slice of pizza but amplified on the scale of years.

The researchers observed two groups of lab ratsone group ate 30 percent fewer calories compared to group two, which was on a normal diet. The researchers controlled their diets from when the rats were 18 months old through 27 months old. In humans, that period is comparable to 20 years.

When researchers looked at the dieting rats cells, extracted from fat tissues, livers, kidneys, aortas, skin, bone marrow, brains, and muscles, they didnt see the effects of age. At the end of the diet, these rats tissues and cells were nearly identical to those of young rats.

One specific phenomenon of the aging rat cells was how the inflammatory response agents changed. In the dieting rats, there was a repressed inflammatory response compared to the rats on a normal diet.

Not only did the study pinpoint the role of caloric restriction in aging, but it also gave researchers a detailed look at how a single cell ages. The discovery moves researchers closer to fully understanding aging on a cellular leveleven developing drugs and medical strategies to prolong healthy lifespans.

The study, of course, isnt the first to focus on the effects of caloric restriction. Many studies have already been conducted showing that cutting down on the number of daily calories you consume will extend your lifespan.

One study conducted in 2018 and published in Communications Biology tested caloric restriction on grey mouse lemurs. The primates were fed a 30 percentreduced caloric diet over 10 years. Not only were the dieting lemurs healthiertheir motor capacities, cognitive performance, and general health were all mostly intactbut they also lived longer. The lemurs normally live 12 years, but the primates in the dieting group outlived those in the control group, which all died within 11.3 years.

Other studies yet, including another conducted with primates and a 2018 study conducted on humans, proved calorie restrictions role in fighting age-related disease. Calorie restriction sustained over several years may help to decrease risk of chronic disease and prolong life, said Leanne M. Redman, the lead author of that 2018 study, published in Cell Metabolism.

Another study, conducted in 2015 by Taiwanese researchers, found that calorie restriction in dieting improves muscles during middle age. Caloric restriction is the only non-pharmaceutical and non-genetic strategy that increases the lifespan of animals and provides health benefits, the researchers wrote. That study appeared in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.

And even if it isnt your goal, cutting down on calories is a great way to shed pounds. Whereas most diets simply limit the amount of foods youre able to eat (e.g. keto, vegan, paleo) or track the time youre allowed to eat (i.e. intermittent fasting), the research in all these studies is different.

It doesnt advocate eating fewer carbs or eating less frequentlyjust eating less in general. And as hard as it may be to not fill up at mealtime, it will hopefully be easier knowing that, in the long run, youre helping your body to stay healthy longer.

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Is Calorie Restriction the Panacea to Good Health and Longevity? - Men's Journal