Hearing loss in ‘brain decline link’

25 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Health Hints

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The brains of elderly patients with hearing loss appear to decline more rapidly than those with full hearing, a US study shows.

Suggested explanations include rewiring of the brain as hearing declines or social isolation caused by not being able to communicate.

The researchers hope that treating hearing loss can slow the onset of cognitive decline and dementia.

The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University followed 1,984 people in their 70s for six years – all had hearing and mental ability tests at the beginning of the study. There were then follow-up brain tests over the next six years.

Test scores declined as the study progressed, but patients with a hearing loss deteriorated 40% more quickly.

Slow dementia?One of the researchers, Dr Frank Lin, said there were two main theories about how the two could be linked.

Becoming socially withdrawn due to hearing loss – such as not going out or struggling with conversation – has been linked to cognitive decline and dementia in the past.

Another idea is “cognitive load”. As hearing declines the brain dedicates more resources to interpreting the information it is sent, stealing brain power which would be used for other functions.

Cognitive decline can be an early symptom of dementia.

Dr Lin told the BBC: “The major public health question is if we treat hearing loss can we delay cognitive decline or dementia?

“That’s what we all care about, but the answer is we just don’t know.”

He said people with hearing loss used a hearing aid in only 15% of cases in the US “so it is very undertreated”.

Dr Eric Karran, from the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the exact connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline was still unknown.

He said: “Potential social isolation caused by hearing impairment is a more likely explanation for this link than there being a shared disease process, although this needs further investigation, this will be an interesting area to study further.

“Many people find their hearing becomes worse as they get older, and age is also the biggest risk factor for dementia.

“Understanding whether the two are directly linked could give important insight into the condition, but more research will be needed to fully answer this question.”

Dr Jason Warren, from University College London, researches how dementia affects the way people hear the world around them.

He said brain scans had shown that hearing loss in patients was also down to the way a dying brain tried to handle sound.

“People with Alzheimer’s often become ‘lost’ trying to follow a conversation in a noisy room or over the telephone.

“We hope ultimately to design and target effective interventions to help people manage such symptoms in their everyday lives.”
By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News

 

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Nothing Changes

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

Fiji

Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ

Nothing Changes In over 2000 years 

“Do not blame Caesar, blame the people of Rome who have so enthusiastically acclaimed and adored him and rejoiced in their loss of freedom and danced in his path and given him triumphal processions. Blame the people who hail him when he speaks in the Forum of the new wonderful good society which shall now be Rome’s, interpreted to mean more money, more ease, more security, and more living fatly at the expense of the industrious.”

–Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC)

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A Little Window of Hope

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in Letters

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Editor

FNPF pensioners who lost out with the Regime’s illegal restructuring of the FNPF pensions might note that Yash Ghai Commission’s Draft Constitution states in Schedule 6 (Transition Arrangements), Clause 24: Judicial proceedings and other pending matters

that

“(1) Any proceedings before any court, tribunal or commission that had arisen under any law and that had been terminated by order at any time before the General Effective Date, are revived and may be proceeded with under this Constitution”.

I presume this also applies to the Burness/Shameem case.

FNPF pensioners who lost out may wish to go to the Constituent Assembly or influence those persons who are appointed to it, to press for this clause to be retained in the Draft Constitution.

This will no doubt be totally futile, but at least the pensioners can go on record.

Professor Wadan Narsey

One Smart Lady

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in Health Hints

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Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1.  Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2.  When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3.  Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8.  It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9.  Save for things that matter.

10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11.  Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12.  It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13.  Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14.  If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful.  Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to be happy.  But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion… Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words…

“In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.  

29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come…

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

Send our web site address to your friends, so they can all read this.

Greybeard

A Bridge too Far

11 Friday Jan 2013

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The very fact that the bridge was even considered is mind boggling,  when a fraction of the cost of the bridge could have built a network of essential roads throughout the country.

This is totally indicative of how inane an administration can become.

PLANS for the construction of a bridge to connect Vanua Levu to Viti Levu have been cancelled.

Divisional planning officer north Alipate Bolalevu confirmed the plans had been dropped after considering a number of factors surrounding the project.

The initial plan was to build a bridge from Viti Levu to Vanua Levu from the end of Bua to one part of Ra.

“A few things that made the project unsuccessful was the depth of the sea along the proposed stretch for the construction — which is very deep indeed,” Mr Bolalevu said.

“On the other hand we also considered the vast effect that the construction of such a bridge would have on the maritime islands and the shipping businesses taking into mind the small businesses that survive on transportation by sea.

“The proposed 60-kilometre bridge was also seen to be a very expensive project.”

Mr Bolalevu said a team from China which was in Vanua Levu to look into the proposed project and its location had returned to their country.

“They were supposed to return this year but so far we have not heard anything from them,” he said.

FIJI TIMES

Final Wave from the Flag

10 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Remembrance

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fijiflagwavingWish me luck as you wave me goodbye 
Cheerio, here I go, on my way 
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye 
Not a tear, but a cheer, make it gay 
Give me a smile I can keep all the while 
In my heart while I’m away 
Till we meet once again, you and I 
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye

TO THE CURRENT FIJI FLAG AND ALL THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED SERVING UNDER IT

Things my parents taught me

10 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Daily Humour

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1. My Parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .. 

“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside… I just finished cleaning.” 

2. My Parents taught me RELIGION. 

“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”  

3. My Parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL. 

“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!” 

4. My Parents taught me LOGIC. 

“Because I said so, that’s why.” 

 5. My Parents taught me MORE LOGIC . 

“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.” 

6. My Parents taught me FORESIGHT. 

“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.” 

7. My Parents taught me IRONY. 

“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.” 

8. My Parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. 

“Shut your mouth and eat your supper” 

9. My Parents taught me about CONTORTIONISM. 

“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!” 

 10. My Parents taught me about STAMINA. 

“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.” 

11. My Parents taught me about WEATHER. 

“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.” 

12. My Parents taught me about HYPOCRISY. 

“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!” 

13. My Parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. 

“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
14. My Parents taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. 

“Stop acting like your father!” 

15. My Parents taught me about ENVY. 

“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.” 

16. My Parents taught me about ANTICIPATION. 

“Just wait until we get home.” 

17. My Parents taught me about RECEIVING. 

“You are going to get it when you get home!” 

18. My Parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 

“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.” 

 19. My Parents taught me ESP. 

“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?” 

20. My Parents taught me HUMOR. 

“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”  

21. My Parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. 

“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.” 

22. My Parents taught me GENETICS. 

“You’re just like your father.”  

23. My Parents taught me about my ROOTS. 

“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?” 

24. My Parents taught me WISDOM. 

“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”  

And my favourite:

25. My Parents taught me about JUSTICE. 

“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”