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Over the past 60 years, many documents, including the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, have addressed the rights of all persons. But it was not until the Declaration on Social Progress and Development in 1969 that the human rights of the elderly were specifically mentioned in an international rights document (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights). The United Nations adopted the first International Plan of Action on Ageing in 1987 and the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Principles for Older Persons in 1991. (more…)

Elder maltreatment and abuse of the elderly is found in almost all countries of the world. According to the World Health Organization, elderly abuse is expected to continue to increase, particularly as many countries experience rapidly aging populations. Throughout the world, both elderly men and women are at high risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Although older men are at risk of abuse in about the same proportion as women, elderly women are at higher risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in cultures where women are devalued. (more…)

Aging begins before we are born, is a lifelong process and continues throughout life. Throughout the life course, differing life experiences influence our capabilities and well-being in our later years. The functional capacity of our biological systems increases during the first years of life, reaches its peak in early adult-hood and naturally declines thereafter. Throughout most countries (but not all), persons experience a long childhood and a long old age. These two lengthy developmental spans have provided great utility. Throughout history, it has enabled older persons to educate the younger and pass on values to them. (more…)

Some medications exist for weight loss. These medications are moderately effective, although they often have side effects that limit their widespread use. The history of diet medications has been plagued with adverse health outcomes, including valvular heart disease and heart arrhythmias. Many of these medications have focused on increasing the metabolic rate or suppressing appetite. Wieght loss with orlistat and sibultramine medications are gaining more popular among people looking to loss their weight trough medications (more…)

Enzymatic Antioxidants

Certain enzymes and many small water-soluble and lipid-soluble molecules can intercept and destroy free radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). Important components of cellular enzymatic protection include catalase, superoxide dismutase (Mn, Cu/Zn, extracellular), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and thioredoxin reductase. (more…)

There are endogenous and external sources of ‘natural’ oxygen free radicals and other ROS. Thus, under normal conditions endogenous Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are generated in living cells as a by-product of normal metabolism and during cellular/physiological signalling and in connection with inflammatory responses. (more…)

Aside from the fibromyalgia antidepressants, very few drug classes have evidence for efficacy in the treatment of fibromyalgia fatigue. There is some support for the use of antiepileptic drugs side effects. While the mechanisms of action of antiepileptic drugs are largely unknown, especially for the newest agents, it is believed that they reduce neuronal excitability anxiety, decrease ectopic neuronal discharge, and modulate the levels of a variety of neurotransmitters. (more…)

Mounting evidence points to fibromyalgia as a heritable disorder. This evidence includes familial aggregation of fibromyalgia as well as a reduced pain threshold in the first-degree female relatives of fibromyalgia patients, even in those without overt clinical symptoms. Gene polymorphisms in the serotonergic dopaminergic neurons systems and a higher prevalence of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTT) in fibromyalgia patients as compared to healthy controls also have been identified. (more…)

Developers have built and marketed assisted living primarily for middle- to upper-income older persons—those able to pay $2,000 a month or more—a cost prohibitive for many older persons. According to a survey of 300 assisted living facilities in 1998, only 20% of facilities charged a single rate. The other 80% charged varying rates, depending upon room sizes or apartments or for assistance beyond the facility’s standard package of services. Most of the basic monthly rates ranged between $1,100 and $2,900 per month (Hawes, Phillips, and Rose 2000). Only 7% of the residents surveyed by the National Investment Center (NIC) and the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) (1998) received public assistance for services (provided through Medicaid), and only 9% received public assistance for shelter costs (provided through the federal Supplemental Security Income program). (more…)

Several gene mutations have been shown to cause Parkinson’s Disease, but they account for a small minority of patients and have not been found in most individuals with sporadic Parkinson’s Disease. Epidemiological studies indicate a genetic contribution to the occurrence of sporadic Parkinson’s Disease. The World War II Veteran Twins Registry study shows that genetic factors play a role in sporadic PD when the disease manifests at or before age 50. Using positron emission tomography (PET) with 18 F-DOPA and longitudinal evaluation, 75% concordance of Parkinson’s Disease has been demonstrated in monozygotic twins versus 22% in dizygotic twins. (more…)