For Women Only
Older American women remember having more mammograms than they actually had, illustrating a clear limitation in relying on statistics based on self-reported data. In a new study, reported in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers analyzed Medicare claims data on 146,669 women in 11 metropolitan areas around the country, then compared the numbers with data the women had reported themselves. Although 70-80% of women aged 65 to 69 said they receive at least one mammogram every 2 years, the data showed that only 61.1% of the women actually did. Annual mammograms are recommended for women 40 years and older, as the odds of developing breast cancer increase with age. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. women.
For Men Only
Several studies add new information to the discussion of treatment options for men with prostate cancer. In one, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston reviewed the medical histories of nearly 62,000 men, age 65 and older, with prostate cancer. The study concluded that use of androgen deprivation therapy, designed to prevent the production of cancer-promoting steroid androgens in cells, depends on the patient's urologist rather than the stage of the cancer. Experts recommend that the therapy be reserved for men with high-risk prostate cancer early in their course of treatment, rather than for men with more slow-moving prostate disease. Another study suggests that obese men with prostate cancer benefit less from radiation therapy, possibly due to hormones, diet, and genetic susceptibility. The findings should be interpreted with caution, as newer radiation technologies have emerged since the data were collected (between 1988 and 2001). Finally, research in the journal Cancer shows—contrary to stereotypes about men—that patients with prostate cancer are driven more by emotion than evidence when making treatment decisions.
Remember Sex?
Men, she's just not that into you...maybe. According to a study in Psychology of Women Quarterly, men are more likely to incorrectly assume a woman is sexually interested in them, even after a brief conversation. In a study of 43 college-age men and an equal number of women, the participants rated partners on traits such as extroversion, agreeableness, physical attractiveness, sexual traits, and interaction behaviors. Men rated women as sexier if they found the women attractive, while women's ratings of sexuality were correlated with personality as well as looks. Men who thought of themselves as sexy also tended to think of their partners as sexy and interested in them. Psychologists are researching sexual behavior as a way to reduce date rape and sexual harassment. Researchers speculated that women's levels of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes emotional bonding, may help explain the differences between the sexes. The advice for men? Don't think every woman is attracted to you. For women? He's thinking what you think he's thinking.
Quote of the Month
"What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens."
- Thaddeus Golas
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Q&A
Q: Is it true that we turn into grumpy old men and women as we age?
A: Contrary to that notion, a new study shows that people between 60 and 86 are happier than those between 21 and 40. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 the highest, the younger group reported an average happiness level of 6.65, compared to 7.32 for the older group. Researchers believe older adults may have a greater appreciation of life in general and "don't sweat the small stuff" as much.
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Healthy and Fit
As usual, there is good news and bad news on the health-and-fitness front. New cases of Type 2 diabetes among middle-aged Americans have skyrocketed, due almost entirely to obesity and sedentary behavior, according to a study reported in the journal Circulation. Examining data on more than 3,000 men and women, ages 40 to 55, researchers found that the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes doubled between the 1970s and the 1990s, with the rate among women showing an alarming 84% increase in the ‘90s, compared to the ‘70s; the rate for men doubled during that time. The good news is that a vegetable-rich diet and exercise can go a long way toward improving health. Mice fed lots of vegetables (30% of their diet) reduced their risk for atherosclerosis by 38%, in a study conducted at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. New recommendations from the American Heart Association call for reduced saturated and trans fats, as well as sugars; plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; no smoking; maintaining normal levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugars; and consistent physical activity (at least 30 minutes) daily.
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