More than one million 20 minute sessions of Dakim BrainFitness have been completed by more than thousands of seniors said the company in a statement.

The award-winning program, which has been clinically tested and shown to improve memory has been installed in more than 450 senior living communities nationwide since its introduction in 2006.

“The key to brain exercise for seniors is twofold: rigorously cross-training the brain in multiple cognitive domains and making the activities enjoyable enough to do on the consistent basis that has been shown to achieve results,” said Dan Michel, CEO and Founder of Dakim. “We developed Dakim BrainFitness with those objectives in mind, and the fact that we have just seen our 1 millionth session completed demonstrates that we succeeded in building a program with true staying power for users.”

Aging, senior fitness, the Oprah Effect and Jane Fonda all wrapped into one.  That’s what you got on Oprah’s show earlier this week when Jane Fonda appeared to pitch her Prime Time workout videos.  The videos, set to be released on November 30, are titled “Walkout” and “Fit & Strong”.  At 72, the spry looking Fonda, opined on fitness, love and plastic surgery during the journey through the last twenty years of her life and talked about a new book she is writing, entitled “Prime Time:  Creating a Great Third Act”.

For the full text of the interview, click here .

According to the results of a randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial reported in the January 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, an exercise program vs a general wellness intervention in older women may improve bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce fall risk, but not cardiovascular disease risk.

From May 1, 2005, through July 31, 2008, a total of 246 women 65 years or older who were living independently in the area of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, were recruited and randomly assigned 1:1 to an 18-month exercise program (exercise group) or to a wellness program (control group). The exercise intervention consisted of a multipurpose exercise program emphasizing exercise intensity, whereas the control intervention emphasized well-being with a low-intensity, low-frequency program. Study endpoints included BMD, the number of falls, Framingham-based 10-year CHD risk, and direct healthcare costs.

These are a few of my favorite leg exercises for seniors.  If you are just beginning a new exercise program start out with 1 set doing 8-10 repetitions. You will want to increase to 2 set of 15 as you get stronger and used to the exercise. As always, be sure to consult your physician before beginning a new program!!

Half Squats

Slowly bend your knees slightly, then straighten. Keep your feet flat on the floor. If you have knee pain, avoid doing this exercise or bend more shallowly.
 
Heel Lifts

A great way to fight off the flu is to eat! Of course, you must choose the right foods to help boost your immune system. Try eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy to help fight off the flu. Try a variety of these foods to get the essential nutrients you need for good health.

Snack on walnuts, pecans or other tree nuts to get a boost to your immune system.They are loaded with vitamin E, which can help ward off viruses and reduce your chances of developing the flu.

Snack on almonds and blueberries instead of a candy bar. As they lower blood sugar, healthy snacks can improve cognition. In this case, the omega-3s in the almonds and the antioxidants in the blueberries can keep your brain functioning correctly.

The number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double over the next 25 years, while the cost of care will almost triple, as patients live longer and develop more of the disease’s long-term complications, a new analysis said.

The projections estimate that the population will rise to 44.1 million in 2034, from 23.7 million now, with medical spending increasing to $336 billion from $113 billion. The calculations were published in the December issue of the journal Diabetes Care.

One of the best ways to reduce stress is to exercise!! Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your steps every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits.

Exercise pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps to boost the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.

Exercise also improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. This can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.

Make a fist

Start with your fingers spread apart and straight up. Make a loose, gentle fist and wrap your thumb around the outside of your fingers. Moving slowly and smoothly, return to the starting position. Repeat. Perform this exercise with both hands.

A recent study found that forty percent of U.S. adults physically inactive. That’s 82.5 million people!

That’s why a nationwide effort is underway to get Americans moving. Launched by the American College of Sports Medicine in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, the program is called Exercise is Medicine (EIM) and the focus is to urge doctors to write prescriptions for exercise for their patients.

ACSM and Coca-Cola recently announced the availability of EIM’s Public Toolkit to help consumers stick with doctor’s orders for physical activity. The toolkit includes step-by-step instructions for consumers to work with a doctor to determine the right dose of exercise.