Health & Fitness Insert

OUR TOWN HEALTH & FITNESS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013
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• The best defense against
influenza pg 2
• Personal trainers trending
among fitness buffs pg 4
• Aquatic therapy now at
YMCA pg 5
A special supplement produced by Our Town

The best defense
against influenza
By BILL CROUSHORE
Daily American columnist
It’s flu season again. In case you aren’t aware, influenza is bad again this year. I’ve known
several people already to get the infection and it sounds like it must be a pretty nasty strain.
Influenza, or flu, is caused by the influenzavirus. The funny thing about this virus is that it
can infect more than one species at a time. You might remember the hype over the swine flu
virus a couple of years ago being able to infect people and pigs. Indeed it can and that makes
the influenza virus particularly dangerous since it tends to mutate quickly enabling the jump
across species.
Fortunately, there is a vaccination that can lessen the severity of the disease, if not prevent
it outright, in those who have received a dose. But it does require that you show up to get the
shot. Vaccination simply primes the immune system so that it can react more quickly in the
event of an exposure.
Cattle don’t really get the flu; they have plenty of other viral infections to worry about. But
the way their immune system deals with viruses is the same way that other species deal with
influenza. Having a vivid imagination, or even weird as my wife might suggest, I liken the
immune system’s reaction to a virus to the military’s response to a foreign invader. In fact,
people who have had the infection probably feel like their body is at war.
The influenza virus evades the border defenses (skin and mucous membranes) and sneaks
in under the cover of darkness. It infiltrates the population (the body’s tissues) and tries to es-
tablish a base camp. In the process, it expands its numbers (virus replication). Eventually, one
of the invaders is captured and interrogated by military intelligence (the immune system).
This interrogation gives a good description of the offending intruders to the other branches
of the military.
Unfortunately, the military wasn’t really prepared to deal with this invader because of
budget cuts (lack of sleep and poor diet) but instead is just beginning to ramp up production
of specific weapons to neutralize the enemy. Fortunately, there are some nonspecific weap-
ons at their disposal immediately, but these weapons do cause some substantial collateral
damage.
The white blood cells are the first responders and react pretty quickly to any foreign threat.
They perform reconnaissance missions throughout the bloodstream and are on the lookout
for anything that doesn’t belong. Once they find something, like an influenza virus, they latch
onto it and sound the alarm bells by releasing chemicals. These chemicals, called cytokines,
bring in other troops that attempt to blow the place up. This chemical warfare is responsible
for the aches, fatigue and chills one feels during the invasion.
Fever is another weapon. It’s sort of like the body’s flame thrower. Viruses and bacteria
really don’t like the high temperatures. Mucus production and coughing is another defense
that the body uses to physically trap and bounce the virus away from the sensitive areas.
Eventually, the defenses develop some more sophisticated weapons to deal with this in-
vader. Antibody production commences among the B-lymphocytes after several days. An-
tibodies are kind of like the laser guidance on smart bombs. They seek out specific proteins
only present on the virus particles and bind to them. Once bound, other weapons and troops
can destroy them.
Those first responders that I mentioned earlier actually took some intelligence from the
enemy back to regional bases like tonsils and lymph nodes. There, they are debriefed and the
information gleaned is used to train and multiply other troops (T-lymphocytes) on what to
look for.This cell-mediated immunity is hopefully the final troop surge that finally puts an end
to the invasion and restores normalcy to the body.
Keeping the body’s military healthy with exercise and good nutrition is sort of like boost-
ing the military’s budget. But the thing that the military, or immune system, likes most of all
is a vaccine. A vaccine is like a spy that comes back from the foreign invader’s land with the
battle plans in hand. It allows the body to develop in advance the smart bombs and troop
surge before the enemy even arrives. The best defense is a good offense. Get a flu shot.

But many people find
they simply don’t have the
time to exercise regularly.
Commitments to career and
family can be demanding
and time-consuming, and
exercise is often a casualty
of a hectic schedule.
Though getting to the
gym every day or even mak-
ing use of exercise equip-
ment at home on a daily ba-
sis may not be feasible, that
doesn’t mean people still
can’t find ways to incorpo-
rate a little exercise into their
daily routines. The following
are a few simple ways to fit
more exercise into your day
no matter how busy you
may be.
• Avoid the elevator,
and attack the stairs. The
elevator may be inviting, but
it’s also somewhat of an en-
abler. Instead of taking the
elevator up to your office
each day, take the stairs, and
take them with more gusto
than you’re used to. Rather
than taking one step at a
time, take the stairs two by
two, lifting your legs high as
you scale each pair of steps.
This helps build your leg
muscles and makes the daily
climb up the staircase a little
more strenuous.
• Turn TV time into
treadmill time. Watching
a little television at night
is how many people relax
and unwind, but it can be
a great time to squeeze in
some daily exercise as well.
Opinions as to what’s the
best time of day to exercise
vary, and no definitive study
exists to suggest one time of
day is better than another.
People who like to relax with
a little television time at
night should make the most
of that time by hitting the
treadmill, elliptical machine
or exercise bike instead of
just plopping down on the
couch. Add a television to
your home’s exercise room
or purchase a gym member-
ship where the cardiovascu-
lar machines are connected
to televisions. You will still
get to enjoy your favorite
shows while simultaneously
getting the benefit of exer-
cise.
• Say “bon voyage” to
the conference room. Pro-
fessionals who spend lots of
time in meetings can add a
simple twist that incorpo-
rates exercise into a typical
business meeting. Rather
than conducting the meet-
ing in a conference room,
propose a walking meeting
when possible. A walking
meeting is the same as a
standard business meeting,
but it’s conducted on foot
outside of the office. Walk-
ing meetings can provide
some much-needed energy
for you and your fellow staff
members, who may appre-
ciate the chance to get out
from behind their desks and
stretch their legs while still
getting work done. Take
your smartphones or tablets
along to jot down important
ideas, just like you would
in a more traditional meet-
ing. And make the most of
your walk by leaving time
for some light stretching be-
fore and after the meeting.
Chances are you will return
to your desk reenergized
and glad you found a way to
get some exercise despite of
a busy schedule.
• Park far away when
shopping. It’s tempting
and almost human nature
to hunt for the parking spot
closest to the door when
shopping at the mall or even
the grocery store. But for
those who want to include
more exercise in their daily
routines, parking far away
from the entrance to your
favorite store is a great way
to incorporate more walk-
ing into your life. Walking is
a simple yet effective cardio-
vascular exercise, one that
the Mayo Clinic notes can
lower your blood pressure
and manage your weight
while lowering your low-
density lipoprotein, which
is commonly referred to as
“bad” cholesterol. In fact,
research has indicated that
regular, brisk walking can be
just as effective at lowering
a person’s risk of heart attack
as more vigorous exercise,
including jogging. When
parking far away from the
entrance, just make sure you
park in a well-lit area where
others can easily see or hear
you.
Many adults find they
simply don’t have the time
to commit to routine exer-
cise. But there are several
simple ways to incorporate
exercise into your existing
routine without taking time
from your already busy day.
MetroCreativeConnection
3
Exercising outside of the box
Simple ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine
Forgoing the elevator in favor of the stairs is one way
to incorporate more exercise into your daily routine.
xercise is an essential element of a
healthy lifestyle. When coupled with
a healthy diet, exercise puts men and
women on a path toward optimal health
while reducing risk for a host of ailments,
some of which can be deadly.
E

For the past four years,
Dennis Manges has made
working out part of his daily
routine.
The 68-year-old Windber
resident said he incorpo-
rates strength training into
his workouts, but his focus
always has been on cardio.
“I intermix it,” Manges
said, walking with brisk
strides around the indoor
track at HealthStyles at
Windber Medical Center.
“One day, I’ll walk more than
others.”
Manges said he’s unsure
what keeps him faithful to
his health goals, adding that
he’s “just trying to keep ev-
erything moving.”
Others need a little more
help. Using personal trainers
is a trend that has taken hold
nationally, according to the
American College of Sports
Medicine, which has con-
ducted a fitness trends sur-
vey for the past seven years.
“Come January, there
are always a lot of new faces
and our numbers increase,”
HealthStyles Director Gary
Pagano said. “Unfortunately,
not everyone sticks with it.”
Though motivation to
stick to health goals varies
by individual, Pagano said
taking advantage of exercise
and nutritional experts of-
ten can help people achieve
their fitness and health
goals.
“I think the people who
are more successful are peo-
ple who access us, who get
professional guidance and
counseling,”Pagano said.
Of the trends that pop up
in the fitness world, Pagano
said using a personal trainer
is one to hold on to — but
it also can pose problems.
Anyone considering using
a trainer needs to do his
homework, he said.
“One top trend now is
that people are turning to
more educated, certified,
experienced trainers,” Pa-
gano added. “You just have
to remember there is a lot
of difference between a fit-
ness professional with a
degree and experience and
someone who has taken a
weekend course. It’s part
of what sets us apart. More
people are looking for health
benefits now than just look-
ing better. More people are
looking to tap into trainers
who have that knowledge
base.”
In fact, educated and ex-
perienced fitness profession-
als were the most popular
trend in the American Col-
lege of Sports Medicine sur-
vey for the sixth consecutive
year. The organization notes
that the importance of ob-
taining certification through
academic accreditation is
highly recognized by the fit-
ness industry.
Incorporating more
strength training has be-
come mainstream, taking
the second spot on the sur-
vey, which was completed
by 3,346 health and fitness
professionals worldwide.
Pagano notes that more
women are recognizing the
importance of strength-
building as well.
“A lot of women were
missing the boat,” he said.
“But a well-rounded pro-
gram for men and women
incorporates strength train-
ing.”
Using body weight as
part of that strength-build-
ing is an older idea that has
been revived in the fitness
world, Pagano added. The
return to push ups, pull ups
and newer twists on using
body weight made its first
appearance on the college’s
survey this year.
Though the average cli-
ent at HealthStyles is 52,
Pagano said the fitness fa-
cility’s personnel members
are working to reach out to
more age groups.
“There is more of an em-
phasis anymore with adult
programs for those over 50,”
he said. “We have a couple
clinical programs that deal
with risk factors and nutri-
tional guidelines. We moni-
tor heart rate and blood
pressure and it’s tied closely
with physicians.”
The facility’s Physician
Exercise Program encour-
ages doctors to actually
prescribe exercise the same
way they would a medicine.
HealthStyles has offered
the three-month program
since 2009 — again taking a
lead from an initiative of the
American College of Sports
Medicine. Participation in
the program requires a doc-
tor referral, but Pagano said
HealthStyles staff members
can help anyone interested
work with his or her physi-
cian.
And as awareness of
childhood obesity grows,
HealthStyles trainers soon
will be reaching out to
younger folks, too, Pagano
said.
Officials at the facility are
launching a pilot program
for 11-13 year olds at a local
school district that would
involve bringing students to
the facility, as well as work-
ing with them at a school
gym.
“It’s still in the planning
stages,” he said. “I think if it
works, we will venture into
bigger and better things.”
4
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Personal trainers trending
among fitness buffs By KECIA BAL
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Aquatic therapy now at YMCA
By OUR TOWN
Using water as a tool for
rehabilitation and treatment
has gained attention in re-
cent months.
“The Today Show” and
other national outlets re-
cently have highlighted the
benefits of aquatics therapy.
Now, the treatment will be
more accessible in the re-
gion.
Though Allegheny Ches-
apeake Physical Therapy
has offered aquatic therapy
for quite some time in Eb-
ensburg and Pittsburgh,
the facility staff has just
announced a partnership
with the Greater Johnstown
YMCA to provide aquatic
therapy to local residents us-
ing the Olympic-sized swim-
ming pool at the YMCA.
Dr. Kimberly Todaro,
clinical director of Allegh-
eny Chesapeake’s down-
town Johnstown office at
237 Johns Street, has begun
scheduling aquatic patients
at the YMCA pool.
Aquatic therapy uses
the properties of buoyancy,
resistance and hydrostatic
pressure to complement
skilled exercise instruction
in order to reduce pain and
strengthen muscles and to
increase joint flexibility, car-
diovascular fitness and am-
bulating skills.
“Many patients just do
better in the water,” Todaro
said. “We develop aquatic
physical therapy programs
specifically designed for the
individual patient’s needs.
We work on restoring func-
tion for those with acute or
chronic diagnoses, various
pain syndromes and those
recovering from surgeries.
The properties of water of-
ten reduce pain and muscle
spasms and increase range
of motion, circulation and re-
laxation for patients so they
can get better faster.”
YMCA Executive Direc-
tor Sharon Jones said the
partnership fits well with the
YMCA’s existing program.
“Our relationship with Al-
legheny Chesapeake Physi-
cal Therapy will help their
patients seamlessly inte-
grate into our aquatic fitness
programs such as Healthy
Back, Arthritis Plus and
Joints-N-Motion to continue
on their path of healing,”
she said. “In addition, YMCA
members will have access
to the guidance of an expert
when physical therapy may
be helpful.”
Patients interested in
scheduling for aquatic
therapy in downtown John-
stown can call the Allegheny
Chesapeake’s downtown
Johnstown office at 814-539-
2050.
Submitted photo.
YMCA_ACPT_Aquatics 003.jpg:YMCA Executive Director Sharon Jones, Clinical Direc-
tor Dr. KimberlyTodaro of Allegheny Chesapeake PhysicalTherapy’s downtown John-
stown office and YMCA Aquatics Director Sharon Giles pose for an announcement.
5
For decades, people have
turned to diet soft drinks
as a healthier alternative to
regular soft drinks. However,
consuming diet soda on a
regular basis may have some
serious health ramifications,
including weight gain.
It may seem counter-
intuitive to suggest that
diet sodas may be caus-
ing people to gain weight,
particularly because these
sodas are commonly con-
sumed by people who are
trying to lose weight. How-
ever, artificial sweeteners
found in some diet sodas
may increase a person’s risk
of obesity. It’s not entirely
what you are eating that can
cause weight gain but what
the body thinks it is eating
(or drinking) that plays a role.
There are two factors at
play with regard to the arti-
ficial sweetener conundrum.
First, The University of Texas
Health Science Center in San
Antonio has researched the
potential link between obe-
sity and artificial sweeteners.
Researchers have found that
something in the chemical
structure of these sweeten-
ers alters the way the brain
processes the neurotrans-
mitter serotonin. In addition
to helping with sleep, mood
and other functions in the
body, serotonin helps tell the
body when it is full. When
natural foods and sugars are
consumed, serotonin signals
to the brain to turn off your
body’s appetite. However, ar-
tificial sweeteners may pro-
long the release of serotonin,
and your appetite remains in
full force long after it should
have abated.
Another component of
artificial sweeteners, par-
ticularly aspartame, is that
these chemicals can trick the
body into thinking it has, in
fact, consumed sugar. That
triggers the pancreas to pro-
duce the insulin needed to
regulate blood-glucose lev-
els. It also causes the body to
store the glucose as fat. This
can lead to low blood sugar,
which may cause you to eat
a sugary treat in response.
Having diet soda or eating
a sugarless item once in a
while won’t create any long-
term effects. But repeatedly
relying on artificial sweeten-
ers could affect appetite and
change blood sugar levels
for good.
These aren’t the only
consequences to diet soda
and other beverages. Drink-
ing diet soda regularly may
affect cardiovascular health.
According to the American
Heart Association, research
presented at the American
Stroke Association’s Inter-
national Stroke Conference
found people who drink diet
soda every day have a 61
percent higher risk of vas-
cular events than those who
reported no soda consump-
tion.
Regular soda isn’t a bet-
ter alternative. It can con-
tribute to weight gain and
cardiovascular issues as
well as an increased risk for
diabetes. A 2011 review pub-
lished in the journal Circula-
tion stated that a positive
association has been shown
between sugar-sweetened
soft drink consumption and
weight gain in both children
and adults.
Nutritionists and doctors
have advised that instead
of adding artificial sweet-
eners to water and other
beverages, flavor them with
lemon or lime juice. Instead
of drinking diet soda, opt for
unsweetened tea or plain
water.
Although diet soda may
seem a likely option to help
curb calories and prevent
weight gain, such beverages
may actually be having an
adverse effect on a person’s
weight. MetroCreativeConnection

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A Johnstown native, Dr. Cardellino is a former
graduate of Bishop McCort High School. She received
a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of
Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Optometry degree from
Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. Dr. Cardellino is certified in ocular diagnostic
and therapeutics, as well as treating glaucoma. She is
a member of the American Optometric Association, as
well as the Pennsylvania Optometric Association.
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Dr. Mucker, Dr. Green, Tony Kazmierczyk
and the staff of Johnstown Family Vision
are proud to announce the addition of:
Dr. Christie Cardellino
Optometrist
hnstown native, Dr. Cardellino is a former
uate of Bishop McCort High School. She received
helor of Science degree from the University of
urgh and a Doctor of Optometry degree from
Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale,
da. Dr. Cardellino is certified in ocular diagnostic
herapeutics, as well as treating glaucoma. She is
mber of the American Optometric Association, as
as the Pennsylvania Optometric Association.
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1513 Scalp Avenue, Suite 280
East Hills Plaza, Johnstown, PA 15904 • 814.266.7611
Dr. Mucker, Dr. Green, Tony Kazmierczyk
and the staff of Johnstown Family Vision
are proud to announce the addition of:
Dr. Christie Cardellino
Optometrist
No one is immune to ran-
dom bouts of fatigue. For
many people, fatigue is most
common around midafter-
noon, when the workday
starts to drag and that hefty
midday meal has inspired
thoughts of catnaps.
Though an episode of fa-
tigue here or there is likely
nothing to worry about,
adults who find themselves
routinely struggling to mus-
ter any energy, whether it’s to
finish a project at work or play
with the kids at night, might
be surprised to learn that
boosting daily energy levels
is relatively simple. The fol-
lowing are a few easy ways to
boost your energy levels and
make the most of each and
every day.
• Get regular exercise.
Many adults know the value
of exercise but simply can’t
find the time in the day to
squeeze in a little time on the
treadmill or at the gym. But
the American Council on Ex-
ercise notes that as little as 10
minutes of moderate or vig-
orous exercise at a time each
day can boost your energy
levels and improve mood.
The Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention recom-
mend that adults get at least
2 hours and 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity aerobic
activity, including at least two
days of muscle-strengthen-
ing activities, each week. If
that’s a problem, particularly
on weekdays, squeeze in 10
minutes here or there when
the opportunity presents it-
self. But the more committed
you are to regular exercise,
the more your energy levels
are likely to improve.
• Treat yourself to a mas-
sage. Many people find their
energy levels are adversely
affected by stress. Too much
stress can make you physical-
ly sick and cause both physi-
cal and mental fatigue. There
are many ways to more ef-
fectively cope with stress, and
treating yourself to a mas-
sage is one of them. A mas-
sage can relieve stress and
help overworked muscles re-
cover, boosting energy levels
as a result.
•Treatbreakfastwiththe
respect it deserves. When
you wake up in the morn-
ing, even after a great night’s
sleep, your body’s energy
reserves are almost entirely
depleted. Consequently, men
and women who don’t eat a
healthy breakfast are almost
certain to struggle with their
energy levels throughout the
day. Something as simple as a
bowl of low-calorie cereal or
some oatmeal with fruit can
help restore your body’s ener-
gy levels and lay the ground-
work for a productive day.
Skipping breakfast entirely
will make you feel sluggish
in the morning and increases
the risk that you will overeat
come lunchtime, adversely
impacting your energy levels
for the rest of the day.
• Focus on maintaining
steadyenergylevelsthrough-
out the day. Lacking energy
over the course of a typical
day might be a byproduct of
your eating habits beyond
the breakfast table. Numer-
ous studies have found that
eating three large meals per
day is not an effective way to
maintain steady energy levels
over the course of a typical
day. Instead, smaller, more
frequent meals coupled with
healthy snacks can stabilize
blood sugar levels and help
maintain sufficient energy
levels,improvingbothmental
acuity and mood. Instead of a
large omelet platter for break-
fast, choose a small bowl of
low-calorie cereal and follow
it up three to four hours later
with a healthy snack of fresh
fruit. When lunchtime arrives
three to four hours after your
mid-morning snack, choose
a small lunch with ample
protein and follow that up a
few hours later with a healthy
snack of yogurt. The specifics
of your diet should be dis-
cussed with your physician,
but you will likely find that
eating smaller,more frequent
meals and healthy snacks will
drastically improve your ener-
gy levels throughout the day.
• Drink more fluids. Your
lack of energy might not be
the result of an unhealthy
breakfast or a lack of exer-
cise. Some people simply
don’t drink enough fluids to
stay hydrated and feel slug-
gish as a result. Symptoms of
dehydration mimic those of
hunger, leading many to pur-
chase unhealthy snacks when
they might just need to drink
more fluids. Those snacks can
compound the sluggishness
you feel from being dehy-
drated, zapping your energy
levels even further. So if you
daily routine does not include
drinking enough fluids, try
having a few glasses of wa-
ter each day and your energy
levels might just improve.
MetroCreativeConnection
Simple ways to boost
your energy levels
A low-calorie bowl of cereal in the morning can help
improve energy levels throughout the day.

OUR TOWN HEALTH & FITNESS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013 7
Is the shingles
vaccine necessary?
octors, pharmacies
and walk-in medi-
cal centers now offer
more vaccinations than just
the standard flu shot. People
have the opportunity to get
vaccinated against chicken-
pox as well as an offshoot
of that illness known as
shingles. But is the shingles
vaccine necessary? And if so,
why?
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention says
one in three people in the
United States will develop
shingles in his or her life-
time. Shingles, also known
as zoster or herpes zoster, is
caused by the varicella zoster
virus. This is the same virus
responsible for chickenpox.
Anyone who has had chick-
enpox is susceptible to hav-
ing shingles years later.That’s
because, despite being inac-
tive, the virus remains in the
body. Although doctors are
not sure why, the varicella
zoster virus can reactivate,
causing shingles, which have
different and more severe
symptoms than chickenpox.
It is important to note that
herpes zoster is not caused
by the same virus that causes
genital herpes.
Unlike chickenpox, which
is characterized by itchy pus-
tules that spread across the
body, shingles generally be-
gins as a very painful burning
rash on one side of the body
or face. The rash forms blis-
ters that will scab in about a
week. Prior to the presenta-
tion of the rash, the skin may
itch and men and women
may feel pain and tingling
feelings in the area where
the rash will develop. Unless
a person has a weakened im-
mune system, the rash will
usually be in one banded
area of the body. Otherwise,
it could be more widespread
like the chickenpox rash.
Shingles is not conta-
gious in the obvious sense,
meaning a person with shin-
gles will not give another
person shingles. However,
the shingles virus can be
spread to another person
who has never had chick-
enpox. Chickenpox may de-
velop, but shingles will not.
Because the shingles rash
is often in areas of the body
concealed by clothing, trans-
mission to others is rare. Af-
ter the shingles blisters have
scabbed over, a person can
no longer pass on the zoster
virus.
Shingles occurs later in
life, primarily after a person
has reached his or her 50s.
Therefore, the CDC recom-
mends the shingles vaccine
(Zostavax) for individuals
age 60 and older.The vaccine
will protect the body against
the reactivation of the zoster
virus. It also may help those
who have never had chicken-
pox from contracting chick-
enpox.
The vaccine isn’t fail-
safe, though. In some cases,
even vaccinated people will
still experience shingles, al-
though the outbreak may
be less severe than if the
shingles vaccine was never
received.
The vaccine, which re-
quires just a single dose,
transmits a live virus as a
single injection in the upper
arm. Redness, pain, swelling,
and headaches are known
side effects.
The vaccine is safe for
most individuals. However,
those who have a weak-
ened immune system, are
receiving immune-system-
suppressing drugs, have tu-
berculosis, are pregnant or
trying to become pregnant
or have had a life-threaten-
ing allergic reaction to any of
the ingredients in the shin-
gles vaccine should not be
vaccinated.
Even those who have had
shingles before are urged to
get the vaccine to prevent
future occurrences. It is im-
portant for people to discuss
their treatment options with
their doctors and also to in-
quire if their medical insur-
ance covers the shingles vac-
cine. MetroCreativeConnection
Burning back pain and tingling could be indicative of
shingles.
A new study in the journal Neurology suggests that working out is the most effec-
tive way to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied roughly 700
study participants from Scotland, all of whom were born in 1936. Each participant report-
ed their levels of leisure and physical activity at age 70, rating their physical activity on a
scale from moving only to perform household chores to participating in heavy exercise
or competitive sport several times per week. Participants were also asked to rate how
often they engaged in social or intellectual activities. At age 73, participants received an
MRI to measure certain biomarkers in their brains.Those who participated in more physi-
cal activity showed less brain shrinkage and fewer white matter lesions, both of which
can be signs of Alzheimer’s disease. And while social and intellectual activities can be
beneficial in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, the study found that social and intellectual
engagement weren’t as helpful to the brain as physical exercise.The types of physical ex-
ercise most beneficial to the brain are still being studied, though information presented
at the 2012 Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference suggested that strength
training is perhaps the most effective form of exercise. MetroCreativeConnection
Did you know?
D

I am very afraid.
I want to keep living at home.
What if I run out of money?
What if my health declines?
I don’t want to lose my independence.
How can I stop this worry?
Senior LIFE Johnstown
401 Broad Street
814-535-6000
www.seniorlifejohnstown.com
You are not alone. Many senior citizens share the same fears as they get older. Senior LIFE has compiled
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www.seniorlifeebensburg.com
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