CNN -- WASHINGTON (AP) -- A study in mice suggests that a low-calorie diet could help extend life even if the dietary change doesn't start until old age.

The study, appearing this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that mice at the relatively advanced age of 19 months that were placed on a restricted calorie diet lived 42 percent longer than litter mates who continued to eat a standard diet.

Stephen R. Spindler of the University of California, Riverside, leader of a team conducting the research, said there is little evidence yet that dietary restrictions will extend human life, but in mice, at least, sensible eating even at older ages clearly has a longevity benefit.

If such findings translate to humans, he said, "this could mean a lot more years and a lot of good years. The message, he said, is that sensible eating for a lifetime is best, but there are life span benefits even if the diet is not started until old age. "This is a very important finding," said Dr. George S. Roth of the National Institute on Aging, one of the National Institutes of Health. "The dogma has always been that the earlier in life you start a restricted diet, the better it works for extending life," said Roth, a researcher studying the aging process who was not involved in Spindler's research. "This finding suggests that you may get some of the same benefits starting late in life."

Cancer connection
Spindler said the study also found that the restricted-calorie diets also slowed the development and advancement of cancer. Death from tumors is very common among aged mice, he said, but the researchers found that tumor growth either started later or was slowed among mice fed limited calories. The researchers also analyzed how the action of genes changed in mice placed on restricted calorie diets. Spindler said there were changes and that these might be biomarkers of how the restricted diet works to extend life. "People have been searching for 30 years for biomarkers of the changes that take place during the aging process," said Spindler. He said the new study in mice suggests that by measuring the amount and type of proteins made by the genes scientists could pinpoint the biomarkers of aging. Once those are known, he said, it would be possible to find drugs that have the same effect on life extension as calorie-restricted diets.

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CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- More than 28 million Americans over age 40 have eye ailments that put them at risk for vision loss and blindness, researchers say, warning that the numbers will surge as the population ages.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the No. 1 cause of poor vision in the United States, affecting an estimated 20.5 million American adults. That number is expected to climb to 30.1 million in the next 20 years, researchers say. Other major causes of blindness and vision loss are macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. All are strongly linked with aging.

The figures published Monday in April's Archives of Ophthalmology present the most accurate estimates to date on the prevalence of major causes of blindness and visual impairment in the United States, according to Dr. Frederick Ferris III of the National Eye Institute, which helped fund the research.

Currently, 1 million Americans over 40 are blind. They are among 3.3 million who suffer from some vision loss, a number projected to reach 5.5 million by 2020. The numbers are of concern not just because of their magnitude, but also "because of the substantial increases in health care costs they spell," said Dr. Nathan Congdon, a coordinator of the research and an associate professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins.

Macular degeneration involves damage to the macula, the center of the retina at the back of the eye. About 1.8 million adults are affected, the researchers said. In some cases, light-sensitive cells in the macula break down, gradually impairing vision. In others, leaky new blood vessels form behind the retina and cause vision loss. Treatments include lasers or laser-activated drugs, and recent studies have shown that high doses of antioxidant vitamins can help slow or even prevent vision loss in macular degeneration.

Glaucoma affects about 2.2 million U.S. adults. It usually involves a build-up of fluid that normally bathes the eye, causing pressure that damages the optic nerve. Treatment includes eye drops and surgery. Diabetic retinopathy, which involves eye damage resulting from blood vessels weakened by diabetes, affects about 4 million American adults. Laser therapy, surgery and better control of diabetes are among the treatments. ire service report. Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.

Obesity Deaths Reach All-Time High (ARA) - Obesity is on the rise in the United States and kills hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 300,000 preventable deaths each year can be attributed to dietary habits and physical inactivity that lead to obesity. Obesity is second only to tobacco use as the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.

Concerned about what it calls one of the most serious public health problems of our time, the American Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging physicians to help combat this epidemic. The AMA has released a new publication, “Assessment and Management of Adult Obesity: A Primer for Physicians,” to help physicians identify and treat obesity in their patients. “The statistics on obesity are frightening. When 64 percent of Americans are overweight or obese -- it’s an alarming wake-up call for all physicians,” said Donald J. Palmisano, M.D., J.D., AMA president. “Obesity is a leading indicator for serious health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

The AMA recommends that obese patients have the best results for weight loss when they make gradual changes to their lifestyle. Eating 500 to 1,000 calories less per day, and engaging in physical activity, can result in a one to two pound weight loss each week. Recent research findings indicate that physical activity, even when accumulated in short bouts, such as taking several 10 minute walks throughout the day, can result in significant health and fitness benefits. The eventual goal for most people is 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more days a week, but any increased physical activity is a step in the right direction.

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow - what a Ride!"

- P. Sage

Dear Flabby,
Once I lost it on the treadmill and just collapsed in the corner. This isn't fun! I hate it.

Tina K. - Regina, Sask.

Dear Tina,

Part of your problem is lack of self-knowledge. Figure out what you enjoy and find a way to make it work for you. Do you like coordinated team sports or individual pursuits? Do you like the breathless feel of cardio-induced euphoria or the solid and placid strength of a weight regimen? Try a bunch of different things, but try each one for at least 2 weeks before moving on. Go. Now.

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