Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/40177
EDITOR'S NOTE With the frost on the lawn melting and the trees and fl owers coming back to life, now's a better time than ever to get active. Even though the importance of maintaining a physically active and healthy lifestyle in your senior years is constantly emphasised in the mainstream media and amongst government and health professionals, for many it's all too tempting to hit that snooze button or curl up on the couch in front of the TV to pass some time. According to recent research conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, if the known risk factors in Alzheimer's disease – such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, lack of mental stimulation and physical inactivity – were modifi ed to a fairly modest degree, nearly half a million Americans could have avoided the disease. What's more, using the same calculations on a worldwide basis, the researchers found that 50.7 per cent of the Alzheimer's disease risk globally is related the factors listed above, and that by reducing the incidence of all the risk factors by 10 per cent would cut the number of global cases of Alzheimer's by 1.1 million. A 25 per cent reduction in the incidence of all the risk factors would prevent around three million cases. Given that physical inactivity is a major driving force behind Alzheimer's risk factors, many people could possibly avoid this dreadful disease by merely ditching bad habits. Not only does exercise and physical activity keep your body in great shape, but is also but it also enhances your mood and wellbeing, which along with the social aspect of most activities will prevent the risk of depression. 2 THE RETIREE SPRING For 10 days in October, more than 14,000 competitors and supporters from all over Australia and the world will descend on Adelaide to compete in 59 different sports for The Australian Masters Games. The Games are held biannually and are fi rst and foremost about participation and encouraging lifelong participation in sport. You can enter as an individual, as a team, or be placed into a team. It's a great opportunity to spend time with friends and meet new people as well – and I highly recommend join in on the action if you can! Former Australian netball captain Michelle den Dekker is headlining this year's Games and shares her experiences and sporting career achievements on page 41. Also inside this edition this edition we report on actor Geoffrey Rush's return to the big screen in the Australian fi lm The Eye of the Storm. Kristen Scott takes you on a journey through Victoria from shipwrecks to vineyards, Aboriginal art to ancient forests, and football fi elds to the world's largest war memorial. Kerry Lorimer reports on how Lord Howe Island, despite being the closest Pacifi c Island getaway to Sydney or Brisbane, is largely an undiscovered paradise. We share the secret to having a relaxing holiday, up-close with nature on Norfolk Island. The Dental Hygienists' Association of Australia discusses tips for effective oral care. With around 3.85 million Australians affected by arthritis, Charmaine Yabsley looks at the reasons why it can occur and how best to treat it. Susan Masima reports on a retired Australian couple who passionately continue their life-long career into their retirement for the benefi t of those less fortunate. On the fi nancial front, Terri Loy reports on the three key issues faced in retirement: longevity, infl ation and income. Along with the regular columns about travel, your health, relationships, and what's new in books, fi lms and wine that has been jam-packed into this issue, we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. If there are any issues you would like us to cover in future editions of The Retiree, if you have any news to share about events happening in your local area, or if you're going to compete for glory at the Masters Games, I would love to hear about it, so please send me an email to editor@aprs. com.au or follow me on Twitter @ KathrynEdwards. Kathryn Edwards Editor