IMPACT ON HEALTH

New estimates show diabetes affects 24 million

New government estimates show that nearly 24 million people in the United States have diabetes, an increase of more than three million in two years. This means that nearly eight percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, mostly the type-2 diabetes linked with obesity, poor diet and a lack of exercise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last Tuesday. The estimates, based on 2007 data, also show that 57 million people have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts people at increased risk for diabetes. And up to 25 percent of people with diabetes do not know they have it, the CDC said -- down from 30 percent two years ago.

Red Wine Compound Helps Heart, May Slow Aging

Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, red wine, pomegranates and certain other foods, may protect the heart and slow the effects of aging, a new study suggests. Tests in mice revealed that low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of caloric restriction diets with 20 percent to 30 percent fewer calories than a typical diet that have been shown to extend life span. Previous research has shown that high doses of resveratrol prevent early death in mice fed a high-fat diet. This new study adds to those findings, showing that receiving low doses of resveratrol in middle age offers many of the benefits as a calorie-reduced diet. "This brings down the dose of resveratrol toward the consumption reality mode. At the same time, it plugs into the biology of caloric restriction," co-senior author Richard Weindruch, a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in a prepared statement.

Active Social Life Helps Keep Aging Mind Sharp

People who keep up active social lives as they age may be doing their brain a favor, a new study finds. Being socially active may increase feelings of self-worth and emotional validation that could end up helping maintain memory, researchers say. Social interaction may also present older minds with new challenges, keeping the brain more agile. "We assessed social integration by marital status, volunteer activities and frequency of contact with children and neighbors," explained lead researcher Karen Ertel, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.

Lack of Vitamin D Raises Risk of Death

New research linking low vitamin D levels with deaths from heart disease and other causes bolsters mounting evidence about the "sunshine" vitamin's role in good health. Patients with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D were about two times more likely to die from any cause during the next eight years than those with the highest levels, the study found. The link with heart-related deaths was particularly strong in those with low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is produced through exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Studies show that a large and growing number of babies, kids and teens are being diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. So what are good ways to get it?  Experts say the results shouldn't be seen as a reason to start popping vitamin D pills or to spend hours in the sun, which is the main source for vitamin D.