Americans live longer but sicker lives | #30
Plus: teen anxiety, the mental load on moms, and rising colorectal cancer rates
Greetings—
This month, I was struck by a survey from the Mayo Clinic: out of 183 World Health Organization member countries, guess which one had the largest gap between lifespan and healthspan?
That’s right: The U.S.
What do they mean by a healthspan/lifespan divide? The same thing I’ve talked about since becoming an integrative medicine doctor. It’s the gap between how long we live, and how many of those years are lived healthy. In the U.S., Americans live an average 12.4 years with disability and chronic illness. In 2000, that number was 10.9 years.
Out of all 183 countries, the U.S. also registered the highest burden of chronic disease. Mental health, substance use disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions were the key contributors.
In short: this problem of advancing and maximizing healthspan is why I established Dignity Integrative.
In case you missed them, we published two new pieces this month:
Now, let's dive into this month's recommendations:
#1: Three-Quarters of Teen Girls Show Signs of Anxiety or Depression
A remarkable study following a large group of adolescents (10-18 years old) in Australia over an 8-year period evaluated symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD), anxiety, and depression. 1,239 students were followed yearly through surveys for symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The results: Overall, incidence of any clinically significant CMD symptoms during adolescence was 74% for females and 61% for males. The authors of the study appropriately call this a public health epidemic.
#2: Mothers Still Do Most of the Mental Work at Home
As the saying goes: the more things change, the more things stay the same. This interesting study looked at "cognitive household labor," the never-ending to-do lists and parenting tasks that need to be handled on a weekly basis. The non-surprising findings were that mothers bear the majority (71%) of the household cognitive tasks, from meal planning to scheduling events to household chores.
Also not surprising, dads tend to overestimate the impact of their contribution. So, this Christmas, if you're wondering who's doing the mental heavy lifting, it's Mom.
#3: Scientists Find "Dial" That Controls Immune Response
This article tries to define the "dial" to adjust the immune system's response to various infections and inflammatory conditions. Interferon is the signal protein released to notify your immune system to fight various infections. When this signal goes awry, infections can turn chronic as in Long Covid.
If we can further elucidate this mechanism, then therapies can be targeted to act and adjust this "dial."
#4: Walkable Neighborhoods Lead to Better Health Outcomes
Neighborhood design can lead to better health. In most areas, our environment works against our health—think outer suburban developments with widely separated shopping areas requiring car travel and discouraging walking. Walking is the single healthiest activity accessible to all people.
More people should consider their environment when choosing where to live and how it impacts their, and their family's, long-term health as this study of twins shows.
The first step to that health is lacing on a pair of shoes and getting outside.
#5: Colorectal Cancer Rates Rising Globally
It has already been reported that colorectal cancers are rising in young adults (25-49) in the U.S. Now, this article defines it as a worldwide phenomenon. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death, responsible for more than 1.9 million new cases and almost 904,000 deaths in 2022 worldwide.
During the past decade, incidence rates of early-onset CRC (25-49 years) were stable in 23 countries but increased in 27 countries, with the greatest annual increases in New Zealand (4.0%), Chile (4.0%) and Puerto Rico (3.8%). The global reach of this alarming trend calls for innovative tools to prevent and control cancers linked to nutritional attributes, physical inactivity, and excess body weight, which might be more challenging to address than the tobacco epidemic.
#6: Soda Taxes Change Attitudes About Sugary Drinks
Yes, we can change people's attitudes about sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB): tax them. According to this study on the longest-duration sugar tax in the U.S. in Berkeley, CA, it demonstrates the change in attitude and socially accepted norms related to sugar-sweetened beverages.
With the change in administration and proposed new Secretary of Health, there is likely to be a focus on drivers of chronic disease related to processed foods including SSB. A step in the right direction.
#7: Exercise Today for a Sharper Mind Tomorrow
Does exercise make you smarter... the next day? Yes, according to this study. The team found that more moderate or vigorous physical activity compared to a person's average was linked to better working memory and episodic memory (memory of events) the next day. Getting more sleep, particularly deep sleep, seems to add to this memory improvement.
#8: Hand Grip Strength: A Simple Way to Measure Overall Health
Hand grip strength is an effective and simple measure to assess overall muscle mass and strength. Muscular strength is a powerful marker of current health status and robust predictor of age-related disease and disability.
This study combines multiple international studies to establish norms. I use this simple device in my practice to assess baseline levels and assess based on age and sex across a range of levels from excellent to poor. It helps me to tailor longevity plans and resistance training programs. The devices, hand-held dynamometers, are inexpensive and can be used to track progress for individuals.