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The SecondFifty Newsletter
August Update
Hello Friends...
We made a visit to coastal Maine several weeks ago, and from what our house-sitter at home tells us, we left just in time to avoid a protracted heat spell in Washington, DC. As you can see from this photo, Maine is lovely and provides a nice break from the city heat and COVID. Unfortunately, my blog posting and newsletter writing has not been as prolific as I anticipated. Apologies for that.
To be honest, and so you don’t think I have this whole fitness-after-fifty thing wired, I’ve struggled myself this last month to maintain my exercise routine and healthy eating. The fog of the pandemic never fully lifts, and its influence on mood and energy is insidious. Consequently, my series on mobility and flexibility is a few weeks delayed, and to be honest, I’m feeling a little creaky myself. Lots of hiking and less regular stretching has put a bit of strain on my knees!
Welcome new readers!
I am delighted that the SecondFifty Newsletter now has over fifty subscribers! A modest community, I realize, but growing. My recent
about the sitting-rising test brought in several new readers, some of whom have “Ph.D." next to their name - which makes me a little nervous ;-).
Have you tried the
yet? How did you do? If you scored well, great! Keep up the good work. If not, then use the assessment to measure your starting point as you reclaim your movement and strength.
I received several positive comments from readers who appreciated my blog post
and to podcasts in general. Once you take the time to become familiar with them, podcasts open up a whole new world. In fact, it can be a bit overwhelming. According to industry metrics from 2019, there are now more than 800,000 active podcasts. Over 90 million Americans report listening to a podcast in the last month, and listeners over the age of 55 are up 30% from 2018 to 2019. For those of you still on the sidelines, here's a link to an introductory article in the New York Times,
, about how to get started.
Podcast recommendation: Brain Health and Beyond with Team Sherzai
Consider this -
if Bill Clinton was in this presidential race, he would be younger than Donald Trump and Joe Biden! In sports, business, arts, politics, and any manner of endeavors, perceptions around age have changed as records are broken, and new goals achieved by ever older participants. At the same time, and incongruously, the incidence of cognitive decline is increasing.
Maintaining cognitive health as we age is critical to remaining vital and independent. The scientific community now accepts that diet, exercise and lifestyle are key factors in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s. And no, it’s really not about genetics…
In their podcast, the husband and wife team of Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MD MPH, explore cutting edge, evidence-based research on brain health, and dispel outdated myths about the brain and aging. The work has a focus on expanding cognitive capacity well into later life. Their segment on dementia and Alzheimer's is fascinating and sobering. The growth of this disease is terrifying. But the clear steps one can take to avoid it are reassuring. Team Sherzai provides down to earth explanations of what causes dementia, and practical steps we can all take to prevent it, which is the only current hope because there is no cure...
Dean and Ayesha are not entertainers. They are top-notch neurologists/neuroscientists and researchers with degrees from the world’s most prestigious medical programs who have dedicated their careers to public health. They are also relatively new to podcasting, and extremely enthusiastic about their work, so their early episodes can ramble just a bit here and there and can be a little scattered at times as they settle into the format. But boy, do they deliver a lot of useful information. They are charming and real, with no agenda. Nothing to sell or hawk. No miracle cures or magic pills. It’s not slick, but the content is razor-sharp, and their research is brilliant.
Not sure you’re interested? Sounds kind of dry, scary, dull? Not sure it applies to you? I get it… But before you pass, take a look at these statistics:
Alzheimer's is the fastest-growing epidemic in the western world, up 145% in the last 15 years
The pathological process that brings about memory disorders and cognitive impairment starts twenty years or more before the manifestation of symptoms
After age 65, 10% of the population will develop Alzheimer’s. That rate doubles each decade thereafter until it reaches 50% at age 85. Fifty percent!
Writing about a podcast kind of defeats the purpose of the whole thing, so just check them out and see for yourself. Here are links to two good introductory episodes of their show.
. An introduction to the podcast.
They now have a year of podcasts under their belt, so be sure to check out the
all with their unpretentious expertise and warmth.
Learn more about Team Sherzai at their web site, here:
Look for ideas and resources on mobility and flexibility on the blog in coming weeks. In the meantime, why not start doing some daily stretches such as the ones
which are part of my daily routine. I believe mobility is the critical foundation for maintaining physical vitality over fifty. And it’s never too late to regain movement. Earlier is better, but you have to start somewhere.
Please let me know what you are interested in and how this web site and community can help.
Thank you for reading!Please forward this email to anyone you think might find it of interest. George
Stay Strong. Age Well.
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Who sent this letter:
I'm George Harrop, founder of
—an online resource for people who want to prioritize their health and wellbeing by taking a common-sense approach to nutrition and fitness. Many modern middle-aged people have spent the previous decades building careers and raising families.
Now we're committed to getting and staying fit during the second half of our lives. We're on a mission to age with more agility and ease! Join us →
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