West Newsmagazine 7-11-18

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July 11, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I MATURE FOCUS I 25
After a full year had passed, researchers
measured the women’s bone loss in
their lower legs with a CT scan, comparing
it with measurements they had taken
when the study began. The women who
received the powder containing active probiotics
had lost only half as much bone as
those who had received the placebo. The
research opens the door to a new way to
prevent fractures among the elderly, said
Dr. Mattias Lorentzon, a professor of geriatrics
and one of the study’s leaders.
“Today there are effective medications
administered to treat osteoporosis, but
because bone fragility is rarely detected
before the first fracture, there is a pressing
need for preventive treatments,” Lorentzon
said.
Previous research has shown that intestinal
bacteria affect the skeletons of mice,
but this is the first study in which probiotics
were used to investigate their effects on
bone loss in older people. The discovery
that probiotics can significantly reduce
bone loss has important future implications,
Lorentzon added. “Older women are
the group in society most at risk of osteoporosis
and fractures. The fact that we
have been able to show that treatment with
probiotics can affect bone loss represents a
paradigm shift.”
Osteoporosis – or brittle-bone disease –
is characterized by porous and weak bones,
which can cause them to break even when
subjected to low amounts of stress. The
proportion of the population with osteoporosis
increases with age, and most women
over 80 have the disease.
On the calendar
BJC sponsors a Today’s Grandparents
class on Tuesday, July 24 from 6:30-9 p.m.
at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, 3023
N. Ballas Road, Building D, Suite 400.
This two-hour class serves as an update for
grandparents-to-be. It will focus on current
trends in infant care as well as provide
tips on local and distant grandparenting.
Discussion is encouraged. A tour of the
hospital’s OB division is included. Cost is
$20 per person. Register each participant
online at https://classes-events.bjc.org.
• • •
Join an orthopedic physician for Knee
Replacement: Is It Right for Me?, a
discussion about minimally invasive knee
replacement surgery and other treatment
options for arthritic knees. The free session
is on Tuesday, July 31 from 6-7 p.m.
at St. Luke’s Hospital, 232 S. Woods
Mill Road in Chesterfield, in the third
floor conference room. Register online at
www.stlukes-stl.com.
• • •
St. Luke’s Hospital presents a Pelvic
Health Basics: Total Control Intro Class
on Wednesday, Aug. 8 from 6-7 p.m. at the
hospital’s Desloge Outpatient Center, 121
St. Luke’s Center Drive in Chesterfield,
in Building A. Learn about risk factors,
symptoms and treatment options for urinary
leakage, bladder control issues and
other pelvic health concerns, as well as
preventive strategies. The program is free.
To register, visit stlukes-stl.com; to speak
to a pelvic health nurse navigator, call
(314) 205-6654 and press option #3.
• • •
Missouri Baptist Medical Center offers a
free monthly caregiver program, Supporting
the Caregiver, on Tuesday, Aug. 14
from 1-2:30 p.m. in Auditorium 1 on the
hospital’s campus, 3015 N. Ballas Road.
Learn about signs of, and risks for, “compassion
fatigue,” as well as techniques and
resources for caregivers. To register, call
(314) 996-5433.
• • •
AARP sponsors a Smart Driver course
on Tuesday, Aug. 14 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at
the Ellisville Parks and Recreation Dept.,
225 Kiefer Creek Road in Ellisville. The
course covers safe driving strategies, information
about the effects of medications
on driving, preventing driver distractions,
proper use of technology and more. The
cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.
To register, call (636) 227-7508.
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