People with schizophrenia left out of longevity revolution

"Since the 1970s, general mortality rates in developed countries have declined. On average, lifespans have lengthened by almost a decade. One demographic group that has not reflected this trend: persons with schizophrenia, whose life expectancy is 15 to 20 years shorter than the general population. The average life expectancy in developed countries increased from 72 years in 1970 to 1975 to 80 years in 2005 to 2010, according to the United Nations. Some nations are projected to reach an average life expectancy over 90 years by 2030. However, the gap in longevity between the overall population and persons with schizophrenia appears to be widening. Writing in the September 15 issue of the journal Schizophrenia Research, a team of researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System analyzed all eight published longitudinal studies of mortality in schizophrenia that met their strict research criteria and found that the mean standardized mortality ratio -- a measure of the mortality rate in schizophrenia -- had increased 37 percent from pre-1970s studies to post-1970s studies." Beside cancer that I had in my left lung and since had the lung removed.  I have a healthy life I exercise and I know and planning just in case it happens. I do not know if I will see any days after retirement.
The article goes on to say: "'There has long been a longevity gap between persons with schizophrenia and the general population," said co-senior author Dilip Jeste, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at UC San Diego School of Medicine. 'Much of it has been attributed to natural causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease, unhealthy lifestyles (persons with schizophrenia have a greater propensity to behaviors like smoking or eating poorly), inadequate access to health care and biological factors, such as accelerated cellular aging. A small proportion of individuals with schizophrenia die from suicides.'  The new study is the first systemic review of longitudinal trends in mortality among persons with schizophrenia, said Jeste. 'The reasons for the widening gap in longevity are not clear,' said Ellen Lee, MD, a research fellow at UC San Diego School of Medicine and first author of the paper. Schizophrenia mortality rates appeared to decrease from the mid-1950s to early 1970s, perhaps due to the development of antipsychotic drugs and deinstitutionalization of persons with serious mental illness -- a shift away from crowded psychiatric facilities to community-based treatments. But the subsequent, expansive closure of mental health facilities, fragmentation of outpatient health care services and growing difficulties in finding housing (increasing homelessness and incarceration rates) and support for persons with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses have adversely impacted longevity.'" We are going through a housing crisis with rent be so high. It is just to expensive and I do get upset I changed my whole life went to college and this is not what I expected. Although I have grand kids now and I cannot give up.
The article ends: "'Persons with schizophrenia require comprehensive and regular physical monitoring and care to prevent and treat chronic age-related medical conditions. They are more vulnerable, for example, to obesity and diabetes,' said Jeste. The take-home message, he said, was that a significant segment of the population -- just over 1 percent or 3.2 million Americans -- are believed to suffer from some form of schizophrenia -- are not benefiting from new scientific advances, lifestyle changes or health care improvements enjoyed by others. 'These findings reflect on a persistent and pervasive stigma against mental illness and societal neglect of this vital yet vulnerable segment of the population, which continues to be disenfranchised,' the authors wrote. 'Work is urgently warranted to help reduce stigma, improve healthy lifestyles in a disseminable way and tailor primary care services to that person with serious mental illnesses are not left behind in the longevity revolution'" Yes. I had diabetes but I found walking made me lose weight and I have not had it in over five years.  I watch my weight maybe to much but I do not want to go back to taking metaformin. I do take cinnamon 1000mg every morning that helps with blood sugar also. I try my best to live  healthy lifestyle. I do not know how long I will live I just hope it is long enough to enjoy my new great grandson and my new granddaughter who I like to see get to grow up and enjoy.

Healthy Active Lives (HeAL): tackling premature death in young people with psychosis

It is still in the news they are still talking about people with mental illness dying 15- 20 years younger than the rest of the population. This story talks about young people with mental illness and how they want to battle them dying early. “Compared to their peers who have not experienced psychosis, young people with psychosis face a number of preventable health inequalities.”  These inequalities are preventable they say.We already know they die earlier than the rest of the people without psychosis. 
 

·         A lifespan shortened by about 15-20 years. 

·          2-3 times the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease making it the single most common cause of premature death (more so than suicide).

·         2-3 times the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.

·         3-4 times the likelihood of being a smoker

I can make sure I do not get diabetes and stay a nonsmoker as I quit fifteen years ago.  I just have to make sure I take my walks.  I am battling losing weight it comes off slowly which I hope is good.They would like to get rid of the stigma and prejudice that prevent young people who have psychosis from leading healthy lives and they have ambitious targets for the next five years they would like to see that.


·         90% of young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis and their families or supporters are satisfied that they made treatment choices informed by an understanding of their risks for future obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

·         Within a month of starting treatment, 90% have a documented assessment which includes risks for future obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

·         All young people receive a regular review of their medication to mimimise the development of complications of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

·         75% gain no more than 7% of their pre-illness weight two years after starting antipsychotic treatment.

·         75% maintain blood glucose, lipid profile and blood pressure within the normal range two years after initiating antipsychotic treatment.

·         2 years after the onset of psychosis

·         90% receive health promotion advice on healthy eating, tobacco and substance use, dental care and sexual health.

·         Fewer than 30% smoke tobacco

·         More than 50% engage in appropriate physical activity.

I know for me before I gained weight I was a smoker and when I quit I started buying more food because I was low income and all my money before went on cigarettes.  I had never weighed before than more than 150 pounds.I hope this works for the young people who get a mental illness.  “I should not lose the physical health I possess, as a consequence of my mental illness, or my care and treatment.”  To have a good mind from the medication you should not have to compromise your health. I remember when I did not weigh as much I would walk just a little farther than I do now and I always stayed thin.  Now I have to fight to lose any weight.  Although I will not give up especially since I do not want diabetes.

Schizophrenia and Risk of Heart Attack

This article talks about heart attack and schizophrenia. “Data tell us that people with schizophrenia have lifespan 20 years shorter that the general population.” We have to find out why and change that fact if we can. I know I would love to be around as long as I can to see my grandkids grow up and marry. Just see them find the life that they love. “There are different factors for this including and unhealthy lifestyle (substance abuse, smoking, not enough exercise, poor diet, etc.) increased rates of diabetes and problems brought on by the use of some antipsychotic medications.” These are things we can change to live a longer and better life.
I make sure on weekends that I walk for at least forty five minutes on both days. We cannot change the fact that we take medication. I have cut back on the amount of medications I take with my doctor. I found by exercising and I do not need all that medication. It is small steps that help. They have been tracking this for four years: “…tracking all incidents of heart attack and comparing the results among people with and without schizophrenia.” We must make our hearts better.
What else can be done? “Dr. Kurdyak offers two possible solutions: prevention is one (healthier lifestyle). The other is aftercare (all specialists need to work together to ensure that patients are seen again after a first incident of heart attack). They found that people with schizophrenia were significantly less likely (50 per cent) to receive cardiac procedures or to see a cardiologist within 30 days of discharge from hospital.” Why are they not seen the article does not answer this question. It is always good to see a doctor for follow up.

Mental Illness and Aging

I have written on this topic before. This is always a good topic to come back to. In this article it says a new study is going to look in to why mentally ill patients die younger. “A new study fund by a $4 million grant for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will investigate why individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia also suffer a wide range of physiological changes.” You already suffer from a mental illness diagnoses, but to die earlier than the rest of the population is a real let down.
We all know that schizophrenic patients die at least twenty to twenty five year earlier than the rest of the population that does not have a mental illness diagnoses. The article goes on to say: “The new study will directly examine biological aging in schizophrenia by using a battery of psychiatric and medical interviews, as well as several state-of-the-art laboratory techniques. Over the course of five years, the team will annually follow more than 250 subjects, aged 26 to 65 years.” They are going to examine then for at least five years. It will be nice to find out why people are dying sooner when they have schizophrenia.
The article goes on to say: “The reason for the decrease in average lifespan in people with schizophrenia has long remained a mystery.” Hopefully, they can unravel this mystery and help people to enjoy a longer life even if they have schizophrenia. “To unravel biological mechanisms underlying faster aging, Jeste and colleagues will measure and analyze a panel of biomarkers associated with insulin dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell aging.” It sounds like they are going to try and figure out what is causing this faster aging. They would like to improve the lives and health of people with schizophrenia.