TUESDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- A birthday card on the market for older adults, meant to be humorous, shows a vulture on a tree branch, with the admonition to "Keep moving."

Though some might find the humor unsettling, the blunt message is right on target: It's never too late to start exercise, and any amount is better than none, exercise experts say.

Yet they also agree that getting older adults to get moving and stay moving can be a challenge.

The reasons older adults don't stick with, or start, a regular exercise routine are numerous, said Dr. William Hall, director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Highland Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York.

"Many of the women's groups I work with think it's not very womanly," he said, adding that others have said to him, "Wouldn't I feel self-conscious running around in Lycra?" Yes, he tells them, but tight-fitting workout clothes are not a requirement.

Fear of falling is another reason some older adults don't work out or get any physical activity, said Amy Ashmore, a spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise, who is also a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and an adjunct professor in sports and health sciences with American Military University and the College of Southern Nevada. She specializes in exercise guidelines for adults over 55.

"As we age, many changes occur that affect our balance," Ashmore said. "For many people, these changes are scary, and for that reason many older people are afraid to exercise."

Hall and Ashmore focus on positive motivators, emphasizing the benefits of exercise. For some, Hall said, the competitive spark still exists so he taps into that.

He encourages people to have a goal -- whether it's to learn a new skill, beat a neighbor in an event or just surpass their own best record.

If costs aren't an issue, Hall said, he encourages seniors to buy exercise gear that appeals to them. Something as simple as a new pair of shoes or socks can help people overcome inertia.

He talks about the physical benefits, too. "The medical evidence that's coming out now about the value of exercise for everything we worry about as we age, including cognitive disorders, is compelling," Hall said.

Staying active can reduce the risks for heart disease and help maintain a healthy weight, according to research, and it can help those with existing health problems such as arthritis, heart disease and diabetes.

And body image is still a motivator, whatever a person's age, Hall said. When he coached 200 older adults in a triathlon training program, the participants were initially self-conscious when they showed up on the swim deck, he said. But soon, as exercise led to shedding of pounds and a feeling of well-being, confidence grew. "The women started showing up in much more svelte swimsuits," he said.

Other tips from Ashmore and Hall to help seniors keep moving include:

• Focusing on "process goals." Ashmore said that means focusing on the current exercise session. "I am finishing 15 repetitions on the triceps press-down," for instance, not: "I need to lose 20 pounds."
• Buying a new bathroom scale. Get one that also gives body fat percentages, Hall suggested. Set a goal to reduce body fat and use the scale to periodically track the results of exercise.
• Thinking of exercise as social time. Socialization is linked with health benefits, so why not combine the two?
• Rediscovering your inner competitor. One participant in Halls' triathlon training program told Hall his goal: "I want to beat Bill Hall." Hall, a senior himself, said he laughed -- but said it motivated him to do better in the triathlon, too.
• Accepting a realistic goal. Hall said he reassures seniors that they don't have to run a marathon or even do his triathlon training to reap benefits. "If they can give us 150 minutes of exercise a week, that's probably as therapeutic as you need," he said. That's just 2½ hours a week -- and, he says, housework counts, too.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more on exercise for older adults.

TUESDAY, July 13 (HealthDay News) -- People with Alzheimer's disease appear to be at increased risk for seizures, researchers have found.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from almost 15,000 Alzheimer's disease patients in the United Kingdom, aged 50 and older, and compared the data with that from an age-matched control group of the same number of people without Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's patients were followed for an average of 2.3 years while those in the control group were followed for an average of 3.4 years.

During the follow-up, the incidence rate of seizures among the Alzheimer's patients was 9.1 per 1,000 people per year, compared with 1.4 for those in the control group. That means the incidence rate of seizures was 6.4 times higher for Alzheimer's patients, the study authors explained in a news release from the Alzheimer's Association.

The researchers also found that the seizure incidence rate was highest among the youngest Alzheimer's patients and decreased with age. In the control group, the incidence rate of seizures increased slightly with age, they noted.

While the increased risk of seizures is cause for concern among all Alzheimer's patients, the substantially increased risk among younger patients means that they and their caregivers need to be especially aware of the problem, the study authors pointed out.

"The connection between Alzheimer's and seizures provides additional avenues for research into the basic biology of both diseases, and possibly interventions and therapies to respond to the overall impact of Alzheimer's disease," study author H. Michael Arrighi, of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy Research & Development in the San Francisco Bay area, stated in the news release.

The study was scheduled to be presented Tuesday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, in Honolulu.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer's disease.

FRIDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- A fractured wrist can lead to the development of disability in older people and harm their quality of life, new research has found.

In the study, published online July 9 in BMJ, U.S. researchers followed a group of older women to assess the impact of wrist fractures, which are the most common type of upper extremity fracture in older adults.

The study included 6,107 healthy women, aged 65 and older, who had no history of wrist or hip fractures. The women's ability to perform five activities of daily living (preparing meals, housekeeping, climbing stairs, shopping, and getting out of a car) were assessed every two years for an average of 7.6 years.

The researchers reported that 268 of the participants suffered a wrist fracture during the study period. Compared to women who didn't break a wrist, those who did experience a fracture were about 50 percent more likely to demonstrate functional decline.

According to study author Dr. Beatrice Edwards, of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Center at Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University in Chicago, and colleagues, wrist fracture-related functional decline was clinically as significant as other known risk factors such as falls, arthritis and diabetes.

"Because of the magnitude of the problem and the consequences of the complications, greater public health awareness of the impact of osteoporotic wrist fractures is needed. Osteoporosis outreach should highlight the prevention of wrist fractures," Edwards and colleagues concluded in their report.

More information

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand has more about wrist fractures  .

(HealthDay News) -- Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when tissue that lines the joints becomes inflamed. At the same time, the body produces a chemical that destroys the joint surface, which ultimately can lead to widespread pain and joint deformity.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:

• Joint swelling and pain.
• Joint stiffness that occurs in the morning.
• A warm sensation that surrounds the joints, and joint deformities.
• A fever, and lack of energy and appetite.
• Being anemic (having a low red blood cell count), which can cause weakness.
• Nodules (lumps), especially near the elbow.
• Foot problems such as hammer toes or bunions.