HHS HealthBeat (August 21, 2006)

Aging with polio

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Vaccinations have eradicated polio in all but a handful of nations, and keep America free of new, home-grown infections. But people who got the paralytic viral disease before vaccinations are growing older – and weaker. And many wonder why.

Eric Sorenson of the Mayo Clinic looked into that. He examined data on strength and nerve tissue in 50 survivors over 15 years. His study in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Sorenson found signs of normal aging, but polio's nerve damage didn't expand.

"Despite the fact that they notice that they are getting weaker – and in fact they are getting slightly weaker – their overall ultimate prognosis is quite good, and their long-term outcome for their function really is quite good." (nine seconds)

To help, Sorenson recommends continued physical therapy – and staying active.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006