Strong and Vital No 1

No. 1 Feb/Mar 2024 - online only www.strongandvital.com Strong & Vital THE LONGEVITY MAGAZINE FOR ACTIVE PEOPLE 60 PLUS 5.00 US$, EURO, CHF

«Wellness is the new beauty, health is the new wealth.»

CHARLES EUGSTER (1919-2017) IAAF and fitness world champion Top fit at 96 - see cover

TAKISHIMA MIKA from Japan oldest personal trainer (93)

HEALTH TRIBUNE „Longevity“ Congress in Switzerland November 6th, 2024

HANS HADORN «AI» a blessing or a curse?

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Index of contents

Editorial

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The Fittest Old Man in the World Was Charles Eugster

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The Longevity Congress, 6 November 2024 in Locarno

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Charles Eugster - page 6

Miracle Cure - Resistance Training - Arno Parviainen

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Would You Like to Know Your Date of Death?

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The Town of Longevity

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Arno Parviainen - page 10

A Life with Frequencies

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Stopping the Flow of Pee - Yvonne Keller

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AI - Artificial Intelligence - Hans Hadorn

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With 93 - the World ’ s Oldest Fitness Trainer

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The Villages - page 16

The Longevity HALL of FAME - Insertion

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About Us

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HEALTH CHARTER

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Martin Frischknecht - page 18

Information about Health Test and Self Defence Activities 30

Takishima Mika - page 24

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STRONG and VITAL No. 1

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Edi torial

How can we motivate older people to start exercising , which is vital for our survival?

Here is my first editorial in English for the STRONG and VITAL online magazine. Back in 2007, I not only wrote an editorial for the English edition of Strenflex Fitness Sport magazine (one-off edition, otherwise only in German), but also printed the entire magazine in English. Once I even published a 100-page issue of FITNESS TRIBUNE in language of Shakespeare. The older I get, the more I realise that I only feel comfortable among like-minded people my own age. Young people think they know everything better. It is their right, I was like that too. What has bothered me all my life, even though I have been working in my beloved fitness gym in dustry for over 50 years now, is the fact that it is difficult to motivate people to exercise, especially to do weight training. I have tried to convince so many people in my circle of friends and family how important muscle training is for the human body and for health. Unfortunately, most of them preferred to believe their doctors. Today, some of these doctors, including certain acquaintances, are in their 70s and 80s and need a walker to be able to stroll or find themselves in a wheelchair in an institution for the elderly. 90 per cent of interventions to help the elderly occur because the assisted person does not have sufficient muscles to get up independently from bed, chair or toilet. In this respect, the Japanese are several decades ahead of us. Some 20 years ago special muscle training centres were opened for this age group. Today there are thousands of them where 70 plus trainers help Japanese men and women over 70 up to centenarians to rebuild their muscles through personal training so that they can continue to live independently at home. Japan counts now over 100’000 centenarians.

A few weeks ago, I accompanied a 78-year-old friend to a fitness centre and asked the instruc tor to follow him through the training programme because he was a new client. Now, after five trai ning sessions, my friend starts to get motivated because he realises that muscle training gives him strength for everyday life. But above all it helps him deal with lurking depression thanks to the release of myokines (messenger substances, including happiness hormones). Train your muscles 2 to 3 times a week for just 20-30 minutes, but please do it intensively like a competitive athlete, because our bodies can with stand much more than we want to admit. Yours Jean-Pierre

Jean-Pierre Leonhard Schupp Born 1954, Biological age "54", Health expert, book author, 5th Dan Black Belt Karate/kick-boxing, Curriculum vitae and contact; info@strongandvital.com

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Inter view

Charles Eugster Was the Fittest Man in the World (1919-2017)

Dr Charles Eugster’s life has motivated many people to take up muscle training, even at a very advanced age.

He soon realised that this training also had a very positive effect on his rowing, allowing him to improve his performance (he had already won 14 gold medals in rowing competitions for senior athletes, among whom he was the oldest participant). I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Charles Eugster in a relaxed atmosphere back in 2009. SG : Dr Eugster, STRENFLEX world champion at the age of 89 - how does that make you feel? CE : Actually quite normal (laughing). Of course I’m proud and happy, although I would have liked to have had an opponent in my age group. But I console myself with the thought that in a few years’ time there will certainly be more athletes competing in this age category and that the STRENFLEX organisation will then have to introduce age group VII, at 90+. SG : In the last Fitness Tribune, the headline on the front page read «Dr Charles Eugster, a Role Model at 89». You are not so enthusiastic about this headline. Why? CE : That’s right. I find it very unpleasant to be seen as a role model. I don’t want to be a role model, I want to be a FORERUNNER! SG : A forerunner of what? CE : For times that are coming soon. Firstly, demographics: hopefully we will see the introduction of categories for 90-year-olds in other areas of sport. Secondly, the realisation that you can «rebuild» your own body even at an advanced age - «build a new body and start a new life!» You have to understand that you do not have one job for life, but several, and that retirement gives you the unique opportunity not only to build a new body, but also to pursue a new career. If this concept becomes reality, many problems will be solved, such as the increasing shortage of top talent and the overburdening of the healthcare system. SG : Let’s leave that for a moment. Nowadays it’s not so easy to learn a new profession in old age and then find a new job. CE : Yes, it is possible! You just have to jump at your shadow and realise at 60 that you still have 30 years or more to live and look for new projects. Especially now and in the near future, you can not rely on the support of pension funds. It is also important to remember that in 1881, when Bismarck introduced retirement, the retirement age was 67 and life expectancy at the time was 42. Today, life expectancy has more than doubled and the retirement age has been lowered to 65 - in my opinion that’s grotesque! SG : That’s right, that should give us food for thought. But you just didn’t think about this aspect, you took action and started strength training, among other things. How did that come about?

Like many people in their later years, he had to decide: am I going into a retirement home and will soon be sitting in a wheelchair or is there another option? Charles Eugster had been an active rower as a young man. So he started rowing again on Lake Zurich at the Zurich Rowing Club, alone of course. Charles was a dual citizen, Swiss and British. As a dentist, he spent most of his time in England, but at the age of 65 he returned to Switzerland. His wife was not active in sport, so neither was he - a mistake that unfortunately many people make. At 70, he stopped working as a dentist because his fine motor skills were no longer 100 per cent. He then published a magazine for dentists until his 80th birthday. Afterwards his health definitely went downhill. At 85, he met a natural bodybuilder, François Gay, who ran a fitness centre not far from the rowing club. As luck would have it, this encounter led him to muscle training, which is vital for survival. Charles Eugster became Fitness Decathlon World Champion in 2008 at the age of 89. Here is the original interview with the STRENFLEX world champion (Strength-Endurance-Flexibility). His later trainer, Sylvia Gattiker , interviewed Charles Eugster at the beginning of 2009. On 15 November 2008, Dr Charles Eugster won the STRENFLEX World Champion title in the age category VI (80+). He only started strength training about three and a half years before and regretted not having done it much earlier. His training used to focus solely on rowing. And now, out of vanity and to counteract muscle loss, he began strength training with a programme developed for him by Francois Gay.

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YouTube LINKs to IFAA and Decathlon Championships https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LDfx958Qgc and many more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD7D8BY2d1c

His book AGE is just a numer: ISBN 978--7515-6537-9

CE : I heard a lecture by a professor from Copenhagen who proved that you can build muscle at any age. His oldest test subject was 105 years old. I was amazed that these scientific findings were not being put into practice, or not enough. And so I thought I could start bodybuilding as an «86-year old guinea pig». At the same time, however, I also had to pay attention to my diet. In the first year I lost 12 kilos, namely 1 kilo per month, and now I’m the same weight as when I was recruited. SG : Did you consciously want to lose the 12 kilos or did this happen as a consequence of your training? I have heard that there was a bit of vanity involved. CE : The loss of the 12 kilos was precisely planned, one kilo per month, and it worked without the slightest difficulty, with training and a conscious diet. Of course, vanity played a role. Today I have a better posture and a greater body than ever before. SG : And what about your well-being? CE : (laughs) SENSATIONAL! I am happy that I have managed to achieve such a good body at my age. People turn round to look at me on the beach. SG : How do you see 2009 and your future? CE : Well, first of all, I will continue to work on the flaws in myself that FITNESS DECATHLON has uncovered. Secondly, I hope to improve my performance and get like-minded people of my age group interested in this sport. SG : One final word, please. CE : Do not wait until you’re 90 to experience the benefits of weight training. Although of course it is still possible at 90.

Editor’s note I myself was an active STRENFLEX Decathlon athlete and multiple world champion. It was always an honour to train and compete with much older people. Charles Eugster won various STRENFLEX world titles as well as IFAA world titles in different athletics disciplines, 100m, 200m, 400 and long jump. His coach Sylvia Gattiker motivated him to perform at his best. In parallel he trained his muscles intensively with weights, just like any other athlete. But the ambition of a great man to present himself at the press conference at the Royal Academy in London. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack when he was about to turn 98, before the press conference dedicated to his world champion title at the IFAA in India. His entourage advised him on several occasions to rest more often considering his age, commitments and frequent flights. He showed that the human body is able to face any challenge and achieve victory - even at a late age. Charles Eugster, a great role model who not only talked the talk, but also walked the walk. If today’s healthcare system were based on the knowledge he and his trainer had, many more people would be healthy. Jean-Pierre Schupp

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LONGEVITY CONGRESS 2024 THAT ’ S WHY we need this congress on the topic of LONGEVITY on November 6th 2024 in Locarno.

After 65, life in Switzerland (worldwide) changes in ways that young people cannot imagine.

The protagonists of today’s healthcare system deal hypocritically with the issue of LONGEVITY. In their narcissistic illusion, they dictate what they believe the future (e.g. babyboomers) should look like, namely even more interventions, more pills and higher health insurance premiums. However, as many people know, especially older people, the solution is an ethical, dignified and honourable life. It is possible to reach 100 years of life without medication. We want to help people set themselves these life goals. This is possible with intensive muscle training and a healthy diet. If a LONGEVITY HEALTH CHARTER is not implemented soon, health insurance premiums will continue to rise so sharply every year (see editorial in this issue, pages 4 and 5) that many middle-class people will no longer be able to finance their existence in the coming years (high rents, high health care premiums, etc.). Many will fall into poverty and will no longer be able to afford children because of financial difficulties (see demographic change today) Here are some of the points that will be discussed in Locarno on 6 November 2024 1. Federal Constitution Art. 10/2: «Everyone has the right to personal liberty, in particular to physical and mental integ rity * and to freedom of movement. And Art. 12: Right to assistance in emergencies. Anyone in need and unable to provide for themselves is entitled to assistance and care and to the means necessary for a dignified existence». Many DISCRIMINATIONS of all kinds take place in Switzerland from retirement age onwards. Corona has shown that the Federal Government can even override the Federal Constitution at any time via EMERGENCY LAW, as the people have practically not reacted to this (those who have reacted have been degraded to nutcases and rabble rousers). For example, EMERGENCY LAW was introduced three times within three years. The last time this was the case was during the Second World War - only for citizens to remember this. And what will happen when the agitation against the appa 2. The health insurance law is NOT based on solidarity, because poor people (including increasingly the middle class) in Switzer land choose the highest deductible of CHF 2500 in order to pay lower health insurance premiums, but when they are sick as more and more statistics show, they CANNOT afford to go to the doctor and many risk dyning miserably - this in rich Switzer land! 3. In the interests of older people, it is imperative that the possibility of a COLLECTIVE COMPLAINT be introduced in Switzerland as soon as possible, so that various affected persons can sue for their rights as a group against, for example, multinational corporations. As an individual citizen without much money you cannot sue in Switzerland. 4. Most children are born healthy. Why shouldn’t people have the RIGHT to die healthy at the age of 100+? 5. The self-service healthcare system does indeed manage to produce too many SICK and drug-addicted Swiss people. 6. The LONGEVITY Congress on 6 November 2024 is intended to appeal to people 60+, 70+, 80+, 90+ who do NOT need medication, who want to grow old HEALTHY through an active, sporty life, muscle training, natural nutrition (preferably wit hout or greatly reduced consumption of dairy, fish and meat-free food. 7. Of course, women and men who are not yet 60 years old can also take part in this first congress. 8. The voluntary fitness test is optional and MUST NOT be carried out on 6 November. 9. In autumn 2025, the big LONGEVITY Congress will be held with the signing of the LONGEVITY HEALTH CHARTER, exactly 100 years after the international PEACE TREATIES of October 1925 negotiated in Locarno. Here, however, in line with the RIGHT that old and very old people should also be allowed to die in dignity and health. To * also applies to the UN Charter or EU Charter - Art 1 and Art 3/1 rently cost-driving OLD people in the healthcare system really gets going? Art. 10/2 and Art. 12 are constantly being trampled underfoot in Switzerland.

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STRONG and VITAL No. 1 - 2024

LONGEVITY CONGRESS 2024

REGISTRATION...

Information on the planned LONGEVITY-GALA From 18:30 on 6.11.24.

...to the first LONGEVITY Congress on Nov 6th, 2024 in Locarno - Switzerland (the congress centre is only a 300m walk from Locarno railway station, with plenty of parking spaces available). In addition to participation, the congress price also inclu des a standing lunch incl. mineral water and coffee (please pay for other drinks directly on site - THANK YOU) Schedule: (Definitive programme with speakers will follow later) 10:00 to 17:30 (break 13:00-14:00) REGISTRATION new DIRECT at www.healthtribune.tv

Price, procedure, hotel accommodation will take place from StarkVital No. 36, as of May 1st 2024. Also register for: • HEALTH TRIBUNE LONGEVITY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS • HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS • STRONG and VITAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS • HEALTH TEST CERTIFICATES • SELF DEFENCE CERTIFICATES • INNOVATION AWARDS

Congress price CHF 200.- (US$, EUR)

Always up-to-date information: www.healthtribune.tv

Always up-to-date information: www.healthtribune.tv

« Longevity is the new beauty, wellness the new health and age is the new wealth.»

STRONG and VITAL No. 1 - 2024

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Repor tage

Miracle cure – resistance training Arno Parviainen

Arno Parviainen, born in 1956 is the founder, CEO and Chairman of David Health Solutions. He is the innovator behind the world famous David Health rehabili tation technology with many granted patents in his name. Mr. Parviainen has a degree in economics and is heading David Health companies in Finland and USA. Mr. Parviainen ’ s vision is to expand David Health ’ s intelligent exercise technology beyone musculoskeletal problems to all life-style induced health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive difficulties .

Fighting lifestyle induced diseases? In the battle against lifestyle-induced diseases, we are familiar with the list of dos and don ’ ts for maintaining health: eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, prioritize sleep, manage stress, fos ter social connections, and cultivate a positive mindset. These guidelines are widely acknowledged as beneficial and should be adhered to. However, many of us may not fully comprehend the practical implications of these actions or their effectiveness. Moreover, there is often no immediate gratification, requiring sustained motivation based on faith until tangible benefits are felt. Conversely, unhealthy habits often provide instant satisfaction, making them difficult to resist. Amidst these challenges, there ’ s one activity that stands out for its excepti onal effectiveness and substantial sci entific backing: resistance training . The next blockbuster drug Exerkines Described as the potential «next block buster drug,» the health benefits deri ved from resistance training are gar nering increasing attention. As scien tific knowledge expands, researchers continue to identify a growing number of molecules excreted by various body parts during resistance training. Coi ned as «Exerkines,» these molecules encompass a diverse array, including proteins, myokines, cytokines, neuro transmitters, and hormones. Figure 1 illustrates examples of exerki nes released post-exercise, each play ing a crucial role in bodily functions such as repairing tissues, enhancing immunity, regulating cell growth, and facilitating nerve generation. These molecules are instrumental in suppor ting overall health and well-being.

It has been long known that regular exercise is important for our health. This knowledge, however, does not seem to have enough motivational power to get a large part of the population moving. Combined with the aging of the population this is a toxic combination that causes lot of suffering and soaring healthcare costs. But with a growing number of new research results our knowledge of the health effects of exercise, especially resistance training, make a compelling case for everyone to consider exercise as a new habit that everyone should have, young and old. Inactivity kills, or at least makes you older The consequences of inactivity are grave, often accelerating the aging process. Many of us have firsthand experience with the tangible effects of aging, wit nessing declines in both physical and mental capacities. Yet, lurking beneath the surface, there›s a clandestine accumulation of risks that may one day erupt dramatically. For some, this serves as a wake-up call to embrace radical lifestyle changes, while for others, it may sadly be too late. What›s less commonly known is that, in addition to the typical cardiovascular issues associated with a sedentary lifestyle, our passive habits and poor dietary choices pave the way for a host of other diseases, including cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis, among others. Even for those who prioritize mental well-being over physical health, the loss of muscle mass causes a concerning parallel decline in cognitive capacity 1 . This interconnectedness between body and mind is increasingly recognized, echoing the sentiments of the ancient Roman poet Juvenal, who famously proclaimed, «mens sana in corpore sano» : a healthy mind in a healthy body.

Fig, 1 The world is suffering from multitude of life-style induced diseases

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Fig, 2 Exerkines released after exercise into the systemic circulation 2

Furthermore, resistance training has been shown to signifi cantly improve the well-being of cancer patients, reducing nausea, acid reflux, fatigue, and appetite loss during che motherapy 6 . Perhaps the most amazing outcome of resistance training is its effect on the brain. While one might think there is little connection between the brain and muscles, science speaks of muscle-brain crosstalk 7 . Resistance training has been found to improve the brain›s executive functions and even create more white matter. Although both aerobic and resistance training are valuable, the superiority of resistance training is evident in various health outcomes, including all-cause mortality, diabetes, cancer, and frailty. Its holistic benefits make it an essential component of any comprehensive exercise regimen. Maximizing training effectiveness Not all training methods are created equal. While activities like walking and gardening offer benefits, the most signi ficant gains come from high-intensity resistance training. Studies show that higher intensity levels are necessary for the secretion of certain molecules essential for health 8 . This leads us to the question of which exercise per unit of time is most effective, especially for aging individuals. At David Health Solutions, we have been working for decades to improve both the efficiency of exercise and individuals ’ motivation. Based on this experience, we can identify three main factors that influence the effectiveness of training:

Given the broad impact of exerkines on various organs and bodily functions, further exploration into specific areas of research is warranted. Health benefits with no side effects An obvious benefit for an aging person lies in the improved functional capacity. Muscle strength, endurance, coordina tion, and the ability to manage everyday life are all enhan ced, improving quality of life and increasing the ability to participate in various activities. As a bonus, this also redu ces pain in the back, knees, and shoulders, issues many people suffer from without reason. But the benefits extend to diverse areas not seemingly con nected to exercise. Take, for example, depression. A recent study found that exercise can be as effective as therapy or depression medication 3 . Many similar studies support this notion, making it something everyone can try relatively quickly. The endorphins released during exercise provide the instant gratification we discussed earlier. Type 2 Diabetes is a modern-day curse affecting millions of people, with an equal number of undiagnosed prediabetes sufferers likely to develop the disease in a few years› time. However, several studies show that resistance training can both prevent type 2 diabetes and play an important role in its treatment 4 . Similarly, the role of exercise in combating cancer cannot be overstated. While cancer treatments have advanced sig nificantly, they often come with unpleasant side effects and weaken patients. Exercise has emerged as a powerful tool in both prevention and treatment, addressing dysregulated metabolism—a common feature of cancer. By improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and enhancing muscle mass and strength, exercise offers acute and long term metabolic benefits 5 .

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Repor tage

1. The requirement for coordination in training 2. The effect of the resistance curve in the exercise 3. Motivation to train with higher intensity

While all exercises demand a certain level of coordination, some are inherently riskier and require greater care and lower loading to ensure safety. For instance, the squat movement, while effective, poses risks with heavier loads. Conversely, a well-designed knee extension device offers a safe option, allowing for high-intensity training without risk. To encourage large populations to engage in high-intensity training, it is crucial to provide safe tools. Figure 2 illustrates how the need for coordi nation is inversely correlated with intensity.

Fig, 3 The relationship between need for coordination and safety

All exercises inherently involve variable resistance in relation to joint angle, either intentionally or inadvertently. However, many people are unaware of the ideal loading curve for each exercise. In a properly designed device, the loading curve aligns with the biomechanical strength curve of the joint. Unfortunately, this alignment is rarely achieved. Most exercises and devices offer an incorrect loading curve, resulting in discomfort during the exercise and, more importantly, ineffective training outcomes. Figure 3 illustrates two exercises: one correctly matching the strength curve and one incorrectly designed, such as a pulley system where the heaviest load is at the point where muscles are weakest.

Fig, 4 The difference between correct and incorrect loading curves

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Correct loading significantly impacts training results by providing even loading throughout the movement and inducing a substantial fatiguing effect 9 . Research has compared this effect to other loading types, such as pneumatic loading 10 . Gra vity-based loading with the correct loading curve has proven to be the most effective method for inducing necessary muscle fatigue safely. Regardless of the training method, the most important aspect is to ensure that individuals train consistently. This involves educating them about the considerable benefits of regular resistance training. Additionally, creating a motivating environ ment where technology offers continuous feedback on each training session and periodic testing provides results of the benefits is crucial.

Figure 4 demonstrates how a motivational screen can display the appropriate range of motion, speed,

Fig, 5 Motivational, interactive screen with

an immediate result

and repetition count.

When results are immediately visible, it becomes challenging to stop trai ning, even when muscles are fatigued, especially knowing that trainers can access the results from their computers at any time. It is no wonder that centers using this system show compliance levels of over 90%, indi cating that virtually everyone completes their planned sets in a correct manner. Exercise is undeniably a miracle cure, offering countless benefits for both physical and mental health. However, the question remains: will these bene fits reach those who need them most? Many aging individuals, who are inactive and lack experience in training, may feel too intimidated to join regular gyms. This presents both a challenge and a significant opportunity. Fitness centers, wellness centers, and even medical facilities have the

chance to design environments that cater to the needs of these individuals, providing them with a sense of safety, professional guidance, and access to effective, user-friendly technology for training. Experience has shown that age should not be a limiting factor; individuals can begin their fitness journey at any age, whether they are 50 or 80 years old. In the next five years, we anticipate a substantial growth in this market. This growth will not only bring happiness to individuals by improving their health and well-being but also contribute to happier societies overall, with a growing population that is less of a burden on healthcare systems. Contact: Arno Parviainen www.davidhealth.com

1 Uchida et al., ‘Association between Reduction of Mus cle Mass and Faster Declines in Global Cognition among Older People’. 2 Chow et al., ‘Exerkines in Health, Resilience and Disease’. 3 Recchia et al., ‘Comparative Effectiveness of Exercise, Antidepressants and Their Combination in Treating Non-Severe Depression’. 4 Codella et al., ‘May the Force Be with You’. 5 Raun et al., ‘Exercise—A Panacea of Metabolic Dysre gulation in Cancer’. 6 Hong, Wu, and Wu, ‘Effects of Resistance Exercise on Symptoms, Physical Function, and Quality of Life in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients Undergoing Che motherapy’. 7 Delezie and Handschin, ‘Endocrine Crosstalk Between Skeletal Muscle and the Brain’. 8 Schwarz et al., ‘Effect of Resistance Exercise Intensity on the Expression of PGC-1α Isoforms and the Ana bolic and Catabolic Signaling Mediators, IGF-1 and Myostatin, in Human Skeletal Muscle’. 9 Hakkinen and Kauhanen, ‘Effects of Fatiguing Loa ding with a Variable Resistance Equipment on Neural Activation and Force Production of the Knee Extensor Muscles’. 10 Peltonen, Häkkinen, and Avela, ‘Neuromuscular Res ponses to Different Resistance Loading Protocols Using Pneumatic and Weight Stack Devices’.

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Life time

Would you Like to Know the Date of your Death ? How to Predict the Fatal Day

A team of researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has deve loped an algorithm called Life2vec , which is able to estimate a person’s risk of illness and even pre dict the probable date of his or her death, provided that no unexpected inci dents occur. The study was published in the jour nal Nature Computational Science . However, the sci entists point out that this is a research prototype that cannot fulfil any real tasks in its current state. The researchers analysed data from a national register in Denmark on events in the lives of six million Danes. To do this, they collated large amounts of data on their health - from doctor visits or emergency admissions to various diagnoses - education, income and occupation. Most of this data cove red the period 2008 to 2016. To test how good the AI tool is, a group of 100,000 people was selected, half of whom survived and half of whom died. The researchers knew which people had died after 2016, while the algorithm did not. Then they put it to the test: they had the algorithm make individual predictions about whether someone was still alive after 2016 or not. The results were impressive.

The new AI tool was cor rect in 78 per cent of cases. Among other things, the study showed that people with a high income or in a managerial position were more likely to survive, whe reas men, skilled workers or people diagnosed with a mental disorder were more likely to die. Apart from the question of how reliable such a model is, this futuristic project

naturally also raises important ethical questions regarding the use of sensitive medical data and its confidentiality. Nevertheless, this type of research opens up new and unexpected perspectives, as the team notes. Insurance companies will endeavour to stay one step ahead of cus tomers if models such as Life2vec become established, which will make it more difficult to underwrite insurance in the future. It would be problematic, for example, to take out life insurance if you know exactly what the health risks are. Ultimately, according to the critics, using artificial intel ligence to predict the time of death with high accuracy would take away the only aspect of our lives that makes them mysterious in some way.

Extending life expectancy

• Intellectually motivated : The pleasure of having an active mind, be it reading, playing cards, doing cross word puzzles or Sudoku. Curiosity, love of learning and self-teaching. • Positivity : Being grateful for life and knowing how to enjoy it despite difficulties. • Resilience : The ability to overcome adversity and even be strengthened by such experiences. • Intelligence : General cognitive ability to think abstractly, to reason, to plan, to successfully solve pro blems, to learn from them quickly. Accepting challenges, practising reactivity and problem-solving.

• Vitality: Feeling alive, alert and full of energy. Having the will to live long. Taking part in events, not standing on the sidelines. Use opportunities to be active. • Interaction : Socialising while avoiding loneliness, forming warm bonds, practising altruism. • Commitment : Responsibility with a sense of duty, perseverance, honesty. • Control : The conviction that you can influence the course of events, purposefulness, practicality. Orga nising life, using and understanding the environment, recognising and exploiting opportunities.

According to the WHO, the number of centenarians will increase tenfold by 2050 compared to 2010. A study has now analysed the characteristics of people over 100. A team of researchers led by psy chologist Dolores Merino from the Faculty of Psychology at the Complu tense University of Madrid published a study in the J ournal of Happiness Studies in November 2023, in which the behavioural characteristics of 19 centenarians were analysed. This pro vides clues as to how we can remain healthy and happy even in old age:

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STRONG and VITAL No. 1 - 2024

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The Villages, Florida The Town of Longevity

The Villages is a community built from scratch for active adults in the town of Lady Lake in the heart of Central Florida. This futuristic complex is home to approximately 100,000 baby boomers aged 55 and older, with an aver age age of 74.6 years (2022), who are drawn from across America by the warm climate and particularity of this settle ment. They live in the luxurious villas and manicured homes surrounded by evergreen golf courts at their disposal. For those seeking adventure, there are many popular destina tions in the surrounding area and the city of Orlando can be reached in about an hour. The entire community, which has an estimated 70,000 households, spans over 20,000 acres and is connected by roads and trails with golf cart access. This 55+ town is a fully self-sufficient community with shops, restaurants, banks, post offices, health centres, countless leisure facilities and even a news network, local newspaper and radio station. It offers a choice of living solutions such as independent living, assisted living or extra skilled care. The community’s Regional Medical Centre and other health centres provide medical testing, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Situated behind well-guarded entrance gates, the Villages is the world’s largest reti rement town where you are never reminded how old you are. Because where everyone is old, age does not exist. The Golden Retirement The residential community describes itself as an intimate enclave. In this Eden, you feel safe, shielded from unwel come outside interference, in a kind of luxurious ghetto where everyone belongs to the third or fourth age. The resi dents are aware that they live in a bubble, but it is a pleasant

bubble, as the silver-agers say, because they are enjoying their retirement to the full. The dictatorship of appearance has long since had its day here. When the seniors leave the house, they don’t have to feel uncomfortable because of grey hair, nobody pays attention to sagging skin or shrinking muscles. The demographic composition is somewhat different from the rest of the United States, which translated means that there are practically no African Americans or minorities, apart from the staff of public institutions. The residents are in fact 98 per cent white, 54 per cent of whom are women, and mostly Republican. They have worked hard in their lives and have been fortunate enough to realise the American dream. Now it’s time to put their worries aside and concent rate fully on their new activities - as long as life allows. The Amenities The Savannah Centre hosts numerous cultural perfor mances, concerts and tours, welcomes guest speakers, comedy acts and performances featuring local talent. There is also a library, woodworking shop, numerous hobby and craft studios. Not just culture - The Villages offers an active lifestyle for all tastes, even the most extravagant: more than 35 com munity centres, over 80 outdoor pools, several dozen golf courts, tennis, pickleball, bocce, shuffleboard and basket ball courts. There are several lakes and nine softball fields where over 200 teams play. A polo field with grandstand seating is another favourite. The fitness centres are well equipped and offer full-body workouts for everyone. For competitive sports enthusiasts, there are countless sports teams, leagues and tournaments, from tennis, pickleball and golf to softball, cycling and bowling. The community also hosts an annual summer programme with

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many additional activities such as kayaking, football, full swing classes, line dancing, kite making, water sports, cooking demonstrations and much more. The choice can be confusing and the possibilities are really endless. MVP Athletic Club: This facility offers a valuable opportunity to get active and stay in shape. Membership includes over a thousand monthly group classes as well as state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment. Both gyms have personalised individual and group trainers available to motivate everyone to achieve all their personal fitness goals.

A Famous Resident: John LaFlamme, World Champion in the over 70s Category

In August 2023, the 72-year-old Village powerlifter broke the 70-and-over world squat in his weight class (93kg) at the North American Powerlifting Champi

onships in Panama. He even managed it twice - just a few minutes after the first record, he surpassed his own mark with 198 kg (437 pounds). LaFlamme may pos sibly be the world’s strongest person over age 70. He star ted lifting in 1978 and did it for about seven years until he stop

ped to focus on family and work. It was not until 2013 that he started again. Since restarting, he has set a lifetime best in the deadlift at 245 kilograms - a weight he did not think he could ever lift when he started powerlifting again. And the 70+ year old has no plans to stop lifting any time soon: he wants to keep going until his body tells him it is time to stop. Until then, he intends to continue striving to be the strongest. «The athletes show us that being ’old’ is a state of mind and that physical fitness is up to each individual,» says a Villa ges resident. «The Senior Games athletes prove that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to.» America’s Healthiest Hometown The philosophy of the community is clearly health-orientated. Therefore, guests are encouraged to start or maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. It is important to look after body, mind and soul and take steps to enjoy a long, happy life, in the spirit of longevity. Furthermore there is certainly no shortage of opportunities to keep in touch with friends and neighbours, which can have an additional positive impact on health.

Info: www.thevillages.com

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Fit and Healthy

A Life with Frequencies Jean-Pierre Schupp in conversation with Martin Frischknecht

JPS : Martin Frischknecht, many people know you as an active person in many areas, be it as a producer of sound recordings, as an entrepreneur in the field of healthcare or in political activities. Can you briefly introduce your self? MF : My life has always been full of ups and downs. My upbringing was strict and always focussed on perso nal responsibility. Even as a child, my father «kidnapped» me into electronics. I repaired radios, made detector recei vers, strung up aerials and built audio amplifiers at a tin kering table. School holidays consisted mainly of working in my father’s workshop on a lathe and on milling and drilling

Trying out the piano was more my brother Werner’s thing. The double bass instead was my favourite and I could not distance myself from this passion. After four years of lessons at the conservatory, I reached a crossroads. I met my wife Katrin Hasler from Swiss Radio Studio Bern. She worked in the folk music department. She was the one who told me: «If you’re doing professional music, you have to play; if you’re doing the conservatory, you can play». What a clever suggestion! JPS : I understand that so far, but let’s get a little closer: how can a frequency therapy device stand out from other products? MF : Frequencies propagate

Martin Frischknecht - born 1949

machines. At the age of 17 and 18, I was already able to attend pre-training as a military pilot and soon completed my first solo flight. That was a huge quantum leap towards personal responsibility. I was able to consolidate my practical and theo retical knowledge of electrotechnology during an apprenticeship as a FEAM at what was then Auto phon AG in Solothurn. After my apprenticeship, I attended the University of Applied Sciences in Bern and graduated in 1976 with a Diploma in Elec tronics Engineering HTL (now FH). JPS : These all seem to be highs. What were the lows? MF : The most serious low was amalgam poisoning from dental fillings, which caused me terrible prob lems and pain for 25 of my best years. But this low was also the catalyst for what I do today, namely promoting health and not fighting illness . The epilepsy that was limiting me at the time was the trigger. My doctor then put it in a nutshell when he said: «You’ll have to take these pills for the rest of your life». My inner self screamed «NO», and the health avalanche was set off inside me. JPS : What motivated you to undergo frequency the rapy? Were there any other prerequisites? MF : They say: «All good things come in threes». The prerequisite for this is not just training as an elect ronics engineer. The two missing conditions for me were the previously illness and music. Making music has always been very important to me. My first att empts at playing the recorder were not my thing.

four-dimensionally in a room. A frequency wit hout space would be like a light that doesn’t hit an object, or like the strings of a violin without a sound box. A therapy device that works with frequencies requires a suitable room, an ideal sound body. If you play the same tone on different instruments, it will have the same pitch, but not the same cha racter. Further overtones are superimposed on the basic vibration - a sine wave - and thus form the specific sound of an instrument. Of course, there is also the oscillation and decay behaviour, which is insignificant for the therapy device. Interestingly, this was the task of my diploma thesis at the University of Applied Sciences. JPS : How do these requirements apply to your fre quency device, the Powertube ® ? MF : It is the round shape, a tube, the metallurgy and the three specific frequencies. The three frequencies correspond to vacuum, compression and matter. Think of it as breathing in (compression in the lungs), breathing out (vacuum in the lungs) and air as matter. Obviously, a com plete vacuum cannot be created in the lungs. Life - materially bound in the body - consists of inhala tion and exhalation, of birth and death. The three frequencies - called STEPS - want to feel comfortable in Powertube. The tube of the device corresponds approximately to the golden ratio (0.644) if the tube were cut open lengthways and laid flat.

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The three frequencies with one spectrum (funda mental plus overtones) are harmful to the orga nism in a different shape. The round shape of the Powertube eliminates the harmful overshoots, the «electrosmog». This is why the Powertube is pro tected (registered) and the name Powertube is also protected as a word and figurative mark. The coating of the device with precious metals such as gold and silver is also important. Silver is the femi nine element and gold the masculine. Silver is implo sion, grounding, coolness and negative polarity. Gold is explosion, sun, heat and positive polarity. JPS : I have never heard such an interesting explana tion of a device. What determines which device to use, whether silver-plated or gold-plated? MF : Hardly. The difference is not significant. Men usually prefer the feminine element, silver, and women are attracted to warmth and the sun. It has even been physically proven that humanity will not survive if the female and male are separated. The woman gets warmth from the man and the man gets coolness from the woman. Without warmth from the man, the woman «freezes to death» and without cooling from the woman, the man «burns to death». In this way, the two poles complement each other in a miraculous way. This law of nature cannot be disproved by genderism. JPS : What are the requirements for bringing a medical device onto the market? MF : Medical devices require constant monitoring by certified test centres. The devices are assigned to a class. A magnetic field mat is not the same as exposure to light such as infrared or ultraviolet. A current in the form of frequencies on the skin cor responds to TENS therapy (transcutaneous nerve stimulation). As soon as a medical device enters the body (invasive), even higher safety requirements apply. The Powertube is class IIa and approved as a safe medical device for risk-free use in the private sector, by doctors and in clinics. We were certified by TÜV Rheinland Cologne in 2004 and ten years later by MedCert Hamburg (now DNV). JPS : For which areas can the Powertube be used? Can certain diseases be cured? MF : You have hit the nail on the head with this question. The worst mistake you can make as a manufacturer of medical products is to make healing claims that are not based on a «permitted» double-blind study. My former company was driven into bankruptcy because of a healing claim that I absolutely did not make. It is hardly necessary to mention who is known in Switzerland for such actions. The tax authorities still have in their genes the job of destroying a marvellous product. Certification involves literature research, safety tests, EMC tests (electromagnetic compatibility),

double-blind studies and a great deal of documen tation. Everything related to the medical device is checked during annual audits. Deviations must not exceed a certain assessment level, otherwise the device is «history». In 2024, new stricter regulations (MDR) are a prerequisite, which means spending a consi derable amount of time and money. JPS : Are there any clinical studies on your device? How can you explain a double-blind study to the STRONG and VITAL readership? MF : That’s a good question. You can have studies or experience reports carried out by doctors. Although these are an indication of the effectiveness of a the rapy device, they cannot be taken as usable studies. We had laboratory tests carried out years ago at the Technical University of Munich / Freising by Prof Dr Dr Parlar. The results were very positive in the areas of metabolism, detoxification and sterilisation. In St Petersburg, we successfully completed a cli nical study on the change in PSA levels in prostate problems. Even if the results contain surprisingly positive final reports, they cannot be used as a sales argument and would be equivalent to a healing statement. A double-blind study makes sense to ensure that there is no interference. A renowned university has 50 Powertubes ready for studies. A requested study must first be authorised by an ethics committee, which also assesses and approves the completion of a study. Of the 50 devices, 25 work correctly and the others only appear to work. The professor leading the study knows which devices of the two categories the doctors receive, but not the doctor himself and not the patient. This means that doctors and patients are «blind» to the effectiveness of the Powertube. This prevents influence of any kind. JPS : How can a Powertube be purchased and how long is the service life of such a device? MF : Contacts are listed in the appendix. After twenty years of Powertube use, it has not yet been possible to obtain any meaningful information on the service life of a Powertube. If one takes care, I reckon with 40 years or more. There is no so-called predetermined breaking point built into the device (obsolescence), so that a failure of the device leads to disposal after the warranty period has expired. The appliances can be repaired for years to come. I do not let my customers down! Further informa tion can be found at: www.swisspowertube.ch JPS : Thank you Martin Frischknecht for the interview.

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