So Tall I Take Over the Street... I’m a Festival, I’m a Parade

"You must be a basketball player."
"You should model."
"How’s the weather up there? ::Hyuck hyuck::"

Though I read something online saying I’m not allowed to call myself tall unless I find it nearly impossible to find clothing that fits me, at 5 foot, 9 inches I easily surpass the height of many of my friends.

And I endure the tall stereotypes.

Now, another stereotype is emerging, one I don’t mind so much. Or maybe it's just new, so the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

Tall people have less risk of dementia.

Well, more specifically, those with longer limbs—arms and legs. Let me tell you how much I've come to appreciate my long sexy legs these past couple of days...

Researcher Tina L. Huang, PhD, performed a study that examined the connection between limb length and dementia in an American population.

Huang’s study showed that, for every extra inch of leg a woman has her risk of developing a form of dementia decreases by 16%. In men, the connection lay in arm length, with a 6% drop in risk for every inch of arm span. Those with shorter limbs showed an increased risk for developing dementia.

So, being tall doesn’t actually protect you from dementia; it’s your limb length. Why? Well, length of limbs is often an indicator of how well you were nourished in your early years. Inadequate nutrition often affects limb growth. Huang and her colleagues believe that poor nutrition early in life is responsible for this link between short limbs and increased risk of dementia.

Now, does this mean that I can reply with "Have you forgotten anything today?" the next time someone asks if I get my own weather satellite? ;-)

This was also in the Guardian article I read. I don’t know why I found the last sentence so amusing...

A second report in the same journal studied the effect of the painkiller ibuprofen on Alzheimer's disease. Doctors at Boston University Medical School found that people who used ibuprofen for at least five years had a 40% lower risk of dementia. The risk was lower among those who took the drug over longer periods. Because the effect is tentative, the scientists said ibuprofen should not be administered specifically to prevent dementia.

Longer Limbs ‘Mean Less Risk of Dementia’ The Guardian: May 6, 2008

Short Arms, Legs: A Risk for Dementia? WebMD.com: May 5, 2008

Comments, ratings, and feedback are always appreciated! :-)