Many Americans are celebrating COVID receding with an alcohol-free day, season or longer.

(NAPSI)—As both vaccination levels and temperatures rise, Americans are shedding more than their masks and an extra layer of clothes. Many are also looking to shed unhealthy habits they developed during a year of lockdown. For these post-pandemic revelers, declaring independence this July takes on new meaning, as they seek freedom from behaviors that no longer serve them.

According to personal finance company WalletHub, the Fourth of July is one of the country’s top drinking holidays, with roughly $1.6 billion spent on beer and wine. This, however, is no average year: Alcohol consumption increased significantly during the height of the COVID pandemic. A survey published in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health highlights just how prevalent stress-related drinking was during lockdown. Participants in the survey reported consuming both more drinks and a greater number of days drinking. A third of participants reported binge drinking, with 7 percent reporting extreme binge drinking.

That may be a reason the concept of Sober Summer has emerged as one of the hot trends for 2021. In recovery from the effects of the pandemic, many are “sober curious,” looking to realign their lifestyles with healthier habits. Interest in alcohol-free activities is booming—from sober travel companies, to bars that serve only virgin mocktails, to outdoor activities that don’t center around drinking.

This year, Lionrock, the leader in telehealth recovery and support services, is hosting a July 4th online marathon as an alternative to boozy celebrations. Open to everyone, Lionrock offers a safe and fun alternative for people who don’t want to center the holiday around drinking and who do want to find peer support and friendship. The event includes meditations, icebreakers, Lionrock’s popular CommUnity meetings for those in pursuit of peace in mind and body, and even a dance party. It’s not necessary to be “an alcoholic” or “in recovery” to join; everyone is welcome.

“The Fourth of July all-day marathon is modeled after our very successful New Year’s Eve event,” said Lionrock co-founder Ashley Loeb Blassingame. “Mental illness and despair thrive in isolation, which is why 2020 was so difficult for so many. For me, freedom from addiction is the best kind of independence. We want to provide a way for people to connect with others seeking a higher level of wellness so they can experience a better and healthier way of coping and living this Fourth, all summer, and beyond.”

People working toward a healthier summer that includes cutting back on alcohol consumption and not necessarily abstaining altogether may want deeper support than just a July 4th marathon. After turning to alcohol or other drugs as a way of coping with stress, anxiety, or depression during the past year, they are ready to reassess their relationship with substances and find a more balanced way of managing life’s challenges. Still others will decide that a sober summer won’t be enough. For those who cannot moderate their behaviors, intensive outpatient programs and higher levels of care offer long-term recovery options.

The good news for anyone struggling with unhealthy coping mechanisms and habits is that help is available and alcohol-free activities have become more prevalent. From the Lionrock meeting marathon on July 4th to wellness retreats, sober raves, and even a simple walk along the beach, this summer is an excellent time to realign your lifestyle post-pandemic and find a healthier path forward.

Learn More

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug dependency, you may care to visit www.lionrockrecovery.com or call 800-258-6550.

Helping a veteran get to needed medical care can be a great way to give back.

(NAPSI)—There are certain aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that many Americans may not have thought about. For example, one area that saw a sharp decline was volunteerism—placing heavy burdens on nonprofit organizations that rely on the compassion of their volunteer forces.

According to a recent research survey by Fidelity Charitable, a nonprofit organization created by Fidelity Investments, two-thirds of all U.S. volunteers had either decreased volunteer hours or stopped volunteering altogether because of the pandemic.

Volunteer to Help Veterans

One nonprofit feeling the effects is DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and its Transportation Network, which has helped get veterans to and from medical appointments since 1987, when the government-run system was shut down. The nationwide DAV Transportation Network provides no-cost rides to veterans who need help getting to their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and clinics. Prior to 2020, volunteer drivers spent more than one million hours and logged over 20 million miles, providing more than 600,000 rides for veterans each year.

“We’ve seen a major decline over the past year in volunteer support across all of our programs,” said John Kleindienst, Director of Voluntary Services at DAV. “For our aging veteran population, getting to and from critical care appointments is a growing concern and without volunteers, many veterans have no way to access their health care or get other much needed support.”

Ramping up volunteerism for the DAV Transportation Network is critical as the pandemic restrictions lift, as it is anticipated that higher than average numbers of veterans will return to the VA both for routine appointments and for care that was delayed over the past year.

“While safety has been the key priority, we have to think toward the next phase and be prepared to meet this increased demand for transportation,” Kleindienst added. “We know the pandemic has hurt a lot of veterans and they might not get the care they earned without our dedicated volunteers. We need the help.”

VolunteerMatch’s survey, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteering” found many in the nonprofit sector are rethinking volunteer engagement strategies to accommodate the current environment. While this strategy works for some sectors, it can be challenging for others.

Nonprofits, such as DAV, are hopeful that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel as vaccines are made widely available, restrictions are lifted and communities can safely get back to volunteering.

“We know there are many passionate and dedicated volunteers who are ready to step up and support our nation’s veterans and with added safety measures in place we’re beginning to see more people coming out to help. We can only hope it will be enough to keep pace with those veterans in need,” added Kleindienst.

Learn More

If you are a veteran in need of support or want to learn more about volunteer opportunities in the community, go to dav.org/volunteer.

Now’s the time to kickstart your summer exercise routine. Pair up with a friend for extra fun and motivation.

(NAPS)—Sunshine and warm weather have many people thinking about new workout options. If you’re ready to kickstart your fitness routine—but want to do so safely—consider these three simple tips:

1. Check in with your gym about its COVID-safe offerings. Many Americans who have been avoiding public places this past year are now looking to expand their horizons, including going back to a gym. Growing numbers of gyms now offer outdoor workout spaces that include many of the weight training and aerobics equipment choices you previously enjoyed indoors—treadmills, stair climbers, weight machines, free weights—and even outdoor classes. Outdoors or indoors, many gyms continue to maintain at least six feet between each workout station, require masks within the space, and provide free hand sanitizer, clean equipment assurances and other COVID-safe protocols. Give your gym a call or visit the location to find out what specific COVID-safe guidelines are in place there, so you can determine whether you’re ready to resume your gym routine.

2. Increase your outdoor exercise routine. After being cooped up for months, getting outside can work wonders for your physical health and emotional well-being. Take yourself to a park to explore a new walking or hiking path. There are several apps that can locate hiking trails near you. Challenge a friend to a regular game of tennis, pickleball or bocce ball. Or dust off your bicycles and enjoy the freedom of feeling the wind in your faces. Establishing a fun exercise routine with a friend can motivate you to keep it up and help lift your spirits. Older adults reported increased feelings of isolation last year. Exercising with a friend can help you shake off the loneliness blues.
Being outdoors offers the added benefit of providing you with a dose of vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and to enhance bone health and immune system function. Regularly spending time outdoors is the most natural way to get the recommended 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure several times a week. Just don’t forget to put on sunscreen.

3. Augment your workout with home exercise classes. National guidelines recommend that you get at least 150 minutes per week of exercise. To make sure you’re meeting that, augment your workout routine with home exercise classes that you can view on your laptop, phone or other devices. For best results, mix things up. Incorporate cardio exercise classes with strength training videos that use resistance bands or free weights. If you want to improve balance or flexibility, try a yoga or tai chi class. Popular options such as the Silver&Fit® Healthy Aging and Exercise program offer a wide range of free online classes specially designed for older adults. Classes premiere daily on Facebook Live from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time, 6 days a week. You can join the scheduled classes at https://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit to enjoy engaging live with other online viewers. Or you can view the replays on YouTube at a time that’s convenient to you. You’ll find them at: www.youtube.com/silverandfit.

Now can be your time to get back into a fitness routine—or start a new one. Find workout options that you love and that motivate you to stick with them. Then make the most of the season. As always, before you start any new exercise routine, talk to your doctor to discuss your goals and what types of exercise might be safest for you.

Researchers are testing a new drug that may someday be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

(NAPSI)—There could be promising news for the more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and the people who care for them.

The Problem

Although nearly one in every three people will eventually be afflicted and it’s the third leading cause of death of older adults in the U.S. (surpassed only by heart disease and cancer in non-pandemic years), there may be effective treatments on the horizon.

An Answer?

One contender is about to start a Phase I clinical trial. It’s a novel drug known as NVG-291 and it’s designed to repair damaged nerves. Originally developed by NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSX-V: NGEN) (OTCQX: NGENF) to treat spinal cord injury, it soon became apparent that the drug may be healing nerve damage at a biologically fundamental level. That suggests it can also help people who have multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Why It May Work

According to NervGen President & CEO Paul Brennan, NVG-291 is a truly unique and logical approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease patients. “What differentiates NVG-291 from other drugs in development is that it leverages multiple mechanisms for repairing nerve damage,” he explains, “while most others focus on a single approach. Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition and likely caused by multiple factors. We believe that a systems approach to treating the disease is an important distinction.”

NVG-291 is designed to achieve this by liberating the body’s own repair mechanisms to accelerate nerve repair. When nerve damage occurs, either as a result of an injury or disease, molecules called chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, or CSPG, accumulate and inhibit the body’s ability to repair itself. NervGen’s technology is designed to counteract this inhibition and result in the initiation of multiple repair mechanisms, including nerve regeneration and remyelination – the repair of the protective coating of the nerves. It should also improve plasticity, which is where surviving nerves take on additional function.

There are two additional mechanisms that are seen to be very important in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Data in animal studies show that inflammation in the immune cells of the brain is reduced and autophagy, a cellular cleaning mechanism necessary for healthy neurons, is promoted. Researchers believe the same nerve-rejuvenating biotechnology can be adapted to remedy this mind-desecrating disease.

Currently approved Alzheimer’s disease drugs merely address symptoms, whereas NVG-291 should act at a more fundamental level to let normal repair mechanisms kick in to create a favorable environment for nerves to grow and form entirely new nerve connections, according to Brennan.
The ability to bring to bear numerous mechanisms of repair, including two that are increasingly viewed as critical to addressing Alzheimer’s disease, represents an unprecedented medical breakthrough.

Learn More

For additional facts on the clinical trials and NervGen, visit www.nervgen.com.