older age

How To Feel Young at 70 (you read articles like this one)

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Sofiya Milman is director of Human Longevity Studies at the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She studies people known as “superagers” —95 and older. “As a group, they have a very positive outlook on life” and are notably resilient, like Jaffe, she told me.

Qualities associated with resilience in older adults include optimism and hopefulness, an ability to adapt to changing circumstances, meaningful relationships, community connections, and physical activity, according to a growing body of research on this topic. A Centenarian Thrives Living Alone, Active and Engaged – https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/centenarian-thrives-living-alone-older-adults/

Hilda Jaffe 102 lives alone and is thriving.

I need to improve my level of physical activity if I want to become a superager.

Alcohol and Nocturnal Leg Cramps (NLC)

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I just discovered another reason to Drink Less Alcohol When You Get To My Age.

We identified an association between alcohol consumption and nocturnal leg cramps among patients aged 60 years and older attending general practices. These findings have implications for the prevention of cramps. Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Nocturnal Leg Cramps in Patients Over 60 Years Old: A Case-Control Study – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6037509

Add this to the list of things that happen when you get older.

An Extended Period of Wandering

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Now, I’m ‘no one,’ a retired, forgotten old man who dithers away the days.

”Depression can ensue, fueling excessive alcohol use, accidents, or, in the most extreme cases, suicide. Of all age groups in the United States, men over age 75 have the highest suicide rate, by far. Older Men’s Connections Often Wither When They’re on Their Own – https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/older-men-connections-isolation-loneliness-navigating-aging/

At the minimum I have a plan. Sell the house, buy a van and do an upscale conversion so I can sleep in it. Travel. Spend time in Oklahoma and Colorado.

Drink more Knob Creek (not when driving).

OOPS. Didn’t wait until the unthinkable.

The More Drugs You Take…(fill in the blank)

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This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of adults aged 60 years and older.

An increase in polypharmacy severity was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of all-cause hospitalization within 1 year, but not a hospitalization related to IBD. Use of a PIM (potentially inappropriate medication) was also associated with a higher probability of all-cause hospitalization compared with patients without. Hospitalization Risk in Older Adults With IBD Associated With Severe Polypharmacyhttps://www.gastroenterologyadvisor.com/news/hospitalization-risk-in-older-adults-with-ibd-associated-with-severe-polypharmacy/

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Metformin and Aging (great news if you’re a monkey)

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Metformin has been used for more than 60 years to lower blood-sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes — and is the second most-prescribed medication in the United States. The drug has long been known to have effects beyond treating diabetes, leading researchers to study it against conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and ageing…

The researchers observed that the drug slowed the biological ageing of many tissues, including from the lung, kidney, liver, skin and the brain’s frontal lobe. They also found that it curbed chronic inflammation, a key hallmark of ageing. The study was not intended to see whether the drug extended the animals’ lifespans; previous research has not established an impact on lifespan2 but has shown lengthened healthspan3 — the number of years an organism lives in good health. The brain aged more slowly in monkeys given a cheap diabetes drug https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02938-w

Small sample size, just 12 monkeys.

This Is a Post For Old People – Move More, Take Vitamin D, Statins are not Evil

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Quotes are taken from summaries of three different studies. Source: Statins, Vitamin D, and Exercise in Older Adults – Medscape – July 26, 2024. https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/statins-vitamin-d-and-exercise-older-adults.

On a personal level I’ve been taking a low dose statin forever, 100 IU Vitamin D3 and a multivitamin daily, need to move more, Fexofenadine prn, and still not a vegan or drive an EV.

The study found that among older adults aged 75-84, initiation of statin therapy led to a 1.2% risk reduction in major CVD over a 5-year period. For older adults aged 85 and greater, initiation of statins had an even larger impact, leading to a 4.4% risk reduction in major CVD over a 5-year period. The study found that there was no significant difference in adverse effects including myopathy or liver dysfunction in both age groups.

For older adults aged 75 or greater, empiric vitamin D supplementation is recommended because of the possible reduction of risk in all-cause mortality in this population. Of note, this was a grade 2 recommendation by the panel, indicating that the benefits of the treatment probably outweigh the risks. The panel stated that vitamin D supplementation could be delivered through fortified foods, multivitamins with vitamin D, or as a separate vitamin D supplement.

The study found that participants who were more sedentary were less likely to age healthfully, with each additional 2 hours of TV watching per day associated with a 12% reduction in likelihood of healthy aging. Light physical activity was associated with a significant increase in healthy aging, with a 6% increase in the likelihood of healthy aging for each additional 2 hours of light activity. Each additional 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity was associated with a 14% increase in the likelihood of healthy aging. These findings support discussions with patients that behavior change, even in small increments, can be beneficial in healthy aging.

Drink Less Alcohol When You Get To My Age

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Many people don’t realize that both men and women develop an increased sensitivity and a decreased tolerance to alcohol as they get older. It’s important to pay attention to this issue because research has shown that alcohol use has been increasing among people ages 65 and older in recent years—and the size of the older adult population is expanding rapidly now that people are living longer, notes George Koob, a neuroscientist and director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “People are largely unaware of the physiological changes [related to aging] that lead to higher blood alcohol levels and bigger impairments in behavior and cognition.” Why your alcohol tolerance diminishes as you age — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/alcohol-age-tolerance?rid=BA5F7BEC25AE320E1B6791799E955700&cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Health_20240702

Yes I am sipping some bourbon as I write this post.

Why do you ask?

On a serious note, good article with plenty of links for more information. READ IT.

OK Boomer

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The workplace is evolving, too, with businesses increasingly seeking the experience and wisdom of senior talent. Currently, 19% of adults 65 and older are employed, compared to 11% in 1987, according to Pew Research. Moreover, individuals aged 65 and older constitute the most rapidly expanding group within the labor force. By 2032, it’s expected that one in every four U.S. workers will be 55 or older, with nearly one in 10 being 65 or older, showcasing the growing presence of seniors in the workplace.

Boomers are defying age norms and you are losing out – https://www.fastcompany.com/91116274/boomers-are-defying-age-norms-and-you-are-losing-out

I am finally on the cutting edge of something.