Resilience
Everyone talks about ‘resilience’ these days. What exactly is it, and are there ways to become more resilient? The American Psychological Association defines resilience as the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences. Many of us face challenges as we age. Some chronic conditions are more likely to develop in […]
Aging in Place
Numerous studies have indicated that most older adults would like to stay living in their current home for as long as they can—and new data from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging reinforces this, with 88 percent of respondents between ages 50 and 80 saying that it was very or somewhat important […]
Letter to The New York Times: In Trump’s Speeches, Signs of Cognitive Impairment
It’s important to clear up misconceptions about aging and cognitive decline. In this Letter to the Editor of The New York Times, I address the behaviors described in Donald Trump’s speeches—like incoherency and confusion—which are not typical signs of normal aging. While age brings some cognitive changes, wisdom, emotional intelligence, and complex thinking often improve […]
Q&A: Antibiotic Use
Do You Really Need That Antibiotic? Antibiotics also are often given when they aren’t needed, according to a recent study. Since their initial use in the 1940s, antibiotics have greatly reduced death rates from infectious illness—however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 50 percent of the time that antibiotics are […]
Q&A: Target Hemoglobin A1C Levels for Older People
Should older diabetics aim for the same hemoglobin A1C level as younger people? Doctors often fail to cut back on medications even when treatment goals are surpassed. There is still confusion when it comes to treating the older population for diabetes, with doctors often not cutting back on medications even when treatment goals are surpassed. […]
Q&A: Risk of Suicide with Antidepressants
The risk of suicide is highest in children, adolescents, and young adults, and there hasn’t been any evidence to suggest that SSRIs cause this problem in older patients. Q. A friend told me she saw a magazine article linking antidepressants to suicidal thoughts. I take paroxetine—should I be worried? A. A class of antidepressants known […]
Easing Pain Without Drugs
As we age, we often hear from parts of our bodies that have run on “auto pilot” forever—a knee hurts, our back aches, we wake up stiff and sore. Many of us immediately reach for the painkillers, but some of these can cause harmful side effects in older adults—in fact, the Food and Drug Administration […]
Q&A: Salt and High Blood Pressure
There is no test that will actually check whether you are salt sensitive—the only way to find out if your blood pressure responds to sodium is by changing the amount of sodium you consume. Q. Is it true that salt only increases the risk of high blood pressure if you are “salt sensitive?” A. Salt […]
Recovering from Surgery
Millions of older adults undergo elective surgery every year, and most of us derive significant benefits from these procedures. But that doesn’t mean we don’t harbor concerns about undergoing surgery. If your doctor has recommended surgical treatment, it is likely that countless questions about the procedure and the recovery period will race through your mind […]
Aches and Pains: What You Can Do
Do you remember the last time you were pain-free? Unfortunately in many older adults those days are few and far between. Perhaps you get twinges in your knees when you climb stairs, in your shoulders when you’re gardening, or in your back when you’re tying your shoelaces? Pain can make simple activities of daily living […]