Introduction The premise that calcium consumption makes bones stronger must be qualified by age.  It is well established that bone formation, up to 35 years of age, is the prominent activity in bone.  During this time, strong bone formation depends on adequate calcium intake and stress/strain on bone (i.e. physical activity).  Strong bones resist fractures and thereby allow for unlimited mobility and independence.  However, in the older adult (after age 35), bone formation ceases and is replaced by remodeling, a type of repair of microdamage.  Calcium may relocate in b ..read more

Introduction Geroscience is the rapidly expanding field of gerontology with a specific objective beyond that of understanding aging.  Instead, it is evaluating drugs to retard aging. Specifically, it states that the goals of aging research are “best achieved by novel integrated approaches to health and disease with the understanding that biological systems change with age” (Kennedy et al., 2014).  Since aging is the major risk factor for disease, geroscience recommends that rather than treat age-related diseases one by one, physicians should instead “treat” aging.  Hence, the fo ..read more

Introduction The most significant achievement of the twentieth century was the near doubling of human life expectancy from 47 to 76 years of age.  Although life expectancy is a demographic value, meaning it is an indicator of population aging, nevertheless, it reveals important aspects relevant to individual aging.  This blog will explain life expectancy with a specific focus on:  its determination and underlying assumption, the reasons for the dramatic increase since the 1900s and its relevance to healthy longevity. What exactly is life expectancy? “Life expectancy at birth rep ..read more

Introduction Are supplements of vitamins and minerals beneficial? Approximately 80% of the elderly (60 years and older) regularly consume vitamin and mineral supplements without understanding whether such supplements are beneficial or harmful. There are several reasons for the high consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements by the older adult.  a)  There is a widespread unfounded concern that their current diet may be deficient in vitamins and minerals, hence necessitating supplements.  b)  There is a desire to reduce the risk of disease such as cardiovascular disease a ..read more

Introduction Because all of our life phases (birth to adulthood) are driven by genetic programs, one naturally assumes genetic programs dictate age changes.  Sadly, they do not (see Insight 1).  In fact our genes contribute at most, 25% to aging.  Thus, 75% of aging is due to one’s lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, study results show that only a small percentage of elderly actually practice validated and effective activities to minimize aging.  Therefore, for the majority of elderly, this blog brings deliverance in the knowledge of the rapidly developing pharmacological fie ..read more

Blog 22 Introduction AGEs, the acronym for advanced glycation end products are heterogeneous chemical entities of utmost importance in aging and age-related pathologies.  These chemical products are generated in the foods we eat and they are also generated in the body.  This blog will describe the importance and harm of AGEs and their role in aging. Initial Importance and Harm of AGEs The importance and harm of AGEs begins with their discovery. AGEs (also called glyotoxins) were discovered more than 100 years ago by the French physician/chemist, Louis Maillard.  He studied the n ..read more

Blog 21 –  Adverse Drug Reactions, Part II Introduction The prescribing of inappropriate medications for the elderly creates for them an unnecessary burden, physically and financially.  As noted in Blog 20, and further described here, prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications is one of several acknowledged reasons for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the older adult.   ADRs are harmful and potentially life-threatening reactions dependent on medication use.  ADRs require readjustment or stoppage of the medication.  The elderly are especially sensitive to ADRs ..read more

Blog 20- Introduction The elderly use more medications (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements) than any other age group.  The appropriate use of medications allows the elderly to manage chronic diseases but brings with it the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).  Learning how drugs are processed in our bodies to produce a specific effect is the first step to appreciate the effects of age and disease on drug use and the origins of ADRs. The second step is to apply this knowledge and avoid adverse drug reactions. Both of these issues will be discus ..read more

Blog 19 – The elderly face two distinct hurdles to maintain normal levels of blood sugar (glucose).  These obstacles  are age-related    a) loss of skeletal muscle mass and    b) an aberrant stress response.  The previous blog  discussed age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and its influence on glucose levels (see Vicious Cycle – Aging and Declining Blood Sugar Control).  This blog will discuss how age-related changes in our stress response adversely affect our glucose level. Background – The Stress Response To adjust to ..read more

One of the foremost concerns of elderly individuals is the possibility of cognitive decline or worse, dementia.  The awareness of the devastating mental losses wrought by Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia have created the urgency to find activities to prevent or slow cognitive decline.  One of many such activities is the use of computerized brain training exercises to achieve this goal.  This is the topic of my blog. Background – Changes in Cognition with Age Even in the absence of disease, some aspects of brain function such as information processing speed (basica ..read more