BetterHealthWhileAging.net is an aging health website created and maintained by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH, a board-certified geriatrician who believes it shouldn’t be so hard for older adults and their families to navigate late-life challenges.
Through her website, podcast, and now RU-vid channel, Dr. Kernisan provides practical information on how to address many common health problems that affect older adults.
She also has a special interest in addressing common concerns and dilemmas related to helping older parents and other aging relatives, and provides guidance to families through her Helping Older Parents online courses and programs.
Please see the full disclaimer for Better Health While Aging content: betterhealthwhileaging.net/disclaimer/
Very informative- thank you. I’m a healthy 72- year-old, and I enjoy learning more about how our bodies work. I also know that it’s crucial to stay informed if I want to stay healthy.
I was surprised to learn I was moderately anemic after telling my doctor off-hand that I'd been craving chewing on ice. Strangely, that's another symptom. It'd be interesting to know why something odd like that happens.
Thanks for this video. My ferritin was 11. My pulmonary doctor put me on iron and I am not having fun with it! I’m kinda suspicious that it is causing LS flare ups. Now I’m wondering if it was caused by my neurologist telling me to stop taking B complex and B12. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 50 years. Questions to ask!!
My Vitamin D lever is 68 ng/ml (I guess is too high). I take 5000 iu with Omega 3 everyday . I'm 67 year old. Reason for taking Vitamin D3 is to boost up my immune system. I'm still kicking !!!
Thanks. Curious that the higher dose flu vaccine is available now whereas the normal one one must wait until Oct. 15ish, at least in Alberta. Since I am a travelling snowbird, and leaving soon, this is convenient for me to get the flu shot in September.
Unless there is some gene edited cocktail in a syringe or something that can start reversing the aging process once injected, the answer is NO. You can slow aging down and live in a more capable body for longer, if you are on your feet a lot and lift weights. Now did I say start using steroids and eat 5 times a day or more to look like those gross grainy body builders? No, I said lift weights, I didn't say destroy your body with performance enhancing drugs and over eating, which will take about 30 years off of your life. If you regularly do exercises like deadlifts in a safe way, your skeleton will more or less remain strong even into your 70s. It's also good to run, hike and do calisthenic exercises to keep your athletic ability as long as possible. There are people who do the entire Appalachian trail, all 2000 miles of it in their 70s. Once you hit the 80s though, you are truly elderly. There is nothing you can really do anymore, you are end life stage.
Great information! You showed a list of things to look for when checking on an older person's driving. It is from The Hartford (insurance company?). How can I find a copy of that list? The Hartford has some good information their website, but I couldn't find a list like yours.
There is a blood test available that will reveal the level of amyloid in the blood. Also, it will contain an assessment of an individuals genetic predisposition to developing Alzheimer's Disease. A spinal tap is the simplest way to determine if there is an abnormal amount of amyloid in the brain. New MRI techniques and computer imaging programs utilizing eigenvectors and tensor assessment determining the amount of water flow obstruction in the white matter of the brain can help to assess the possible degree of brain imparment. This type of MRI imaging is still being developed. MRI, as you may know, depends on imaging by resonating hydrogen atoms. First their spin is aligned in a strong magnetic field. Then, the spin is altered by a fm radio frequency which is switched off. Then the spin goes back to the normal magnetic alignment and the information can be made to assess information about the soft tissue. The technique works well because the body is 70% water. Water is 2/3 hydrogen, 1/3 oxygen. "H2O" Hydrogen resonates in a magnetic field at approximately 66mhz.
Memantine is used to stablize amyloid in the blood. Amyloid in the blood is believed to be a byproduct of the breakdown of dendrites in nerve tissues. Norrmal body function through the kidneys can clear normal amounts of tau, amyloid and plaques. However, continuous injury to body nerve tissues due to occupation, disease conditions such as diabetes or constant brain injuries from competetion fighting, occupational injuries or contact sports can contribute to the underlying causes of neuro-cognitive disorders. If one is having such troubles, see a neurologist. Don't try to hide it. Do not ignore it. Yes, it can be treated. In many cases decline can be stablized. There are also genetic characteristics that can cause a prediposition for Alzheimer's Disease and or dementia. Neurocognitive testing can be used to give you an idea of where you stand and what steps should be taken to ensure the best treatment and outcomes.
Dr. Kernisan, one thing I miss about being in the ages of say, 6-21 is the fact that I could sleep non-stop for 10+ hours. Granted, I was much more active then (always outside playing etc. etc..) I'm in my 60's now and doing good if I get 4 hours uninterupted sleep. Even when taking PM Tylenol each night. I know I need to exercise more too. However, after watching your video, I'm going to make some changes regarding what I take if anything to help me sleep. Thank you so much! Tim
Whjat about hydroxyzone/ Atarax? It is defiinitely an antihistamine and sedates me. I suffered for 40 years with panic and sleep issues and I have been taking 25 mgs. of this nightly for three years. Changed my life.I hope it isn't giving me dementia. Can you confirm or clarify please? WHat about if you took a lot of benedryl as a child for allergies?
Supplements can help with itchiness too like taking omega 3s and l-lysine and eating a low carb diet. Also using grass fed beef tallow as a moisturizer or coconut oil.
We live in a society where it has become normal to - what ever the state of health, or perceived state health, grab a pill from the pharmacy..that's the problem..some people [a diminishing number I suspect] are not of this practice and therefore don't have the problem referred to herein..European society is in a very different place than that of North America..I give an example - the current advice about alcohol consumption..I once walked into a bar in Bretagne, France early one morning for a coffee and sat down at a table..a number of others we having coffee and some reading papers..two old guys walked in and ordered a couple of alcoholic drinks I am not sure what they were as I didn't hear, but before they sat down they walked round the bar and shook everybody's hand, including mine..they were it looked to me pretty old. probably over 75..they were alert and looked very healthy..so it seems to me this blanket 'advice' not this particular YT post, but attitudes and advice HAS to be seen in context..I rarely buy processed or packaged food, or supermarket stuff, preferring simple organic Mediterranean based diet..pharmacy products being absolutely only when necessary..being free of pills for this pills for that..
Zoe UK app say the body doesn’t distinguish between protein amino acids whether from animals or plants, so I’m a bit confused. Otherwise, a brilliant talk, thank you so much - lots of takeaways.
The 2 main reasons doctors prescribe Vitamin D is to decrease the risk of fractures with osteopenia in older people and to help improve immune function. Your studies did not cover these important issues and therefore is flawed. Why would we even expect Vit D to "prevent falls". I haven't heard of thi vtiamin being essential for balamce. The reason is we are concerned with the sequela of a fall, namely a fracture. The only reason I can see for avoiding testing to see if you are deficient in Vitamin D or low, is to save on insurance costs. Could the industry be funding these studies?
This is why Americans don’t know what to believe from their Doctors. All these supposed scientific studies contradict themselves year after year. By the way, I am a Physician.
The units you talked about did not help consumers at all, because most commercial vitamin D bottles are labeled as mcg or IU. The one I am taking is 50 mcg or 2000 IU, how is that related to the units you talked about? This is called miscommunication or waste of my time.