Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
Topic- Physical wellness
Physical activity for joint health by Mary Stauder, MS, ACSM-RCEP & EIM-3, NSCA-CPT, ACE-TES
Joint health and function become important to consider as a person ages. Through the prescription of exercise in the appropriate dose, type, frequency and intensity, joint function and integrity can be better managed to preserve individual quality of life and independence. In any discussion of active aging, it is nearly impossible to minimize the impact of normal wear and tear on the body as well as the physiological changes that can occur with aging and with deconditioning. Bone and joint health can be compromised by increases in body fat and decreases in bone density, fat free mass and cardiorespiratory fitness. Yet, at every age and any fitness level, individuals can work towards preserving their joint health and fitness through exercise.
morePhysical wellness
Nutrition to aid wound healing in the aging adult by Julie Richards, MS, RDN, LDN, Mary Litchford, PhD, RDN, LDN, and Joyce Pittman, PhD, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, CWOCN, FAAN
Advanced age is commonly identified as a risk factor for delayed wound healing-yet age in and of itself is not a risk for failure to heal. It is the multiple health conditions, or comorbidities, affecting many older people that present a risk to healing. Even so, aging is associated with chronic wounds and impaired wound healing. With the over-60 age group predicted to nearly double as a proportion of the global population in the decades to come, from 12% in 2015 to 22% in 2050, chronic wounds will affect many more people worldwide. Many factors can hinder healing-including diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, vascular disease, infection and poor lifestyle choices-thus increasing the risk of a chronic wound. Although often overlooked ..., good nutrition is fundamental to the healing process.
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Sleep power: Everyone needs their "zzzs" to function at their best
There's no question that getting a good night's sleep regularly is good for you, your staff and your constituents. "Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury," said M. Safwan Badr, MD, a past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), at the 2014 launch of "Sleep Well, Be Well," a campaign of the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project. Yet many people--more than half in a recent AARP/University of Michigan national poll--believe that poor sleep is a normal part of aging, and as a result, they don't seek information on how to improve sleep. But experts agree that many sleep problems--even chronic ones--can be helped by nondrug strategies and behavior changes.
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The Mediterranean Diet: A way of eating for the ages and for the aging by Sara Baer-Sinnott, MA
It seems fitting that as the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid celebrated its 25th anniversary in January 2018, it was also honored as the number one overall diet in America by US News & World Report's annual ranking (tied with the DASH diet). It wasn't always that way. In the early 1990s Americans were clamoring for "no-fat" or "low-fat" foods created by food manufacturers anxious to capitalize on the United States government's low-fat dietary policy. To provide a healthy, research-backed alternative to the US Department of Agriculture's food pyramid, Oldways brought together nutrition scientists, public policy experts, chefs, and food writers for the 1993 International Conference on the Diets of the Mediterranean. The outcome was the first Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, introduced in 1993. Since that time, the diet has become one of the most widely recommended in the world, supported by physicians and nutrition professionals alike. Best of all, it is easy to follow, as it celebrates rich flavors and delicious recipes.
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Nutrition for healthy aging by Lisa Powell, MS, RDN
"Mens sana in corpore sano"--this Latin phrase translates to "healthy mind in a healthy body," surely a universal goal for aging gracefully and well. Many assume that decreasing fitness levels, failing health, frailty and decline in cognitive function are unavoidable with aging, but people can do much to help maintain healthy function into their 70s, 80s and beyond. Nutrition is a key factor in healthy aging. While calorie needs decrease with age, nutrient needs typically do not--in fact, the need for some nutrients, such as protein, appears to increase. Good choices can provide the body with the best nutrients and fuel for optimal wellness at any age.
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Activity trackers: What's all the fuss about these small yet significant devices? by Carol Kennedy-Armbruster, PhD
Millions of people of all ages are reaching for activity trackers (ATs) to help them increase their activity levels. These trackers, examples of wearable technology, are offered in a variety of forms and styles by companies such as Fitbit and Garmin, but all are designed to encourage wearers to move more and sit less. Recent research indicates that ATs may help users increase their physical activity levels through a combination of information, physical cues and behavioral techniques such as goal-setting, social support and motivational rewards.
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