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- Health conditions
Harnessing the power of exercise and nutrition to combat age-related muscle loss by Sandy Todd Webster, MSFS
Roger Fielding, PhD, a renowned Tufts University researcher, shares insights on sarcopenia prevention and the latest research on healthy aging.
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Stats: 37% of older adults get potentially inappropriate medications
Researchers have found that the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among older adults is "widespread" globally, and significantly in North America, as well as elsewhere. A PIM is a drug for which the potential adverse risks may exceed any expected benefits. Management of life plan, assisted living, and memory communities have an additional reason to make sure their residents are taking only appropriate medications.
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Chronic inflammation and its impact on health by Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH
Chronic inflammation links to "a multitude of medical issues," notes this renowned preventive medicine pioneer. Outlining what causes this inflammation, he highlights healthy habits that can help reduce it.
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Prevent, treat, survive: Eating well through the continuum of cancer by Lori S. Kiker, MS, RDN, LD, CSO
Research reflects progress in the fight against cancer over the past decades. In the United States, overall age-adjusted death rates declined 27% between 1991 and 2016, largely due to fewer people smoking and improved early detection and treatment, says a recent American Cancer Society report. Most new cancer diagnoses occur in adults 50 and over; specifically, 80% of new diagnoses in the US and about 90% in Canada are in the 50+ age group. As a result, cancer cases will continue to rise in line with a growing older population. By staying physically active and maintaining good nutrition, adults diagnosed with cancer in later life may better tolerate cancer treatments and get the most from their therapies. Individuals often have questions about nutrition throughout the disease journey and may come to you-as an active-aging professional-for help. This article provides the answers to many common questions people have asked me as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in oncology. It also tackles some widespread myths about nutrition and cancer.
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Safe sex: A vital contributor to wellness and healthy aging by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Despite much evidence to the contrary, the myth that older adults don't have sex persists, sometimes even among older adults themselves, as well as those who work with them. Yet a seminal study published a decade ago in the New England Journal of Medicine documented just the opposite. After interviewing a representative sample of more than 3,000 men and women between the ages of 57 and 85, the authors found that, overall, 73% of individuals ages 57-64 were sexually active, as were 53% of those ages 65-74 and 26% of those ages 75-85. Yet even among those who acknowledge that older people are sexually active, many believe another and potentially more dangerous myth--namely, that these adults aren't at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
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Recognizing and addressing malnutrition in our communities by Alexandra Lewin-Zwerdling, PhD, MPA, Judy Simon, MS, RD, LDN, and Mary Walsh, MEd
Regular activity is fundamental to healthy aging. Yet so is our diet, and one that lacks key nutrients has an enormous effect on our ability to be active and remain independent. Many studies document the connection between diet and activity, underscoring that the two must work together for us to achieve a healthy lifestyle, especially as we age. Poor diets can increase bone loss, reduce cognitive function, delay recovery times and prolong periods of hospitalization; they can also accelerate loss of muscle mass. ... The state of being poorly nourished, commonly known as malnutrition, remains a prevalent public health problem particularly for older adults. Yet for many aging experts, it goes largely unnoticed.
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