International Council on Active Aging®

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Health matters to older adults: Recommendations, considerations and advice by Mary E. Sanders, PhD, FACSM, and James A. Peterson, PhD, FACSM

Human aging, the process of growing up and growing older, refers to the physiological changes that individuals experience over the course of their lifespan. Why these inevitable changes occur has seemingly been debated since time eternal. Currently, more than 300 theories attempt to identify why a person's cells, tissues and organs don't last forever. Each of these efforts tries to explain why the fundamental structures of a cell decline over time. Arguably, however, more important than ascertaining why human cells don't last forever are how they decline and what can be done to slow the process. With regard to "how" cells age, no consensus exists, even though a number of theories have attempted to address this matter. One area in which a noteworthy level of agreement can be found is the issue of whether something can be done to impede the pace of the physiological decline typically associated with aging. In fact, actions can be undertaken to obstruct this downturn. Many of these steps are lifestyle-related, plausibly none more consequential than exercise. ... Based on consensus guidelines developed by a working group of world-renowned experts on aging and exercise--the task force of the International Conference of Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR), this article not only provides exercise recommendations for older adults, but also offers a review of the role of physical activity in addressing several health-related concerns that older adults often have.

Saluting standouts

With the global pandemic fostering an increased emphasis on the importance of preserving health and pursuing wellness, senior living communities are facing both greater expectations and opportunities. In fact, a 2018 survey conducted by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) found that 59% of senior living communities intended to shift their business model to be wellness-centered with care services--rather than traditional care-based communities with options for wellness--by 2023. For the third year, ICAA and NuStep, LLC, are celebrating this industry-shifting movement by naming 25 senior living communities in North America as the "Best in Wellness" with the 2021 ICAA NuStep Beacon Award. Designed to showcase organizations that embrace wellness as a way of life for all residents and staff, these awards recognize outstanding commitment, creativity and culture.

Spirit of celebration by Julie King, MS

Active Aging Week 2021, led and organized nationally by the International Council on Active Aging and presented by Humana, was a vibrant demonstration--both in-person and online--of older adults participating in the seven dimensions of wellness as fully engaged members of society. Illustrating the enthusiasm that permeates the annual event, the Active Aging Week Spirit Awards showcase local host organizations and participants as they celebrate what it means to be active. The awards capture success stories and moments in images to exemplify the multitude of ways in which people can embrace healthier, more active and engaged lives. "It's always exciting to see how organizations embody the essence of Active Aging Week each year," says Colin Milner, ICAA founder and CEO. "Spirit Award winners exemplify both the spirit of this popular celebration and the greater emphasis on aging well that's emerged during the pandemic."

Community environments link to cognitive aging

People are living longer than ever before, but cognitive decline threatens the quality of those later years. Now, new evidence suggests that where older adults live may help protect against dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A trio of studies from the University of Michigan (U-M) found that urban and suburban neighborhoods with opportunities for socialization, physical activity and intellectual stimulation may help preserve older adults' cognitive health. "Neighborhoods matter," says lead author Jessica Finlay, PhD. "They are important spaces for older adults, and they really impact opportunities or barriers to age well in place." A research fellow at the U-M Institute for Social Research [ISR] Survey Research Center in Ann Arbor, Finlay comments that the papers "think through how neighborhoods might encourage healthy behaviors that could in turn benefit the brain, and for Alzheimer's and dementia risks, which are among the greatest fears and greatest burdens that our aging population faces."

Workplace changes triggered by the pandemic: Implications for mental health by Marilynn Larkin, MA

A recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that as the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mental health continues, psychologists are reporting a large increase in demand for treatment of anxiety and depression as compared with last year. Eighty-four percent of psychologists who treat anxiety disorders said they have seen an increase in demand for treatment since the start of the pandemic. That figure reflects a rise of 10% over a year ago. Demand for treatment of depression is also up. Seventy-two percent of psychologists who treat depressive disorders have seen an increase, compared with 60% in 2020. These increases are particularly evident in the workplace, with numerous organizations producing articles and guidance aimed at helping employers to become more sensitive to mental health issues, and employees to feel more comfortable seeking help. ... Given all the emerging data on workplace mental health, International Council on Active Aging CEO Colin Milner interviewed Kristin Tugman, PhD, CRC, LPC, vice president of health and productivity analytics and consulting practice for Prudential Group Insurance, in a transformative podcast on navigating workplace reentry anxiety. Tugman's work is founded on a cognitive behavioral model aimed at helping individuals overcome psychological barriers and return to productivity, as well as building psychologically healthy workplaces. In their interview, she and Milner discussed numerous current workforce concerns, including significant employee stressors. This article is based on that podcast.

Interdependence: Balancing autonomy with connection as we age by Colin Milner

What is the difference between dependence and interdependence as we age? What happens when we don't have family support? And what kinds of models and policies for successful aging and care can be built on these distinctions? The importance of interdependence caught my attention during my participation in the WHO Global Network on Long-Term Care, which first met in September 2020 and again this fall. As a response to changing world demographics and more people living longer, this World Health Organization network advises the agency on ways to create equitable and sustainable long-term care models for older adults. The focus is to optimize functional ability and achieve healthy aging. Interdependence came up as part of network discussions and opened my eyes to its significance, especially for an aging population. In my view, even with all the goals and mandates in the WHO's endorsement of a new "Decade of Healthy Ageing" (2021 - 2030), all the progress towards more integrated and person-centered models of long-term care, and all the efforts by myriad organizations and agencies to foster wellness among older populations, interdependence is the unrecognized umbrella under which so many issues fall. So, I reached out to Karl Pillemer, PhD, the Hazel E. Reed Professor in Cornell University's Department of Human Development and a professor of gerontology in medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. His decades of research have advanced our understanding of the complicated web of relationships.

Discerning quality research: How to spot good science by Sally Duplantier, BS

Back in 1998, a physician named Andrew Wakefield published a scientific paper with a finding so startling, it became a media sensation. Never mind that the sample size was small (N=12), or that the design was scientifically flawed, or that the team conducting the research engaged in unethical practices. Thousands of parents still accepted the findings as fact: Vaccines cause autism. Ten years later, The Lancet, the journal that originally published the article, retracted it, and the results of Dr. Wakefield's publication were refuted by the scientific and medical communities. Nonetheless, the damage to public health was done. The vaccination rate of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella)--the focus of Wakefield's paper--dropped by 80%. Beyond that impact, the paper created fear and uncertainty in the minds of parents about all vaccines. Wakefield's fabricated publication created a wave of skepticism that lingers to this day, even in a global pandemic. This is not an isolated example. In the quest for the new and novel, the media often sensationalizes research findings in a way that is misleading. In addition, not all scientific research is created equal. The following guidelines will help you wade through the vast array of scientific studies to discern the quality and relevance of their content.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper promotes living better longer by Julie King, MS

How do you go from an overweight 29-year-old to the "Father of Aerobics"? An unexpected epiphany led Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, to a life-altering change in career course. While water skiing in 1960, he felt like he was having a heart attack. At the hospital, the doctor determined that Dr. Cooper's heart was healthy, but he was out of shape. He had experienced a temporary irregular heartbeat. Poor nutrition and inactivity during his medical studies and residency had pushed Cooper's weight to 204 lbs., a gain of more than 30 lbs. This physical deconditioning was then compounded by pressures related to his military career and new marriage. His critical wake-up call both humbled and motivated the former high-school basketball All-Star and state track champion, and physician. Cooper started running the next day and, in 1962, completed his first Boston Marathon. Over the six months following his health scare, he shed 40 lbs. by exercising and following a healthy diet. His prediabetes and hypertension disappeared, replaced by his firsthand knowledge that exercise was a critical--and largely ignored--part of healthcare. "My experience," Cooper says, "proved how regular exercise could significantly improve your health. I had to share this revelation." Cooper has been on a mission to change the health of Americans ever since.

What lifelong learners told ICAA

For two decades, the International Council on Active Aging has reported research about age 50+ adults to help members stay up to date with the changing body of knowledge. The active-aging industry is the primary focus for ICAA research. But, as the association celebrates its 20th anniversary, results of its first consumer survey have arrived. The ICAA Lifestyle Survey of Older Adults shares the perspectives of people assumed to be lifelong learners because they responded to an invitation in a One Day University newsletter. Overall, these individuals are in good, very good or excellent health, appear to be financially stable and engage in lifelong learning. In addition to their views on housing, survey respondents also shared their priorities, satisfaction with areas of their lives, use of technologies and reasons for considering a move out of their current home. Details appear in the full survey report [available at www.icaa.cc in the "Research" ("Reports") section].

Environment impacts aging at a genetic level

The places we live can change us -- in many cases, down to the molecular level. Exposure to chemicals and other harmful substances in our environment can affect our health in myriad ways over time, aggravating existing health problems, contributing to new disease such as cancer and even impacting how our genes work. Scientists are studying the way our genomic and biological processes change in response to the environment or other external factors in the growing field of epigenetics. In a pair of 2020 studies, [scientists from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] found that 1) epigenetic changes related to aging and mortality are impacted by the environment, and 2) epigenetic changes may reveal whether a person is more susceptible to health risks in their environment. The studies are among the first to link these biological indicators of accelerated aging, called molecular biomarkers, to both the quality of the environment and environmental health risks. [Reprinted from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Science Matters newsletter, April 19, 2021.]

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