Sometimes our elders appear to become stubborn and uncooperative as they age. Frustration due to loss of independence and loss of ability to do the things they used to be able to do are just two of the reasons. Other reasons may include depression (over the same or different losses), dementia, certain medications, isolation, anger, fear of dying, and (if they are still living at home) fear of being placed in a nursing home.
Managing Changes Due To Aging
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredThe main way sirtuin is activated is through restricting calories, but it's also done through the heat-shock mechanism as a survival mechanism. When animals are exposed to extremely hot water, sirtuin kicks in to help them survive the shock and live on. Sirtuin production can also be turned on by other things—resveratrol in red wine being a biggie, as well as quercitin in apples and onions, and physical activity.
Sirtuin may end up being the ultimate anti-ager. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredWe know that the pineal gland plays a role in aging because research has shown that putting young pineal glands in old animals helps reverse aging. The old animals' hair grew thicker and lusher when the new pineals were inserted.
By contrast, putting old pineal glands in young animals quickens the aging process. Mice with new pineals lived 25 percent longer, but we're yet unable to determine if the same statistics would be true for humans. So don't plan on sacrificing any younger friends anytime soon. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredWe need adequate (not necessarily high) levels of sex hormones to complete the equation of male + female = the next generation of the tribe. But once we're past our reproductive prime, our hormone levels drop. Men lose their testosterone, while women lose their estrogen and experience menopause.
The tangible outcomes: lack of sex drive, insomnia, impotence, weight gain, and countless other potential health problems that can chip away at the quality of your life. But instead of cursing our hormones for not having the stamina to keep up with our lives, we should look at the reasons why our hormone levels dip and drop. Believe it or not, waning hormone levels in both men and women actually benefit society in certain ways.
For example, men needed testosterone to give them the strength (and guts) to fight for land, to compete against warring tribes, to woo mates, and to protect the offspring that resulted. But as they grew older, they didn't need the reproductive effect of testosterone, because the next generation was already in place. And here's where it gets interesting—they also didn't need testosterone's aggressive effect.
If mature tribesmen spent all their time fighting neighboring tribes, they'd jeopardize their own survival and wouldn't live long enough to help the community in another way: through mentoring and passing along wisdom. In essence, that hormone surge in our youth and the hormone drop as we age isn't bad per se; it's actually quite advantageous. For one, it provides an audience for televised golf.
Similarly, from an anthropological perspective, women stop ovulating (and the levels of hormones needed for it drop) so they can graduate from making babies to nurturing the entire community. If you look at brain scans, postmenopausal women think more like men and play a more dominant role in society—because they're not dealing with the hormonal and physical challenges of being fertile (like PMS and pregnancy). -
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See All 2 AnswersThere are two reasons:- The balance mechanism in the ear is not as functional.
- We are not as strong so our muscle and their proprioception does not offer the proper feedback to the brain.
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Discovery Health answeredHere is a dangerous paradox for senior citizens.
The more television they watch, the more they learn that being a senior citizen is a drag on society. Which makes them want to sit and watch more TV, which makes them more and more despondent and on and on.
There are studies that link the time senior citizens spend in front of the television with their own views on senior citizens. The more they watch, the worse they view their own age demographic.
Why?
Well, when senior citizens turn on television, what do they see? Toothless, doddering old Abe Simpson who forgets what century he is living in. Senior citizens who need diapers. Senior citizens who need pills. Senior citizens who have fallen and cannot get up. Blue-haired geezers who cannot drive. Then there is the news. Stories about old people who wander off, sparking Silver Alerts. Stories about old people committing suicide. Stories about Alzheimer's disease.
Short of turning off the television, what can senior citizens do?
Not believe the stereotypes, for one thing.
Take memory, for instance.
The less a senior citizen heeds the clarion call that old age means forgetfulness, the more they will remember. Those who buy into the believe that being a senior citizen means you cannot remember things score lower on memory quizzes.
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Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsSee All 3 AnswersBecause a person's metabolic rate naturally declines with age, older adults need fewer calories. The decline in metabolism is a combination of natural loss of muscle mass (muscle requires more energy to be maintained than fat mass) and the tendency toward less daily physical activity.
This decline amounts to approximately 10 calories a year for men and 7 calories yearly for women. In other words, a man at age 60 needs 300 fewer daily calories - about the amount in a turkey sandwich - than he needed at age 30. Some research has even suggested that at 80 years of age, calorie intake may be reduced by as much as 1,000 calories daily in some men and by 600 calories daily in some women compared to when they were in their 20's.
Though calorie needs may be reduced, the need for many nutrients and phytochemicals isn't. In fact, the requirement for some nutrients actually increases in older adults, making nutrient-dense food selections even more important. Because phytochemicals, especially antioxidants, have possible roles in helping to reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration, foods should be both nutrient dense and phytochemical dense.
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Alzheimer's Foundation of America answeredSee All 3 AnswersThe key to successful aging is a healthy, common sense lifestyle. The goals are to slow or prevent the loss of brain cells, maintain the brain's capacity to make up for any loss, and let remaining brain cells function well. This requires a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
Here are some tips for successful aging:- Visit your doctor regularly.
- Participate in activities that stimulate your brain, such as reading, crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and other mental exercises.
- Manage stress through techniques such as relaxation, meditation, and yoga.
- Treat depression. Depressed elders have higher rates of dementia, lower quality of life, and higher rates of death.
- Be social. Maintaining a network of friends will lessen the likelihood of isolation and depression while increasing the overall level of brain stimulation.
- Exercise daily, such as walking 30 minutes per day.
- Physical activity significantly lessens the chance of cardiovascular complications that could cause dementia.
- Control hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease -- risk factors for dementia -- through physical exercise, quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and avoiding obesity.
- Follow a healthy diet and take vitamins, including vitamins C and E, and folic acid.
- Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the brain that adds to the loss of nerve cells and synapses.
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Natasha Turner, ND , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersYou can increase your intake of good fats by taking fish oil supplements daily (be sure to select a reputable, high quality brand). Fish oils are useful for treating depression, memory loss and anxiety. Another remedy that is simple to apply is good nutrition. A diet high in green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and other sources of B and C vitamins and folic acid is an effective way to improve cognitive health. You should also manage your homocysteine levels, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s as well as heart disease and osteoporosis. To keep these levels at bay, select a vitamin combination containing folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and trimethylglycine. Vinpocetine and PQQ with Coenzyme Q10 are natural supplements that have been shown to improve memory and cognition. And finally, engage in brain boosting activities such as a crossword daily.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered
Maintaining lean muscle mass through exercise will help alleviate aching joints. To learn more about aches, age and exercise, watch this video by Dr. Oz.