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 promotion
Active Aging Week: Plan early to maximize your impact
This yearly campaign highlights the potential for people to live better longer with wellness as their foundation. It's also a perfect platform to showcase your organization. Now's a good time to start planning your participation.
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Beyond fun and games: Health promotion drives the NSGA
For active-aging organizations, the National Senior Games offers an avenue to support adults 50+ in pursuing their potential to live well and inspiring others to do the same. The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) does more than just host athletic competitions for adults 50+. NSGA Director of Health and Well-being Andrew Walker says, "Our larger goal is to get everyone in the country moving in one way or another to improve the quality of their lives, even if they don't want to compete in sports."
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Active Aging Week 2021: Celebrating active, engaged living
Individuals engaging fully in life as they age--that's the long-term outcome that active-aging professionals often hope for when they host Active Aging Week. Since the annual observance launched in 2003, the wellness initiative has showcased the potential of older adults and their ability to participate fully in life's different dimensions. And every year, host organizations create low-to-no-cost activities to encourage adults 50+ to try new experiences and savor the fun, friendship and joy of participation in physical, spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental wellness offerings. Through a mix of in-person and virtual programming, these organizations again enlivened their neighborhoods and communities in 2021 with opportunities to join in the week's celebrations. Active Aging Week 2021, presented by Humana, was organized and led nationally by the International Council on Active Aging. National sponsors Abbott Nutrition and Aegis Therapies/EnerG by Aegis supported the campaign, along with content providers Spiro100 and One Day University. From local hosts and sponsors to organizers and volunteers, a multitude of grassroots contributors made the initiative a highlight of early fall for older adults across North America and beyond. To give a flavor of the week, held October 4-10, the following pages share some of the activities offered.
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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.
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Brain-health literacy: A strategy to inspire brain-healthy lifestyles by Jeffrey Rossman, PhD, and Cornelia Lenherr, MD
As our population ages, the incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia steadily increases. MCI, characterized by minor but measurable declines in cognitive abilities, increases a person's risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia. Progressing to a dementia diagnosis is not inevitable, however. ... It is now generally acknowledged that the roots of neurodegeneration--that is, deterioration in the brain's nerve function and structure--begin at least 20-30 years before dementia symptoms are noticeable. By the time a diagnosis is made, reversal of the disease process in Alzheimer's and other dementias is currently considered unattainable. While no cure exists for these conditions, intervention can reduce symptoms. Further, for those with mild or subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), intervention may profoundly affect the progression of brain degeneration and symptoms of cognitive impairment. ... Recent research has explored the influence on brain health of modifying specific lifestyle factors and reducing cardiovascular disease risks. ... Through a brain-healthy literacy model, participants learn which lifestyle practices support brain health, why they exert a beneficial impact, and how to enjoyably and sustainably engage in those practices.
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Making exercise part of healthcare by Jenifer Milner WITH: ICAA issue brief--ACSM's Exercise is Medicine(R): Bridging healthcare and physical activity for older adults--Prepared by experts from the Ol
Since 2001, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has worked with members, partners and allies to encourage adults over 50 to adopt a healthier, more active lifestyle and to live as fully as possible in all of life's dimensions. Recently, members of the American College of Sports Medicine and the ICAA Advisory Board worked on an issue brief that connects Journal on Active Aging readers with ACSM's Exercise is Medicine(R) initiative. Exercise is Medicine(R) aims to make physical activity a standard in healthcare. By linking healthcare providers with physical activity resources and professionals, such as exercise physiologists, physical therapists and fitness specialists, the initiative promotes networks and environments that support physical activity.
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