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- Gerontology
Dr. Walter M. Bortz II: A tireless advocate of active aging by Kathie C. Garbe, PhD, MCHES, CSM
How long can we live? How long will humans live in the future? What can we do to live a longer and better quality of life? As professionals in the active-aging and wellness industry, what can we do to promote ways to live a higher quality of life for a longer time? I recently had the honor to interview Walter M. Bortz II, MD, a pioneer in the research of active and robust aging. Today, he is recognized as one of America's most renowned scientific experts on active aging, physical exercise and longevity. In our recent interview for the Journal on Active Aging, Dr. Bortz and I discussed the impact of physical activity on brain health; the current landscape of health, medicine and aging; the long-term impact of COVID-19; and the importance of educating people about health, among other topics.
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Seeking change: A vision from the past points the way to the future by Colin Milner
When the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) launched nearly 20 years ago (October 1, 2001), I envisioned a professional association that would bring people together across sectors to foster active, productive, healthy aging. I never imagined that in the years to follow I would have the opportunity to collaborate with many of the most innovative and influential minds of our times. From prime ministers to surgeons general, best-selling authors to titans of industry, and Nobel Laureates to a Pulitzer Prize winner, each in their own right has been a visionary thought leader, futurist, activist or change-maker who has dedicated their life to helping society reimagine its response to rapidly aging populations. So, I felt intrigued when an advance reading copy arrived of Dr. Ken Dychtwald's "sort-of-memoir," due to be published in April 2021. This book promised glimpses of how the author, researcher, active-aging guiding light, and CEO of the San Francisco-based consultancy Age Wave went from working-class roots in New Jersey to working with people like Senator John McCain and US Presidents Reagan, Carter and Clinton. Yet, in the end, what really captured my attention was a chapter featuring his 1978 interview with then-septuagenarian Maggie Kuhn. It turns out she was far ahead of her time. To me, the interview could have been done yesterday. It left me with an obvious question: Have we really changed the way we approach and respond to population aging, aging itself or the way we view aging?
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Genes and the effects of lifestyle on genetic expression by Stephen C. Brewer, MD, ABFM
Genetics is one of the most expanding and growing areas in science today. Almost 20 years ago the Human Genome Project was completed in which scientists sequenced the deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of humans. It took over 10 years to complete that project. Now with many commercial genetic products available to the public, such as 23andMe, a person's DNA sequence can be determined in a matter of days. It is one thing, however, to know your DNA code and another to interpret what the code means. This is where a significant amount of research is being done today. Genes, the basic physical and functional unit of heredity, are the blueprints for how our bodies form and how they operate. ... How we treat our bodies often affects our genes. This is called epigenetics. It's an area of genetics that connects directly with the messages and efforts of active-aging professionals to promote healthy aging.
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Well living: An integrative approach to depression in older adults by Diane Downing, MD, Amy Hawthorne, MS, LMFT, Stephanie Ludwig, PhD, MDiv, MA, Lisa Powell, MS, RDN LDN, and Mike Siemens, MS, RCEP
Depression has a devastating impact on society. Affecting more than 264 million people worldwide, this illness is "a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease" and "a leading cause of disability worldwide," according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an estimated 10% of adults ages 18 and older has a depressive disorder. The incidence of depression increases to 13 - 19% of women and 11 - 14% of men among adults ages 65 and beyond. ... A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication may be effective in addressing depression. However, older adults may be reluctant to add yet another prescription medication. Instead, they may want to explore effective integrative approaches to boosting mood. Research has shown that lifestyle factors including nutrition, sleep and exercise play a significant role in preventing and mediating the effects of depression. Connection with others and spirituality are also powerful contributors to positive affect.
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Family estrangements in later life: Understand impacts and support well-being by Karl Pillemer, PhD
Professionals who work with older people often need to understand available sources of family support. They may try to identify a “responsible relative” in the event that assistance is required. In developing a rehabilitation plan after a hospitalization, specialists wish to ascertain who might help an individual get to appointments or follow a therapeutic routine. When they learn a client has, say, two daughters who live nearby, they may feel reassured the person’s support needs will be met. But in discussing these issues with the client, they sometimes encounter a strange reticence. The client may not wish to discuss her children in detail and appears uncomfortable when asked in depth about them. Or he may say something like, “Oh, we don’t talk to them very much,” or “Well, we’ve had a few problems there.” The conversation stops, leaving the impression those offspring will nevertheless be available if needed. A hidden and often devasting situation can invalidate this assumption, however: The older person may be estranged from children or other relatives.
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Function: A multidimensional view by Nicola Finley, MD
What is function and how does it apply to healthy aging? We can view function in a multidimensional way similar to how we view wellness and the process of aging. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes function as the new criteria in a framework for healthy aging. The framework encompasses not only cognitive but also physical and social function, as well as how these factors are interrelated. One significant aspect of this healthy aging model is shifting away from the presence or absence of disease. Rather, this view focuses on a person's function and what the person values. This approach results in a more personalized view of healthy aging since aging is not homogenous--the process of aging will look different from one person to another. ... Professionals in the active-aging industry know that function is important to independence and quality of life for older adults. What do different dimensions of function encompass, however, and what does a multidimensional view mean? Let's explore these dimensions
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