What is Normal Aging?

 

WHAT IS NORMAL AGING?

 

 

The most frequently asked question in my practice is related to knowing what is normal and what is not normal aging. If you are a grown child of an older parent, I have a recommendation. Please stop lay diagnosing them with Alzheimer’s and carefully read the following sections.

What is “normal” aging?  It is surprising how many people are unaware of what is considered normal and inevitable. One obvious example of normal aging is getting gray hair.  When asked about normal aging, people usually reply, “memory loss.”  That is incorrect.  Memory loss is not normal at any age.  However, memory SLOWING is normal.  This is known as “cognitive slowing.”  It may take longer for older adults to retrieve information or learn new information, but these cognitive changes are not to be confused with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. 

 

Four hallmarks of Normal aging:

Slowed reaction and recall.  Normal. This is due to cognitive slowing, a normal part of aging.  As most of you know, as a gerontologist I have administered driving assessments to older adults.  However, I did not assess anyone age ninety and over, as it is my professional recommendation that persons age ninety and over should NOT operate a motor vehicle due to slowed reaction time. The majority of vehicle crashes caused by older adults happen at intersections, as they are not able to react quickly to avoid other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Slowed reaction time is related to delayed cognitive recall.  Just like an old computer, the aging brain takes longer for retrieval.  The "memory" is working, just at a slower speed. Recall delay can also be caused by multitasking. At eighteen or twenty, it is possible to do five things at one time. At eighty, it is impossible because it over-taxes the brain. Do one thing at a time. Concede that your brain cannot perform as it did during your peak years. Then, you may wonder if older adults make good employees. YES! While multitasking is done well by younger people, older adults often outwork them because they are better organized, go about their tasks in a methodical manner, and have tons of experience to fall back on. [Smile here.] 

 

Skin thinning.  Normal. As we age, the skin thins and that results in slower wound healing and bruising.  The condition is exacerbated by sun exposure.  Even a bump on the hand or arm causes bruising and unsightly marks on the skin of older people.  The pads of the feet are also thinned, making walking more painful and slower. 

 

Weakened immune system.  Normal. The immune system is important for fighting diseases and viruses. Take care of yourself!  Maintain a healthy diet, limit alcohol, exercise, have timely diagnostics  [mammograms, colonoscopy, PSA testing, etc.], get vaccinated, and have routine physical exams.

 

Diminished sense of smell and taste.  Normal. The sensors in the tongue and nose diminish over time, causing foods to “taste bland.” This may lead to frailty as a result of dehydration and loss of appetite.  Older adults tend to prefer highly salted foods because their taste receptors are impaired.  It is no surprise that the most eaten foods among older adults are hotdogs and canned soup.  They are loaded with sodium, microwaveable, and cheap.  Eating highly salted foods occasionally is just fine, but eating them routinely is not healthy and may exacerbate hypertension.

 

ABOUT THOSE ADS FOR MEMORY ENHANCEMENT PRODUCTS

The media, especially television advertisements, misleads potential buyers by convincing them that their product will either cure aging or slow it down. Aging is NOT a disease and therefore cannot be prevented or cured. Prevagen and similar products with Apoaequorin are NOT beneficial, according to science: There is no evidence it works and they have been sued for false advertising. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which charged Quincy Bioscience with false and deceptive advertising last January, the company study found that Prevagen was no more effective than a placebo at improving any of the nine cognitive skills, including memory, that the company measured.

          Read labels! Many immunity and brain-boosting products contain caffeine. Before taking any remedies for boosting focus, please read this article below from a credible resource. Be cautious of who recommends taking brain supplements. The majority are entrepreneurs trying to sell you something that has no scientific evidence that it works. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/herbs-for-energy

 

From the National Council for Aging Care [NCFAC] in Washington, DC. https://www.aging.com/about-us/

According to its website, “Aging.com is a resource hub for seniors and their families to learn more about planning for healthy aging.”   It is a wonderful resource for finding credible information and facts about aging.  The site includes categories such as Health and Well Being, Caregiving, Money and Planning, and Lifestyle. The Resources page also has links to other websites including AARP, Medicare.gov, HUD.gov, and the Social Security Administration.  

 

Thanks for checking in!  Bye for now.  Dr. White, the Agedoc.