Six article excerpts include three about dementia for World Alzheimer’s Month; plus, excerpts on elder trauma, benefits of drinking coffee, and excess weight might actually be a good thing.
In Older Adults, a Little Excess Weight Isn’t Such a Bad Thing
Are extra pounds a bad thing? “Carrying extra weight can sometimes be protective in later life. For people who fall, fat can serve as padding, guarding against fractures. And for people who become seriously ill with conditions such as cancer or advanced kidney disease, that padding can be a source of energy, to tolerate demanding therapies. Of course, it depends on how heavy someone is to begin with.” “Obesity physicians and researchers offer [five] important recommendations.”
Trauma in Older Age: Are People Ever Too Old for Trauma?
No. But what is considered trauma? This article is an eye-opening view of the fears people take into elderhood. Falling and needing hip surgery. Losing sight and fearing outings. Collectively, these fears add up. While elders’ life experiences can put past events in perspective and thus boost resiliency, older adults are not immune from re-emerging or new traumas.
11 Signs of You Getting Dementia in the Next 14 Years
Researchers have developed a tool which can ‘strongly predict’ whether a person will develop dementia. There are 11 factors that, in addition to what we expect (e.g., education), include levels of deprivation, living alone, and gender.
Reducing Dementia Risk: Never Too Early, Never Too Late
Alzheimer’s Disease International released the World Alzheimer’s Report on Sept 21, 2023 that examines the drivers behind risk reduction. Some include steps individuals can take to reduce their risk as well as the role of governments “in providing population-based systemic changes to promote risk reduction and the importance of dementia research.”
Keeping Steady—Thinking about Falls and Dementia
“People living with dementia can have a higher chance of falling,” writes Professor Jacki Liddle in a blog for Dementia Alliance International. Dementia can affect multiple areas of daily living. For example, balance and coordinating movement or responding quickly to changes in the environment. Also, dementia may compromise vision and perceiving with other other senses.” The article includes tips for reducing incidents of falls at home and in communities.
What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day
“Coffee… contains a number of bioactive polyphenol compounds that may support certain aspects of our health… correlated with a decreased risk of developing some neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia.” There are a few downsides, including anxiety and fracture risk; though moderate intake and no more than 18 to 24 ounces a day may provide some benefit.
