Seniors are living longer than ever before, and fewer are dying from major diseases. That’s undoubtedly good news. However, it’s important that caregivers keep up with new research on senior health concerns. Doing so will help them make more informed decisions about their loved ones’ care. Below, we discuss the latest information on geriatric health issues in Brooklyn Heights.
UTIs
Surprisingly, antibiotics may not be the best course of treatment for UTIs in seniors. In fact, it may even be over-prescribed, according to a study by the American Geriatrics Society (2017). Sometimes, elderly patients may show signs of UTIs without actually having an infection.
Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s, and Diabetes II
Studies show that heart disease is linked to body mass and physical fitness levels. A study by Fuhrmann, et. al (2019) emphatically reinforces this fact. It showed that patients with lower blood pressure had fewer white matter abnormalities and therefore, a decreased risk of heart disease.
Meanwhile, periodontal disease has been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, Carter, et. al (2017) found that the linkage between periodontal disease and these other diseases is both genetic and environmental in nature. Oral health can play a significant role in the physical well-being of seniors.
Parkinson’s Disease
According to Fiorelli, et. al (2019), exercise not only impacts cardiovascular health but also has a direct influence on symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In the study, active geriatric patients experienced greater well-being than their less active peers. Higher intensity workouts also significantly increased memory retention levels.
Stroke and Malnutrition
Research by the IRCCS (2018) showed that seniors could decrease their risk of repeated strokes by combining the use of statins with a Mediterranean-based diet. Another study by Grammatikopoulou, et. al (2019) found that lower-income seniors who didn’t adhere to a Mediterranean diet experienced higher incidences of malnutrition.
Arthritis
Wu-Tou decoction is a Chinese medicinal formula that has significantly reduced symptoms of arthritis in seniors. A recent study by He, et. al (2018) showed that it can even slow the progression of the disease.
Osteoporosis
According to Anderson-Wurf, et. al (2018), a supportive environment can help seniors decrease their chances of developing osteoporosis. Seniors who lived in such an environment made significantly positive lifestyle changes in less than six months, thus decreasing their risk of osteoporosis.
David York Agency Keeps You Updated With New Research On Geriatric Health Issues In Brooklyn Heights
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References
Anderson-Wurf, J., Harding, C., and Seal, A. (2018). Increasing the knowledge, identification and treatment of osteoporosis through education and shared decision-making with residents living in a retirement village community. Australasian Journal on Ageing 37, E17-E22.
Fiorelli, C.M., Ciolac, E.G., Simieli, L., Silva, F.A., Fernandes, B., Christofoletti, G., and Barbieri, F.A. (2019). Differential Acute Effect of High-Intensity Interval or Continuous Moderate Exercise on Cognition in Individuals With Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Physical Activity & Health 16, 157-164.
Fuhrmann, D., Nesbitt, D., Shafto, M., Rowe, J.B., Price, D., Gadie, A., Kievit, R.A., Tyler, L.K., Brayne, C., Bullmore, E.T., et al. (2019). Strong and specific associations between cardiovascular risk factors and white matter micro-and macrostructure in healthy aging. Neurobiology of Aging 74, 46-55.
He, L.H., Liu, C.F., Sun, C.C., Wang, J.X., Zhi, K., Sun, D.N., Wang, H., Wang, Q.Q., and Lin, N. (2018). Wu-Tou Decoction Inhibits Angiogenesis in Experimental Arthritis by Targeting VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway. Rejuvenation Research 21, 442-455.
