Changes happen when we age, regardless of health status, and some of those changes can impact older adults’ goals to staying healthy, Dr. Anne Halli-Tierney, a geriatrician at University Medical Center, said in a September Mini Medical School presentation.
Mini Medical School is a series of lectures provided by UMC health-care providers to The University of Alabama OLLI program.
Aging in a healthy manner means taking care of the physical, mental and cognitive health of the body, Halli-Tierney said. In older adults, some factors of unhealthy aging can lead to such conditions as heart attacks and stroke, osteoporosis, memory loss and vision and hearing difficulties.
“Americans are living longer and, therefore, are accumulating more diseases and disabilities as they age,” Halli-Tierney said. “The female life expectancy since 2021 is 79.1 years and the male life expectancy is 73.2 years. As diseases and conditions increase, independence decreases, and assistance is needed.”
To age in a healthy way, Halli-Tierney recommends older adults recognize risk factors for diseases and talk about them with their primary care doctor. A healthy diet, exercise and activities to improve cognitive functioning can help fend off diseases of aging, such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia, she said, adding that social activities can help alleviate depression and anxiety.
“Screening guidelines are also recommended to help with preventive care – finding out if any diseases are affecting the body,” Halli-Tierney said. “Older adults seeking healthy options should create a routine follow-up with their primary care doctors as they have a longstanding relationship with the patient and understand their goals. For more serious cases for older adults, geriatric consultation is recommended.”
Halli-Tierney said people should be thinking about healthy aging when they are young and choose lifestyles that keep both their physical and mental health healthy through the years.