Mayo Clinic Aging Forward

Parkinson's disease is the second most common form of neurodegenerative illness, only after Alzheimer's disease. In fact, two percent of the population over age 70 has Parkinson's disease.

This episode, for Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we're talking with expert Dr. Rodolfo Savica. He'll break down the difference between Parkinson's and Parkinsonism; why doctors are seeing a triplication of ...

How does exercise evolve as we age?

In this episode of Aging Forward, lifestyle coach Matt Arnold explores why finding purpose is the key to staying healthy later in life. He also shares expert tips on essential nutrition and strength training exercises, proving that it’s never too late to boost overall health and enhance body function.

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The obsession with anti-aging skincare has many of us searching for the secret to looking younger. But our skin isn’t just about appearance—it’s a vital barrier against infection and plays a key role in regulating body temperature.

In this episode of Aging Forward, Dr. Saranya Wyles breaks down the three essential skincare products everyone should use, the science behind skin cycling, and the future of regenerative skincare—includin...

80 percent of our health is actually determined by social factors -- including access to healthy food, our lived environment, financial security and social networks.

On this episode of Aging Forward, Dr. Amit Shah breaks down how community ties are crucial to our wellbeing, and shares many of the lesser known benefits - from legal resources to transportation aid to respite care - available to older adults.

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Every year, one in four adults over 65 reports experiencing a fall. In fact, falls are actually the most common cause of injury and injury death for older adults. But why is do they happen more as we get older? And what can we do to prevent these falls and keep ourselves safe?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with Dr. Paul Takahashi about risk factors and warning signs, as well as easy and useful tips for fall prevention.

Fi...

One in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will experience bone fracture due to osteoporosis. And in the U.S., as our population is aging, the prevalence of the disease is expected to rise.

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with Dr. Jad Sfeir about the key components of bone health and the need for a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to musculoskeletal care.

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In the United States alone, up to 30% of older adults suffer chronic pain. It can be debilitating, impacting function while also increasing social isolation.

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with Dr. Jake Strand about how older adults experience chronic pain, misconceptions about pain management, and different approaches to relieving pain and improving quality of life.

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We all know our bodies ages — but what if we could potentially halt or reverse that process through exercise? For some people, execise can preserve function, independence, and health span. So what kind of benefits can we expect? And what kind of exercise is best for optimizing health?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation Dr. Edward Laskowski about the role of exercise in he...

From childhood, we look to our doctors to help us heal when we are sick. But what does care look like when a patient is nearing the end, and doesn't expect to get better?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with Dr. Cory Ingram about how our end-of-life experiences have changed drastically over the last several decades, and his approach to providing hospice and palliative care that preserves patient dignity.

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After decades of research, frailty is much more than just a physical construct. It's a clinical syndrome that can affect different areas of health and care. But is frailty an inevitable part of aging? Or can we prevent or delay it?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with geriatrician Dr. Brandon Verdoorn about the importance of understanding and recognizing frailty as a geriatric syndrome — and life hacks for dealing with...

With so much information available about supplements, why are they still so confusing? And as older adults, how can we use them to deal with common symptoms of aging and improve our overall quality of life?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with Dr. Brent Bauer about integrating supplements into a holistic health plan. He also gives tips on how to assess if your supplements are working for you.

Purchase Dr. Bauer's new bo...

Almost half of older adults experience loneliness. It can be harder to maintain social connections as we age, especially if we're retired, dealing with illness, or living alone.

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with clinical social worker Kileen Smyth about the power of experimentation, and what we can do to stay positive, stay engaged, and make meaning in our golden years.

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Around 20% of adults between ages 40 and 79 are taking five or more prescription drugs—and for older adults, the numbers are likely even higher. Our relationship to medication can change over the years: our bodies take longer to clear them from our system, and in some cases, side affects from medications lead to even more prescriptions!

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with clinical pharmacist Tim Habermann about supplement...

Cognitive functioning is a key part of overall health and independence — which is why dementia can be especially challenging for individuals, family, and loved ones. But is dementia preventable? What can we do now to preserve brain health? And how do we distinguish between cognitive changes related to typical aging and symptoms of dementia?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with internist and geriatrician Dr. Ericka Tung abo...

As we age, so do our organs, including our heart. So what can we do to make the most of our heart health as we get older?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with cardiologist Dr. Stephen Kopecky about how it's never too late to improve our heart health, and how even small adjustments to our lifestyle habits—from diet to exercise to sleep—can have a significant impact.

Purchase Dr. Kopecky's book Live Younger Longer.

Fin...

As the population of older adults increases over the next few decades, caring for an aging America is going to be a unique challenge. We'll all be involved in caring for an older adult in some capacity — whether your're a caregiver or caring for yourself. So how can we help each other age healthfully and be proactive about improving our health span?

In this introduction to the show, host Dr. Christina Chen talks about health...