In September, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center’s Multidisciplinary Center on Aging in Aurora hosted the 26th annual Rocky Mountain Geriatrics Conference & Community Research Symposium. The two-day event began with an introduction by Dr. Vineet Chopra, Chair for Anschutz’s Dept of Medicine and Dr. Cari Levy, Chair of Anschutz’s Division of Geriatrics. Ms Jody Waterhouse, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Programs also provided interim introductions and comments on the day’s events. Over 275 providers, press, and citizens attended the conference!
Dr. Cari Levy & Jodi Waterhouse
Many geriatric subjects were covered at the event beginning with a panel of speakers discussing “Transforming Geriatric Care with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunities & Challenges.” Dr. Casey Greene, Director of Health AI and Professor commented on how AI has impacted health research. Dr. Elizabeth Goldberg, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine discussed fall prevention and how patient falling in hospitals is a major problem. Using AI and special monitors has decreased the amount of patients falling by 80%. Also, AI has helped to reduce early sepsis attacks.
Dr. J. Kalpathy-Kramer, an Ophthalmologist, commented on using AI and medical imaging in reducing brain and eye tumors, which has been very beneficial! Dr. Ted Bennett Associate Professor indicated sepsis has been a tough challenge and kills many older adults, however AI has been very instrumental lately in detecting and reducing sepsis attacks.
The next subject on “Sexual Health in Older Adults” was presented by Dr. Helen Coons, Clinical Director of Health Psychology Solutions. Dr. Coons commented it’s OK for older adults to have sex! She indicated emotions change as we grow older, and many have diminished sexual functions. Always seek professional help for any sexual problems and don’t rely on the Internet to solve your sexual problems!
Dr. Dan Matlock, professor of geriatrics, presented “Shared Decision Making: Paradise City or Welcome to the Jungle.” Dan indicated 50% is relative and 1% is absolute on decision making between doctor and patient on resolving medical problems. His biggest concern is giving strong risks in any medical decisions to patients. Most patients are not thrilled with therapy. Are doctors risk takers or risk averse on giving advice to patients? Depending on how any therapy is presented to the patient, The bottom line is how many are saved and how many die due to the doctor’s decisions?
Dr. Tim Farrell, professor of medicine or University of Utah, presented “Ageism: Uncovering the Invisible “Ism.” Tim discussed how ageism affects older adults and how ageism affects this older population. It affects older adults on how they feel and act with others. There are basically three types of ageisms: Interpersonal, Institutional, & Internalized. 50% of the world’s population are thought to experience ageism in work and volunteering.
Several break-out sessions were held, which this reporter attended the session on “Aging Health in Rural Communities.” Tele-Health Challenges and Benefits” when connecting with palliative care and dementia patients for veterans. Over 4.7 million veterans live in rural areas, thus healthcare is not easily available to this older population. Only 2.7 million veterans are enrolled with any Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. It’s estimated that 62% of veterans have one disability. Because of a lack of VA facilities in rural areas, the VA contracts many rural medical facilities to support the rural veterans.
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Teleheath is being used by many rural veterans, but 15% of rural veterans have no Internet. Thus those veterans have any type of Internet or cellphone coverage use free tablets or smartphones provided by the VA to connect to their primary provider for healthcare solutions. The VA provides the Annie Text app on smartphones for veterans to communicate to the VA staff. The veterans use telehealth services for data info, video conferencing, and texting with the VA medical staff using secure and private communications methods! Telehealth can also be used to provide physical therapy for VA patients.
Wendy Kohart, PhD, Anschutz professor of geriatrics and chair for women’s health research, discussed menopause in women. Wendy explained several issues with menopause including pregnancy with changes as women age affecting eyesight and menopause. Secondary aging is affected by diseases, local environment, and lifestyles between 25 to 35 years of age.
Older women usually gain weight, sometimes up to 30% of body fat except for women who exercise daily. Aging can also reduce the desire to exercise. Menopause is a normal process, not an event! Resting or sitting results in 50 calories not used.
Two thirds of women with menopause have insomnia, experience joint pain, & fractures, while 50% of women have obesity issues! Using hormone therapy can reduce menopause and hot flash issues, but increases the possibility of DVT, strokes, and heart disease.
In 2000, 22% of older women took hormone therapy. Today only 4% of older women take the same hormone therapy because of the higher risks! Breast cancer risk increases by 26% using hormonal therapy.
The next segment of presentations included Dr. Jaccob Walker on Aging with HIV. Jacob explained that today’s HIV patients can use the latest prescriptions to control HIV! Although no cure has been established yet, the chronic viral infection is transmitted mainly through blood transfers. The highest HIV patients range in age from 25 to 55 years.
By the end of 2022, half of HIV patients taking prescription drugs can live to be beyo0nd 50 years. HIV patients can experience other diseases such from more stress higher smoking rates, and less exercise. There is a Positive Aging Clinic at CU open to all HIV patients over 55.
Aging Eyes affecting vision care was provided related to different impairments due to the aging process and disabilities. A 2016 patent survey indicated eyesight was highest in living standards whereas hearing was lowest. Wearing eyeglasses in nursing homes reduced depression with older adults. 6.5 million adults over 60 years have visual impairment. 3.9 million older adults with eyesight problems can be corrected with glasses. 7% of older adults have glaucoma, which can be controlled by medicine.
Nine out of 10 patients getting cataract surgery see much better than those without the surgery! Half of all blindness is attributed to older adults, which could be preventable by meds or surgery! New studies reveal improved eye health could cost in excess of $50.4 billion.
Over 26.1 million of cancer patients survive due to chemotherapy. 82% breast cancer patients survive, 78% survive from lymphona cancer, and 55% survive from leukemaia treatments with at least five years of survival.
Patients relying on their immune system doesn’t work well with older adults due to the aging process! It’s recommended older adults get the high dose flu vaccine to fight infection and reduce disease problems. Autoimmune issues can attack older adults and their organs affected by different diseases.
One in 12 adults have autoimmune diseases, while 1 in 9 women have the same problem. There are two types of autoimmune diseases: 10 diffused which includes sepsis, a blood disease, and COVID variants and 2) targeted which includes diabetes, rheumatic arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and hypothroid disease.
Dr Brice McConnell discussed the science of sleep, which is an essential brain activity! Sleep repairs our brain and body. Even animals sleep for the same reason! Interestingly, dolphins and whales half sleep and half move in the oceans to keep oxygen flowing to their bodies!
The last presentation I attended was on Aging changes with sleep as you grow older! Issues such as difficulty in falling asleep and getting a full night’s sleep are some of the sleep problems older adults experience! Brain waves tell researchers much about sleep patterns. Using artificial intelligence programs help to predict sleep problems.
Accelerated aging is associated with cognitive decline! Cardiac risks factors are strongly associated with accelerated brain aging! Lifestyle changes can increase brain aging and also affect insurance and medical costs!
Even though this article gave the major highlights of the conference during the two-day event, thanks to the Anschutz research staff for their wonderful conference and all the outstanding presentations!