As the 19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Paris, concludes, the battle cry from the inspirational speakers can be summed as “vive la change.”  From Sergei Zelenev UN Secretariat, and Robert Butler, International Longevity Center USA, to other keynote speakers , the message seemed to have an underlying theme, we need to change the face of aging as we move into the next decades. 

The increased interest in learning more about new ideas in gerontology was demonstrated by the larger numbers of participants at the conference compared to the last session four  years ago:  7000 attendees up from about 4000, plus several hundred lectures, and over 850 poster presentations.  While some might say the increase in numbers was the prospect of being in Paris, others argue the larger attendance was due to the increased awareness of the looming issues for over 78 million, aging baby boomers, the first of who will be soon turning 65 in 2011. 

From a worldwide perspective, according to the Zelenev, “in the more developed regions, the numbers of those 60 plus are expected to increase in the next 4 years by 50 percent, 264 million in 2009 to 416 million in 2050.  In lesser developed countries, those age 60 and above will triple.” 

The median age at the conference appeared to be 40s and 50s, most of who were in the medical profession or related fields.  As a group, the spirit was upbeat and goal-oriented toward positive change in aging issues and practices.

Some of the changes hoped for at the conference include:

GLOBAL CHANGE NEEDED

Worldwide, there still appear to be myths and discrimination of older adults.  There persists a feeling that those over 65 have nothing to offer and  are a burden.  “We need to ensure the rights of older persons through an internationally agreed doctrine,” said Zelenev.

Representatives of The International Longevity Center expressed the need for legislation to be help stop age discrimination. Dr. Robert Butler, president and CEO, states, “I have a special passion for human rights” and proposes for the United Nations a need for a declaration to support the rights of older persons. Having coined the term, “ageism” in 1968, Dr. Butler spearheaded the Ageism in America project.  According to the ILC website, “the project identifies and analyzes various forms of ageism and stereotyping, pushing the issue into public discourse and encouraging public and private institutions to remedy ageist attitudes, policies and practices”.  In his remarks at the conference, Dr. Butler emphasized the need to take the necessary steps to put a halt to such stereotyping.

OUR DIETS NEED AN OVERHAUL …

The importance of “training for older ages” was heard throughout the conference.  Don’t wait until you are there… get ready and embrace older ages with vitality instead of frailty. 

Diet is key, of course, according to James Joseph, Lead Scientist and Laboratory Chief, JM-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, who brought news of his study to the conference.

“Eat your veggies” is even more important than ever. “Our laboratory was the first to show that eating a diet containing fruits and vegetables high in antioxidant activity will show similar benefits to the brain with respect to aging as has been shown in the heart,” Joseph says.  “Those who regularly consume sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables have 40 percent less risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

Malnutrition among older adults is receiving long overdue attention and change is in the air for nutritionists to consider.   Dr. Cornel C. Sieber, Nuremberg, Germany, explained, “When we think of malnutrition, we think of diabetes etc.  We need to focus on diet, like having enough protein in the diet early on.  We need to screen, assess and intervene.”

The bottom line is that malnutrition causes frailty.  This is where the much touted Mini Nutritional Assessment® comes in.  Developed over 15 years ago by the Nestle Research Center in collaboration with hospital clinicians, the MNA asks 18 questions that can quickly assess the malnutrition risk of an older patient.  Such questions asked include, “Has food intake declined, weight loss occurred, mobility declined etc.  The Nestle team presented a newer version that is quick and easy with 6 questions.

The unanimous recommendation at the Nestle Nutrition roundtable, was for physicians to incorporate the MNA as part of the annual physical for those over age 65.  And, why not?  Such a simple tool would be a win/win for both physician and patient.  The use of the MNA, according to Dr. Sieber, “can identify those affected by malnutrition, provide a systematic and structured approach and can provide the information for the patient to start therapy early.”

Change to long held beliefs that calcium is the only key solution to helping prevent osteoporosis was challenged at the conference.   A new theory is the intake of vitamin D over a calcium supplement.  This news will surely cause confusion to all of those who have been taking calcium supplements for years, but is worth looking at.  More on vitamin D

EXERCISE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

We all know about exercise, but there’s even more of a reason to do it.  According to Anne Newman, University of Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study, “you need to come into older life healthy.  One’s weight in midlife is predictive in walking as older adults.”  In other words, if you are out of shape as a middle age person, you will have real problems when you are in the “old, old” category.

Newman notes that through her studies, “Educational level and involvement in physical activity were among the strongest predictors of higher function in old age.”  The message:  keep on learning and keep moving.

Obesity has become an epidemic of the young in the United States.  Obese children will sadly grow up into obese older adults with diabetes, frailty and will cost the country millions of dollars in healthcare.  These individuals will have tremendous mobility issues and low functuality.  If they cannot walk because they have let their bodies go at a young age,  it will be very difficult for them to recover as seniors.

CHANGE FOR CAREGIVERS

The importance of caregivers is gaining importance but needs even more notice.  At this conference, the importance of support for these caregivers was empathized.  Many caregivers volunteer their time.  When these individuals retire, they may be at poverty levels themselves with no pension or income.  With more mobile lifestyles changing the family structure, the growing older population and fewer children taking care of their parents in old age, the economics of care giving will be mind boggling without greater attention to the caregivers themselves. 

From the presentations made at this world congress, the general public and health educators should expect to see changes in the way we look at aging on a global and national level and ideas on how to extend the length of healthy, vibrant lives.  It’s a good start toward positive change.