7. Embracing Aging: Helping Our Loved Ones, Helping Ourselves | Dr. Scott Kaiser

Dr. Scott Kaiser is a rare breed, and he shouldn’t be. He’s a geriatrician. There are only 7,000 of them in the U.S., even though 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. Part of the reason: Gerontology typically doesn’t pay as well as other specialties, so it often attracts people who are purely committed to the practice, like Dr. Kaiser. He loves his work because there is so much he can do for his patients, and so much they can do for themselves. Want to remain healthy in brain and body for years to come? Here are the truly magic bullets: sleep, exercise, a good diet, an active social life, creativity, a strong sense of purpose, and good primary care. Take diet: “When you're in your produce aisle, you're basically hunting for your medicine,” Dr. Kaiser says. Green leafy vegetables have compounds that protect them from sun damage as they grow. They protect us as we age, too. Exercise? The only thing better than a kale salad for aging might be a vigorous dance class, he says. It challenges us mentally and physically. “Exercise is the closest thing we have to a miracle drug for brain health,” Dr. Kaiser says. “It's unbelievable.” Have a listen to Dr. Kaiser, and you might just get excited about aging, rather than dreading it. That’s the last magic bullet: A positive attitude about getting older. Our episode with Dr. Kaiser will almost certainly help with that.

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