Functional Medicine

Polypharmacy, described as an individual taking more than four medications, can be concerning with the aging population. Polypharmacy concerns include adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, higher cost, decreased mobility, decreased quality of life and cognition impairment. Those at greater risk of negative polypharmacy consequences include elderly, psychiatric patients, recently hospitalized, individuals with multiple doctors or pharmacies and people with impaired vision or dexterity. There are times that polypharmacy is at times needed to help a person with their diagnosis, an example of this is using multiple medications to treat congestive heart failure which can include digoxin, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

Hello Professor. I agree that medications are the magic solution to treat diseases if they are used appropriately. For example, when antipsychotic medications are not used correctly could lead to functional decline and cognitive impairment. The health care professionals’ knowledge of safe medication use, risks and benefits, and the drug-related problem are important when taking care of elderly patients. “In 2015, the AGS Beers Criteria were again updated by an expert panel of healthcare and pharmacy experts to help prevent potential medication side effects and other medication-related problems in older adults” (Health in Aging, 2015). It is pivotal to use the guidelines of Beers Criteria in our daily practice to prevent inappropriate use of

Recent studies indicate that limiting the use of certain medications can improve a senior's life. One study, conducted by researchers at Indiana University, finds that the prolonged use of anticholinergics may cause physical changes within the brain that could lead to dementia. Furthermore, The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) released information related to a program it started in 2014: This study examined how the discontinuation of antipsychotic medications affected the seniors who were taking them to treat dementia. The results indicate that seniors’ lives may improve when antipsychotic medications (that are being used to treat dementia) are discontinued.

Biological research is led by the Division of Aging Biology, gerontology by the Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology,

Senior citizens are the people who are most likely to take multiple medications due to the occurring chronic conditions as the aging process continues. Given the several medicines they take, they are ironically the age group that is very much sensitive to medication side effects, both therapeutic and negative.

As the elderly population increases so will the occurrences of ADEs. For this reason, it is important to protect the elderly patient from these negative consequences of polypharmacy. This is accomplished by understanding how the aging body reacts to medications, understanding which drugs are the most problematic for the elderly patient, and how to spot a drug-related problem and

Drug therapy always carries risks, but in older populations, that risk is at times amplified due to normal physiological variations. When considering drug therapy for an older

The loss of autonomy increases exponentially with age. Throughout an individual’s life, the choices made that deteriorate health accumulate and decrease the quality of life. The study of gerontology, or aging, focuses on the elimination of premature disability and the characterization of the mechanisms regulating aging. As scientists study to understand the burdens that emerge within the aging population, it is up to a healthcare team to improve the quality of life for their patients by alleviating their daily burdens. The cognitive, behavioral, and psychological wellbeing of an individual are often compensated for when the signs and symptoms associated with aging materialize into diseases and disabilities. New therapeutic and pharmacological

Optimizing drug therapy is an essential part of caring for an older person. The process of prescribing a medication is complex and includes: deciding that a drug is indicated, choosing the best drug, determining a dose and schedule appropriate for the patient's physiologic status, monitoring for effectiveness and toxicity, educating the patient about expected side effects, and indications for seeking consultation. Multiple factors contribute to the appropriateness and overall quality of drug prescribing. These include avoidance of inappropriate medications, appropriate use of indicated medications, monitoring for side effects and drug levels, avoidance of drug-drug interactions, and involvement of the patient and integration of patient values.

There are many factors that contribute to the vast differences in physical function in the aging adult. One of these factors is related to immunity. As we age our immunity progressively declines putting us at a high risk for disease and illness. While the decline is gradual it has the snowball effect. The elderly population is much more likely to be affected by these diseases and illnesses (Health, 2011). Disease is believed to accelerate aging biologically speaking (Spirduso, 2004).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive cognitive disease mostly affect the aging people, but it is not cause because of age. “A common misperception is that AD is a normal or expected occurrence of aging, and that it is part of the typical trajectory of age-related cognitive decline” ( Burock, & Naqvi, 2014, p. 36). The medications these people are taking on daily basis are to stop the progression of the disease instead of improve cognitive function. This is an irreversible. Whatever part of the brain that is already affected will not come back to the previous state. Alzheimer's drugs don't work for everyone, and they can't cure the disease. Over time, their effects wear off. Regine,

Elderly patients that take several medications compound the risk of developing an adverse drug reaction. Not only does the aging process have an effect on how elderly bodies process medication, but elderly people take more medications than their younger counterparts. According to Conry (2005), the elderly patient takes an average of 5 prescription medications and two non-prescription medications (Conry, 2005). While medications are frequently necessary to enhance the quality of life of the elderly, non-pharmacologic methods should be used whenever possible. Healthcare providers need to understand how aging impacts the body’s response to medications, which drugs pose more risk to

As individuals age changes occur physiologically that are part of normal aging. These changes occur in all organ systems and can impact an individual’s quality of life. The changes related to aging can be attributed to an individual’s genetic make up, lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary lifestyle. Being able to differentiate between normal changes in aging against disease process is important because it can help clinicians develop a plan of care (Boltz, Capezuti, Fulmer, & Zwicker, 2012). Creating an accurate plan of care for older adults will greatly impact their quality of life.

According to theory of aging, free radical interferes in this case. Aging is the apparently unavoidable decrease in physiologic function that happens after some time. At least four main theories of aging have been discussed that imply to clarify much or majority of the reason of biological aging:

In biology, the term Senescence is used, which describes biological ageing. Each cell in the human body experience stress and damage from exogenous and endogenous sources. These cells then respond, in a manner, which could lead to cell death or cell recovery. This is where ageing comes into play, where the cells try to recover, but fail in doing so correctly. The remaining cells subsequently have permanent damage, which hinders them from working at their full potential. This process continuously happens inside the human body.