Are you concerned about how you’ll remain healthy as you age? If so, you’re not alone, and there’s something you can do about it.
Many older New Yorkers are concerned about aging well and living a long, healthy life but most have never spoken to their physician about their age-related concerns even while trying a variety of possible remedies, ranging from taking supplements to doing crossword puzzles.
These are among the key findings from a new poll on healthy aging produced by Mount Sinai South Nassau and sponsored by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union.
The survey also found that women are more concerned than men, especially those younger than 70. And 65 percent of all respondents have some concern about memory loss or dementia, according to the “Truth in Medicine” poll of New Yorkers older than 50.
Experts say staying active and engaged with others is key to safeguarding cognitive health.
Mount Sinai South Nassau hosted a panel discussion together with Optimum and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America on Wednesday, April 22. From left: Mount Sinai South Nassau moderators Dana Sanneman, Vice President, Public Affairs and Development, and Joe Calderone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Development; Brigit C. Palathra, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, Chief, Palliative Care, Mount Sinai South Nassau; Adhi Sharma, President, Mount Sinai South Nassau; Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America; and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Kathryn Geraghty, Mount Sinai South Nassau.
“Healthy aging is not just about adding years to your life, it is about adding quality life to the years that you live,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “When individuals devote themselves to the prevention of memory loss and chronic disease as they age, they are preserving their independence, dignity, and joy. One way to do that is to be engaged in activities they enjoy, whether it’s volunteering or watching a grandchild or traveling.”
In addition to the fear of dementia, area residents expressed concerns about a variety of other health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
“The findings from the Truth in Medicine poll underscore that aging, cognitive decline, and caregiving are not distant concerns—they are present realities touching families across New York and throughout the United States in profound and urgent ways,” said Charles Fuschillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “The poll data is a call to action. Society must embrace a new mindset—one where healthy aging and caregiver readiness go hand in hand.”
The poll found that in an effort to prevent cognitive decline associated with a progressive neurological disorder, many New Yorkers turn to a variety of possible remedies, including taking vitamin supplements, prescription drugs, exercise, and even playing brain games and crossword puzzles.
Here are some of the specific findings from the poll:
- 69 percent of all respondents (and 77 percent of women polled age 70 or older) take vitamin supplements.
- 47 percent of respondents take prescription drugs in an attempt to possibly prevent or delay cognitive decline.
- 41 percent of all respondents and 52 percent of women younger than 70 exercise.
- 35 percent of all respondents (and 51 percent of women age 70 or older) play brain games, such as puzzles and crosswords.
- 30 percent of all respondents (and 39 percent of women younger than 70) follow a strict or limited diet.
- 26 percent of all respondents (and 32 percent of women younger than 70) practice weightlifting and balance training.
The Truth in Medicine poll is part of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission of outreach to improve education around critical public health issues. A panel discussion to review the results of the poll was hosted by Optimum in their theatre on Wednesday, April 22.
The poll aims to gather data about public attitudes on key public health topics and spur education and discussion. The poll was conducted from Thursday, March 12, through Wednesday, March 18. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.