By Black Headline News
(Scroll to the marked sections of this live interview.)
In a live feature interview on the BHN Talk Radio Show October 8 with Julia Ann Dudley Najieb, Cheryl Smith and Brigitte Jones medical doctor, Dr. Sharon A. Brangman, MD of the Syracuse Community in upstate New York, who is a leader in the field of geriatrics and geriatric brain health was encouraging the listening and watching audience to take preventive measures now to age healthily as we get older--an unavoidable reality.
Dr. Brangman, MD, serves as Chair of the Department of Geriatrics, Director of the Center for Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease and is a Distinguished Service Professor at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Last year, Dr. Brangman was elected to serve as a Trustee of the McKnight Brain Research Foundation.
Since 2010, Dr. Brangman has held leadership roles at the national level, including President and Chair of the American Geriatrics Society and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, serving as President from 2015-2017.
Dr. Brangman is a widely published researcher and was the Co-Principal Investigator on the Recruitment Accelerator for Diversity in Aging Research project, which was funded by the National Institute of Aging. She has also been recognized for her work by the American Red Cross of Central New York, the Syracuse Community Health Center (2011), and the prestigious Arents Award from Syracuse University (2019), which is the highest honor given to an alum. Dr. Brangman received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Syracuse University and a medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. She completed her residency and fellowship in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. She is also passionate about social justice and diversity and inclusion.
According to Merck Manual, the percentage of the US population that was ≥ 65 increased from 5% in 1920 to almost 17% in 2020. That percentage is projected to increase further.
In 2019, life expectancy at age 65 was an additional 18.2 years for men and 20.8 years for women. Overall, women live about 4 to 5 years longer than men. These differences in survival have changed little despite changes in women’s lifestyle (eg, increased smoking, increased stress) over the late 20th century and into the 21st.
Aging (ie, pure aging) refers to the inevitable, irreversible decline in organ function that occurs over time even in the absence of injury, illness, environmental risks, or poor lifestyle choices (eg, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse). Initially, the changes in organ function (see table Selected Physiologic Age-Related Changes) do not affect baseline function; the first manifestations are a reduced capacity of each organ to maintain homeostasis under stress (eg, illness, injury). The cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous systems are usually the most vulnerable (the weakest links).
Diseases interact with pure aging effects to cause geriatric-specific complications (now referred to as geriatric syndromes), particularly in the weak-link systems—even when those organs are not the primary ones affected by a disease. In fact, according to the National Institute of Aging, African Americans are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than white Americans: 14% of Black people over 65 have Alzheimer's, compared to 10% of white people. African Americans over 90 are 28% more likely to develop Alzheimer's than white Americans.
The news show hosts faced their own realities during the informative show about healthy aging--all three hosts realized they may have been going through their own intervention at that very moment.
"Dr. Brangman was so very clear and direct in her commitment to providing answers to our questions on what she considers - non negotiables," explained Jones, "to maintain optimum brain health as we all age. I was struck by her comment 'the goal would be to start from a Neo-natal strategy' this would be a true lifestyle commitment for good all-around health. And since the brain controls all aspects of your body's proper functions; anything and everything we do; eating well, adequate sleep, staying physically and socially active throughout your life; has a definite impact on your ageing brain health."
"We are very honored to know that someone as dedicated and with such expertise in this area of medical practice ... Took the time to share her knowledge with our Black Headline News Radio Live audience."
Meanwhile, Smith also had similar sentiments.
"Dr. Sharon A. Brangman is a jewel," said Smith "Her ability to discuss health issues in a way that provides a level of comfort to patients and during interviews is a real gift. As we continue to age, focusing on providing a better quality of life should receive more attention, and having someone like Dr. Branman on the forefront will definitely benefit our communities."
Finally, news host Dudley Najieb felt that taking an actual step toward the doctor's orders, is the best way to start the healthy aging process at any age.
"Not only did Dr. Sharon A. Brangman say I can take a nap," said Dudley Najieb, "this is the one interview that forced me to take an introspective look at my own life--am I not getting enough sleep? Absolutely! Should I take short naps during my 28-hour deadline shifts? Of course! Am I doing those things healthily--that would be an absolute 'no.' I know what I have to change, I hope this interview will help others do the same."
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With news publishers, Cheryl Smith, Julia Ann Dudley Najieb and Brigitte Jones, get the latest breaking, political and other news from a Black perspective, new episodes live on Tuesdays: 4:00 PM PST/6:00 CST/7:00 EST. Listen on demand here or watch shows live here.
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