Good morning and welcome to agebuzz… Headlining today’s topics:

-Step Up: The Health Benefits Of Taking The Stairs

-Eat It Up: The Anti-Aging Benefits of Fiber

-Funny Or Die: A Humorous Take On The End Of Life

-A Grass-Roots Movement: The Growing Case For Cannabis For Seniors

-Say What? There’s A New App To Help The Hearing-Impaired Enjoy The Theater

-Musings Of A Geriatric Starlet: Iris Apfel Has A New Book Coming Out

-The Last Word

Step Up: The Health Benefits Of Taking The Stairs: When faced with the choice of an elevator or stairs, which way do you turn? Well, according to a new study in the journal Menopause, there’s really no choice if you want to improve your health. Researchers from Korea studied post-menopausal women who are at risk for high blood pressure and weakening muscle strength, both problems which may benefit from an exercise regimen. It turns out that stair climbing can be a cost-effective and convenient way to address both problems. And, not only does it lower your risk of high blood pressure and improve leg strength, but climbing stairs can also help fight against osteoporosis and fat gain. So, step up to the plate and read about this study Here. And if you’ve never given much thought to staircases and their design significance, you might enjoy watching architect David Rockwell talk about the everyday impact that stairs can have on your life Here.

Eat It Up: The Anti-Aging Benefits of Fiber: It’s something many of us consider a necessary evil: ingesting sufficient fiber to keep our digestive track humming along. But if shredded wheat is not your idea of a good time, take heart: there are tastier ways to get fiber into your system and manyreasons beyond the bathroom to make sure you get enough fiber in your diet. Turns out fiber has essential “anti-aging” properties to support healthy aging, including lowering risks for inflammation and high cholesterol, and protecting joints. Consumer Reports has a new piece out detailing types of fiber, food sources and health benefits. So take out some raspberries and Read Here. And if you’re looking for a way to introduce more fiber into your diet, check out recipes from the Mayo Clinic Here.

Funny Or Die: A Humorous Take On The End Of Life: If you watch Conan, you’ve probably heard some of Laura Kilmartin’s jokes. But if you’re not familiar with her, it may be time for you to do so- especially if you’ve been a caregiver for a loved one at the end of life. A stand-up comedian in her own right, Kilmartin’s new book, Dead People Suck, combines gallows humor with practical tips for those caregiving at the bedside. And while there may be nothing funny about life coming to an end, Kilmartin manages to create very funny humor out of some of the most somber aspects of death and dying. It’s a mix of the silly and the serious, and if you’re easily offended, it may not be for you. But if you’re looking for an outlet for your grief and rage, and you appreciate good humor, take a look at her book, and give a listen to an interview with Kilmartin about the circumstances leading to this book Here.

A Grass-Roots Movement: The Growing Case For Cannabis For Seniors: With the continued tragedy of opioid abuse in our country, and proposals to implement new Medicare restrictions on prescribing opioids, seniors may rightly be concerned about where to turn for effective pain management. And for some, that search may lead to cannabis. In fact, self-reported use of cannabis (otherwise known as marijuana) among seniors has been skyrocketing, and its use has now been legalized (albeit with many limitations) in 30 states around the country. There are definitely concerns about this trend, especially given the limited medical research supporting the risk/benefit calculus in seniors. To read more about the trends and concerns, take a look Here. Yet there is growing research to support marijuana use as an effective way to manage chronic pain. Take a look at this most recent study out of Israel Here and Here. And if you’re looking for those with experiential wisdom on the subject, dive into the weeds and check out Grannies for Grassor this article about Canna Nannas in Australia.

Say What? There’s A New App To Help The Hearing-Impaired Enjoy The Theater: Those of us whose hearing is on the decline are often confronted with a dilemma: what to do regarding beloved entertainment venues we enjoy. Whether at the movies or in the theater, it’s often hard to hear the dialogue, even with hearing aids in place. Well, for New York theatergoers, there’s now an app for that! Introducing the GalaPro app, an Israeli-developed tech tool that allows you to use your smart phone as a way to get live closed captioning for theater performances. The app was developed in a way to ensure it keeps up with the actual performance and the lighting and set-up is such that it won’t disturb other patrons. Read about it, and listen to thisNPR story about it where it’s currently available, Here. And speaking of apps: Harvard researchers have now developed a brain game app that teaches your brain how to distinguish speech from random noise, which is a problem hearing aids cannot really address. So turn down the tv and read more about their work Here.

Musings Of A Geriatric Starlet: Iris Apfel Has A New Book Coming Out: Never one to shy away from the public gaze, 96-year-old glamour girl Iris Apfel is at it again. Not content to rest on her laurels as ahome-shopping network designer or public commentator on fashion trends, Apfel is about to release her latest book, Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon. With her unique blend of authority and the outrageous, Apfel continues to put out her imprint on how to live a life of authenticity and without apology, and with lots of color and pizzazz along the way. You can see a collection of some of her most stylish and provocative fashion choices here or watch her here as she travels to Hong Kong for the first time last year. Who knew life at 96 could be so joyous and colorful?

THE LAST WORD: “The idea is to die young as late as possible.” Ashley Montagu