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

-Social Studies: It’s Best To Socialize While You Exercise

-Give It Up: Recruiting Older People To Be Organ Donors

-Tattoo You: Judi Dench Gets Inked At 81

-Chocolate Dreams: A Little Chocolate Can Fight Dementia

-Antibiotic Backfire: Older Patients At Risk For Serious Infection

-Not Dead Yet: Norman Lear Wants You To Laugh At Aging

-The Last Word

Social Studies: It’s Best To Socialize While You Exercise: The value of exercise for physical well-being is undisputed, and we now know it also helps ward off cognitive decline. As well, social interaction is invaluable for keeping you mentally sharp. Now researchers in Japan report that combining the two – exercise and socializing – is an ideal way to lessen the likelihood of dementia. Some communities are even building adult playgrounds, thereby creating further opportunity for social connections while engaging in exercise. So pull off the headphones, share the free weights and Read This.

Give It Up: Recruiting Older People To Be Organ Donors: Recently the Scottish press announced that a 107 year old woman had died and donated her corneas, making her Scotland’s oldest organ donor. While this story is remarkable, in fact, organ donation programs worldwide regularly welcome and include older organ donors. Every year in the United States 8,000 people die while waiting for a donated organ. We need to encourage more people to donate, and that includes aging individuals. Current data has shown that 35% of US organ donors are over 50, but it’s likely that number could rise if older people realized that they too could donate despite their advancing age. To learn more about seniors and organ donation, Read This.

Tattoo You: Judi Dench Gets Inked At Age 81: On screen, Dame Judi Dench often portrays unconventional and courageous older women. Apparently, her off screen persona is no different.  On the occasion of her 81st birthday, as a gift from her daughter, Dench received her first tattoo, with theage-appropriate “carpe diem” inscribed on her wrist. Older customers represent a growing tattoo demographic, with reports of at least 15% of baby boomers having one or more tattoos. Looking for the unusual gift for your own mother’s next birthday? If so, Read This.

Chocolate Dreams: A Little Chocolate Can Fight Dementia:  In a small but exceptionally important study (for those of us who can’t live without chocolate), Portuguese researchers have found a link between long term regular chocolate consumption and a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Studying people over 65, these researchers determined that in the 309 people enrolled in the study, those who consumed a moderate amount of chocolate on a weekly basis had a 40% decrease in their risk of mental impairment. However, the researchers also found that daily consumption of more than one espresso would diminish this protective effect of chocolate. So pick your poison, and Read This.

Antibiotic Backfire: Older Patients At Risk For Serious Infection: This happens more often than you may realize: an older hospitalized patient undergoes surgery, with no complications from the operation, but then is stricken with a dangerous bacteria that leaves her seriously ill with devastating gastrointestinal symptoms. The cause: Clostridium difficile, otherwise known as C. diff. Older hospital or nursing home patients, especially those on antibiotics, are particularly at risk for this dangerous bacterial infection that can leave them with weeks or months of diarrhea and even potentially fatal colon inflammation. To learn about the risks, symptoms and treatment options for this common infection in older patients, Read This.

Not Dead Yet: Norman Lear Wants You To Laugh At Aging: Legendary TV creator and producer Norman Lear is almost 94, yet his schedule and public profile is as packed as ever. Now featured in a full length documentary, “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You,” Lear is on a determined mission to produce a new show that highlights the challenges and comedy of growing old. In the following short video, produced by the same filmmakers that made the documentary, Lear cheerfully discusses his own aging while watching potential cast members recite his hilarious dialogue for the new show. To view his comical yet poignant views on aging, Watch This.

THE LAST WORD: ““The most romantic love story isn’t Romeo and Juliet who died together…But Grandma and Grandpa who grew old together.” Anonymous