Technology, Entertainment, Design

I love TED Talks. 

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and the nonprofit organization's goal is to educate global audiences in an accessible way. TED Talks are presenTED by a wide range of experts, including scientists, researchers, business leaders, artists, and designers, and cover topics such as education, business, science, tech, and creativity. TED Talks are available for free on the TED website and are also frequently featured on social media and other multimedia sites. In total, TED Talks are viewed or listened to more than 3 billion times each year

TED Talks are short, recorded presentations that share knowledge and research from experts on a variety of topics. The talks are given at TED conferences, TEDx events, and other partner events, and are often delivered without notes. TED Talks are known for their fast pace, and speakers typically wear a lapel or headset microphone and avoid lecterns.

The first TED Talk I watched was Sal Khan (heard about his Khan Academy on NPR while driving somewhere).  He is an MIT graduate with an MBA from Harvard. In August 2004, Sal began remotely tutoring his cousin, Nadia, who was struggling with math, specifically unit conversions. This "Swiss-cheese" gap in her knowledge was not allowing her to be placed in the more advanced math track. Since Nadia was in New Orleans, and Sal was in Boston working at a hedge fund at the time, Sal started tutoring her through the phone and Yahoo Doodle (anyone remember this app?) after work.  Word spread among his family and he started recording lessons on YouTube as he didn’t time for more individual lessons. From there Khan Academy was born.

During Covid, we signed up both grandsons to learn online with Khan Academy.  It was free, very engaging and both boys learned a lot.  They even offer learning opportunities in addition to school academics.

I went to the TED talk website and would choose topics of interest to me.  Not only was it entertaining, I learned a lot about many different things.  It was so much fun, I introduced my local Village (nonprofit group that helps people remain at home as they age) and the talks are so interesting that we host a group watch with follow up discussion once every week!

Check it out!  I just discovered the youngest TED presenter was seven years old. 

https://www.TED.com/talks/molly_wright_how_every_child_can_thrive_by_five?subtitle=en

Our Sense of Smell

 SENSE OF SMELL 

Anosmia is the partial or full loss of smell. Anosmia can be a temporary or permanent condition. After reading an article in June in the NYT, I was compelled to check out our sense of smell and if it does indeed deteriorate with age, as so many of our senses do. 

Experts say a loss of smell can negatively impact mental health. But training your nose can fight off the decline. Taste and smell are the first senses to decline with age.

The aroma of just-baked cookies, roses in full bloom, and other every day scents make our lives richer in ways we often take for granted. Yet, when the sense of smell is lost or compromised, it is not just enjoyment of life that is affected but also health and safety. Our sense of smell helps whet the appetite and also serves as a warning system to avert dangers and toxins.

For many people, troubles with smell are among the first signs of Alzheimer’s.

“Two of the great joys in people’s lives are the sensations of smell and taste,” says R. Peter Manes, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Yale Medicine. “When these senses are altered or absent, people lose that pleasure and can feel isolated from those around them who are not afflicted.”

“Our brains need a lot of olfactory stimulation in order to maintain their health,” said Michael Leon, a professor emeritus of neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine.  Fortunately, a diminished sense of smell may be reversible, perhaps by something as simple as spending some time with your spice rack.  And so I have a new project. 

Smell training!  Every day I choose an herb or spice and take whiff.  I enjoy the whole process;  from choosing one of our 33 bottles, breathing it in, and trying to see what combinations of flavors and scents I recognize.  Especially those we don’t use very often (fenugreek or garam masala), for example.  Other scents suggested are peanut butter and peppermint and fresh herbs vs dried.  Try coffee, shampoo and essential oils.

OR … you can buy a kit from Amazon! 

Just $19.99

Olfactory retraining involves smelling a variety of strong scents every day, such as citrus, cloves, or eucalyptus. You can use items you have around the house or buy a smell retraining kit online. Try smelling each odor for 15 seconds with a deep inhale through your nose. 

While smelling, think about what the scent smells like and try to recall times when you've smelled it before. You can also try associating pleasant smells with pleasant feelings. Some recommend practicing this therapy for at least four weeks, or even a few months.

Exercise: Research suggests that exercise can strengthen your sense of smell. You can try setting aside at least 30 minutes a day for physical activity, such as a brisk walk.

Eat well: Try eating foods rich in zinc and B12.

Quit smoking: Being healthier can help you smell and taste better.

Treat nasal congestion: If your sense of smell is blocked by allergies or sinuses, you can try using a nasal decongestant to shrink blood vessels in your nasal passages. (As I have aged, I take a Zyrtec twice a day to help with runny nose).

I haven’t noticed any change yet, but I do enjoy stopping to smell the rose bush on the way to my car.

OH MY AGING SKIN

Did you know our skin is the largest organ of our body?

It covers about 22 square feet, weighing around 8 pounds in adults. It's made up of many components, including water, protein, lipids, minerals, and chemicals, and its texture and thickness can vary from one part of the body to another.

As we all know, our skin changes a lot as we age! Mine is thinner and wrinklier and much dryer than it used to be. Things we can do to help:

Hydrate
Hydrate your entire body by drinking 8 glasses of water daily is great way to moisturize your skin. Water also clears out the dangerous toxins that hurt your skin. The antioxidative properties of vitamin C can effectively prevent thinning skin and slow its progression.

Moisturize
Use a moisturizing cream (my dermatologist suggested Vanicream, CeraVe, or Cetaphil) to coat the skin with a protective barrier and prevent dryness and damage. Some moisturizers are formulated specifically for aging skin. I put on Nivea Cocoa Butter after my shower while skin is still moist)

Cleanse
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.

Some dermatologists recommend showering every other day or two to three times a week. Over-bathing may disrupt the balance of microorganisms on the skin, which can compromise the immune system and make it less prepared for future infections.

Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers. (Dove sensitive skin)

Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it. (I switched to an electric razor a few years ago)

Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin. (That’s when I use the cocoa butter!)

The worst part of aging skin is all the things that seem to grow on it …

Liver spots
These harmless but unflattering spots are flat, brown or black spots that can appear on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun. (My hands and my face) They have nothing to do with the liver or liver function. Lentigos, sometimes called age spots or freckles, are a result of cumulative damage to the skin by sunlight.

Seborrheic keratoses (also known as barnacles)
These noncancerous, wart-like growths can be brown, black, or light tan, and appear waxy or scaly. They can grow anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, neck, chest, or back.

They usually start to appear after age 45, and it's not unusual to have one or a few, to a hundred of them.

They are usually painless unless irritated by scratching or rubbing, especially under tight clothing. Treatment is usually not needed, but freezing with liquid nitrogen or surgery can be used if they are irritated or for cosmetic reasons.

Skin tags
These small, flesh-colored growths with a raised surface are most common on the eyelids, neck, and body folds, but can appear anywhere on the body. They become more common as people age, especially for women.

Actinic keratoses
These pinkish rough patches have a small chance of becoming skin cancer. Skin cancers are also common in older people, and are usually located in sun-exposed areas.

Cherry hemangiomas
These tiny, bright red spots or bumps on the skin are usually harmless, but you might want to tell your doctor if one turns dark brown or black. You might start seeing them in your 30s and 40s, and get more of them as you age. Treatment usually isn't needed unless they're irritated or bleeding

Of course, there are other conditions as well. Be sure to get an annual exam by a dermatologist. Things I notice and point out to him are always NOTHING but others that I pay no attention to he usually needs to freeze them away.

Get a vat of coconut oil and submerge every morning!

AGING TEETH

Cheerfully smiling as I write.  

Here is some awkward news about our aging mouths. Maybe you’ve noticed some of these things. My research shows:

Aging can lead to a number of dental problems, including:

• Tooth decay: Tooth decay becomes more common with age, affecting almost 100% of older adults.
• Dry mouth: This is a common oral health issue in older adults.
• Cavities: Bacteria in plaque can change food sugars and starches into acid that attacks tooth enamel. Cavities are more likely to develop at the root of the tooth in older adults because gums often recede. Dry mouth can also lead to cavities by making it easier for bacteria to build up.
• Gum and periodontal disease: This inflammatory condition can cause swelling, bleeding, and tooth loss.
• Dental erosion: This can lead to tooth loss, discomfort, and difficulty chewing.
• Oral cancer: The chance of oral cancer increases with age and risk factors.
• Bad breath

So far, no cavities for me. I go in three times a year for cleaning. Everything tends to stick to my teeth! And in between my teeth. I’m brushing and flossing all the time these days.

I do have dry mouth (also called xerostomia [zeer-o-STOE-me-uh] if you want to get fancy), which is when the salivary glands in the mouth don't make enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Some medicines, like I take, seem to exacerbate this. 

I’m now one of those Grandmas who carry Werthers butterscotch candies (sugar free) on her person. It’s getting bad enough that I just ordered Biotine dry mouth lozenges to see if that lasts longer than candy. Mint flavored so at least I have a change of flavor.

Snacking on carrots or celery may also help, they say. Any products that contain xylitol can help reduce the risk for dental decay as well as dry mouth.

What have YOU noticed about your mouth as you are aging?  I'm grateful that I had dental insurance for many, many years.  That helped me have a good base for aging.  Now I just help send his kids to college!