Conversations

I want to share with you some interesting discussions I’ve heard – and been part of – this summer.

I recently interviewed personal trainer Christine Jones on New Mexico radio KSWV on the efficacy of lifting heavy weights to prevent osteoporotic fractures in women. We discussed a new paradigm of teaching seniors how to lift heavy weights in order to build muscle and bone strength and prevent fractures. 

Christine is the founder of The Exercise Lab, which offers the Onero exercise program aimed at improving bone muscle strength, fall risk and bone mineral density in seniors . The Exercise Lab is located adjacent to our offices at 1650 Hospital Drive, Suite 400.

KSWV: News, local interviews, award winning talk shows, high school sports, and a music variety that combines Classic Hits from the 60s to the 80s, Classic Country and local New Mexico music. KSWV’s programming reflects the beautifully diverse community of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.

Manageable Factors for Brain Health

I have often agreed with longevity expert Peter Attia, MD, that maintaining optimal body habitus, controlling glucose and cholesterol, and exercising regularly matter far more than supplementing with any magical micronutrient or super food. Dr. Attia outlines evidence for this approach in episode No. 73 of The Drive.

Dr. Attia points to obesity/diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension as key MODIFIABLE risk factors for ealy cognitive decline. The full podcast content is for is availability by subscription but you can listen to a summary here.

HRT becomes the center of public discussion: FDA Expert Panel on Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) is revisiting its recommendations on menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). On July 17, the FDA convened a panel of women’s health experts to discuss HRT’s positive impacts on bone health, heart health, Alzheimer’s and more. One indication that public opinion is shifting is that it appears the FDA is considering the removal of “black box” warning labels required on certain estrogen products because “…no clinical trial has ever found an association between hormone replacement therapy and an increase in breast cancer mortality.”

Unfortunately, the objectivity of the panel was brought into question as FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, stacked the panel with an apparent personal friend, Dr. Heather Hirsch, and two of her business partners who did not fully disclose their conflict of interest. That being said, the content is generally enlightening and I was happy to see my former Yale professor, Mary Jane Minkin, MD, also participating on the panel.  

Hope you find these discussions as interesting as I did.

Josiah