Squaring the Geriatric Curve
This article presents a proactive, five-part strategy for "squaring the geriatric curve"—the goal of maintaining a healthy, engaged life until a rapid decline at the very end, effectively adding "life to your years" (livegevity) rather than merely extending life. This holistic approach hinges on five synergistic components.
The first is Adjustments (CMT), which maintain normal joint mechanics, reduce degenerative changes, and must be paired with postural correction to reduce the negative effects of gravity. The second is Diet/Nutrition, emphasizing an anti-inflammatory diet high in omega-3s and low on the glycemic index, which helps mitigate systemic inflammation linked to most chronic diseases. Adequate protein intake (at least 0.75g/kg body weight for those over 55) is vital to combat sarcopenia. The third component is Rest/Sleep, which necessitates proper recovery from activity (active or passive) and maintaining sleep hygiene, including calming the brain through meditation or reading. Fourth is Mental Agility, requiring continuous engagement through learning new skills or staying socially active, especially since Alzheimer’s has been linked to inflammation. Finally, Exercise must include aerobic activity (minimum 120 minutes/week), resistance training to preserve muscle and bone mass, and flexibility training, all performed while grooving sagittal- and frontal-plane alignment. Chiropractic care is highlighted as the front-line defense, based on a vitalistic mechanism of healing, that enables patients to achieve this livegevity.
The first is Adjustments (CMT), which maintain normal joint mechanics, reduce degenerative changes, and must be paired with postural correction to reduce the negative effects of gravity. The second is Diet/Nutrition, emphasizing an anti-inflammatory diet high in omega-3s and low on the glycemic index, which helps mitigate systemic inflammation linked to most chronic diseases. Adequate protein intake (at least 0.75g/kg body weight for those over 55) is vital to combat sarcopenia. The third component is Rest/Sleep, which necessitates proper recovery from activity (active or passive) and maintaining sleep hygiene, including calming the brain through meditation or reading. Fourth is Mental Agility, requiring continuous engagement through learning new skills or staying socially active, especially since Alzheimer’s has been linked to inflammation. Finally, Exercise must include aerobic activity (minimum 120 minutes/week), resistance training to preserve muscle and bone mass, and flexibility training, all performed while grooving sagittal- and frontal-plane alignment. Chiropractic care is highlighted as the front-line defense, based on a vitalistic mechanism of healing, that enables patients to achieve this livegevity.
