The Immune System: Keeping it in Balance in Our Senior Years
August 14, 2020
Hosted by Joseph M. Casciani
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Keeping the immune system in balance is vital to optimal health, but in older adults, where we see age-related changes, i.e., immunosenescence and problematic lifestyle factors, there is a suppressed immune function. This episode of the Living to 100 Club radio program brings an expert in nutrition, weight control, and health education to talk about the delicate balancing act in immune system functioning. Dr. Gina Willett will talk about the gradual decline in immune function with advancing age, leaving it less able to respond to immune challenges, and a potential susceptibility to infections, cancers, and compromised physical health. We will discuss the purpose of our immune system and the concept of "immunosenescence" and will also address questions like why some of us age well and others poorly, and what additional lifestyle factors contribute to suppressed immune function. Join us for this important conversation about what we can do to maintain or improve our immune function.
Living to 100 Club
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
The Living to 100 Club is an exciting take on getting older. The Living to 100 Club members turn aging on its head knowing and understanding age is only a number. The Living to 100 Club is for everyone of all ages who wants to maintain a positive outlook about our futures. The Living to 100 Club offers fresh and inspiring perspectives on aging successfully, no matter how much help we may need adapting to growing older. Whether we’re still running marathons or confined to a wheelchair, we can always keep a positive frame of mind, look forward to events in our future, and plan on living to 100. The Living to 100 Club brings together topics on successful aging, overcoming obstacles, staying positive in the face of adversity, healthy lifestyles, starting new chapters and doing what you can’t. The Living to 100 Club guests share their professional stories, give advice on wellness, and offer explanations about living life to its fullest.
Joseph M. Casciani
Dr. Joe Casciani is a clinical psychologist who has been working with seniors, their families, and caregivers for over 30 years. A native New Yorker, he now resides in San Diego, California, with his wife of 48 years. Spending three decades in the health care industry, Dr. Casciani brings a point of view that emphasizes what we now know about longevity, how to create a future that is bigger than our past, and how to remove the mental clutter that robs us of a positive, energizing outlook on life. Dr. Casciani has shepherded other mental health professionals wanting to work with seniors and has written extensively on the vital role of mental health in long term care settings and the challenges of coping with medical conditions. Dr. Casciani has presented at professional and trade association meetings and has conducted a series of online webinars on aging and mental health. Beyond the clinical work and training, Dr. Casciani’s entrepreneurial spirit has brought rise to his building and operating several businesses in the health care industry, while managing the practices of other mental health professionals in several states.