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Deborah Kado is a geriatrician who believes her field is misunderstood. Her interest in the science of aging began with a childhood encounter in a nursing home but recently resulted in intriguing work in which Kado linked microbes in the gut to vitamin D metabolism and poor sleep. Kado refuses to blame aging alone for health problems, advocating for better care regardless of age. It’s never too late to strive for better health, Kado tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Deborah Kado, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Stanford University.
(00:03:22) Origin Story in Geriatrics
How a childhood encounter led to Deborah’s career in geriatrics.
(00:06:04) Geriatrics vs. Gerontology
The clinical and research distinctions between the two related fields.
(00:06:58) Rethinking Aging
Reframing aging as a lifelong process rather than decline and loss.
(00:08:34) Patient Care Approach
Why symptoms should be investigated, not dismissed as inevitable aging.
(00:11:33) Linking Bone Health, Gut, and Brain
The surprising relationship between microbiomes, bones, and cognition.
(00:14:34) Vitamin D: Storage vs. Active Form
Why only the active form of vitamin D correlates with microbiome health.
(00:17:22) Gut Health and Sleep
How better sleep quality is linked to healthier microbiomes.
(00:21:20) Medical Education & Geriatric Training
The shortage of geriatrics training in U.S. medical schools.
(00:23:08) Measuring Geriatric Knowledge
The challenges and efforts to measure student knowledge about aging.
(00:27:24) Takeaways for Medical Professionals
Two anecdotes where symptoms were misattributed to old age.
(00:30:51) Empowering Aging Patients
Advice to aging individuals: agency, purpose, and not settling for less care.
(00:34:02) Conclusion
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