Sam Bauman: More on aging and eating right

Still waiting to see if the 103-year-old lady is Carson’s oldest, but meanwhile another reader wrote me. Rich Dunn, who is responding to my article about the high cost of health care, wrote:

“I’m 67 and cost Medicare almost nothing. Why? Because I have nothing wrong with me. And that’s no accident. I eat a diet free of nutritional deficiencies, as recommended by Bruce Ames, an 85-year-old Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley. A 1998 National Medal of Science winner, Prof. Ames still works full time as senior scientist at a laboratory in Oakland where he conducts research into the triage theory of aging.

“What is triage theory? It’s a whole new approach to preventing the so-called “diseases of aging” through consumption of essential levels of nutrition.

“His research is aimed at determining those higher RDA’s with greater precision, but I can tell you this much from personal experience: He’s right. It works. And once triage theory becomes the dominant health care paradigm in this country, we’ll be able to put most of that $3 trillion we currently spend on drugs and doctors to much more productive use.”

I looked up Bruce Ames on the Internet and found that he is a prize-winning scientist and developer of a test that has become a medical standard. Less about his diet, but Dunn, has some points that Ames, who is 85, confirms.

Mile High Jazz Band for seniors

Every Tuesday the Mile High Jazz Band sits in at Comma Coffee. Led by David Bugli — who also conducts the Carson Symphony — at the piano the monthly performances draw a lot of seniors who remember the Big Band music of their young days.

On Veterans Day, the MHJB saluted vets with such as “In the Mood” and “American Patrol.” Next performance is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Cost is $5 and free for those 18 and younger. Great place and time to remember old days.

Second thoughts on aging

Readers of The New Yorker will recognize the byline of Atul Gawande, who writes on medical issues. His new book, “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” questions the way medical science has been treating older persons’ medical problems.

He writes the medical profession has been wrong in ensuring health and survival rather then “enable well being.”

We need to reckon with the actuality of the body’s decline and adapt to that.

If you can’t find the book, look up the Sunday New York Times Nov. 9 online. The full review may bring about some changes.

Reminder about legal wills

John Grisham was written some 28 novels, most about lawyers and the laws that govern us (most of the time). “Sycamore Row” is the story of a man planning his estate after he commits suicide. He writes a holographic (hand written, without notary help or lawyer instruction) will and hires Jake to enforce the will. There’s $20 million or more at stake, and most of that goes to his housekeeper of three years.

The family sues and lawyers gather like hyenas to get a cut of the pie while Jake defends the will.

This is a brutal condemnation of the legal fraternity, rich with details about the legal buzzards swooping in for the kill.

It’s also a pointed reminder to seniors about making a good, solid lawyer advised last will and testament. Unless an estate is wealth, most wills are never contested. But when the estate has some real wealth, seniors should make a solid will that will stand up if they want their estate to go to whom or what they desire.

Incidentally, “Sycamore Row” is a good read although it runs to more the 600 pages. It’s also a sequel to an earlier Grisham work. But it’s enough to scare the reader off lawyers of any kind.

And yes, the holographic will stands up to a multi-lawyer challenge. But don’t rush to get out the ballpoint pens.

Replacing your laptop

Latest electronic marvel is the laptop that also serves as a detachable tablet. I’ve tried a couple of them raining in price from $300 to more than a thousand. Not for me at this stage of development and maybe not for you. More on this next week.

Sam Bauman writes about senior issues for the Nevada Appeal.