The most surprising thing for me was how often problems with medications are mistaken for normal aging. Cruikshank explains that older adults may often take several drugs, even though aging bodies may react differently and side effects can mimic decline (Cruikshank, 2013). I was concerned about this because treatment meant to help can sometimes worsen an older person’s condition and make them feel more dependent. It also made me reflect on the question of whether families should consider symptoms as unavoidable aging instead of asking whether medicines or choices could have contributed to them.
Qronson’s conversation with Dimitri’s daughter showed the importance of why doctors need to ask more than the standard or routine medical questions. After being healthy and active, Dimitri had rapidly declined, and his medications had just been started. Aronson reviewed the timeline and identified a prescribing cascade and reduced the medications prescribed to him (Aronson, 2019). His improvement demonstrated the profound impact medical decisions can have on the life of an older patient.
When Cruikshank says that Alzheimer’s disease stands for aging in America, I think she means to say that dementia is a powerful symbol of what people dread about growing old. Dementia may be portrayed as almost inevitable in the media, but it does not have to be (Cruikshank, 2013). Aronson distinguishes between normal aging and dementia, and emphasises that there are medical causes of dementia (Aronson, 2019). I believe society has shifted somewhat towards this view, but that fear and stereotypes are still associated with old age and memory loss.
Jønsson’s 2024 article taught me that medicalization is more than just the issue of taking too many medicines. An aging body undergoes normal changes, and some of these changes can be labeled as diseases, which results in unnecessary worry, diagnosis, treatment, and testing (Jønsson, 2024). This reinforces the idea that society views aging in terms of sickness and that medicine may also be a source of harm, as expressed by Aronson. I still wonder how professionals can identify serious disease early without unnecessarily diagnosing and treating normal age-related changes.
References
Aronson, L. (2019). Elderhood: Redefining aging, transforming medicine, reimagining life. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Cruikshank, M. (2013). Learning to be old, gender, culture, and aging. Bloomsbury Academic.
Jønsson, A. B. R. (2024). Medicalization of old age: Experiencing healthism and overdiagnosis in a Nordic welfare state. Medical Anthropology, 43(4), 310–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2024.2349515
Princess,
Look up how to set up your featured image before the next post. I have left you information on every post you have made so far.
You have all the main points included here, and they are all important. You also talk about the importance of asking the right questions in relationship to Dimitri’s care – good catch.
Nobody would disagree with treating serious or life-threatening disease. The issue is whether everything should fall into that category. It seems the most important thing is to consider what is best for the individual in their particular circumstances.
I have more information about references in a video I will upload after I finish grading these posts.
Dr P