From Publishers Weekly
Old age gets a bad rap, argues geriatric specialist Lipschitz. The senior years do not inevitably mean loss of mental or physical prowess, he maintains: in fact, the cliched advice to "take it easy, you're not as young as you were" is exactly the wrong approach. Lipschitz cites studies showing that exercise is beneficial to the elderly, and that sexually active seniors live longer than celibate ones. He even decries the obsession to lose weight, claiming that "thin isn't healthy," since "pleasingly plump" (but not obese) people live longer. Lipschitz's approach is balanced and well reasoned, never fanatical. He argues against invasive surgery for most coronary disease, contending that if a person has no symptoms, surgery can cause more problems than it solves. However, he goes on to list specific conditions that do warrant surgical intervention. Many seniors are over-medicated, he notes, which leads to negative side effects, and he offers specific advice for replacing dozens of medications with a few carefully chosen ones. The host of a public television series called Aging Successfully with Doctor David, Lipschitz is articulate and entertaining, and he clearly explains medical terms and procedures for the layman. His upbeat book reassures seniors that if they look after themselves, their golden years can be their most rewarding. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Robert N. Butler, M.D., Founding Director, National Institute on Aging
Forget everything you thought you knew about aging. Dr. David shows you what's real.


Book Description
Dr. David Lipschitz--PBS's beloved Doctor David--is here to spread the good news about aging. With his special brand of wit, wisdom, and humor, Doctor David has brought cutting-edge insight to nutrition, exercise, memory loss, frailty, nursing home care, heart disease, and other topics.


From the Publisher
There's none better than Dr. David to spread the good news about aging. He's shown millions of viewers in more than 300 cities how to stave off the effects of time. With his special brand of wit, wisdom, and humor, Dr. David has brought cutting-edge insight to nutrition, exercise, memory loss, frailty, nursing home care, heart disease, creativity, and 19 other important topics including sexuality and aging.  As director of one of the top ten geriatric programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, Dr. David brings unparalleled medical knowledge that speaks to the concerns of nearly everyone over 50. "Aging," says Dr. David, "is better than it's ever been in the history of mankind."


From the Inside Flap
"Once you see a grandmother on a Harley, you’ll never think about getting old the same way again." "In fact, it’s high time we discard virtually everything we thought we knew about aging. The time I’ve spent with thousands of my patients has made one thing abundantly clear: Our assumptions about aging are just plain wrong." So says David Lipschitz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and host of the award-winning public television series, Aging Successfully with Doctor David. In Breaking the Rules of Aging, Dr. David shatters the misconceptions that most people—and many doctors—have about the aging process. "Medical myths can have terrible consequences," he says. "Yet doctors who should know better keep passing along the misinformation they picked up in medical school. They routinely give drugs that have been shown to be hazardous, while at the same time ignoring drugs that have been proven successful. They tell patients that memory loss is normal, and that fatigue is inevitable. They don’t talk about sex because, as well all know, older people don’t have sex. I’ve come to understand how poorly patients in their 50s, 60s, and beyond are served by their doctors." With his characteristic wit and warmth, Dr. David sets the record straight on many myths, including: No one should be overweight. Wrong! Losing weight is about the worst thing for older adults. Even if you’re in your 50s and are somewhat pudgy, studies show that you’ll live longer with a few extra pounds. Heart tests and treatments will save your life. Wrong again. There are certainly times when stress tests or procedures for coronary artery disease can make a difference. But most of these procedures are performed on people who don’t need them—and the procedures can do more harm than good. Walking is the perfect exercise for older adults. Walking is fine, but what you also need is tough exercise. Exercise that easy is exercise that doesn’t work. This is just as true in your 60s as it is in your 30s. We all get weaker and more frail with age. Older people do have less muscle mass than younger folks, but if you stay physically active, you’ll always be strong enough to do the things you want to do. Sex and libido invariably head south. Don’t accept "age-related" declines in sexuality. Disease, not age, is what causes sexual decline—and diseases can be treated. As he debunks each myth, you’ll discover Dr. David’s plans, advice, and recommendations developed from his 30 years as one of the nation’s leading doctors. You’ll also discover how to stave off memory loss, which "natural" supplements work and which don’t, what you should do in light of the current anti-aging research, and even when to refuse the "miracles of modern medicine." Breaking the Rules of Aging is for anyone who wants to cut through the hype and stay active, vital, and energetic for more years than any of us thought possible.


About the Author
David Lipschitz is the Chair of the Department of Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging. His 27-part series for PBS, Aging Successfully with Doctor David, has won Aurora and Telly awards. Dr. David is consistently included in "Best Doctors in America," and U.S. News and World Report has named his geriatric program at UAMS among the country's top ten. Dr. David lives in Little Rock.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Forget failing eyesight and fragile bones-forget everything you thought you knew about aging; it's out of line with what the leading researchers know. And David Lipschitz-PBS's beloved Dr. Dave-is here to shatter some of the biggest myths, and to outline a new way to understand and manage the aging process. The big news? There are things you can do right now to dramatically reduce or eliminate the most common afflictions of old age. But they're not what you think!

For example, don't lose that excess weight. The fact is, beyond your 50s dieting is a bad idea; a little extra weight will help you live longer and feel better. And consider medical tests. The 10 most common tests requested by doctors do utterly nothing for you. Here, Dr. Dave tells you why you should insist on 10 different tests instead, explaining the rationale for each in detail.

Dr. Dave also examines the ailments commonly associated with aging-memory loss, vision impairment, Alzheimer's disease, etc.-and gives an in-depth review of their causes, risk factors, and treatments. He includes valuable meal plans for total nutritional health-the number one factor that will keep you active beyond your 80s.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly