Active Aging and Wellness,llc

03/02/2026

Fall Prevention class starts today at the Grove. It’s full at this time . Please message me or let the senior center know if you’re interested in subsequent classes.

Skeletal bones 🦴 play a more significant role in our bodies than merely providing structural integrity.
Bones are also important endocrine system producing hormones.
As we age bone loss accelerates, with women losing up to 20% of bone density in the first seven years after menopause.

Importance of bones

Protection: They protect vital organs from injury.
Mineral storage: Bones are the body's main reservoir for calcium, a mineral essential for all cell function, and they release it as needed.
*****
Endocrine function: Bones also act as an endocrine organ, producing factors that can influence metabolic functions like energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and feeding behavior.

Hormonal regulation: The endocrine system regulates bone health through hormones that control the constant process of bone remodeling, where old bone is broken down and new bone is formed.
Key hormones: Hormones like estrogen, testosterone, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D are critical for maintaining bone density.
Hormonal imbalance: Imbalances in these hormones can lead to bone loss. For instance, a drop in estrogen after menopause can cause significant bone loss. Conditions that cause an excess of certain hormones, like thyroid-stimulating hormone, can also lead to weakened bones.
Bone loss as we age
Bone loss acceleration: After reaching peak bone mass around age 25-30, bone density tends to remain stable until about age 40. After 40, the rate of bone breakdown can begin to outpace bone formation.
Menopause in women: The sharp decline in estrogen during menopause accelerates bone loss significantly.
Hormonal changes in men: Men also experience bone loss, though it is a more gradual decline linked to a drop in s*x hormones, leading to a later onset of osteoporosis compared to women.

Specific % of loss: Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density within the first seven years after menopause. For men, the rate of loss is slower, but it still contributes to age-related bone density decline.
What you can do—-
Schedule Dexa scan
Talk to your Dr. about hormones
And see your Physical Therapist for education and specific exercises . 🦴

01/27/2026

01/26/2026

01/26/2026

Bone density test testing!
Is it important to get a bone density DEXA scan. Below is mine for femiral neck . Baseline tests would be in the 50s and 60s. ( if health or medication use contributed to bone loss, then earlier would be indicated) As you can see with the blue sections on graph, the trajectory aims significantly downward starting mid 50’s.
It is important to test femoral neck, spine, and forearm.
DEXA scans are generally covered with Medicare and secondary for those who are 65 and older. However, under 65 depending on a person’s insurance plan and deductible, costs can vary widely. For example, mine would be $467 towards deductible and a self-pay price without going through insurance when I checked would be almost $400. Well, there is a third option . You can go to a wellness private facility to get a medical DEXA scan and the price can be significantly less. I had mine at DEXAfit Scottsdale, Az for a fraction of the cost of a hospital based imaging center .

Overview
How Do I Read a DXA Bone Density Report? | Men's Health Boston
DEXA scan results use T-scores and Z-scores to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk. T-scores compare your bone density to a healthy young adult, used for diagnosing osteoporosis in older adults. Z-scores compare your density to people of your own age, s*x, and size, used for assessing children or younger adults. AI generated
Be informed to help prevent bone fractures .
If you need help improving your bone density, consult with your Dr. and see your physical therapist.

12/22/2025

Classes starting Jan. 5th
Call the Ashland Senior Center for more information.

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

12/01/2025

A new survey of centenarians finds a growing number of people living to 100 have prioritized healthy habits. Here's how exercise, social connection and positivity play a role in aging well.

11/25/2025

Floor to stand and fall strategies.

11/25/2025

11/03/2025

Skeletal bones 🦴 play a more significant role in our bodies than merely providing structural integrity.
Bones are also important endocrine system producing hormones.
As we age bone loss accelerates, with women losing up to 20% of bone density in the first seven years after menopause.

Importance of bones

Protection: They protect vital organs from injury.
Mineral storage: Bones are the body's main reservoir for calcium, a mineral essential for all cell function, and they release it as needed.
*****
Endocrine function: Bones also act as an endocrine organ, producing factors that can influence metabolic functions like energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and feeding behavior.

Hormonal regulation: The endocrine system regulates bone health through hormones that control the constant process of bone remodeling, where old bone is broken down and new bone is formed.
Key hormones: Hormones like estrogen, testosterone, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D are critical for maintaining bone density.
Hormonal imbalance: Imbalances in these hormones can lead to bone loss. For instance, a drop in estrogen after menopause can cause significant bone loss. Conditions that cause an excess of certain hormones, like thyroid-stimulating hormone, can also lead to weakened bones.
Bone loss as we age
Bone loss acceleration: After reaching peak bone mass around age 25-30, bone density tends to remain stable until about age 40. After 40, the rate of bone breakdown can begin to outpace bone formation.
Menopause in women: The sharp decline in estrogen during menopause accelerates bone loss significantly.
Hormonal changes in men: Men also experience bone loss, though it is a more gradual decline linked to a drop in s*x hormones, leading to a later onset of osteoporosis compared to women.

Specific % of loss: Women can lose up to 20% of their bone density within the first seven years after menopause. For men, the rate of loss is slower, but it still contributes to age-related bone density decline.
What you can do—-
Schedule Dexa scan
Talk to your Dr. about hormones
And see your Physical Therapist for education and specific exercises . 🦴

10/27/2025

Last “Standing Steady “ class of October. Our wonderful volunteer Susan brought a beautiful spread of goodies for the classes today . Thank you !
What a participant said - “ I am now able to get up out of a low chair!”