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July/August 2024
July/August 2024 Issue Editor’s Note Veterans of all ages face numerous health risks resulting from military service, such as spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, chronic pain related to injuries sustained during service, and even blindness and deafness, as well as chronic conditions arising from environmental exposures and other issues. Adding to those, for older adults who served in the military, there are unique factors that increased their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In this issue’s cover story, contributor Jamie Santa Cruz details four such risks factors—traumatic brain injury, PTSD, sleep disturbances or deprivation, and substance use disorder—and offers expert advice for clinicians who treat veterans. Coding is increasingly becoming a burden on physicians. As the responsibility for coding tasks rises, so does the need for education. In her feature “Physicians and Coding,” contributor Sue Coyle looks at the reasons for the increasing demand on physicians, details the potential errors that can occur when physicians aren’t adequately trained, discusses the potential for burnout, and offers tools, resources, and educational opportunities. It seems there’s virtually no area of human health that’s not influenced by the gut microbiome. We’ve reported on its association with bone health, frailty, immune health, and pain. In this issue, contributor Mark Coggins looks at the mounting evidence that the gut microbiome can help regulate blood pressure and examines the mechanisms by which it may do so. And Sue Coyle looks at whether public health advice about alcohol may be headed for a sharp turnaround. Is a daily glass of wine, once touted as a heart-healthy practice, no longer a sound habit? Coyle tracks the shifting view and looks at the latest research concerning the benefits and risks of moderate drinking. Also in this issue are articles about repeat fall risks, the association between arthritis pain and cognition, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in geriatric medicine as well as the specific use of AI in long term care, and access to diabetes care in rural areas. — Kate Jackson |
