Deborah Kado is a geriatrician who believes her field is misunderstood. Her interest in the science of aging began with a childhood encounter in a nursing home but recently resulted in intriguing work in which Kado linked microbes in the gut to vitamin D metabolism and poor sleep. Kado refuses to blame aging alone for health problems, advocating for better care regardless of age. It’s never too late to strive for better health, Kado tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Deborah Kado

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• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Deborah Kado, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Stanford University.

(00:03:22) Origin Story in Geriatrics

How a childhood encounter led to Deborah’s career in geriatrics.

(00:06:04) Geriatrics vs. Gerontology

The clinical and research distinctions between the two related fields.

(00:06:58) Rethinking Aging

Reframing aging as a lifelong process rather than decline and loss.

(00:08:34) Patient Care Approach

Why symptoms should be investigated, not dismissed as inevitable aging.

(00:11:33) Linking Bone Health, Gut, and Brain

The surprising relationship between microbiomes, bones, and cognition.

(00:14:34) Vitamin D: Storage vs. Active Form

Why only the active form of vitamin D correlates with microbiome health.

(00:17:22) Gut Health and Sleep

How better sleep quality is linked to healthier microbiomes.

(00:21:20) Medical Education & Geriatric Training

The shortage of geriatrics training in U.S. medical schools.

(00:23:08) Measuring Geriatric Knowledge

The challenges and efforts to measure student knowledge about aging.

(00:27:24) Takeaways for Medical Professionals

Two anecdotes where symptoms were misattributed to old age.

(00:30:51) Empowering Aging Patients

Advice to aging individuals: agency, purpose, and not settling for less care.

(00:34:02) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook