The Proof with Simon Hill
The Proof with Simon Hill

Bone Health, Falls, Medications & Healthy Longevity | Dr Deborah Kado

August 31, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Dr. Deborah Kado, a geriatrician and gerontologist, opens by drawing a sharp distinction between the sexiness of "longevity science" and the unglamorous but essential work of geriatrics. She defines a gerontologist as someone who studies aging from any angle—biological, social, psychological—while a geriatrician is a medical doctor with specialized training in caring for older adults. There are only about 7,000 board-certified geriatricians in the U.S., and that number is shrinking even as the population ages. Kado attributes this to a lack of exposure in medical school, low pay, and a cultural stigma that frames caring for older people as depressing or low-status. She pushes back on that stigma, drawing on decades of patient experience to argue that decline is not inevitable.

Attitude as a Biological Variable

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What you'll learn

  • 1 Bone Health, Falls, Medications & Healthy Longevity | Dr. Deborah Kado
  • 2 (00:03) **Gerontology vs. Geriatrics Defined** - Kado explains the difference between studying aging (gerontology) and clinically caring for older adults (geriatrics)
  • 3 (06:49) **The Story of Ralph and the Roots of Empathy** - Kado shares a formative childhood experience at a nursing home that shaped her career
  • 4 (08:39) **Ageism in Society and Clinical Care** - Kado describes how negative stereotypes about aging affect both patient expectations and medical practice
  • 5 (12:25) **Attitudes Toward Aging Predict Dementia Risk** - Kado discusses Becca Levy's research from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
  • 6 (14:24) **The Costco Patient and Why Exercise Studies Are Hard** - A memorable patient taught Kado about function, attitude, and the limitations of research design
  • 7 (17:29) **The Geriatrician's Goal: What Matters to the Patient** - Kado explains the core framework guiding geriatric care

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Everyone wants to talk about longevity. Almost no one wants to talk about gerontology, the field that has been studying how to age well for a century. Dr Deborah Kado, Stanford professor of medicine and geriatrician, joins me to bridge that gap.

From bone health and balance to deprescribing, gut microbiome research, and the surprising power of your attitude towards ageing, this is a masterclass in what actually matters for a long, well-lived life.

What We Cover:

  • Why "longevity science" is largely gerontology rebranded
  • A positive attitude towards ageing and its link to lower dementia risk
  • Balance, power training, and preventing falls and fractures
  • The truth about osteoporosis medications and the scare that drove millions away
  • Why extra weight after menopause can be protective
  • Vitamin D, sleep regularity, and the gut microbiome

This one will change how you think about growing older, whatever your age.

To connect with Dr Deborah Kado, visit her Stanford profile or find her on LinkedIn.

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