What is Aging?
Aging happens as people gradually undergo changes over time. It’s a multidimensional process that affects every aspect of life: physical, spiritual, social, psychological, and mental. Some areas, like wisdom and knowledge, continue to grow, while others, like reaction time, may slow down. However, research shows that even in later years, there’s potential for growth and development in many areas including physical, mental, and social.
While the western medical model has excelled in managing many aging complications such as acute fractures, chronic age-related conditions are often managed poorly. At the GWCIM, we believe that regardless of the nature of one’s aging-related illnesses, there is always room for improvement of health and wellbeing.
What aging-related problems do we address?
- Chronic diseases: Conditions like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As primary care we will collaborate with your specialty doctors helping them coordinate care in more wholistic way.
- Pain management: Chronic pain, including arthritis and neuropathy.
- Malnutrition: Dietary deficiencies and weight loss.
- Sleep issues: Insomnia and sleep apnea.
- Mobility issues: Falls, osteoporosis, and frailty.
- Cognitive decline: Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory-related conditions.
- Parkinson’s disease: we utilize several pioneering methods.
- Mental health: Depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
- Polypharmacy: Managing the risks associated with multiple medications.
- Thyroid disorders: Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
- Dehydration: Often due to reduced fluid intake or medications.
- Digestive issues: constipation, GERD, malabsorption, leaky-gut and IBS
- Immune system decline: Increased susceptibility to infections.
- Neurotransmitters balancing: based on careful history and functional testing.
Our team
If you are looking for a holistic geriatric team who will address your medical problems and, most importantly, optimize your current health, you came to the right place.
Dr. Mikhail Kogan is trained in both geriatrics and integrative medicine. He provides comprehensive integrative geriatric consultations as well as geriatric primary care. We have the whole team of Integrative Medicine specialists to support you on your health journey. We will always communicate and work together with your current health care providers, making sure the whole team is coordinated.
- Mikhail Kogan, MD
- Marianna Ledenac, ND
- Sally Novak, LCSW, LAc.
- Tiffany Hoyt, DAOM, LAc.
- Ajowa Ifateyo, nutritionist, ReCODE coordinator
- Abraham Benavides, MD
- Joelle Rabion, medical cannabis coach
- Yael Flusberg, Reiki and Yoga therapist
More about Chronic Memory and Cognitive problems
While scientific evidence is still developing, we’ve found that nutritional deficiencies, chronic stress, and inflammation often contribute to cognitive decline as we age. For instance, Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in people over 65 and often missed in standard tests. At our clinic, we offer high-dose vitamin B12 treatments and use alternative testing to meet individual needs, which frequently boosts cognitive function.
We carefully address chronic inflammation and gut problems with diet modifications and supplements such as probiotics, fish oil, etc. and provide affordable mind-body techniques for holistic care.
Alzheimer’s disease and Cognitive Decline Reversal: special reCODE™ program
Dr. Kogan and his team at GWCIM offer most of the ReCODE program (The Dr. Bredesen protocol™ and the ReCODE Protocol™ ) for Alzheimer treatment via TeleHealth to new and existing patients. We also offer weekly upport group for patients and family members.
For more information visit ReCODE program and ReCODE Support Group pages
Our Healthy Aging Program
Offers
- to optimize hormone balance and minimize the impact of hormonal instability and change
- maintain a healthy heart and strong bones
- strengthen immune system and stamina
- achieve mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health.
Our collaborations
We work closely with several institutions that are striving to develop innovative care strategies for healthy aging:
George Washington University, The Center on Aging, Health & Humanities
The Center, founded in 1994 by the late Gene D. Cohen, MD, is the interprofessional home for faculty across departments and schools at the George Washington University who are working to improve the lives and health of older persons through education, research, and work in clinical arenas, with the inclusion of the humanities and creative arts to promote healing and wellness throughout the life span. The Center provides a home for networking and showcasing each faculty member’s and researcher’s individual work to build upon common areas of inquiry and develop the capacity for interprofessional collaboration with colleagues who integrate the humanities and healthcare to improve the quality of life for older adults at GW, in the U.S., and globally. To learn more about the GW Center on Aging, Health and Humanities, click here.
The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health
GWish was established in May 2001 as a leading organization on education and clinical issues related to spirituality and health. Under the direction of Founder and Director Christina M. Puchalski, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Care Sciences, GWish is changing the face of healthcare through innovative programs for physicians and other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, including clergy and chaplains.
The George Washington University Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care
The life expectancy in the United States has improved so much that the fastest growing population group in the U.S. is over the age of 85. Our board-certified geriatric specialists at the GW Medical Faculty Associates provide comprehensive care for medically complex patients. The services include primary and preventative healthcare, medical and cognitive assessment, management of acute and chronic health problems and memory disorders, and palliative medicine consultation. Our geriatric specialists offer a whole-team approach to patient care, which includes support from a social worker.
Our Medical Director, Dr. Kogan, serves as a faculty member at each of the above institutions.
