Falls are a major threat to the health and independence of older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 36 million older adults fall each year, with falls often leading to serious injuries and death.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, both in the United States and worldwide. People age 75 years old and older are at the greatest risk for TBI.

Getting too little sleep is a big problem in the U.S. According to the CDC, one third of adults report they get less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each day, and insufficient sleep has been tied to several chronic health conditions — including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression.

South Shore Health orthopedic surgeon Michael Ayers, MD, answers questions about joint replacement surgery.