Gerontologist Cradduck Addresses Intimacy, Consent After Age-Related Health Changes

Gerontologist Sam Cradduck said the first step when aging or illness affects intimacy is determining what is driving the change. Cradduck, speaking on the Aging Untold program, identified competence and consent as the primary considerations before couples resume sexual activity. For physical issues, including erectile dysfunction, she said a doctor can often help.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician appearing on the program, said couples frequently confuse intimacy with sexuality. Rogers said the two are not interchangeable. She also addressed clinical trials, which older adults are often excluded from, and described them as a route to treatments that are not yet widely available.

Rogers said anyone considering a trial should first examine the question the study is designed to answer. She framed access as a primary benefit of enrolling. "You get great access to tomorrow's medicines today, devices, therapies and other things that will not be available to everybody else for years," Rogers said.

Aging expert Amy O'Rourke said prospective participants need to understand before enrolling that a trial may assign them a placebo rather than the experimental treatment. The program also directed readers to further reporting on how to locate trials and which studies compensate the people who take part.

The program also covered pediatric health research. A study released in October 2025 found that peanut allergy rates among children under 3 dropped by roughly 43% over the previous decade. The research indicated that introducing peanut products to infants between 4 and 6 months old can reduce the risk of developing an allergy, a shift from older medical advice that told parents to avoid peanut products for young children.

The episode also profiled Flo Meiler, a Vermont woman who holds two world records in track and field. Meiler began competing at age 60 and continues to compete at 91. Her home displays her collected medals. "I'm sad that I can't jump like I used to, but I really enjoy it," Meiler said.

Aging Untold is produced by Gray Media Group. The program states it is for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, and it directs anyone with a medical question to consult a licensed physician.