Is it possible to stack the lifespan odds in your favor?
Is there any feeling more universal than that of wanting more time? Whether you’re 15, 30, 50, or 80 years old, you’ve likely spent a few long nights thinking about how much time you have left in your life. And while it’s true that no one will ever be able to know exactly when they’re going to go, it’s also true that there are a thousand different ways to extend your lifespan over time — or at the very least, to tilt the scales in your favor.
With that thought in mind, we were motivated to create a comprehensive series about longevity with the direct goal of providing real, honest, and highly useful information about how to live as long (and as happily) as possible. In search of that information, we spoke with several aging experts, all of whom are pushing longevity research to new frontiers. Through those inspiring conversations, the Live Well Longer series was born.
Now, we’ve gathered all of the articles from this groundbreaking series right here (along with some other research on how to increase your lifespan). We hope this information makes you feel empowered, educated, and most importantly, excited about the rest of your life.
Live Well Longer
Foods to Eat if You Want to Live a Longer Life
The secrets to living long and strong start with your stomach — but it’s not as simple as picking a fad diet and sticking to it. We called up some of the world’s leading researchers on longevity (including Dr. Peter Attia, author of the buzzy book Outlive), to learn more about the foods that promote healthy aging, the vitamins you don’t want to forget, and why nutritional science can get so complicated.
How to Stay Young: Simple Swaps for Living Longer
When it comes to lifestyle choices, most of us have a general idea of what we could do to become healthier. The “knowledge” part of the equation isn’t so hard — it’s the actual work of ending one bad habit and starting a good one that makes the process so dang difficult. But what if you stopped worrying about kicking a “bad habit” permanently, and started thinking about making small changes on a daily basis, without any concern about whether or not the “good habit” will stick? Doesn’t that all sound much more doable? We’re offering you the simplest, most effective daily lifestyle swaps aimed at helping you live longer (without making you lose your mind along the way).
The Best Exercises for Seniors Who Want to Increase Their Lifespan
The benefits of exercise have been documented again and again in studies over the years — and unlike other areas of study, like sleep or vitamin intake, these results virtually never contradict themselves. Exercise, it seems, is about as objectively healthy as it gets. The question, then, is what type of exercise is best for seniors looking to live longer, and why. We spoke to a bestselling author and doctor about the workout style you should prioritize — and yes, there is one style that’s better than all the rest.
How Your Community and Relationships Drastically Affect Aging
While tips about what to eat and how to exercise are absolutely important when it comes to longevity, it’s equally crucial for your health that you spend an hour each week gossiping on the phone with a friend, never skip a practice with your bowling team, and reschedule that lunch date you canceled weeks ago. Countless studies in the last several decades have revealed that social connections don’t just improve your life emotionally, but physically and psychologically as well. We spoke to top aging experts about how your friendships affect the length of your life.
4 Habits of Exceptional Agers, According to a Seasoned Therapist
What sets those who grow old gracefully (and gratefully) apart from the rest? For one: They’re OK with the fact that there’s no Fountain of Youth. But they also share these 4 habits of exceptional agers, according to a seasoned therapist. If the march of time makes you anxious, you’ll definitely want to hear this expert’s simple rules to living your most fulfilling life.
The Ins and Outs of ‘Inflammaging’ — and Why It’s So Important to the Aging Process
It may be tempting to write off little aches and pains as a natural part of getting older, but what if they were direct indicators of a major medical issue? You’d probably pay a lot more attention. We spoke to longevity experts about the risks of chronic inflammation, including the symptoms to look out for, the reasons it affects our aging so dramatically, and the more serious conditions that could bubble up as a result.
More Aging Advice
How Aging Affects Your Sex Drive
Do media stereotypes bear any resemblance to real life? We spoke to Dr. Regina Koepp PsyD, ABPP, a board-certified clinical psychologist, couples therapist, and founder of the Center for Mental Health & Aging, and Rachel Hoffman, Ph.D., chief therapy officer at Real, to get some answers about what really happens to men and women’s sex drive as they age. And — maybe more importantly — how women and men can manage the fluctuations in their sex drives over the years to ensure a fulfilling sex life at any age.
How Long Can Humans Really Live?
To better understand the complexities behind potentially living longer than ever before, we turned to demographer Mark Mather and Heather Whitson, M.D. of the Duke Aging Center. Find out the average life expectancy, the different types of aging, whether aging can actually be reversed, and the benefits and drawbacks of living longer.
What Is “Biological Age?”
Gauging how well-preserved a person is, or what’s come to be called their “biological age,” is something scientists have puzzled over for years, says Daniel Belsky, Ph.D., a professor at Columbia University’s Aging Center. One of the earliest attempts to quantify it was in 1969, when Alex Comfort, a British scientist best known for his bestseller The Joy of Sex, proposed a test to measure the rate of aging in humans. In the years since we’ve come a lot closer to creating something akin to a biological age calculator, and a flurry of medical startups have developed their own battery of tests. But how do they work? And are they actually reliable? Here’s what to know about the hallmarks of aging and how old you really are.
10 Celebrities Get Honest About Aging
We’ve gathered some uplifting and honest reflections, both serious and silly, from well-known people — including one very familiar face! We hope they’ll help you to feel more positive, and dare we say, excited, about growing older.
How Much Sleep Adults Need
As we mature, our sleep needs plateau: For most of our adult lives, until we hit 65, 7 to 9 hours will suffice. After that, we need just slightly less — between 7 to 8 hours. Find out more about how much sleep adults need, how your sleep needs change with age, and what counts as adequate rest.
How Much Do Genetics Impact Longevity?
While it might seem that how long you live is determined by your DNA, genetic predispositions, and family history, the reality is that we have a lot more individual control over longevity than previously thought. Scientists have been looking into why our cells break down as we age, and the findings could literally change your outlook on life — genetics don’t affect longevity as much as you may think.
Eager to learn more? Check in each Saturday for the next installment of Live Well Longer — or come back to this page as we update it each week.
