Looking Beyond Longevity as the Only End Goal

Two years ago, as part of a series on Futurism, I wrote a blog on Longevity and Anti-aging. I heard from several people (including my wife) that the whole idea of living past 100 was depressing and unappealing.

What was lost in this discussion was that experts are really saying that science will extend age and quality of life. Dr. Gordon Lithgow, associate professor at the Buck Institute for Advancing Age Research first used the term Healthspan to describe “the period of a person’s life during which they are generally healthy and free from serious or chronic illness”.

While there are more than 28 anti-aging therapies in human clinical trials, there are some simple things that you can implement to enhance your quality of life as you age. Here are seven activities to consider that will improve your health span.

1. Eat less, eat less sugar, and eat less often
2. Spend time outside, preferably in nature
3. Improve your sleep
4. Lift heavy things
5. Find time to be quiet
6. Build up your social network
7. Embrace stressing your body

Helpful Stressors

Stressing your body may seem counterintuitive, but there is increasing scientific evidence that many activities that cause mitochondrial stress in the cell cause a cascade of positive effects that improve health and help reverse the cellular effects of aging. Some of these helpful stressors are:

1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
2. Saunas (heat therapy)
3. Cold therapy
4. Intermittent fasting
5. Weight training

The Stanford Center on Longevity has said that as many as half of today’s 5-year-olds can expect to live to 100, and that by 2050 living to 100 may become the norm. They have recently released a report called The New Map of Life that attempts to address the profound demographic effects of society living much longer. This report identifies the principles that should guide us as we address the challenges that longevity creates

If you’d like to explore The Stanford Center on Longevity’s New Map of Life you can read it here.

As always, we are here for you. Please email or call if you want to set up a meeting or talk by phone.

Ralph Broadwater, M.D., CFP®

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