Futurists like to say “The first person to live to be 1,000 years old is alive today.” That’s most likely a young person in 2018, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us are left out of the push for serious life extension through science.
Billions are being poured into longevity solutions, and the Baby Boomers are ready and willing to pay for the privilege of not dying as soon as expected. The way cutting edge medical technologies work in reality, however, it’s more likely that Generation X will be the first demographic cohort to live appreciably longer.
Of course, you’ve got to live long enough for science to allow you to live much longer. That’s where the concept of “healthy aging” comes in.
The phrase is technically an oxymoron (aging is, by definition, the rise in mortality risk, and a “healthy chronic process of damage accumulation” doesn’t seem to be what we’re after). It’s better to think in terms of slowing the aging process, not only to give science time to perfect true longevity treatments, but to simply enjoy your life more as you get older.
Even without the intervention of medical science, new research suggests that there’s not a set upper limit to how long human beings can live. A lot of that is tied to your particular genetics, but taking care of yourself in your 40s and 50s can really pay off in both quality of life and longevity once you’re up into your 70s:
These folks may have A+ genetics, which undeniably contributes to their health, but eating nutritious foods, managing stress and making smart lifestyle choices have also been proven to slow the aging process and stave off disease. Graceful aging isn’t about avoiding wrinkles and gray hair; the ultimate goal is to maintain brain alertness, preserve energy levels and prevent disease.
What do you need to be paying attention to in particular? Omega-3 fatty acids for your brain, plenty of water and B vitamins, maintaining your muscle mass, monitoring your gut and immune health, and keeping your blood sugar and hormones balanced are key. Also, vigorous exercise and solid sleep will keep you going now and into the future.
- Beyond Genetics: Lifestyle Choices to Slow the Aging Process
- How Long Can We Live? The Limit Hasn’t Been Reached, Study Finds
Keep going-
further: top ten
Sweaty Down Under
The new Australian workout craze is called F45 — or “Functional 45” — referring to a 45-minute programmed workout. Functional movements mimic everyday life (think: squatting, running, lifting, twisting, pulling), and they’re used in all 31 of the class types offered at F45.
The Australian Workout That’s About to Be Everywhere
Older and Smarter
It’s not just about living longer. Endurance exercise may keep your brain working at full-tilt as you age according to a new study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Exercise Makes You Smarter as You Age
Long Weekends Work
Forty percent of working adults say the benefits they derive from their vacations — such as less stress and more energy — last only a few days after they return to work. So how can we enjoy the benefits we get from our vacations on a more permanent basis and minimize those undesirable fade-out effects?
Free Agent Nation
By 2027, half the U.S. population will be freelance. If cities focus on that, attracting independent workers and startups suddenly seems a lot more important than, say, courting Amazon.
The Modern Workforce is Freelance — Cities Should Get Ready
I, Human
As robots and automation take over jobs, there will still be some occupations where humans will be preferred. Theoretical physicist and best-selling author Michio Kaku weighs in on the kind of job skills you need to have to stay employed and relevant in the near future.
In the Era of A.I. and Automation, What Job Skills Do You Need Most?
More Time Than Money?
The benefit of saving for retirement in a 401(k) is getting a chance to sock away a large sum each year. With the median balance being only $26,331, that’s not a whole lot in the grand scheme of what could easily be a 20-year retirement or (much) longer.
This Was the Average American’s 401(k) Balance Last Year. How Do You Compare?
The Virtue of Quitting
We’ve all heard the saying: “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” But what if, rather than a step backward, quitting with intention can be a way to leap toward your goals?
Sometimes You Have to Quit to Get Ahead
Lust for Life
No matter how successful you may be, if you are following a path in life that is not true to yourself, you are likely to feel a deep seated discontent with your achievements. Healthy psychological development comes about when our goals in life are truly our own.
Are You Living the Life You Want?
Feels Like the First Time
When we grow older, time seems to speed up as we experience the same things over and over again, and part of it’s because even our favorite things in life have become, sadly, no longer new to us. New research has uncovered a simple trick anyone can do that seems to breathe new life and enjoyment into activities we’ve performed countless times before, making old experiences seem fresh all over again.
Researchers Have Found a Simple Trick to Make Old Experiences Feel Fresh Again
News of the World
If you allow your perception of humanity to be shaped by the news, it’s easy to lose sight of the narrative of human progress. You’re not constantly seeing negative headlines because the world is getting worse; you’re constantly seeing negative headlines because that’s what audiences react to.
New Evidence That the World Really Is Getting Better
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