The Emerging Science of Healthspan
Join Mount Sinai medical experts for an online conversation on “Protocols for Living Better, Not Just Longer: The Science Behind Longevity and Healthspan.” Part of 92NY’s Spark Your Health Talk Series, the program will take place November 5th at 7pm ET. Read more about the virtual event and register by following the link below.
The Lowdown on Longevity Supplements
Experts split anti-aging supplements into two categories: traditional and emerging.
The upshot: There is little scientific evidence to support either avenue, although most doctors are comfortable prescribing conventional vitamins such as D and B12, if they deem a patient deficient. However, the medical community urges caution when it comes to experimental supplements, even as some professionals believe the industry holds promise.
A surprise twist: While the subject of supplements can be divisive, all experts agree that exercise is the only proven option for stemming or reversing epigenetic (alterations at the cellular level) aging.
HIIT and Its Impact on Cancer
A new study shows that even a single session of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can combat cancer on multiple levels. Scientists found that strenuous exercise produced specific proteins, known as myokines, which positively impact immune responses and inflammation. Furthermore, the research suggests that HIIT not only has the potential to impede the development of cancer, but can also improve survival rates. Read more about the results by following the link below.
7 Challenges Facing America's Aging Population
At the 2025 meeting of the Population Association of America, aging experts identified 7 major trends impacting the health and lifespans of older Americans. Three that stood out to us: 1. More Americans are living with chronic diseases later in life, despite advances in healthcare. The solution may involve focusing on wellness in early childhood and adolescence. 2. Robust social networks are absolutely critical to lifespan. 3. Climate crises and extreme weather disproportionately impact older adults, increasing physical, social, and financial vulnerability.
The speakers also specified several promising areas for future research.
Learn about the Strategies that Lead to Happiness in Later Years
Tomorrow! Join the Stanford Center on Longevity for “A Conversation with Kerry Burnight,” author of “Joyspan. The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half.” The webinar will take place August 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time. Register through the link below.
The Joy of Living
When you add the terms lifespan + health span (the length of time a person spends in good health) the sum is the concept of joyspan. Coined by gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight, joyspan refers to a deep sense of well-being and fulfillment, particularly during the second half of life. It allows one to thrive, and not merely survive, while growing older. Burnight offers four “non-negotiables” for cultivating and lengthening your joyspan: grow, adapt, give, and connect. Read more about what each action means in the NYT “Well” column.
Getting Into a Rhythm
Researchers confirmed the relationship between the body’s circadian rhythm and metabolic health. Getting into a rhythm is also critical to exercise performance and benefits. A new study found that working out early in the day, and maintaining consistency, achieved the best results. Read more about the findings at the link below.
Coffee’s Surprising Perk
Coffee drinkers expect a quick, short-term boost from their cup of joe, but a new study suggests that drinking coffee may have long-term health benefits as well. Researchers tracked the diets of more than 47,000 female nurses for multiple decades beginning in the early ‘70s. A positive correlation was found between the amount of caffeine the women consumed (typically from coffee) between the ages of 45 and 60 years, and the probability of aging well. Read more in the New York Times.
What We’re Reading
Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity, by Dr. Eric Topol, explores the burgeoning study and science of longevity. Topol, a cardiologist and molecular scientist, initially posited that genetic makeup was the key to a longer lifespan. However, further research found that lifestyle factors—including diet, exercise, and social connection—had a far greater impact on longevity. This revelation is welcome news, suggesting we all have some control when it comes to healthy aging. Read a review of the book at the Wall Street Journal.
Maybe, Don’t Come In From the Cold
New research found that cold-water immersion (14°C/57.2°F) has positive effects on cellular repair and resistance. Subjects, exposed for one hour daily, showed an increase in a critical biological protective mechanism after just one week. Read more about the (limited) study, and the link between cold exposure and longevity at SciTechDaily.
Healthy Aging 2025: Mind and Body
Attend the Stanford Center on Longevity’s second annual healthy aging conference, May 5, 2025 (in-person and via Zoom). Leading experts on nutrition, fitness, social connection, health tech, and wellness, will share the latest research, innovations, and best practices to support a longer, healthier life. For more information and registration details, follow the link below.
Nature vs Nurture
A healthy lifestyle can take you only so far. Research shows that eating right, exercising often, and otherwise adopting healthy habits can extend the lifespan—to about 80, or even 90 years of age. After that, genetics are likely the most significant factor. Do you have any centenarians in your family? Read the NYT article to find out more about longevity influences.
How Class Divide Impacts Aging and Longevity
Tune in to Columbia University’s upcoming aging seminar, Disconnected - The Growing Class Divide in Civic Life. Sam Pressler, Practitioner Fellow at Columbia University, will lead discussion on how social assets like friends, education, religious/community groups, and other forms of support–often dictated early on by level of education–can impact longevity and well being.
Follow the link below to register for the session, which takes place February 19, from 11am - 12pm ET.
The Vitalizing Effects of Volunteering
In addition to serving your community, new research found that volunteering can serve you, as well! Even giving your time for just one hour a week can contribute to a longer, healthier life. Experts noted that volunteering supports physical, social, and psychological benefits, resulting in a positive impact on biological aging. Follow the link below to Health.com to read more about the benefits of helping others.
Envisioning a Less Ageist Society
The Stanford Center on Longevity will host Century Summit V, January 22-23, 2025, with limited in-person attendance at Stanford and a virtual audience around the world. The conference will focus on challenging ageism and creating a positive intergenerational society. Attendance is free, and more information, along with the registration link, can be found by following the link below.
Centenarian In Chief
Former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29th, was 100 years old–a milestone age not achieved by just anyone. To look at the lynchpins of his long and active life, Fortune spotlights Carter’s three strategies for longevity. Read on to see how fitness, love, and community factored in.
Can Do at 102
We recently had the privilege of visiting Rancho La Puerta in Baja California, MX, and attended a Q&A with its 102-year-old founder, Deborah Szekely. What an amazing life she’s led, from founding the wellness retreat and spa in 1940, to establishing San Diego’s New Americans Museum and Immigration Learning Center at age 80. Her advice for staying healthy and engaged? Maintain an active social network, be positive, and just move (she still walks one mile every day)! Read more about Deborah’s remarkable story in this Fortune interview.
The Dick Van Dyke Show Lives On
To honor Dick Van Dyke’s 99th birthday, Coldplay’s Chris Martin invited the actor and comedian to join him in recording a music video of the band’s song, “All My Love.” In the 7-minute version, Van Dyke sings, dances, and shares poignant memories of his decades-long career. Happy Birthday Mr. Van Dyke, and congratulations on this cool, co-generational collaboration!
Follow the link below to watch.
The Long and Winding Road
Might we take a different route if we knew we’d live to be 100? According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half a million Americans are expected to live to at least 100 years of age by 2050—that’s quadruple the current number of centenarians. Laura Carstensen, founder of Stanford University’s Center on Longevity, suggests we need to rethink our traditional pathways to optimize this new-found longevity. For example, she suggests making childhood longer, or working less while rearing children and more later in life instead of retiring. Read on for more innovative ideas.
Pragmatism + Optimism = 102 and Still Going Strong
Meet Hilda Jaffe, 102, who defies age and is the veritable embodiment of a ‘superager.’ As the Washington Post reports, at age 88, Jaffe decided to turn the page and start a new chapter, selling her home in New Jersey and moving to Manhattan, taking up residence in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. More than a decade later, she is still actively enjoying the easy walks to grocery stores, seeing opera, and living independently in the city that never sleeps. According to Sofiya Milman, director of human longevity studies at the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, superagers typically have a very positive outlook on life, with built-in resilience. Read on to learn more about Jaffe’s approach to life and what studies of other superagers reveal.