For civilization, there’s no better time to understand aging. With roughly 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 in the U.S. every day, the “silver tsunami” is predicted to raise the national health care bill to $4 trillion in 2030. Globally, the 65-plus demographic is estimated to triple from 524 million in 2010 to about 1.5 billion by 2050.
Most of us hope to live to a vigorous old age. And to help us do that, researchers are exploring ways to manage or overcome some of the most common and vexing age-related ailments. Here you’ll get a look at some of the most groundbreaking developments.
But there are plenty of self-anointed health and nutrition gurus out there, too, spouting advice about diets, supplements and exercise to a population eager to try almost anything. What sometimes gets lost in this life-extending frenzy is what science actually tells us about healthy aging. What dietary habits help you live longer? Do you have to lift weights or run marathons to keep your body in tiptop shape? Is there proof that brain training actually works? We’ve culled recent research to lend some scientific perspective and understand what works when it comes to healthy-aging claims.
