Longevity Rocks!

Longevity is the modern lexicon for aging, and I like it. Longevity is hopeful and powerful whereas aging has taken on the stain of old, out to pasture, and irrelevant. Search the web for longevity and you get entries in integrative functional medicine and holistic medicine. The longevity movement encourages us to approach our newfound long lives with enthusiasm and energy.

Years to our life or Life to our Years

Senior adult Americans live with an average of two to four chronic health conditions which require treatment but do not significantly limit the quality of life. However, no one can accurately predict what health events are lying in wait. The reality is, our later years are so complicated with economic, family, social, health, and environmental issues, leaving little time to relax and sit it out. In fact, the health disparities present today predict minorities to have a longevity experience unlike their white counterparts.

The New Map of Life

Today, a new map of life is emerging from the Stanford Center for Longevity. Under the leadership of Doctors Laura Carstensen and Thomas Rondo, this center has spent years researching and documenting the implications of our new lives.

The New Map of Life: Six Principles to Guide Long-lived Societies

1. New roles and opportunities must be created so that people experience purpose, belonging, and worth at all stages of life.

2. Education is a lifelong pursuit.

3. Working longer will occur in multigenerational contexts.

4. Money. Opportunities to earn and save must be available throughout life to ensure financial security.

5. Advances in the science of aging must be distributed broadly amongst the population.

6. Physical health and the prevention of disease is critical to achieving the promise of longevity.