Redefining Aging: Purpose and Longevity

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This chapter examines the dual perceptions of aging, contrasting frailty with the ideal of graceful aging. It emphasizes the importance of fostering connections and purpose early in life to enhance the quality of later years, while also critiquing societal views on the elderly and the healthcare system. The discussion highlights research on autonomy and community as pivotal factors for thriving in old age, presenting insights from the Health Optimisation Summit and the Blue Zones project.

Humans have always been obsessed with getting old, or rather staying young, but now science is beginning to catch up. Longevity has become a hot topic, from university laboratories to Silicon Valley startups. In the final episode of a special Science Weekly three-part mini-series on ageing, Ian Sample meets Dr Rachel Broudy, medical director at Pioneer Valley Hospice and faculty lead of eldercare at Ariadne Labs, to find out how we can stop fearing our old age, and perhaps even make it fun.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod