A leading expert in the science of healthy aging, Dr. Eric B. Larson offers practical advice for growing old with resilience and foresight. More than just canned advice, Enlightened Aging proposes a path to resilience-one that's proven to help many stave off disability until very old age. The steps on this path include pro-activity, acceptance, and building and maintaining good physical, mental, and social health Using inspiring stories from Dr. Larson's experiences with study participants, patients, friends, and relatives, Enlightened Aging will help readers determine what their paths can look like given their own experiences and circumstances. It informs readers of the scientific evidence behind new perspectives on aging. It inspires readers with stories of people who are approaching aging with enlightened attitudes. It offers advice and resources for readers to build their own reserves for old age. It recommends ways for readers to work with their doctors to stay as healthy as possible for their age. And it offers ideas for building better communities for our aging population. While especially relevant to the baby boom generation, this work is really for people of all ages looking for encouragement and wise counsel in order to live a long, active life.
Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, is a leading expert in the science of healthy aging. Since 1986, he has led a large, longitudinal research program focused on delaying and preventing Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, and declines in memory and thinking. Called the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study, this program is the world's longest-running study of its kind and includes one of the largest research populations age 85 and older. ACT is a collaboration of Group Health (a Seattle-based health system) Kaiser Permanente, the University of Washington (UW), and the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Larson is also executive director of Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (formerly Group Health Research Institute), a public-interest research center. In addition, he is a clinical professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and of health services at the UW School of Public Health. He also maintains an internal-medicine practice, providing primary care to his patients since 1975. Before joining Group Health in 2002, Dr. Larson served as medical director for the UW Medical Center and associate dean for clinical affairs at its medical school from 1989 to 2002. He is a member and past president of the Society of General Internal Medicine; member and former chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians; a master of the American College of Physicians; and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly called the Institute of Medicine) of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Larson has published hundreds of research papers in peer-review medical journals-including the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Joan DeClaire is a journalist specializing in health, psychology, and family relationships. She is co-author of three books: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting (1998); The Relationship Cure: A 5-Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships (2002); Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage: America's Love Lab Experts Share Their Strategies for Strengthening Your Relationship (2007). DeClaire's work has appeared in many consumer magazines, including Readers Digest, People, Parents,Ladies' Home Journal, and Redbook. She currently works as director of communications at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, where she edits the Healthy Findings blog, and manages media relations, social media, scientific editing, and web content development.
Foreword Introduction Welcome to the Age of Enlightenment Proactivity: Aging with an Attitude Acceptance: Discovering Aging on Its Own Terms Build Your Reserves for Resilience Building Your Mental Reserves: Strengthening the Mind/Whole-Body Connection Building Your Physical Reserves: Your Bones, Muscles, Heart, Vision, and Hearing Building Your Social Reserves Choose Your Own Ending: Your Reward for a Life Well Lived Index
Larson, a clinical professor of medicine, and DeClaire, a health journalist, offer an empowering exploration, targeted to baby boomers, of ways to age healthfully while staving off disability and maintaining an active life. Rather than suggesting some 'magic bullet,' the authors focus on increasing resilience, the ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to changing circumstances, through building mental, physical, and social reserves. They state that baby boomers have a better chance of aging healthfully than any generation before them, and identify factors that lead to better aging, including proactivity, attitude, and acceptance. They also caution against overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and new but not necessarily improved medication, instead lauding lifestyle changes as solutions to age-related problems. Larson and DeClaire advise readers to make decisions that are right for them and be proactive about their healthcare. Building on the subject of attitude, they recommend making aspirations more focused and attainable as one ages, something they see as leading to greater happiness and life satisfaction. Though no one can guarantee a long, healthy life, Larson and DeClaire help stack the odds in readers' favor with their informative work. * Publishers Weekly * This can-do guide gives commonsense, doable advice on how to proactively create a path to a meaningful life. Refreshingly, Larson, a physician studying how to delay and prevent Alzheimer's and declines in memory, promotes cost-free approaches rather than pushing particular medicines, supplements, or regimens. Instead, he recommends ways to build resilience by filling mental, physical, and social reserves. 'If you come to aging fully resourced, activated, and aware of the challenges ahead, you're going to have a much richer, more satisfying experience,' Larson writes. One challenge: dementia happens to one third of people aged 85 to 90 and half of those aged 90 to 95. Larson observes that employment can be an important part of identity and self-esteem, but he advises readers to make time for exercise, hobbies, and visits with loved ones, especially those connecting across generations. One 73-year-old, for example, teaches yoga every day and chauffeurs her grandsons. This thoughtful, easy-to-read book can help people of any age learn how to boost the likelihood of a long, fulfilling life. * Booklist * The recommendations in Enlightened Aging are based on a lot of evidence and draw heavily on Larson's research over a decades-long career. Anyone who is planning to get old should read it. * Columns: The University of Washington Alumni Magazine * Kudos to Dr. Eric B. Larson for inspiring readers to take a pro-active stance for their own health. He provides an informed approach to confronting the epidemic of over-treatment, over-diagnosis, and bad drugs older people face today. Enlightened Aging will help turn the tide, offering readers practical advice that leads to resilience and improved quality of life in old age. -- Leana Wen, MD, MSc, Health Commissioner, City of Baltimore; author of When Doctors Don't Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnosis and Unnecessary Tests This uplifting account of what it takes to be prepared for an enlightened old age is a must read for all of us. It translates scientific research on aging to useful advice on building the physical, mental, and emotional reserves to help us age as we most desire. -- Karen Davis, PhD, Eugene and Mildred Lipitz Professor; Director, Rogert C. Lipitz Center For Integrated Health Care at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health In Enlightened Aging Dr. Eric Larson offers a practical, positive, and humane perspective on the challenges of aging. He draws upon a rare combination of great clinical experience and in-depth knowledge of the research on aging. Dr. Larson is that caring physician who is dedicated to finding what will work best for each elderly patient. -- Edward W. Campion, MD, Executive Editor, New England Journal of Medicine The personal, professional and the public intellectual breadth of this book is mind boggling. Even more enlivening is the heartwarming embrace we feel from Eric Larson as the son, physician, and researcher. This is a truly enlightened book by a compassionate collaborative partnership that brings the wise messages to life through stories. Taking control of your own health and building biopsychosocial resilience are the essential and wise takeaways from which we can all benefit. Nothing less fundamental than enriching your story of your life (and death) is at the core of this book. -- Peter Whitehouse, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine We all share the same two goals for our personal end game-a long life and one that preserves our vitality until the end. Yet, information on how to achieve those goals is cluttered, confusing, and replete with overhyped promises. Enlightened Aging cuts through the clutter and offers sound, evidence-based advice from a wise physician and geriatrician. He offers no magic bullets, but does present a wealth of common sense that will help you and your loved ones face the inevitable medical, social, and economic choices that come with aging. Spoiler alert: continued physical activity is the next best thing to that elusive magic bullet. -- Steven A. Schroeder, MD, Distinguished Professor of Health and Healthcare, University of California, San Francisco; Former President and CEO-the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Keep moving, learning, connecting. In Enlightened Aging, Dr. Eric Larson distills decades of research into lessons that can help all of us die young-as late as possible. -- Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD, President, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Enlightened Aging distills and explains 30 years of gerontology about human aging into a wonderfully readable guide for anyone looking to make the kind of choices that lead to one to age well and happily. By peppering the science with stories about his patients, Dr. Larson spins an engaging narrative that should inspire every reader. -- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Dr. Larson's easy to read, well referenced book contains a wealth of important information, and it should be read by everyone who is aging: all of us. -- Catherine DeAngelis, MD, MPH, Professor Emerita, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Public Health; Editor in Chief Emerita, JAMA I can tell you that I read Enlightened Aging with trepidation. Yet as I read it brought a huge smile to my lips because here is sensible, research-based advice based on a huge population studied with the best methods that tells you to become RESILIENT as you get older, how to stay vital and vibrant. Get this book! And let it be your wise guide for getting better as you get older. -- John M. Gottman, Author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work; co-Founder of The Gottman Institute
