Enlightened Aging

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.

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.

• Foreword Introduction Welcome to the Age of EnlightenmentProactivity: Aging with an AttitudeAcceptance: Discovering Aging on Its Own TermsBuild Your Reserves for ResilienceBuilding Your Mental Reserves: Strengthening the Mind/Whole-Body ConnectionBuilding Your Physical Reserves: Your Bones, Muscles, Heart, Vision, and HearingBuilding Your Social Reserves Choose Your Own Ending: Your Reward for a Life Well LivedIndex