LIVING TO BE 100

Course overview

The physical and medical challenges that accompany the aging process are often associated with negative social expectations, patronizing or even dismissive attitudes. Opportunities for continued work and personal growth can be limited in cultures obsessed with youth and speed. And yet, multiple ongoing studies of centenarians around the world are revealing ways to construct a lifestyle that minimizes the risk of disability and dependence. Learning how to avoid, endure, or delay the age-related illnesses that commonly affect us is a worthy pursuit. The course, “Living to be 100” is designed to help health care professionals in any field understand the cluster of lifestyle characteristics associated with a long and healthy life. Clinically important topics in the course include: - Medical, environmental, and social factors that have contributed to increased life expectancy in industrialized nations - Genetic factors which play a role in healthy aging and longevity - How the leading causes of death have changed over the past century - Gender differences in life expectancy and disability in advanced age - Why a long “healthspan” is usually preferable to a long “lifespan” - How the Mediterranean diet promotes optimal aging and cardiovascular health - Personality traits that contribute to health, well-being, and independence in advanced age - How anxiety, stress, and depression compromise chances for a healthy old age This course also provides clinicians with insights into the 16 most important practices or attributes shared by centenarians around the world. Understanding these time-tested principles can help practitioners in every field enhance their advice and guidance to patients, students, and loved ones alike.