In this Article

• Introduction to healthy aging
• Role of the mind in healthy aging
• Changing perceptions on aging
• Senior Health Index

Role of the Mind

NIA researchers are also finding that the mind plays an important part in a person's ability to age well and feel content at an elderly age.

"Many studies have shown that staying engaged and maintaining good social connections help older people retain cognitive function," says Dr. Salerno, citing research from ACTIVE (Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elders), a clinical study cofunded by NIA and another NIH component, the National Institute of Nursing Research. Early results of ACTIVE look promising, and additional long-term followup studies are already underway.

University of Wisconsin professor Dr. Gloria Sarto also stressed at the "Successful Aging" seminar that the mind plays an important part in a person's ability to age well. She listed several key attitude factors: having self-esteem, exerting control or autonomy, developing quality relationships with other people and "seeing life as meaningful."

"One does not grow older without a certain amount of resilience," she said. "Find something positive in the face of adversity. See an ordeal as an opportunity to learn."

For more, please read "The Aging Mind" article.

Changing Perceptions

"Our basic message to older people is that it's never too late," Dr. Salerno says. "How your grandmother aged is not necessarily how you will age. Genes are not necessarily your destiny. Genes are only part of the story."

Dr. Salerno says perceptions about old age have undergone an almost total change in the last decade or so. What's more, she said, insights on getting older are no longer useful only for people of a certain age.

"Habits that are established young in life may help determine how healthy you will be in old age," she says. "Maintaining good habits and positive attitudes is what we should all be aiming for. Once a couch potato does not mean always a couch potato. It's never too late to establish good habits, but it's never too early either."

Source: National Institutes of Health, World on Health.