Research shows that people in their second and third decades rarely engage with the topic of healthy aging, even though aging is something that affects us all. This panel discussion, hosted by the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging at CSU, aims to provide evidence-based tips for young people on how to develop healthy living practices that support longevity and long-term health.
PANEL QUESTIONS
1. Why should we be thinking about aging in our 20’s and 30’s? (0:17)
2. How much exercise should we strive for? Are there particular exercise regimens that are proven to boost to longevity/long-term health? (3:24)
3. Can you give us an example of what "moderate" workouts are versus "intense" workouts? What's the difference? (7:01)
4. What does research tell us about which “diet” is most beneficial for long-term health? (8:31)
5. What would you recommend for protein consumption in our 20's and 30's (for both average individuals and those who are more physically active) given the association between protein consumption and mortality? (12:47)
6. What are good sources of plant-based protein? (13:27)
7. When I was in graduate school, I was stressed constantly and got very little sleep because of it. This went on for about 2 years. Can the brain bounce back from prolonged periods of stress? Did I shave years off my lifespan by being so stressed for so long? (14:10)
8. How much of our mindset contributes to how we age? Can a positive outlook lead to healthier aging? (18:11)
9. How much do poor eating, drinking, and exercise habits from college affect you in older age? Can you bounce back? (24:06)
10. Navigating healthy lifestyle advice can seem overwhelming and stressful, which is counterintuitive. How can we approach creating balance in our lives so that it doesn’t feel so difficult or unattainable with limited resources or time? (28:58)
11. As I am growing older, I am finding it harder to make new friends, especially now during COVID-19. Is this normal? How does loneliness affect aging, and how can I make friends in this pandemic environment? (32:35)
12. Can you touch on the benefits of embracing intergenerational socialization? We have seen research supporting the idea that older adults benefit from interactions with younger adults and children, but what does the research tell us about the benefits young adults' experience as a result of spending quality time with older adults? (37:25)
13. I don’t tend to go to sleep at the same time every night. Some nights I get less than 6 hours of sleep, some nights I get much more. Are erratic sleep schedules harmful? (38:33)
14. Intermittent fasting is a popular weight loss technique, and it’s often talked about in aging research as a potential “hack” to live longer. What does the research say about the benefits (or harms) of caloric restriction for weight loss and longevity? (43:24)
15. What can we do to keep our minds sharp as we age? Does reading help? Sudoku? Something? Anything? (48:55)
CHAT QUESTIONS
Q: What about these pandemic days we are in, related to stress?
A: Gloria: These days with the pandemic, election, economic situation, etc., there are many compounded stressors that are affecting lots of people. I think now, more than ever, we are being challenged in our abilities to cope with these stressors and people of different ages are experiencing these stressors in different ways. For example, children vs. teens vs younger adults vs middle age and older adults have had a different ratio of their lifetimes lived pre- and post-COVID. These experiences can shape our perspectives on "normative" stress and how we can cope with what is happening.
Q: Would you say that people with anxiety disorders may have a reduced lifespan if they do not utilize the right coping techniques?
A: Gloria: I am not a clinical psychologist but my understanding of anxiety disorders is that a major challenge is dealing with how stimuli capture one's attention. That is, with anxiety disorders, people may be more likely to vigilantly scan their environments for real or perceived threats and react strongly to those threats. Developing effective coping strategies can help one recognize when/how they are paying too much attention to environmental threats or stressors and when/how people may be (over)reacting to those perceived threats. These strategies also provide tangible ways to deal with reducing some anxiety-provoking situations in daily life, and can also help to break this cycle (of looking for stressful situations and then finding and reacting to those stressful situations).
RESOURCES
- "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl: [ Ссылка ]
- Recent studies on intermittent fasting: [ Ссылка ]
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