The statistics are irrefutable: most of us will live longer—in many cases, much longer—than our ancestors did a century ago. Advances in health care, changing attitudes toward aging, healthier lifestyles and improved pharmaceuticals have all contributed to this so-called ‘grey tsunami.’
But here’s the challenge: How do we, as a global society, adapt to this demographic shift? And how can individuals boost their chances of staying healthy as they age? How can we rise to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population—and what steps can individuals take to thrive in later life?
The Issue of Aging explores the questions we now face—and the opportunities that come with them.
The Issue of Aging
Aging isn’t a disease
Aging well
● The company we keep
● The brain we build
● The weight we carry
The caregiver’s journey
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Pictured at top: At 93, Western alum and retired computer programmer Larry Minshall, BSc’53, is proof an active mind is a powerful tool for aging well. He still codes for fun, takes lifelong learning classes and participates in the SuperAging Research Initiative—an international project that explores why some adults 80+ retain exceptional memory and cognitive abilities. Western leads SuperAging work in Canada, with support from the University of Chicago, the initiative’s global hub.