Social engagement and relationships Archive

Past smoking, heavy drinking, and drug use can raise lasting questions about aging. Find out which factors shape future health and longevity.

Mindfulness is the process of paying attention to one’s surroundings with an attitude of acceptance. Mindfulness practices can anchor people’s consciousness moment by moment, helping them to ease stress and anxiety and to sustain attention. Mindfulness practices can be done while sitting, walking, and eating.

Meditation is a family of mind-body practices that focus attention to help calm the nervous system and support overall well-being. Consistent daily practice can result in modest improvements in stress, anxiety, sleep, mood, and attention, though meditation is not a substitute for medical or psychological care.

Gray divorce—which involves couples ages 50 and older ending their marriage—has become more common over the past 30 years. While divorce increases the odds of mental and physical health problems at any age, older adults face heightened health risks during a stage when many people already have chronic conditions.

The term “longevity” encompasses both living longer and staying in good health. Research consistently indicates that five lifestyle pillars promote longevity: movement, nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, and socialization. But it’s impossible to gauge which pillar counts most toward longevity.

A 2026 study suggested that feeling lonely was consistently linked to worsening cognitive health and a shorter life among older adults, even after accounting for social isolation.

Longevity (or healthspan) specialists focus on preventing age-related disease and extending people’s healthy years, rather than waiting to treat illness once it appears. Ideally, a longevity specialist focuses on proven health fundamentals before supplements and experimental therapies.

There are things our bodies do so often and so automatically that we barely notice them. Yawning, growling stomachs, and runny noses are good examples. Each is a universal part of our daily human experience — but did you ever wonder why?

People’s energy levels typically decrease later in life as a result of aging, illness, or other factors. Fortunately, a healthier lifestyle can boost energy. That involves eating a diet low in added sugars and processed foods, getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night, managing stress, getting lots of aerobic exercise, and strengthening the muscles. Using physical energy frugally is another useful strategy. For example, it helps to perform activities at a slow, steady pace instead of a fast pace; to break activities into small tasks instead of one large job; and to rest between tasks.

Falls among older adults are on the rise, but most are preventable. To do this, interventions must target the multiple factors that contribute to falls, taking steps to minimize them or prevent them entirely.