Improve your Healthspan

There is no age that's too old or young" to work on improving your healthspan. In fact, it's never too late to make positive changes that can enhance your quality of life, longevity, and well-being. While the body does change as we age, many benefits can be gained even in later years through consistent effort. 

Here’s why:

The human body has a remarkable ability to adapt. Even older adults can increase muscle mass, improve cardiovascular health, enhance mobility, and boost endurance with the right training and nutrition. Studies have shown that individuals in their 70s and 80s have experienced noticeable improvements in strength, balance, and overall fitness after starting an exercise regimen.

For example:

• Strength training can help prevent muscle loss, increase bone density, and improve metabolism.
   
• Cardiovascular exercise has been shown to improve heart health, lower blood pressure, and increase oxygen capacity, even in people over 70.
   

Cognitive decline, like memory loss and brain fog, is common as people age, but mental exercises can help slow down or even reverse some of these effects.

• Learning new skills or languages, playing musical instruments, or even playing certain brain games can improve neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections).
   
• Regular meditation or mindfulness practices can reduce stress and improve cognitive function.
   

Additionally, adopting practices like regular socializing and engaging in purposeful activities can improve emotional and mental health, which contributes to a better quality of life.

Even late in life, taking steps to improve nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
   
• Heart disease
   
• Hypertension
   
• Osteoporosis
   
• Arthritis
   

Even if you’ve been living with certain conditions for a while, improving your health can alleviate symptoms and improve management of diseases.

The main goal of increasing healthspan is to ensure that the years we have are full of vitality, not just extending life but enhancing how we feel during those years. Many people in their 70s, 80s, and beyond report higher satisfaction levels when they actively engage in improving their health.

Research into longevity and aging—especially around telomeres, NAD+, and mitochondrial health—suggests that there are ways to slow down or mitigate the effects of aging even at later stages. These findings are opening up opportunities for extending healthspan later in life.

For instance, even interventions like intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, or supplementing with NAD+ boosters (like NMN or NR) are showing promising results for age-related conditions, and they are being studied in older populations.

People age at different rates. Two individuals at the same chronological age can have very different biological ages (the age their bodies are functioning at). Genetics, lifestyle, environment, and mindset all play a role in how quickly or slowly someone ages.

• Take small steps. Focus on one thing at a time: add a short walk to your daily routine, improve your sleep habits, or try incorporating more vegetables into your meals. Small, manageable changes can lead to lasting results.
   
• Consult with your doctor. If you’re over 60 or 70, it’s important to talk with a healthcare provider before starting an intense exercise program or drastically changing your diet to ensure it’s safe for you.
   
• Start slow. Focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance gradually. You can even begin with gentle exercises like tai chi or water aerobics that are easier on the joints but still highly effective.
   

No matter your age, it’s never too late to improve your healthspan—whether you're 40, 60, or 80!