LET'S EXTEND YOUR HEALTHSPAN
WHERE TO START
There is no wrong answer
SLEEP
Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. Sleep helps humans maintain optimal emotional and social functioning while we are awake by giving rest during sleep to the parts of the brain that control emotions and social interactions. Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise your risk for chronic (long-term) health problems 1
EXERCISE
Exercise is key to living longer. It can slow the aging process and moderate physical activity can increase life expectancy 1. Exercise provides a remarkable variety of health benefits, which range from strengthening bones to positive effects on mood and helping to prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease 2. Research has long shown that exercise can improve your life expectancy, because it lowers your risk of developing age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes 3. Even small increases in daily exercise are tied to longevity 4.
NUTRITION
Nutrition is a key component affecting our health and lifespan. Several studies have shown that diet and longevity are strongly linked, and that simple and small dietary changes can have positive results on longevity. Some examples of these changes are reducing meat intake and increasing plant based consumption 1. Good nutrition across the lifespan helps prevent chronic disease — and we know that it’s never too late to make improvements to support healthy aging 2. Better nutrition is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy and childbirth, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity. 3
COGNITIVE
Cognitive health is an important component of overall brain health and refers to the ability to think clearly, learn, and remember. It is a key determinant of satisfaction, engagement, and independence throughout life 1. Cognitive abilities are important predictors of educational and occupational performance, socioeconomic attainment, health, and longevity 2. Age-related cognitive changes include processing things more slowly, finding it harder to recall past events, and a failure to remember information that was once known. However, healthy aging is notably distinct from disease-related aging, and knowledge trajectories and emotion regulation abilities increase. Injury, illness, and health habits can influence how much and how fast your cognitive abilities change over time 2. Taking care of your physical health may help your cognitive health. Research shows that a combination of healthy lifestyle behaviors may also reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease 3.