Successful Aging
This groundbreaking book should definitely help further the movement of  what the authors call "a new gerontology." John Rowe, M.D., and Robert  Kahn, Ph.D., both members of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network,  thoroughly debunk the myth that aging has to be a painful process of  debilitation. Their research has shown that the influence of genetics shrinks  proportionately as you get older, while social and physical habits become  increasingly integral to your state of health--both mental and physical. The 10  years' worth of research cited inSuccessful Agingreveal some  flabbergasting facts about health in later life. For example, an inactive person  is worse off, health-wise, than a smoker who exercises regularly. And your  lifestyle and attitude are significantly more important than your genes in  determining whether or not your golden years are healthy ones--even if you have  a genetic predisposition for developing Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, or other  serious health problems.Rowe and Kahn start with a thorough breakdown of nutritional advice, including a  rundown of the many vitamins and other nutrients that those older than 60 are in  particular need of. They also detail the most important exercises for optimal  functioning of body and mind, and analyze the benefits and risks of DHEA,  melatonin, and tretinoin, while warning about snake-oil formulations that are  now being marketed to the AARP set. There's also a thorough explanation of the  importance of creativity and social connections--the research shows that, for  the aging, strong social ties are even more important in preventing illness than  genetic background.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.