Many factors influence healthy aging. Some of these, such as genetics, are out of our control. However, there are steps you can take to help manage your health, live as independently as possible, and maintain your quality of life as you age. Important factors that support healthy aging include:
- Taking care of your physical health. Staying active, making healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, limiting your alcohol intake, and proactively managing your health care can go a long way in supporting healthy aging.
- Caring for your mental health. Mental health, or mental wellness, is essential to your overall health and quality of life. Managing social isolation, loneliness, stress, depression, and mood through medical care and self-care is key to healthy aging.
- Looking after your cognitive health. Cognition — the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember — often changes as we age. Research shows that healthy eating, staying active, and learning new skills may help keep older adults cognitively healthy as they age.
Learn more about NIA-supported research and ways to stay healthy as you age.
