New Studies Show Americans Are Thinking About Longevity All Wrong
Key summary
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans is now 65 or older, up from about 1 in 8 two decades ago.
Public anxiety about aging is high: a Pew poll found adults under 65 are more worried (67%) than excited (51%) about their later years.
A longitudinal study tracking more than 11,000 Americans aged 65+ for up to 12 years found nearly half showed improvement in cognitive performance, physical function, or both.
Participants with more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to experience those gains.
Recommended healthy habits include about 150 minutes/week of aerobic exercise, muscle-strengthening 2–3 times weekly, and regular mental engagement; meanwhile the U.S. dietary supplement market exceeds $50 billion and interest in biohacking/antiaging therapies fuels supplement enthusiasm.
