Supporting Healthy Aging in a World of Longer Life Expectancy

This week on the Art of Aging, we revisit a great conversation from a previous episode as host Michael Hughes welcomes Laura Carstensen, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. During the episode, Laura explores the challenges and opportunities presented by longer life expectancies, emphasizing the need for societal and systemic changes to support healthy aging. She also highlights the mismatch between extended lifespans and the world’s preparedness, advocating for a new societal structure that integrates education and work fluidly. The conversation also addresses societal perceptions of aging, dementia prevalence, the value of creativity and lived experience in contributing to society at any age, and more.