2024 Schedule

Some say we are going over a caregiving cliff—too much demand for too few workers and too little respect for the uncompensated labor of family members. Caregivers don’t have the recognition, rights, or compensation they deserve and families can’t find, provide, or afford help for their youngest, oldest, and sickest members. The invisible and indispensable nature of caregiving came into sharp focus...

Opportunities and risks evolve as we reach the age of 50 and consider how best to celebrate our second half of life. With people living so much longer than in the recent past, cultivating health-building habits and putting supportive public policies in place has never been more important. Developing social connections, fostering a sense of purpose, and soliciting advice from those who are thriving...

The communities we call home and the ways we live greatly influence health and longevity. By studying “Blue Zones” around the globe, Dan Buettner has uncovered the macro-level secrets that lead long and vigorous lives. At the individual level, Dean Ornish presents new evidence that lifestyle choices can alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, cancer, and chronic illnesses. With the...

Contemporary American society is deeply age segregated. Youth spend most of their time in school or with peers and older people head to senior centers and retirement communities. Yet a yearning for connections is palpable across the age spectrum and innovators are responding with models that bring the generations together in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. Success stories includ...

The hormonal changes and hot flashes that accompany menopause are familiar to most women, but the accompanying brain changes have not received as much attention. We now know that the inflammatory responses associated with declining levels of estrogen have neurological consequences, which could explain why women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The author of The Menopause Br...

From early childhood to advanced age, we all need some fun. Society hints that there is something childish, even self-indulgent, about playing, but it’s quite the opposite: play helps us handle our adult responsibilities better. Taking time for fun can strengthen relationships, refresh cognitive capacity, bolster creativity, and invigorate daily life. Whether you carve out time for art, sports, da...

Scientists are deeply engaged in efforts to slow aging and eliminate age-related diseases by editing genes, reprogramming cells, and developing novel molecular therapeutics. AI-driven technologies are sorting through existing compounds to repurpose them for longevity. Biotech companies are developing therapies that target metabolic aging to improve the effectiveness of new weight-loss drugs. Missi...