Arizona Center on Aging -Optimal Aging

TOPIC 1: How and Why We Age

Long before the fountain of youth, mankind has had an interest in staying young. As we move into the 21st century, that interest has not only continued, but it has become an American obsession. While no one can really prevent normal, chronological aging, there are things we can do to slow aging down. There are even ways to reverse the problems associated with aging. In other words, getting older does not have to mean growing older.

Chi Gong Instructor George Mera says "the idea is to take care of yourself when you are healthy, not when you are sick."

Over the next three weeks, Eyewitness News' Martha Vazquez will explore many things you can do to acheive optimal aging. You will learn simple, often inexpensive and fun things that will not only add years to your life, but add life to your years.

Geriatrician Doctor Evan Kligman says "it's really what we have within ourselves.. the ability to control and manage as we continue to live."

One area that we will explore is nutrition and how important it is to eat healthy. 60-year old Wayne Arneson says "I learned that hey.. I am what I eat. I have to take care of myself. Nobody else can do that. I can go to the best doctors in the world... but I have to take care of myself."

Exercise is hard. People are always coming up excuses, like "I'm too tired.. I don't have time.. I'm too young.. I'm too old." Susan Bovre is a Program Coordinator for FitCenter and says "I have a student in a class that I teach who started coming when he was 99. Now he's almost 101 and he continues to exercise...so it's never too late."

We also look into Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Chi Gong and Tai Chi. Virginia Walker practices traditional Chinese medicine and swears by it "I have come light years from where I was when I started."

We will look into two of the biggest enemies the human skeleton has, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and what you can do to keep those cripplers at bay. Dr. Jason Theodosakis works in preventive medicine and says "When people lose their mobility, (they) can't walk, can't exercise. The quality of life really declines."

By the same token, when people can't sleep well, not only is it hard to function, but it can take years off your life. Sleep expert Kate Hamilton of Canyon Ranch says "The studies seem to tell us right now that if people have chronic sleep problems, they might be taking up to seven years off their life."

But what about your brain? What good is having a physically fit body when your brain is tired and not working like it use to? Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa is a physician and an author "If we don't have optimum mental functioning, we're going to miss out on the most important things that a long life has to offer, wisdom, giving back, enjoyment."

The power to living younger, longer, is in you! Knowledge can help you unlock the secrets to longevity. Just ask yourself, do you want to live to be 100? Are you willing to work at it? Acupuncturist Alaina Sperow says "I think the first step on the road to optimizing our health is the recognition that we want to make changes. Its never too late to start."