By Dr. Nicole Marcione PhD
www.integrativeaging.com
Instagram: @drnicolemarcione
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE “LONGEVITY” IS A TRENDING BUZZWORD
“Anti-aging” is worn as a badge of honor; and so-called online “experts” and actual experts are throwing out advice to the public like throwing candy to children on Halloween. Shifting through all the information on how to age well is like a boat out at sea being tossed around by each wave and gust of wind!
With so many confusing and conflicting ideas, it’s enough to make one just throw their arms up in the air and give up on their desire to live a long life full of vitality and vibrance. So how do we know where to focus and look for solutions based on our own individual needs at every age?
Your aging process is unique to you. The only thing that is common amongst all living things, is that there’s no stopping it. We can delay the process or accelerate it, that is it. There is no such thing as “anti-aging”. In my opinion, “anti-aging” is BS… a lie propagated by the media, the beauty industry, society, and marketing tactics preying upon the fear of growing older.
How we age is dependent upon our genes and our lifestyle. Did you know that our genes are responsible for only about 20% of our aging process, and 80% is due to our lifestyle?! I was shocked when I first heard that as a grad student in one of my Gerontology courses. This is really good news (or bad depending on your lifestyle behavior, lol!). Why? Our longevity and health is determined by our everyday decisions… we have agency (get it… “AGE”ncy, pun intended) over our longevity.
Longevity is more than exercise, nutrition, supplements, stress reduction and sleep. Of course, we must consider these important topics. But we also need to consider our unique biology, our past experiences and traumas, our mental wellness, our emotional wellbeing, our relationships, our purpose, our desires, our legacy… these, too, play a critical role in whether or not we age optimally. What’s good for your aging process needs to be rooted in your unique makeup honoring your lived experience, not someone else’s.
Read the full article in Issue 19
More articles by Dr. Nicole Marcione PhD
