How to maximize health in your later years | Professor Claire Steves

Why do some people remain fit and healthy in their later years while others become increasingly frail?

Researchers from Kings College London have been following thousands of twins for 30 years in an effort to understand how each of us ages differently. And some of their findings will surprise you!

In today’s episode, Jonathan speaks to Professor Claire Steves to better understand what all this means, shedding light on how aging works and what we can do about it:

Claire Steves is a Professor at King’s College London, a medical doctor, and the clinical director at Twins UK: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/claire-steves

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Timecodes:
00:00 – Introduction
00:32 – Quickfire questions
02:14 – Claire’s work during the pandemic
04:27 – What happens in our bodies when we age?
07:54 – Genes and aging
09:07 – What factors affect aging?
11:25 – Effects of physical activity
12:13 – Microbiome effects on aging
13:27 – Claire’s research
19:44 – What evidence is there that we can slow the effects of aging?
22:48 – What are some modifiable factors that can help reduce aging effects?
24:19 – Alzheimer’s and dementia
30:22 – Stimulating your brain
31:58 – The importance of social interaction for the brain
33:33 – Diet. health and aging
38:36 – Menopause
40:53 – Actionable advice about maximizing health while aging
42:49 – The biggest myth about aging
46:15 – Summary
47:42 – Goodbyes
47:51 – Outro