Breaking the Age Code

 

by Dr. Becca Levy

People tell me I’m getting older and maybe that’s happening to you, too. It’s an important aspect of retirement. You’ll bring many things to your retirement and  perhaps the most important will be your attitude. And that includes your attitude towards aging.

If your doctor told you there was a pill that would add over 7 years to your life, would you be interested? Well, there’s not a magic pill, but something simpler – your beliefs about aging. In  Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live, Becca Levy, a psychologist, epidemiologist and professor at the Yale, shares groundbreaking research that found  a 7.5 year difference in lifespan between those who held positive views on getting older versus those who had negative beliefs about aging.

And you need to work on those positive beliefs because in our society today, ageism is everywhere. Stereotypes about age are insidious, and can be encountered at work, at your doctor’s office, the pharmacy, the grocery story and even in interacting with friends and family. And the research shows that it takes a toll – on mental, emotional and physical health, cognitive ability and overall well-being. Dr. Levy shares data and case studies on the damaging effects of negative perceptions of aging and how they can shape self-perception and behavior and accelerate decline over time.

But beyond the compelling research, which is sure to get your attention,  Breaking the Age Code offers strategies for individuals and institutions. There are practical and specific ways recommended to foster positive beliefs and public policy solutions to combat ageism and create a more equitable world.

It’s easy to spot ageism in others. If you’re like me, you’ll find the book leads you to reflect on our own beliefs about aging and identify how societal ageism may have a more subtle effect on our thinking than we may realize.

Becca Levy’s research is substantial and significant. Breaking the Age Code is a powerful wake up call and a must-read if, like me, you’re getting older.

 

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