Longevity depends not only on medical care but also on everyday habits that shape how the body and brain age over time. The number of adults over the age of 65 will grow over the next 40 years, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.org. Factors such as optimism, regular physical activity, and strong social connections can influence life expectancy by reducing stress, supporting cardiovascular health, and encouraging healthier behaviors, according to hsph.harvard.edu. These habits also improve cognitive function and lower the risk of age-related diseases, reinforcing the connection between daily routines and long-term outcomes. As studies continue to explore these findings, experts are pointing to lifestyle choices like exercise, volunteering, and maintaining relationships as important influences on not only how long people live, but how well they age, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Optimism, plays an important role in shaping long-term health. Feeling positive about the future can influence the choices people make, encouraging healthier habits and preventative care. Individuals with higher levels of optimism are more likely to live longer and have a greater chance of reaching age 85, according to health.harvard.edu. This is because a positive mindset helps to reduce stress and anxiety, lowering levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease, according to lifestylemediciene.stanford.edu. A decade-long study showed that those who lived their life with positive views of aging lived an average of seven and a half years longer than those with negative views, according to The New York Times. This increased life span may be because people who see aging as a positive aspect of life are more likely to participate in behaviors of preventative health, showing that the mindset can have a more lasting impact on overall well-being.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life by modifying its structure, functions, or neural pathways, according to health.harvard.edu. It is important for developing and maintaining brain function, including learning and memory, as well as in recovery from brain injury and adaptation to environmental changes. Research in neuroscience shows that engaging in stimulating activities, such as learning new skills, problem-solving, or social interaction, can strengthen synaptic connections and can even promote neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the process which forms new neurons in the brain, in regions like the hippocampus, which is critical for memory, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.org. It helps to maintain neural efficiency, compensates for age-related decline, and supports resilience against brain injury and disease, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.org. Neuroplasticity acts as a biological bridge between mental activity and physical life span, demonstrating that the brain’s adaptability is not just crucial for learning, but also for extending both the quality and length of life.
Exercise is important in supporting brain health by improving both cognitive function and underlying biological processes. Regular physical activity enhances mitochondrial function, which is essential for producing energy in brain cells and maintaining over efficiency, according to The New York Times. Both endurance exercise, like running or swimming, and resistance training, such as weightlifting, provide great benefits for brain performance, according to The New York Times. Energy production, exercise also increases blood flow to the brain, supports the growth of new neurons, and improves memory and focus. Physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression while improving thinking, learning, and judgement skills, according to cdc.gov. Exercise also stimulates the release of chemicals, like brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), which help to protect and repair brain cells, according to health.harvard.edu. Mrs. Jillian Bozzi, Upper School History Teacher, shared her thoughts on the importance of exercise for brain health.
“Exercise is probably number one,” Mrs. Bozzi said. “And not everyone loves exercise, but it could just be going for walks, things like that [which] kind of silence what could be making you anxious. Even just going outside and sitting can help. For people who might not like that, I know some people love to like color or do crosswords, something that can shift your focus, maybe what is making you anxious, and then revisit it when you feel a little bit calmer to deal with it.”
Volunteering strengthens both physical health and cognitive function, offering benefits more than simple community service. It has also links to improved outcomes life, such as lower hypertension, reduced chronic inflammation, better stress regulation, increased functional ability, and enhanced cognitive performance, according to pmc.ncbi.nih.gov. These benefits are partly due to the meaningful social impact volunteering provides, which can minimize stress and support overall mental and physical well-being. Volunteering also provides a strong sense of purpose, which grows through helping others, and links to slower biological aging, according to pmc.ncbi.nih.gov.
Social connections are essential for brain health because they influence both emotional well-being and the brain’s biological functions. Part of a community allows individuals to build meaningful relationships that support mental stimulation and reduce feelings of isolation. Loneliness may function as a stress signal, pushing people to seek companionship, but when it becomes long-term, it can have harmful effects on the brain, according to The New York Times. People who lack social connections are at a significantly higher risk of developing dementia over time, according to nia.nih.gov. Those who experience loneliness can have higher levels of amyloid and tau proteins, key markers associated with Alzheimer’s disease, even before more noticeable cognitive decline begins, according The New York Times. Social interactions not only provide emotional support but also help to protect the brain from these harmful changes. Mrs. Bozzi discussed the effects that stress has on a person’s brain health.
“If you take stress in terms of what it puts on your cardiovascular system, it can cause heart problems because you’re anxious all the time,” Mrs. Bozzi said. “Stress can lower your immune system, same with not having enough sleep, so that can make you more susceptible to getting an illness. Stress can make you act differently in situations that you might not normally. They say never to make a very important decision when you’re stressed or emotional because you want to be clear-headed and level-headed. So stress is really important to notice, like what your stressors are, and then take a different approach. Some people need medication to deal with stress, some people like to talk to someone, and maybe change their perspective about what’s stressing them out. I think it depends on the type of person as to what helps them combat their stress.”
Featured Image by Gianna Rodrigues ’27
