Ten Tips for Successful Aging with Neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin

Описание: EPISODE SUMMARY:

In today’s episode, we sat down with neuroscientist, musician, and best-selling author Daniel Levitin to discuss how one’s mentality on aging can influence their life. Daniel recently wrote a book called Successful Aging, and we started by asking about his inspiration behind the decision to write it. He told us that, as a scientist, he feels that it is his duty to make scientific findings public knowledge. His book gives readers insight into his philosophies on aging. We then asked about the difference between lifespan, health-span, and disease-span. Daniel explained to us that lifespan could be separated into two groups: health-span and disease-span. Health-span is the amount of time that one spends their life healthy, and disease-span is the length of time a person spends not healthy. We asked Daniel about his opinions on ageism, and he told us that ageism is an issue that has still yet to fully be addressed in society. As an example, he told us about how one of his friends, an employee at Cambridge, would have to leave Cambridge when he turns 67 due to a rule preventing anyone over the age of 67 from working there. He went on to explain that older people are actually ideal employees, for they have the experience and expertise to be good at their jobs and mentor others. We then asked about self-talk when it comes to aging, and Daniel explained that one of the ways to make self-talk more positive is to look at aging through a more positive lens.
People should focus more on what they gain as they age, such as experience and good judgment. Daniel said that, from an arts standpoint, it is the job of films and television to begin showing accurate portrayals of older people rather than having them be the butt of the joke. He used the show Grace and Frankie as an example of positive representation and even told us that he interviewed Jane Fonda, who stars on the show. In regard to the best exercises for aging, He emphasized that getting up and moving is the best thing a person can do, especially if the surface is uneven. For sleep, debunking the myth that older people need less sleep. Older people need just as much, sometimes even more, sleep as anyone else. When we asked about dominant personality traits in older people, Daniel said that out of all of the older people he’s interviewed and met, they all had a strong curiosity, desire for adventure, and a drive to keep moving. Finally, we asked Daniel about where to find his book, Successful Aging, and he told us it is on his website and is an audio book. He also told us people can get in touch with him through his website.

From his website:

Daniel J. Levitin is an award-winning neuroscientist, musician, and best-selling author. His research encompasses music, the brain, health, productivity and creativity.



Dr. Levitin earned his B.A. from Stanford in Cognitive Science, his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology with a Ph.D. minor in Music Technology from the University of Oregon, and completed post-doctoral training at Stanford University Medical School and UC Berkeley in Neuroimaging and Perception. As a musician (tenor saxophone, guitar, vocals and bass), he has performed with Mel Tormé, David Byrne, Rosanne Cash, Sting, Bobby McFerrin, Victor Wooten and Tom Scott. Levitin has produced and consulted on albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and on the films Good Will Hunting and Pulp Fiction, and has been awarded 17 gold and platinum records. Levitin taught at Stanford in the Departments of Computer Science, Psychology, History of Science, and Music, and has been a Visiting Professor at Dartmouth, and UC Berkeley.

Dr. Levitin’s Top Ten Tips for Rejuvenating Your Brain

Don’t retire, or if you do, take up volunteering or hobbies. Don’t stop being engaged in meaningful work.

Look forward, don’t look back-reminiscing doesn’t protect health.
Exercise- get your heart rate going, preferably in nature.
Embraced a moderated lifestyle with healthy practices.
Keep your social circle exciting and new.
Spend time with people younger than you.
See your doctor regularly, but not obsessively.
Don’t think of yourself as old.
Appreciate your cognitive strengths, including pattern recognition, crystallized intelligence, wisdom, and accumulated knowledge.
Cognitive transfer results from experimental thinking, travel, spending time with grandchildren, and immersion in new activities.


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