Cognitive resilience grows from small, consistent habits that keep the brain adaptable. Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., frames mindfulness as mental training that improves attention, processing, and the way people relate to pain. Erin E. Sundermann, Ph.D., underscores modifiable pathways to healthier aging, highlighting movement, social connection, hearing support, and lifelong learning as mutually reinforcing drivers of brain health. Raenne C. Moore, Ph.D., centers practical strategies that translate into daily life, including routines, planned breaks, reducing distractions, and attending to anxiety or depression. Carolyn Dunmore, an older adult community Mmmber, exemplifies resilience through steady activity, purposeful community roles, faith, self-compassion, and the “use it or lose it” mindset. Together, Zeidan, Sundermann, Moore, and Dunmore point to a clear theme: everyday practices accumulate to support memory, attention, and well-being as people age. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40962]

Targeting the biology of aging offers a path to stronger resilience and longer health. John C. Newman, M.D., Ph.D., explains that aging arises from measurable cellular processes, often called hallmarks of aging, including changes involving mitochondria, stem cells, cellular senescence, inflammation, and protein quality control. Newman describes how basic science in model organisms reveals mechanisms that can be manipulated to extend healthy lifespan and guide therapies. Emerging approaches aim either to strengthen stress responses that make cells more resilient or to address downstream consequences. Many clinical studies across the country now test interventions that target aging, supported by national efforts to standardize methods and expand training. Newman also investigates ketone bodies as energy sources that influence inflammation, muscle preservation, and other processes relevant to frailty and recovery.

Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40961]

Healthy aging starts with physical resilience, the body’s ability to withstand and recover from stress. Maile Young Karris, M.D., defines the concept and sets the stage for practical strategies that match real-world needs. Ryan J. Moran, M.D., M.P.H., recommends simple routines such as wall push ups, posture alignment, and chin tucks, and he links posture and vision to fall prevention; social connection helps people stick with movement. Theodore Chan, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., F.A.A.E.M., explains that age alone is a poor predictor of outcomes in acute care and that functional resilience strongly influences decisions. Gail Levine emphasizes accountability, community, and balanced nutrition. Moran highlights protein needs of about 1 to 1.2 grams per kilogram plus calcium with possible vitamin D, and he favors plant focused eating with limited processed foods.

Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40960]

Heather E. Whitson, MD, MHS explores how resilience—the ability to recover and adapt after stress or illness—changes across the lifespan. She explains that bounce back slows with age and that people age at different rates, influenced by biology, lifestyle, and environment. Studies connect lower inflammation, stronger cellular health, and emotional well-being to better recovery, such as regaining mobility after hip fracture or coping with persistent pain. Whitson also highlights how changes in the brain, like the buildup of amyloid and tau proteins, begin years before memory problems, underscoring the importance of early prevention. She points to practical steps that support resilience at any age: staying active, eating a Mediterranean style diet, managing blood pressure and blood sugar, protecting vision, engaging socially and mentally, prioritizing sleep, avoiding harmful exposures, and preventing injuries. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40959]

Danielle K. Glorioso, LCSW, explores the complex nature of grief, emphasizing that it is a lifelong, evolving response to loss rather than something to “get over.” She explains the differences between acute grief, integrated grief, and prolonged grief disorder, highlighting how factors like attachment, personal history, and circumstances of death can influence the grieving process. Glorioso outlines how prolonged grief can impair daily functioning and discusses effective treatments, including a structured therapy program that facilitates adaptation. She also examines resilience as a skill that can be strengthened through emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, social support, and meaning-making. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal loss, Glorioso offers practical strategies for coping, supporting others, and finding hope while honoring the memory of loved ones. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40332]

Michael J. Wilkinson, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.N.L.A., explores the science and clinical evidence behind intermittent fasting and its role in promoting cardiometabolic health. He explains how aligning eating patterns with the body’s natural circadian rhythms can improve weight, blood pressure, glucose regulation, and other risk factors, especially in individuals with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Wilkinson highlights promising results from time-restricted eating studies conducted in collaboration with UC San Diego and the Salk Institute, where narrowing the daily eating window led to improved metabolic markers and potential benefits beyond weight loss. He also outlines practical tips for safely adopting this lifestyle approach and stresses the importance of ongoing research. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40319]

Sarah Banks, Ph.D. explores why Alzheimer's disease affects women differently than men, emphasizing distinct patterns in tau pathology, cognitive testing bias, and treatment response. She explains how women tend to show a rapid buildup of tau during early cognitive decline, which may contribute to their higher prevalence of Alzheimer's. Banks also highlights how common diagnostic tools may overlook symptoms in women and how approved treatments may offer less benefit for them. Her research at UC San Diego investigates key sex-based differences in risk factors, including sleep apnea, diabetes, and exercise. One study reveals that over 70% of participating women had undiagnosed sleep apnea. Another focuses on Black women, using blood biomarkers to identify overlooked risks and improve care. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40768]

Anthony Molina, Ph.D. highlights research and resources from the Stein Institute for Research on Aging that support healthy aging, with a focus on women’s health. He describes the institute’s work in training scientists, conducting clinical trials, and promoting community engagement. Key resources include a geroscience lab for biomarker discovery, new facilities for exposome and epigenetics research, and a clinical center for geriatric assessments. Molina also introduces the SAGE study—a 15-year prospective cohort project—and a “living lab” that enables real-world studies on technology and aging. The institute offers pilot funding for early-stage research and fosters intergenerational programs connecting older adults with medical students. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40767]

Andrea Z. LaCroix, Ph.D. presents major public health trends affecting women across the lifespan, from rising maternal mortality and chronic disease risks linked to pregnancy complications to the ongoing need for improved menopause care. She highlights innovative research, including digital tools for menopause education, studies on cancer survivorship, and efforts to predict healthy aging using epigenetic clocks and physical activity data. LaCroix shows how decades of research continue to shape strategies for aging with preserved cognitive and physical function, aiming to help more women thrive into their 90s and beyond. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40766]

In this excerpt, Dr. Natalie Marshall discusses the central importance of exercise to improve chromosomal and telomere health. Series: "Osher WISE: Well-being and Integrative Science for Everyone" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40683]