We all know that older person who just seems so young. How do they pull it off? Did they hit the genetic jackpot? Or do their lifestyle habits act as a fountain of youth?

Doctor Dawn Carr has answers. With a PhD in Sociology and Gerontology, she directs the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University and is a former researcher at the Stanford Center on Longevity.

What I loved about Dawn was that, unlike so many in her field, she has concrete solutions to many of life’s challenges. She doesn’t just identify the problems or hand out vague suggestions. She has a litmus test for determining a person’s social health. How many close friends should we have? How cognitively complex should our daily activities be? Can more sleep help prevent mental decline? Answering her specific questions can help us determine how to maximize the vibrancy of youth while we age.

No one has a magic wand. We’re all getting older. But listening to Dawn Carr might help you enjoy the process.

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