Almost half of older adults experience loneliness. It can be harder to maintain social connections as we age, especially if we're retired, dealing with illness, or living alone.

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with clinical social worker Kileen Smyth about the power of experimentation, and what we can do to stay positive, stay engaged, and make meaning in our golden years.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Around 20% of adults between ages 40 and 79 are taking five or more prescription drugs—and for older adults, the numbers are likely even higher. Our relationship to medication can change over the years: our bodies take longer to clear them from our system, and in some cases, side affects from medications lead to even more prescriptions!

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with clinical pharmacist Tim Habermann about supplements, high costs of medication, and proactive approaches to medication management.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

Cognitive functioning is a key part of overall health and independence — which is why dementia can be especially challenging for individuals, family, and loved ones. But is dementia preventable? What can we do now to preserve brain health? And how do we distinguish between cognitive changes related to typical aging and symptoms of dementia?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with internist and geriatrician Dr. Ericka Tung about these common questions, caring for adults with dementia, and positive outlooks for dementia prevention.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

As we age, so do our organs, including our heart. So what can we do to make the most of our heart health as we get older?

On this episode of Aging Forward, we talk with cardiologist Dr. Stephen Kopecky about how it's never too late to improve our heart health, and how even small adjustments to our lifestyle habits—from diet to exercise to sleep—can have a significant impact.

Purchase Dr. Kopecky's book Live Younger Longer.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

As the population of older adults increases over the next few decades, caring for an aging America is going to be a unique challenge. We'll all be involved in caring for an older adult in some capacity — whether your're a caregiver or caring for yourself. So how can we help each other age healthfully and be proactive about improving our health span?

In this introduction to the show, host Dr. Christina Chen talks about healthy aging, geriatric medicine, and what it means to age forward.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Email us at [email protected].

"Aging Forward" brings you expert conversations on healthy aging and geriatric medicine, so you can embrace older age with vitality and joy. Learn about the science of aging and discover strategies for healthy habits, preventive care, caregiving, and living your best life.