Americans are living longer, and more people are enjoying active, fulfilling lives well into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. As we age, taking care of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being becomes increasingly important. Healthy aging isn’t simply about adding years to our lives—it’s about making those years healthier, more active, and more meaningful.
Healthy Aging Month, observed each September, encourages people of all ages to take a proactive approach to their health and well-being. It’s an opportunity to learn about healthy habits, stay active, maintain social connections, manage health conditions, and find ways to support both physical and mental wellness as we grow older.
This month, the Library has gathered books and trusted online resources to help you explore the many dimensions of healthy aging—from nutrition and exercise to brain health, sleep, stress management, and staying socially connected.
Whether you’re looking to make a healthy change, learn something new, or simply find inspiration for living well at any age, the Library is here to help you on your journey.
Books
The Myth of Aging : A Prescription for Emotional and Physical Well-Being by Arnold Gilberg
Dr. Gilberg challenges the idea that getting older means slowing down. Drawing on decades of psychiatric experience, Gilberg offers practical guidance for finding purpose, joy, energy, and fulfillment at any age, reminding readers that it’s never too late to pursue new dreams and possibilities.
Brain Health
Dementia Prevention : Using your Head to Save Your Brain by Emily Clionsky
Severe memory loss and dementia are not inevitable parts of aging. Science now shows that you can make changes, no matter your age, to protect your brain. Join the authors as they guide you through a science-based tour of dementia, including how your brain works and how its function is affected by everything from blood circulation and blood pressure to sugar levels, medications, vision, and hearing.
The Invincible Brain : The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life by Majid Fotuhi
In just 12 weeks, you can take major steps to prevent and reverse cognitive decline, boost memory, and enhance mental sharpness at any age. A leading neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University unveils a groundbreaking glimpse into the remarkable, resilient brain, and offers a science-backed plan to unlock its true potential.
The Stimulated Mind : Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age by Tommy Wood
Boost mental sharpness today and prevent cognitive decline tomorrow, including Alzheimer’s disease, with science-backed strategies that will extend your brain’s longevity beyond what you thought was possible.
Exercise
Age Stronger : Prevent Pain, Preserve Mobility, Age Resiliently by Matt Weist
Wiest focuses on staying active, mobile, and resilient as we age. It emphasizes strength training, mobility, injury prevention, and consistent movement to reduce pain and maintain independence.
Independence for Life : The Complete Guide to Building Strength and Regaining Mobility Beyond 50 by Will Harlow
Getting older doesn’t have to mean slowing down. Harlow offers a practical, science-backed plan to build strength, improve balance and mobility, protect bone health, and reduce pain. With simple exercises and actionable strategies, the book helps you stay active, confident, and independent at any age.
10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors : 40 Poses to Build Strength and Flexibility for Fall Prevention by April Hattori
Keeping ourselves in motion becomes even more important as we age. This guide for seniors makes it easy to stay stronger for longer with safe and simple chair yoga! Step-by-step instructions and helpful illustrations explain how to improve flexibility, strengthen balance, and help relieve aches and pains with poses and routines that you can do from a chair in just 10 minutes.
Longevity
The Longevity Nutrient : The Unexpected Fat that Holds the Key to Healthy Aging by Stephanie Venn-Watson
Dr. Venn-Watson explores the surprising role of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), a beneficial odd-chain saturated fat linked to healthy aging. The book explains how this nutrient may support heart, metabolic, and cellular health and offers insights into nutrition and lifestyle choices that could promote longer, healthier lives.
Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity by Eric J. Topol
Topol’s book explores the science of longevity and extending healthspan, focusing on preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and neurodegeneration. Combining advances in genomics, AI, medicine, nutrition, sleep, and exercise, Topol shows how we can take action earlier to live longer, healthier, and more active lives.
Nutrition
Aging Well with Diabetes : A 10-Point Action Plan for Older Adults by Medha N. Munshi
Dr. Medha Munshi and Dr. Sheri Colberg provide practical advice to redefine living with diabetes in later life. As experts in geriatric care and diabetes management, they introduce a clear and accessible 10-step action plan to help you manage diabetes effectively while enhancing your overall vitality and independence.
The How Not to Age Cookbook by Michael Greger
Dr. Greger turns decades of nutrition research into 100+ healthy, easy-to-follow recipes designed to support longevity. Inspired by foods from the world’s longest-lived populations, it offers nourishing meals, snacks, and drinks to promote healthy aging and lifelong well-being.
Social Aspects
Healthy to 100 : How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives by Ken Stern
Drawing on research and journeys to some of the world’s longest-lived countries—including Japan, Singapore, Italy, and Spain—Stern shows how relationships, intergenerational connections, and a sense of purpose can contribute to healthier, more rewarding lives. His hopeful, research-backed approach offers practical inspiration for thriving in the second half of life.
Joyspan : The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half by Kerry Burnight
Dr. Kerry offers practical tools for moving from fear to peaceful confidence about aging, emphasizing that longevity is about more than lifespan—it’s about quality of life. Drawing on the science of well-being, connection, meaning, growth, and purpose, she introduces the concept of “joyspan”: making the most of life by cultivating happiness, fulfillment, and purpose at every age.
Online Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Aging
–Archana, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian
