Ageless: Take Control of Your Age and Stay Youthful for Life

In this notable attempt to highlight the possibilities of anti-aging medicine and clear up its speculative, often conflicting counsel, Schneider challenges the belief that aging is predetermined by genetics and offers an everyday, behavior-based strategy as a way to achieve longevity. Schneider, dean of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, tethers his methodology, a hybrid of conventional and alternative medicine, securely around the hook offered by the MacArthur Foundation Study of Successful Aging. Based on data pulled from a Swedish study of 20,000 identical and nonidentical twins, the foundation determined that genetics contribute to a healthy development in early phases of life, while behavior patterns and lifestyle account for a full 70% of the aging process during the adult years. Based on the findings of this study and other current research, Schneider unveils a six-point plan--nutrition, exercise, weight management, hormone replacement, sleep/relaxation, and mental/social health--designed to increase an individual's healthspan (""the healthy, active part of a lifespan""). Maintenance of the body through proper nutrition, exercise and rest may not qualify as landmark longevity advice, but Schneider wisely tailors his strategy to individual needs through the application of""longevity quotient quizzes,"" a serviceable assessment tool. Channeled through a sympathetic and sometimes chatty narrative voice, especially during his frequent comparisons between""Old"" health rules (""No Pain, No Gain"") and""New Rules"" (""Just Get off the Couch""), Schneider's advice for achieving longevity is both informative and encouraging.