SEPTEMBER 2019
CENTER UPDATES
2020 LONGEVITY DESIGN CHALLENGE NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!
The 2020 Stanford Longevity Design Challenge is now accepting submissions from student teams around the globe! This year’s theme is “Reducing the Inequity Gap: Designing for Affordability.”

Addressing rising levels of inequity is a key challenge for this century, as new products and services far too often only reach people at upper socioeconomic levels. We challenge students around the world to innovate to significantly reduce the cost of helping people at all ages do the things that increase their odds of long and healthy life outcomes.
LONGEVITY IN THE NEWS
September 28, 2019 | The Washington Post

The Longevity Files: A Strong Grip? Push-ups? What Actually Can Help You Live to a Ripe Old Age
So you want to live to a healthy old age. But how? You could start doing push-ups. Or you could practice going from sitting on the floor to standing. Perhaps you want to work on your grip strength. The problem with any of these approaches is that you would just be training for a particular test, which misses the point. It's not the push-up itself that makes you live longer; it's that you are still strong and nimble enough to execute one.

September 16, 2019 | Forbes

How Your Employer Can Help Your Retirement
Wondering if you have enough savings in your 401(k) and IRA to retire comfortably? Confused about the best way to deploy your savings in retirement so you don’t outlive your money? These are critical retirement planning decisions for most older workers who are approaching their retirement years.The trouble is, the majority of older workers are on their own to address them. Fortunately, a recent survey provides hope that this situation might change in the near future. 

September 12, 2019 | Forbes

The Surprising Science Behind Why People Underestimate Their Lifespans
When it comes to planning for retirement, and choosing when to start claiming Social Security benefits, one of the key inputs into our decisions is how long we expect to live. Why are so many Americans claiming Social Security too early? Of course, Americans without much in retirement savings may feel like they have no other choice, but the fact that many Americans underestimate their longevity may be another important cause. 

September 6, 2019 | Scope (Stanford Medicine)

Ingredients for a Long, Healthy Life: A Social Perspective
As life expectancy steadily increases worldwide and the number of aging Americans overtakes the number of youth, some experts are asking: how do we prepare for a 100-year-long life, and what will that life look like? Susan Golden, PhD, with the Stanford Center on Longevity and dciX (part of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute) argues that emphasis on healthy lifestyles from a young age can make a massive difference and help "embed prevention into the system." 

BOOK REVIEW
THE SECOND MOUNTAIN: THE QUEST FOR A MORAL LIFE
By David Brooks
David Brooks plays many roles in his recent book, The Second Mountain: career coach, marriage counselor, gentle evangelist and community booster. Commitment is the theme binding these roles together. The thesis of the book is that the last 60 years of culturally promoted individualism have torn our society apart, and the cure is for everyone to commit to a communal purpose – not because Brooks says so but because working for a common good is the only way to find true meaning and live a joyful life. 
LONGEVITY BRIEFINGS ARCHIVE
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CENTURY LIVES PODCAST
The Century Lives podcast provides a platform for informed discussion on a wide range of topics, between leading experts in academia, business and public policy. These conversations foster a better understanding of the state of current research, and provide fresh perspectives on how best to optimize longer lives.