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The Most Common Health Risks That Rise With Age
Interviewer: One of the three keys to healthy aging... Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones, family physician at the University of Utah.
All right, Dr. Jones, so first of all, before we get to the three keys to healthy aging, what are the things that can happen to a person as they get older?
Dr. Jones: As we live in the United States, there are specific things that seem to affect our population more. The biggest thing, cardiovascular disease. So, basically, what that means is any disease of the heart or blood vessels. So that's things like heat attacks, strokes, heart failure, things like that. To help prevent those, that's why your doctor is always checking on your weight, your blood pressure, your cholesterol, trying to encourage you to quit smoking. All of those things... so that you help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Another big thing that causes both morbidity and mortality, what we mean by that is morbidity means a significant decrease in quality of life; mortality means something that can kill you, such as Alzheimer's disease. That's a big one that seems to be rising. It's a form of dementia, but it also comes along with a decrease in functioning. So, you're not able to care for yourself as well. But it has the same risks as cardiovascular disease. So, smoking, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease itself put you at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
One thing that worsens all of these things is depression. That's a big one where if you have that, you have worse outcomes with all of the other chronic diseases.
Strong Relationships Protect Long-Term Health
Interviewer: What are the ways to actually prevent all of these health risks from happening to your body? Let's start with number three.
Dr. Jones: So, number three is keeping your relationships active.
Interviewer: Okay.
Dr. Jones: Basically, making sure you have healthy relationships with your significant other, your spouse, children, friends, all of those things, because having good social health really makes a positive impact on any other illnesses that you may have. So, that is a huge key to keep in mind.
Mental Engagement Supports Healthy Brain Aging
Interviewer: Okay, so number two.
Dr. Jones: Number two is keeping your mind active. So, specifically, this can help avoid Alzheimer's disease, but it can also help with other things. So, things that we would call cognitive engagement, which are basically keeping involved with different puzzles like Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. But even just learning something, making sure that you are stimulating your brain, just try to learn something new every day.
Interviewer: Is there something that might be too much for your brain, like, I don't know, learning a second language?
Dr. Jones: Not at all.
Interviewer: No, not at all.
Dr. Jones: Not at all. Those are great things that can help keep your mind active.
Physical Activity and Nutrition as the Core of Healthy Aging
Interviewer: All right, and what is the number one key in keeping yourself healthy as you age?
Dr. Jones: Keeping your body active.
Interviewer: Of course.
Dr. Jones: So, that seems pretty easy, but that is so important. So that's exercise, that's proper diet, making sure that you are eating the right things, drinking lots of water, trying to avoid junk food, soda, things like that. That is the biggest thing that's going to help prevent cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, depression, as well as other things.
So, if you are keeping those things in mind, you're going to age more healthfully. You're going to feel a lot better, and you're also going to be happier.
updated: March 12, 2026
originally published: October 15, 2014
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