Studies have shown over and over and over that people who have positive age beliefs live, on average, 7 1/2 years older than those with negative beliefs. Yet I’ve succumbed to a lot of the ageist beliefs that marketers are constantly beating us with on aging and how to avoid it (especially geared toward women). The delineation and focus on our differences is what drives these "-isms" and is the basis of the tension between and among groups.

Through cutting edge science, and memorable stories, she shares a new view of aging that will change how we age.Don't solely blame an individual for their struggles with aging but note the environmental/situational explanation for the issue at hand. Positive, surprising and full of powerful, practical advice, As Old As You Think will dismantle commonly held assumptions about how we age and leave readers looking forward to - and no longer fearing - what the future holds. Had it been presented in 100 pages or so with all the bibliography attached, it would have been strong.

Levy has produced a manifesto to inspire us to fight against the scourge of ageism and its negative effects on older adults, and our society.Readers can use insights from this book to increase opportunities to shape a better and longer life. The often-surprising results of Levy's science offer stunning revelations about the mind-body connection. She demonstrates that many health problems formerly considered to be entirely due to the aging process, such as memory loss, hearing decline, and cardiovascular events, are instead influenced by the negative age beliefs that dominate in the US and other ageist countries.

I appreciate this discussion of the power of mental and emotional attitudes although I think that levels of toxicity, poor food quality and high chronic socioeconomic stress are at least equal factors causing premature aging in all age groups. Breaking the Age Code should be required reading for everyone on the planet - but especially in the United States.At 67, I hike, belly dance, garden, lead a study group, read widely 10-12 books a month, teach Qigong, and have an active love life. It's a good message (ageism isn't just discriminatory, it negatively impacts health) with maybe a long article's or a booklet's worth of data to support it. but then I became infuriated when I wasted four hours of my life to actually finish the book, thinking that surely this couldn't be the one and only piece of information she's conveying here, just to learn that the entire rest of this book's page count is devoted either to examples backing up her theory, or endless, endless pages informing me that, believe it or not, people actually discriminate against the elderly, and that's unfair!

Foundational cultural rot and the de-emphasis of the family exacerbates ageism because there is mechanism teaching children to respect elders, or anyone else for that matter.Please list any fees and grants from, employment by, consultancy for, shared ownership in or any close relationship with, at any time over the preceding 36 months, any organisation whose interests may be affected by the publication of the response. Maybe that's because I see so many people like me, of all ages, who are so nonchalant about something that really is quite important.