Alisha Wainwright

And what about...

socializing, you know, like mental health sort of connection with people.

Is that linked to healthier aging, having more friends or having a social socializing?

And I think also as someone approaching 40, I'm thinking about what life is going to look like beyond 50, 60, into my 70s, God willing.

And I want to see...

older people at discotheques.

I want to see older people out at coffee shops and living lives because that's a signal to me that it's possible to live a life that is plentiful and engaging and socially active and that have mobility.

So how does policy play a role in all of this?

And what are some examples of public health initiatives that could make a real impact?

Thinking into the future, how do you think the idea of aging will be different to what we think of it now?

Well, I guess I'll just have to take your advice and listen to my mom.

Eat better, drink less, get a good night's rest.

And hopefully I'll have healthy years as I continue to age.

And I just want to thank you so much for your time and this interesting conversation about aging.

And I'm very curious to see what the research will hold as we move forward.

I found this episode so interesting because there are so many dimensions to the topic of aging.

We talked a lot about the biological science, but it was encouraging that Linda was also considering the social, cultural, economic, and ethical questions.

Healthier aging is not just about developing new drugs.

It's about adapting policy, challenging assumptions, and thinking of aging as a process that runs throughout life, not just towards the end of it.

So if you'd like to explore these ideas further, the Coming of Age, an exhibition about how we experience aging across our lives, it's on at Welcome Collection in London until the 29th of November, 2026.