Dr. Joseph Gaugler

The lowest hanging fruit, that's a good question. I should think about that more. You know, I think the lowest hanging fruit, I believe, I do think is, and I know I keep bringing this up over and over, I do think it's, you know, working with communities to begin the age-friendly community process. It's not very costly. It's not a real heavy lift. It helps break down silos, right?

The lowest hanging fruit, that's a good question. I should think about that more. You know, I think the lowest hanging fruit, I believe, I do think is, and I know I keep bringing this up over and over, I do think it's, you know, working with communities to begin the age-friendly community process. It's not very costly. It's not a real heavy lift. It helps break down silos, right?

amongst organizations and people who might not necessarily think about aging as an important issue for their given community. And then I do believe it begins to open up doors to maybe other types of action. whether it's advocating for certain types of services and supports to be available, whether it is moving towards different infrastructural advancements.

amongst organizations and people who might not necessarily think about aging as an important issue for their given community. And then I do believe it begins to open up doors to maybe other types of action. whether it's advocating for certain types of services and supports to be available, whether it is moving towards different infrastructural advancements.

So that to me is, I think, I hesitate to call it low-hanging fruit because it is work and it is effort. Thinking of the big picture, so much innovation comes from communities themselves. It's not necessarily flowing from academia to the community all the time. I think many you know, academics like to think that.

So that to me is, I think, I hesitate to call it low-hanging fruit because it is work and it is effort. Thinking of the big picture, so much innovation comes from communities themselves. It's not necessarily flowing from academia to the community all the time. I think many you know, academics like to think that.

I think oftentimes the solutions, the best solutions that are most tailored to the needs locally come from the community themselves. Creating a mechanism for that to happen, I think is best, not only for the communities, in the end, it's best for us as researchers as well. Because then we can begin to identify ideas, innovations that then could be tested more broadly and disseminated more broadly.

I think oftentimes the solutions, the best solutions that are most tailored to the needs locally come from the community themselves. Creating a mechanism for that to happen, I think is best, not only for the communities, in the end, it's best for us as researchers as well. Because then we can begin to identify ideas, innovations that then could be tested more broadly and disseminated more broadly.

So in the end, that to me, I think are critical first steps.

So in the end, that to me, I think are critical first steps.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I mean, I'm sure you've read this story. I mean, one thing you can do, Clarence, is you can spend the $2 million that that 49, 46-year-old tech billionaire is doing to try to live forever. I mean, good luck with that, I guess.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I mean, I'm sure you've read this story. I mean, one thing you can do, Clarence, is you can spend the $2 million that that 49, 46-year-old tech billionaire is doing to try to live forever. I mean, good luck with that, I guess.

So, I mean, what are reasonable ways to think about living better and longer? And I don't think anything I'm going to say should be a surprise. And again, it gets back to this idea of we kind of know some of the answers. It's a matter of whether we and do we have the resources available to do it. And so I think one thing with longevity is certainly good heart health.

So, I mean, what are reasonable ways to think about living better and longer? And I don't think anything I'm going to say should be a surprise. And again, it gets back to this idea of we kind of know some of the answers. It's a matter of whether we and do we have the resources available to do it. And so I think one thing with longevity is certainly good heart health.

Heart health certainly has links, as we know, to cognitive health, dementia later in life. So managing one's hypertension, managing one's weight to a reasonable extent. managing one's diabetes. I mean, these clearly are all factors that can contribute to potential longevity. Others, as well, as you've heard me indicating, certainly is social interaction and engagement.

Heart health certainly has links, as we know, to cognitive health, dementia later in life. So managing one's hypertension, managing one's weight to a reasonable extent. managing one's diabetes. I mean, these clearly are all factors that can contribute to potential longevity. Others, as well, as you've heard me indicating, certainly is social interaction and engagement.

And again, I acknowledge that not all of us are social butterflies. Not all of us like to be around people talking all the time and engaging in activity. But that being said, there certainly is pretty good literature suggesting living alone and probably more specifically loneliness is associated with a number of adverse health outcomes in late life, including dementia.

And again, I acknowledge that not all of us are social butterflies. Not all of us like to be around people talking all the time and engaging in activity. But that being said, there certainly is pretty good literature suggesting living alone and probably more specifically loneliness is associated with a number of adverse health outcomes in late life, including dementia.

They very much are. And I think that's something that, you know, you can make a good case, could be rapidly eroding, given our technology addiction as a society. You know, and I'm guilty of that, I'll admit it. So, I mean, that's another area, Clarence, and You know, I think a third is, again, moderate exercise, clearly.

They very much are. And I think that's something that, you know, you can make a good case, could be rapidly eroding, given our technology addiction as a society. You know, and I'm guilty of that, I'll admit it. So, I mean, that's another area, Clarence, and You know, I think a third is, again, moderate exercise, clearly.