Health Education Editor · Last reviewed January 2025
Healthy aging is not simply the absence of disease — it is the maintenance of functional ability, cognitive health, social connection, and quality of life across the full span of adulthood. The evidence on what enables healthy aging is substantial and actionable: physical activity, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, preventive healthcare, and management of chronic conditions are each independently associated with better aging outcomes.
Fall Prevention
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and a major cause of morbidity in older adults. The CDC estimates that about one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year, and falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in this population. Evidence-based fall prevention includes: balance and strength training exercises (the Otago Exercise Programme and Tai Chi have strong evidence); medication review to identify and deprescribe fall-risk-increasing drugs (particularly sedating medications, antihypertensives, and psychotropics); home safety assessment and modification (removing tripping hazards, improving lighting, installing grab bars); and vision and hearing screening and correction.
Cognitive Health
Cognitive decline and dementia — including Alzheimer's disease, which affects approximately 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older — are among the most feared consequences of aging. While no intervention has been proven to prevent Alzheimer's, several modifiable risk factors are associated with reduced dementia risk: physical activity (the single most consistently evidence-supported intervention for cognitive health); management of vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity); social engagement; sleep quality; hearing loss treatment; and cognitive stimulation.
The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention (2020 update) identified 12 modifiable risk factors accounting for approximately 40% of dementia cases worldwide — including several that are modifiable through lifestyle and healthcare: hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, excessive alcohol, social isolation, and limited education.
Physical Activity in Older Adults
Physical activity recommendations for older adults are the same as for younger adults — 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, plus muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days — with the addition of balance activities for fall prevention. Regular physical activity in older adults is associated with reduced mortality, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, reduced fall risk, improved cognitive function, and improved mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety. The benefits are present even when activity is initiated late in life.
Polypharmacy and Medication Management
Older adults frequently take multiple medications, creating risks of drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and adverse effects that are more pronounced in aging physiology. The Beers Criteria (American Geriatrics Society) identifies medications that are potentially inappropriate for older adults. Regular medication review — discussing all medications (including OTCs and supplements) with a provider — is an important preventive measure.
Related: Preventive Care · Hypertension · Diabetes