Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging: An Easy and Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Body Young, Your Mind Sharp and Your Spirit Fulfilled

by Nathan K. LeBrasseur, Christina Chen

Healthy aging isn’t simply a roll of the dice. How people age is a choice. Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging  discusses the biology of aging — why we age and how to slow the aging process. It delves into common health and lifestyle concerns and outlines steps that readers can take to enjoy longer and more purposeful lives. 
 
Researchers are finding that genes play a smaller role in overall health than most individuals realize. More often, the life people lead in their later years is a culmination of personal attitudes, decisions made, and actions taken beginning in young adulthood. The book covers a variety of topics including responding to personal risks, how to challenge the brain and body, healthy diet, physical activity, resiliency, retirement planning and living a fulfilling life. Readers also will find practical tips to keep their minds, bodies and spirits in top shape. Think of this book as an instruction manual that provides the tools needed to live life to its maximum — ensuring that the later years are some of the best years.
 
The advice comes from a wide range of Mayo Clinic specialists, including staff of Mayo Clinic’s Kogod Center on Aging. Discoveries being made by scientists at the Kogod Center suggest that aging may be a modifiable risk factor — a process that can be controlled. The Center’s efforts are focused on the goal of increasing human “health span” — the number of years individuals spend living independently and remaining free of age-related diseases and disabilities.
 

 

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Science

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2024

Reviews

[Mary-Lisa Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book, "Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging..." from a personal, female perspective, I greedily absorbed the contents with an open, positive mind to 'think and do better' health-wise as I move forward in the aging process.

We can do things for ourselves by engaging in self-care, applying creams and make-up, and re-arranging our wardrobe- all wonderful (and important if it contributes to uplifting one's well-being), yet- it is surface window-dressing. For me, it's the self-care process regarding our inner-core and what we can do to maintain good health, physically and mentally, as the years progress.

Being a deep thinker fascinated with medical suggestions to attain and preserve a healthy lifestyle, I found this deeply comprehensive book to be a wonderful read that really educated me. It made me think positively... to start taking my aging process seriously, and plan and make decisions that are ripe with medical wisdom.

This book contains details on specific subjects we may be currently experiencing or may encounter in the future. It's an ideal book that gets us 'ready' and being a planner, I like that- al lot. It makes me feel organized and safe- more than any other self-care regime I can implement for myself.

Verdict: This is a tremendously wonderful resource guide everyone should have on hand within their home.

This book is currently available for purchase. (I am grateful to the publisher for having received an ARC)

5/5

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

When a book about aging lands in your queue a couple of nights before you're going to have an atypical mole excised because 'you just can't escape your genetics, especially at this age,' (P.S. I'm fine and not THAT old!) well, there's nothing to do but press play. And that could go either way: instant celebration of life planning or some sense that there's still hope. Fortunately for me and for all future readers, this book takes the latter approach!

I found this both riveting and surprisingly uplifting, though the whole time I wondered if being in my early (edging up on mid) 40s made me have a very different reading experience than I might have in 20+ more years.

The book is logically structured, and I especially enjoyed the first part, which goes through a comprehensive list of the typical ways in which people age, the related diagnostic testing and treatment (minorly), and especially WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. This is where the hopeful part comes in. Readers don't just learn about inevitable falling apart; there are proactive strategies here. Will all of them sound revolutionary? No. Is it still good to hear recent updates and research? YES. If you have some good habits now, you'll be glad and know what to add. If your habits are not great, well, you'll get options, and you won't get shamed, which I have to assume is helpful. The latter part of the book offers even more in the way of strategies. Throughout, there's an interesting workbook style series of reminders to reflect on what's been covered, your current status, and what, if any, changes you might make. This adds to the hopeful tone, of course.

This is not the kind of book I was looking for or typically read, but it hit at just the right moment, and I'm finding it coming up frequently in random conversations even just a few hours after finishing it. If you're reading this, you're aging (congrats!), and there's good info in this book just for you.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Mayo Clinic Press for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For people who are just beginning to learn about healthy habits that can slow aging and promote health and vitality into their older years, this book and audiobook are a great place to start. Since I'm pretty far along on my journey, I didn't learn a great deal. However, the later section on Medicare and health cost considerations post-retirement was helpful to me.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Mayo Clinic Press, and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for healthy aging, content-rich yet easy to read and comprehend, from the highly regarded Mayo Clinic. Highly recommended!

[Lori]

More of the good advice that we hear from the health professionals. The book is organized into various topics with discussion. Some handy charts for annual medical tests to a very concise guide on exercise. Quite encouraging.

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was logically sound and very insightful and thought provoking. This is not my typical book, but I enjoyed all the various parts. The explanations of the aging process were very informative. It discussed diagnostic tests and preventative measures to avoid negative outcomes to said tests.

This book also discussed various tips and scenarios to improve an individual’s aging process. The end of each chapter has everything from exercises to healthy eating suggestions. I appreciated the simple and easy-to-follow writing throughout. I learned a lot from reading this book, and I am glad that I stumbled across it.

Thank you NetGalley and Mayo Clinic Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of information on aging. I'm pretty well read and I didn't find any information that was particularly new or interesting to me, but for a person who is just beginning to explore and learn more about aging, this would be a useful reference book. Every library should have a copy. The other plus is that the Mayo Clinic can be depended on to have accurate information and is trustworthy and authoratative.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's solid.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed that I really didn't learn anything new from this book. It was written at a middle-school-level and made the same recommendations repeatedly for all health conditions: don't smoke, eat healthy, maintain a healthy weight, exercise.

[Kevin Dufresne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi,

I hope all is progressing well.

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging: An Easy and Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Body Young, Your Mind Sharp and Your Spirit Fulfilled by Dr. Christina Chen, M.D. and Dr. Nathan K. LeBrasseur, Ph.D. gently explores dynamics of aging, guiding individuals beyond observing aging as of inevitable parameters though of a factor which greatly depends on one's choices in regard to one's overall well-being. Engaging my interests in healthful progressions of life as well as of being a more mindful romantic/life partner, I decide to buy then read the text to further broaden and deepen my healthfully progressing understanding of healthfully progressing parameters of life. I find the text extremely easy to comprehend and read, which is in part due to the stylistic parameters of the text, the organization of the text on the pages particularly, though due to the manners of explaining healthful details. The text engages one's relationship with aging beyond retirement which really brings a well-rounding plethora of detail to consider growing beyond one's economical, social, and/or otherwise sphere(s) of familiarity/procedure(s), if one will. The text offers immediately applicable as well as accessible advice and resources for one to better approach improving one's health. I marvel at a pondering of lifestyle which correlates with comprehending differentiating strength and muscle. To be human is more than quite fascinating. One has much control over one's life!

Additionally, I find the following texts may assist one with further deliberating concepts of contexts within Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging: An Easy and Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Body Young, Your Mind Sharp and Your Spirit Fulfilled by Dr. Christina Chen, M.D. and Dr. Nathan K. LeBrasseur, Ph.D.: Money for Couples: No More Stress. No More Fights. Just a 10-Step Plan to Create Your Rich Life Together. by Ramit Sethi, I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition) by Ramit Sethi, Becoming Supernatural: How Common People Are Doing the Uncommon by Dr. Joe Dispenza, The MindBody Code: How to Change the Beliefs That Limit Your Health, Longevity, and Success by Dr. Mario Martinez, It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn, The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Green, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear, Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don’t Have To by Dr. David A. Sinclair, PhD, with Matthew D. LaPlante, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, PhD, (Illustrations by Ethan van Sciver), Limitless (Expanded Edition) by Jim Kwik, Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life by Professor/Dr. Rose Anne Kenny, MD (FRCP FRCPI FRCPEdin FTCD FESC MRIA), It's Your Body: The Young Woman's Guide to Empowered Sexual Health by Dena Moes, RN, CNM, All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women's Bodies and Why It Matters Today by Dr. Elizabeth Comen, MD, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, MD, Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex by Joan Price, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing (Newly Updated and Revised 5th Edition) by Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D., The Girls' Guide to Growing Up Great: Changing Bodies, Periods, Relationships, Life Online by Sophie Elkan with Laura Chaisty and Dr. Maddy Podichetty as well as Illustrations by Flo Perry, Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire by Dr. Lori A. Brotto, Men's Complete Health Guide: Expert Answers to the Questions You Don't Always Ask by Dr. Neil H. Baum, MD, Dr. Scott D. Miller, MD, MBA, Dr. Mindi S. Miller, PharmD, and Dr. David F. Mobley, MD, FACS, The Penis Book: A Doctor's Complete Guide to the Penis—From Size to Function and Everything in Between by Dr. Aaron Spitz, M.D., A Man's Guide to Healthy Aging: Stay Smart, Strong, and Active (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) by Edward H. Thompson, Jr., and Lenard W. Kaye (with contributions from contributors which receive credits at the end of the book), The Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy by Dr. John Gottman, PhD, and Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life by Dr. Nan Wise, PhD, Exploring Sexuality and Disability: A Guide for Human Service Professionals with contributions and edits by Dr. Shanna Katz Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE (with further contributions from contributors which receive credits at the beginning of the book), Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Light on Hatha Yoga by Yogi Swatmarama (in tandem with extensive exploratory commentary on the basis of practical research of Swami Muktibodhananda), The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD, Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You by Dr. Nita Landry, MD, OB-GYN, The Book of Hormones: Ultimate Playbook for Women's Health And Hormonal Balance Through Every Stage of Life by Dr. Shweta Patel, MD, FACOG, The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin by Dr. Anjali Mahto, MD, This is How You Vagina: All About Your Vajayjay and Why You Probably Shouldn't Call it That by Dr. Nicole E. Williams, M.D., The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr. Jen Gunter, MD, and The Vagina Book: An Owner's Manual for Taking Care of Your Down There by The Thinx Inc. Team, Dr. Jenn Conti, MD, and Daiana Ruiz (Illustrator).

Onward and Upward,
Kevin Dufresne
www.Piatures.com
IG: @Dufreshest

[Bekke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really basic, but I’m sure helpful for some

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging is a new book about the biology of aging and what we can expect. They looked at the age lift span and how it has changed. In the 1900s the average life span was about 45 years old. Now people live to almost 80. This book is geared to try and help increase the age gap and to help us live longer. They looked at the brain, heart and lungs, immunity health, urinary health, and much more. They explored topics such as retirement planning, exercise, eating well, and vaccinations.



The first part of the book explored the brain and how it ages. Our brain will shrink in size and this will in turn affect structures of the brain and we may have a decrease in cognitive function. We will lose our response time and it is 1.5 times slower than a young adult. One positive thing is that our judgement often gets better with age and this is because of knowledge and skills and experience. The book explained how researchers have discovered that we can control some of the risk factors to our brain health. One of the ways is keeping our brains challenged and boosting our cognitive. We need to address our physical activity, stress levels, tobacco use, blood pressure, and much more. One of the studies found if we have interrupted sleep, we are more at risk at developing dementia. They recommended following a plant-based diet to prevent dementia. They shared how helpful it can be to have a calendar and a task list to keep you focus and to help you remember. It’s important to perform one task at a time. There is mental aerobics we can use to stretch our brain and to keep it sharpened.


I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is ready to age better and they want to improve their quality of life. I loved how they covered the entire body and health systems. I liked how they discussed kidney stones since this is something I have experienced a few times. They shared some of the causes and how we can try to prevent them as we age. I liked how they discussed what to eat and the importance of maintaining physical activity and getting enough sleep. They covered a wide range of different topics that will assist people as the age and it was very informative.



"I received this book free from Mayo Clinic Press for my honest review.”

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was presented beautifully. At times it was a little over my head, but I’ve always been interested in health and learning, so it was perfect.

While I’d rather not announce my age, I’m glad that the authors stressed that, while it’s best to begin caring for your body early, it’s never too late.

Surprisingly, this was not only informative but uplifting and positive. The first part is about the typical ways people age and things that can be done to slow down and prevent serious problems. I learned how different parts of the body function, and then how aging affects them. While this is a subject that tends to be a downer, the whole book carries an underlying current of positivity and hopefulness.

The topics covered are numerous.

"The book covers a variety of topics including responding to personal risks, how to challenge the brain and body, healthy diet, physical activity, resiliency, retirement planning, and living a fulfilling life."

My Concerns
This was far more interesting than I would have imagined. No concerns.

Final Thoughts
I have to admit that the word Mayo in the title caught my attention, and I’m glad it did. This audiobook, narrated by Daniel Henning, is worth your time whether you are young or elderly. And while I don’t want to label myself elderly, many would. This book offered hopefulness regardless of age.

While many younger people feel their senior years are too far away to worry about, I suggest you not worry about it, but prepare by treating your body with respect. Listening to this book is a great way to gain guidance.

There aren’t many books I’d listen to twice, but this was so interesting. How could it be? I don’t know. It took some fancy footwork to create a book that is both informative, hopeful, and interesting.


My thanks to Dreamscape Media, Mayo Clinic Press, and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

[Josh Hedgepeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone wants the secret to living longer. Society is obsessed with the next easy fix for being healthy, and that desire drives a lot of pseudoscience and blatant scams. Navigating the health sciences may be one of the most challenging parts of life without falling victim to pseudoscience. Simon Singh's "Trick or Treatment" is an excellent resource on some of the oldest and most popular forms of pseudoscience, but if you want a detailed guide to healthy living, the Mayo Clinic is one of the best sources you can trust.

The Mayo Clinic is one of the most highly regarded health research institutions in the world. I strongly recommend visiting their website for general health concerns. However, for specifics on living a healthier and longer life, they have curated a comprehensive book on the subject: "The Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging."

The title is indicative of what you should expect. The Mayo Clinic is a research institution, and this book is rather encyclopedic. Admittedly, if you are looking for a compelling narrative that communicates the science, this book may not be for you. As a resource, it is great to have for reference, but I also think there is a benefit to reading the book in its entirety, probably several times throughout your life, as a sort of refresher. The book itself is not new—it has a new edition and an audiobook to accompany it.

This review is thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC. Regarding the audiobook, it is disappointing. The narrator is one of the most "let's do a robotic science lecture with artificial emotion" narrators I've listened to. Frankly, I did not enjoy the narrator's voice. It fits well into the larger style, but when that style is dry, it isn't a good thing. That is where the issues with the book arise. While it is amazingly informative, its encyclopedic structure leads to a considerable amount of repetition.

I cannot say this is a great book because it is not crafted in a creative way to capture the reader's attention. This will deter some readers, and there is some legitimate criticism to be made about whether the book is written in an accessible format. It is not excessively esoteric; however, its style and structure surely will not work for everyone. Moreover, much of the actual advice could almost be summarized in a small brochure due to its repetitiveness. That's why this book functions more as a reference than a casual read.

I had one major concern, aside from the structure, regarding how it addresses alternative medicine. I will again strongly suggest checking out "Trick or Treatment" by Simon Singh, as it does an excellent job reviewing alternative medicines and exactly what science says about their efficacy (and harm).

This book does not delve deeply into criticism of alternative medicine. It adopts a more placating tone, maintaining enough vagueness to avoid asserting efficacy where there is none. However, unfamiliar readers will almost certainly interpret that as tacit support for alternative medicines, which is not the case. It seems clear to me that they didn't want to alienate their readers, but I can't help but wonder why they ventured into the subject at all. It is the primary reason I hesitate to recommend the book.

At the end of the day, I am not a healthcare expert, and the Mayo Clinic remains one of the most reputable sources for healthcare advice. I am not immune to being wrong on this subject, and challenging the Mayo Clinic does give me pause. Nevertheless, I am left with the impression that this is just one area where the Mayo Clinic may be mistaken. You will decide for yourself if you read the book, but I suspect it will not appeal to most people due to its structure.

[Roberta G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging presents the reader (or listener, in this case) with a very vast array of infirmation and advice on how to age well, from a holistic point of view.
What I appreciated most, in fact, is that an authoritative source in the medical field as the Mayo Clinic offers an extensive overview of all the important aspects to consider and act upon to be in good health including non-medical elements as well and highlighting that genes are not the only aspect that influence our health and aging. The book is well organized and easy to navigate, presents information in a very clear way, perfect even for people with a very basic knowledge or no knowledge at all of health and medicine.
I listened to the audio book and I found it difficult to follow at times: it's true that I could go back and listen to the part I was interested in of course but I think this book, with its encyclopedic style, is better as a physical paper or Kindle book, to be easily consulted whenever one has a doubt or is curious about something, otherwise, as in my case, you needed to take notes. Other aspects I didn't totally enjoy were the very generic nature of some information, whereas I would've enjoyed some detailed information, and that at times the book was repetitive, but I guess it's intended to be like that on purpose so that people who read it can easily memorize important things about the topic.

[Tea and Spite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating this based on overall usefulness rather than enjoyability as it's a bit different from most books. In terms of enjoyability, it's about as much fun to read as the CDC website.

For usefulness, it's great. If you have a basic understanding of the underlying principles of health, you probably know everything in here. You may not be doing it, but you know it. This basically acts as a reminder and evaluation of what areas could use improvement.

For those of you who don't have backgrounds in human biology and public health, this is a great primer on the fundamental foundations of health as you approach middle age. Honestly, everything in it should probably be taught from elementary school on since so much of healthy aging is based on habits built throughout life. The current science suggests shifting habits later in life is beneficial on its own though, both for not continuing to increase the odds of poor health outcomes and for potentially reversing the impacts of poor health habits earlier in life.

(Basically, if you stop eating like a stoned frat boy in your 40s, by 50 or 60 your risks of poor health outcomes are pretty close to those of people who never ate like stoned frat boys to begin with.)

That said, there is one major issue with the book: it's like the doctor who tells you to "exercise more" without actually giving you any concrete steps to do so. For that, you'll have to look to other books.

[AshWood · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the cover says, this is a very easy and comprehensive book on aging healthily. The information is sound, yet easy to follow, and the advice is very practical. Obviously, there are some parts of aging that cannot be helped, but a large focus of this book is how to be proactive about the things that can be helped. For anyone who has looked into general healthy living, it’s nothing new or different, but for someone wanting a general start covering all the basics, this is pretty good. On that note, it’s a solid 4 star book. However, I am reviewing the audiobook version and I’m going to give that 3 stars. The chosen narrator really sounds like he’s explaining something to a child, and it was hard for me to want to continue listening. For that reason, I would prefer the physical copy. I also think the physical book would be better in terms of being able to skip around to specific topics and go back to review at times. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging was insightful and encouraging at the same time. I am in my late 40s and it is good to know you can still change your outcome. I believe I am a pretty healthy eater for the most part, there are days or weeks where I stumble but get right back on the horse, every little bit helps for your future. Yes, genes do play a role in some aspects but you can help your body/mind/spirit by eating healthy, limiting stress and exercising, even if it is just a short amount of time per day.

With this book being in 2 sections, the first all the medical/disease jargon, the second how to eat, exercise, reduce stress, etc was very helpful. I always knew stress could play a huge role in body and mind but until reading this book I didn't know just how much it can affect every aspect of your body/mind. Reduce Stress, eat healthy and exercise will go a long way in having a more healthy and fulfilled life in the long run. Here's to living to a ripe old age to see the grandchildren and hopefully maybe even the great grandchildren play and grow.

[Bhuku · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful introduction to aging in a healthier way. The book includes the science of aging, including familiar concepts like cellular senescence and autophagy, but also goes into simple, practical things anyone can do to both help themselves prolong their healthspan and to deal with health-related limitations when aging related decline does happen.

I liked the easy to understand layout and writing style. It made the concepts very accessible and easy to apply. I also liked the realistic, but optimistic, approach to aging. This isn’t a book that pretends you can avoid aging or age without any loss of hearing/vision/memory, etc - instead it helps you try to slow that decline and then provides advice for how to deal with the decline once it happens, so that losing capabilities doesn’t have to mean your life sucks now.

Thanks, NetGalley, Mayo Clinic Press, and Dreamscape, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the book, Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging, and found it to be a voluminous fount of information on making the best of the inevitable path forward in aging. As someone who reads a lot and stays pretty informed on healthy matters, I didn't learn a lot new, but I suspect the average reader would. This went into great detail on how one can live their best life as they age.

Like others who have reviewed this, I would agree that maybe a physical copy of the book might be more helpful so one could refer back to information, which is presented in easy to follow chapters.

As one might expect from an institution as prestigious as the Mayo Clinic, the presentation of the information can be a bit dry at times. Nevertheless, it held my interest and I did learn more on subjects I thought I was versed in, due to the amount of detail they went into.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the authors for allowing me to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Nathan K. LeBrasseur; Christina Chen, The Mayo Clinic Press and Netgalley for access to the advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a thorough book on aging and the changes that happen as we age. The first half of the book is focused on sections of the body and highlights the changes that are normal and those that are not. The second half addresses how to live better longer with attention on diet, exercise, physical health, and planning for the future.

While comprehensive, the book is very readable and a useful resource to remind us of all of the basics of health and of changes we will all encounter at some point in our lives. Recommended not just for people in later years, but also for those who need to understand changes that loved ones may be encountering in their lives.

#MayoCliniconHealthyAging

[MarilynW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging: An Easy and Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Your Body Young, Your Mind Sharp and Your Spirit Fulfilled
By Nathan K. LeBrasseur Ph.D., Christina Chen M.D.
Narrated by Daniel Henning

If my parents were still around I'd give them this book because I know they'd enjoy reading/hearing it. I was already familiar with most of what is in it but then I'm a health and fitness nerd. Still, even though I knew most of what's in the this book, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook while I walking on my treadmill and did chores around the house. Since my husband and I eat healthy, are very active even when not specifically exercising, and make room for exercise in each day, I had a bit of an ego boost listening to the book.

But the great thing is that this book explains in simple to understand and clear words what each of us can do to improve our health at any age. It covers all aspects of improving health, giving suggestions on how to find motivation, and touching on the mental, physical, and emotional parts of lifestyle changes. Narrator Daniel Henning's voice is so soothing and calm and I think he was a really good choice to narrate this book.

There is quite a bit of repetition in the book, with the authors coming at things from different but similar angles in the first half of the book and then the second half of the book, but that isn't a complaint. At times there are detailed instructions on how to perform certain exercises and even though I was listening to the book rather than seeing the written word, I had no trouble following how to perform the maneuvers.

Medical tests throughout adulthood are explained, including when you should have certain tests and why. Health conditions are explained and all explanations are pretty basic but I think that's a good thing about this book. You can research more deeply certain subjects or take them up with your doctor if you want to know more about them. This book lets you know why your body needs for you to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and let go of harmful habits that hurt your health. Instructions to start small are given which means this is a book I can share with friends who want to improve their health but think it is too hard or that they aren't up to the task. The littlest of things can make a difference and then each person can expand their healthy habits from there, in a way that is best for them.

Finally there are suggestions and advice for retirement years and beyond, to help people to recognize how to best prepare themselves for their later years in the best way. Healthy eating and healthy movement are an important part of every age and this is a book that can be helpful to all ages. It is also a great jumping off point for those who would like to know more, whether they get that information from other books or their health care providers.

Pub January 9, 2024

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Mayo Clinic Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Barbara Brockhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are wanting a broad overview of health in many different aspects than this could be a great book for you. I would have liked a little bit more science and going a little bit deeper and to each topic but then the book would have probably been twice as big. I listen to the audiobook and so hopefully the hardcover will have footnotes and citations so that you can go and look at some of the things on your own. I did learn a few nuggets of information that are helpful and interesting.
Thank you to #netgalley for the audio arc in exchange for my honest and independent review.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for anyone who is overwhelmed by all of the information that’s floating around on healthy aging. Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging contains many time-tested ideas on to living healthily (at any age), covering physical and mental health, the power of community, recovering from injury and much more. I do not know enough about Medicare and was impressed by the comprehensiveness of that section of the book — that alone might be worth the purchase price!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook was an easy listen. Information is easy to digest. I'm in my mid-30s. In various milestones / experiences of our lives, I find myself saying "I wish I had learned....". This is the perfect type of guide for someone to learn about what the field of science knows and is continuing to study about when it comes to aging. I think it is a valuable starting point to give people a name to something that they may be experiencing - or in my case, names and symptoms and prevention tips for something that may come with age.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This insightful book examines how lifestyle can shape healthy aging. The book provides practical tips across mental, physical, and emotional health to maximize long-term happiness and fulfillment.

This enjoyable book is full of useful information. If you listen to the audiobook edition, it might be helpful to bookmark relevant passages so you can refer back to them later.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging" is a great read book on aging, which I found to be a comprehensive and informative guide. The book covered a wide range of topics related to aging, including the physiological changes that occur as we age, common health concerns for older adults, and strategies for maintaining good health and well-being in later life.

While I didn't come across any information that was particularly new or surprising to me, I found the book to be a helpful reference guide for anyone who is just beginning to explore and learn more about aging. The writing style was clear and accessible, and the information was presented in a way that was easy to understand and digest.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about aging and how to maintain good health and well-being as they grow older. I also want to express my gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with a free and advanced copy of this book, which allowed me to access this valuable resource.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for letting me access this title via NetGalley. Mayo Clinic is definitely one of the top trusted sources for health and wellness information, and this book does not disappoint! I will refer back to it often.

[Shelly Wygant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive book about aging. It does a great job of breaking down exercise, eating healthy, routine tests, insurance and so much more. It breaks down each section with useful information. A great read to learn that as you age it is the age you feel.

[Jordyn Werderitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read for the purpose of educating my patients as I work mostly with elderly but I guess I expected less of it to just be common sense knowledge? I listened as audiobook to and from work and it was very long.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic. I get it; they want you to have these conversations with your doctor, but the data presented is less detailed than the Nat. Institute of Health and WebMD.