3. Movement: reclaiming functional independence
There is the false idea that a sharp drop-off in health is inevitable once you turn 80. But while some slowing down is to be expected, the truth about a lot of what is called aging is not really true.
Movement does not necessarily mean trying to be physically attractive at 80 years old; it means being able to do things like stand up from a chair without help, carrying your own grocery bags, and walking on unsteady ground.
A study from 2026, featured in PNAS, showed that exercise causes mitochondrial remodeling. That means that exercise literally signals our cells to keep up production of energy, in a way “reversing” certain aspects of cell aging.
The approach:
The “sit to stand” exercise: Geriatricians frequently assess one’s capability to rise from a sitting position without the use of the hands as a primary predictor of longevity. Repeating this simple task about 10-15 times daily serves as an excellent form of exercise.
