The Aging Well Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong is joined by Dr. Jason Won, Doctor of Physical Therapy and CEO of the Pain Free Academy, to explore lifestyle and habit changes for pain-free aging. Dr. Won, an orthopedic physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist, shares insights into managing pain and living a longer, healthier life. They discuss the importance of physical therapy and st...

The Mediterranean Diet has been widely studied and praised for its numerous health benefits, particularly for promoting heart health, brain health, and overall longevity. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss what the Mediterranean Diet entails and its benefits for… aging well. For listeners interested in learning more about the Mediterranean Diet, there are numerous resources a...

When you monitor heart rate variability:You learn about sleep and how the quality of it can be improved. You learn about stress and how you can find a sustainable, productive level of it. You find a level of movement and exercise that suits you that promotes good health. You explore different ways of resting and establishing calm within. You learn how food impacts your physiology. You discover why...

A recent study in Neurology by Adesuyan and others, titled “Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors in Men With Erectile Dysfunction and the Risk of Alzheimer Disease” suggests that this category of drug may be repurposed for the prevention of dementia? In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the possible benefits (and risks) of taking PDE5Is, such as Sildenafil (Viagra), to prevent d...

There is a notable paucity of research on women in sport and exercise science research. The gap is even greater for women in midlife and beyond. (See the recent Editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by McNulty, Olenick, Moore, and Cowley, “Invisibility of female participants in midlife and beyond in sport and exercise science research: a call to action.”In this episode, Dr. Armstrong...

Studies have consistently shown that older adults with strong social connections tend to experience better mental health outcomes, including lower rates of depression and anxiety. Having a supportive social network can provide a sense of belonging and purpose, which are crucial for maintaining emotional well-being. In a special episode of the Aging Well Podcast, it is the host who is being intervi...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton are joined by Arlene Schiff. Arlene is the Education Director at Elderwerks, a complimentary, not-for-profit, person-centered organization located in Palatine, Illinois. Elderwerks offers older adults, seniors, caregivers, and families information, referrals, and guidance for all types of senior housing, care, benefits, and services. The mission of...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the ‘Power 9’ and what they mean for… aging well. The Power 9 are nine things that the five places that have the highest proportions of people who reach 100 have in common. These are* move naturally, say yes to happy hour, take time to downshift, give your diet a plant shift, find your crew, abide by the 80% Rule, put your loved ones first,...

In this episode of the Aging Well Podcast, Dr. Armstrong is joined by Sara Carbonell, Director of Marketing and Sales at Amblebrook, for an in-depth conversation that dives further into the community’s pioneering efforts to foster connection and longevity for its aging residents. Amblebrook is a 779-acre, 55+ active adult living, community located in the idyllic and historic countryside in Gettysb...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss an article, “Prepandemic Physical Activity and Risk of COVID-19 Diagnosis and Hospitalizations in Older Adults”, published February 13, 2024 by Muñoz-Vergara and others in JAMA Network Online and the role of exercise, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy body composition on mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and illness, in...

Kim Rahir is a journalist turned health coach and weightlifting competitor. Kim’s story is more than about becoming a competitive weightlifter later in life. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton talk with Kim about her journey, resiliency, her experience with Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis, empowering women through heavy lifting, and muscling out of adversity to… age we...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong visits the participants in the 12-Week Transformation Challenge sponsored by Sandi Griffin Fitness (Colorado Springs, CO). It is always a treat to engage with this group of motivated exercisers. Most everyone knows their "why" for exercising. The "why", however, doesn't always get us to our goals. Knowing our "why nots"--our obstacles and excuses--helps us zero in on...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton are joined by Eme McAnam, author of the critically-acclaimed senior romance novel, Freefalling. Eme is living a rich and fulfilling life. In her years, she has worn many hats. She certified fitness instructors, was a financial advisor, ran an assisted living facility, and even had a song on The Top 100 Country Billboard chart. The hosts and their gu...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong visits with former student and owner of West Coast Strength Gym in West Salem, OR to address the participants in the 2024 12-Week Transformation Challenge to talk about diet, exercise, and, of course, ...aging well.(The audio quality is a bit poor in parts due to technical difficulties. Our apologies in advance. The content is all good, though!)Send us a text TruDiag...

In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview Erik Newsholme, the 2021 Men's overall winner of the Race Across America, the world's toughest bicycle race. Erik is the first American to win the men's division since 2003 and the oldest person to ever win. His official time to cross the country, 3,037 miles, was 11 days 19 hours, 28 minutes. He did this at 56 years of age., proving it is...

If one looks at the normative data for physical fitness, one will see that the expectation would appear that one should see declining performance as one ages. On the Aging Well Podcast, we challenge this idea. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss the importance of achieving and maintaining a level of performance that will allow one to maintain a moderate to high level of perfor...

Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview the author of Counterclockwise: Using Peptides to Renew, Rejuvenate, and Rediscover, Dr. Suzanne J. Ferree. Dr. Ferree is the senior physician at Vine Medical Associates, in Atlanta, Georgia. She is double board certified in Family Medicine, Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Ferree uses bioidentical hormones, peptide therapy, neural therapy, and re...

A question that is often asked is “How many exercises should I do in my work out?” This is a question addressed in a recent article in Men’s Health. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton consider this question as it relates to the health- and neuromotor skill-related components of physical fitness according to one’s goals, to the time one is willing and able to commit to exercise, and,...

Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social well-centeredness are common topics on the Aging Well Podcast. We encourage reading and stimulating the mind for… aging well. In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton interview New York Times bestselling author and founder of Faith, Hope, and Fiction, Patricia Crisafulli. Tricia received a Master of Fine Arts degree at the age of 52...

On The Aging Well Podcast, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton have interviewed quite a few interesting guests. In this episode, the hosts reflect on what they have gained from these episodes and, more specifically, how aging well requires a proactive rather than reactive approach. With proactive aging every decision and every action or inaction comes at a cost to our health and well-being. Aging well...

Intellectual wellness is a key component to what we refer to as well-centered fitness and… aging well. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke University and the other 125 institutions founded by the Bernard Osher Foundation seek to “engage the minds, elevate the spirits and foster the well-being of its members through numerous educational programs and opportunities for volunteer serv...

A Life Yet to Live: Finding Health, Vitality, and Joy after 60 (Hansbury Press) is a book that shares one man’s journey to enhance his longevity and to… age well. Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton are joined by the author, Ron Kastner, to discuss his practices and the wisdom he has gained on this journey. In the book, Ron discussed his approach to setting goals for practice and training according to...

We have addressed the importance of maintaining muscle mass for aging well in previous episodes. This is the focus of the article, “13 Habits That Hurt Your Chances of Gaining Lean Muscle Mass.” In this episode Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton extend the discussion to “13 Habits That Hurt Your Chances of… aging well." (So, technically, we discuss 14 habits, but who's counting?)Send us a textTruDiag...

To lose weight, you must be in a hypocaloric state (i.e., calories out must exceed calories in), correct? So, logic might tell us to “just do more cardio.” But is that the best advice? What role does cardio play in losing weight? Many people say that cardio exercise is essential to weight loss. Others are saying that cardio is not the answer. Confusing? It need not be. In this episode, Dr. Armstro...

Personal growth is a continuous journey. On The Aging Well Podcast, we refer to this as “well-centered fitness.”In this episode, Dr. Armstrong and Corbin Bruton discuss well-centered fitness, specifically, the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social (SPIES) component of wellness. Included in the discussion are topics like “grattitude journaling” and a morning/daily ritual for bein...