Principles of Successful Aging

Abstract Who among us wants to grow old? Because it is natural to cling to life short of deep despair and suicide, the answer is, no doubt, all or most of us. After all, we have to consider the alternative. As a result of our advanced brain and mind, it is probable that only humans, and maybe to a lesser extent a few other primates, are able to recognize clearly that we have a past, present, and future. This makes it possible both to anticipate and to dread death. Still, even more than death, most of us dread being demented, helpless, utterly dependent, in constant pain, and unable to function with reasonable adequacy.