Does living longer mean reaching 100 or beyond? Longevity is not just adding years – it’s about staying healthy for those years. In a recent episode of The Future Age podcast, Dr. Katharine Smart and Nick Buettner shared powerful insights into how we can design our communities to support healthy aging. From reimagining care systems to embracing the secrets of the world’s Blue Zones, here are the key takeaways from their conversation.
Dr. Katharine Smart, a pediatrician, medical leader and advocate in Canada’s north, and past president of the Canadian Medical Association, emphasized the importance of creating systems that serve people across their life.
“We tend to silo off stages of people's lives, we sort of think of infants and children as one age, young adults, older people, and then the elderly. We've really got to start thinking about aging as something that starts right at the beginning of life.,” she noted.
Dr. Smart highlighted the importance of supporting young families to be able to connect with their children. Parents who are healthy physically and mentally can focus on building strong connections with their children to reduce the stress around them. Preventive health is key not just for healthy adults, but really starts with young people.
Nick Buettner brought a global perspective to the conversation, sharing lessons from the Blue Zones—regions where people live longer, healthier lives than anywhere else on Earth. His team’s research found that some of the biggest determinants of longevity are based on “the places and the environments where you work, live, play, and pray, and the policies, cultures, and social norms in the communities you live.”
They found nine common traits that are shared by these naturally occurring blue zones, such as people walk more and do more everyday physical activity (not by going to the gym), they prioritize family and they live with purpose. Learn about all nine of these traits in the full episode.
Both Dr. Smart and Buettner agree -- designing for longevity isn’t just about individuals making healthier choices, it’s about reshaping the environments and systems that influence those choices. From local communities to national policies, we need to prioritize:
- Whether through shared meals, communal gardens, or multi-generational living arrangements, creating opportunities for interaction is essential.
- Communities must break down barriers to ensure everyone has the support they need, regardless of age or income.
- Shifting resources upstream to address health holistically can reduce costs and improve quality of life for all.
As we rethink the way we design our communities, the lessons from Blue Zones and innovative care models remind us that the key to longevity lies in collaboration, creativity, and connection. By integrating these principles, we can build a future where everyone thrives. Listen to the full episode.