Live Better While You Age

March 20, 2017
Jones, a retired cardiovascular surgeon and visiting professor of medicine and medical ethics at Baylor College of Medicine, employs his professional expertise as well as his personal experiences in this practical and sound book on aging in good health. Jones applies a “free will concept” to health, arguing that lifestyle choices can make a crucial difference in “keeping the golden years golden.” According to Jones, many chronic diseases are lifestyle-related and not an inevitable part of aging; he also points out that 74–77% of diseases are not genetically based. The book is divided into three parts: “The Aging Body,” “Lifestyle Changes and Prevention,” and “Medical Care and Management.” In various chapters, Jones examines such ailments as vascular disease, inflammation, and dementia, and concludes that exercise, diet, and socializing are the keys to aging well. A section on improving medical care and choosing a good doctor may be of particular interest to those negotiating the medical maze (one suggestion is to opt for experience over personality). Interspersing health tips with nuggets of wisdom on various subjects, including happiness, religion, and remembering prescription schedules, Jones urges readers to apply “grit” and discipline to their lifestyles, and to weigh immediate gratification against future benefits. Older readers seeking straightforward advice will enjoy and learn from Jones’s sage approach to quality aging.