Superagers. People who live to 110 in relatively good health. The hype around pushing the “normal” chronological lifespan of most humans is high these days. Many new companies are devoted to unravelling the secrets of living a longer than average lifespan.

In 2022, I underwent something of an anti-aging program myself though my motives were more complex. AVIV Clinics in Wildwood, Florida offers a three month hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) program designed to combat a host of aging-related and other medical conditions.

HBOT has been commonly used in health care for years as an aid to healing stubborn wounds. AVIV is using the technology to “refresh” our aging bodies and brains which may have been damaged in the process of living. Participants like me engaged in five-days-a-week HBOT sessions for two hours a day.

I signed up for the program to address the impact of PTSD on my brain and years of cumulative emotional trauma. It is said that emotional trauma presents on an MRI in the same way as physical trauma does, just like concussions or other head injuries.

That intrigued me. What intrigued me more was the difference between my brain’s MRI after the program compared to when I started. Blood perfusion increased. Areas of my brain where there was diminished blood flow were quite evidently revived.

The most noticeable impact was the calming effect of the HBOT protocols on me. As a PTSD survivor, I was never really able to fully relax and often lived in a state of hyper-vigilance in what were otherwise normal social situations. Which is exhausting.

I suppose the feeling I would describe in the parlance after HBOT was that I felt more “grounded.” A year and a half later, a sense of calm and inner stability has persisted. That alone was worth the price of admission (admittedly high and not yet covered on any health plans.)

So I am naturally drawn to the promise of the new anti-aging movement that is developing. Living to 110 plus would only be worth it if the body plays along and stays healthy. That has never been more possible than it is today. People these days talk more about “healthspan” than “lifespan.” I am already a convert.

CNBC correspondent Dan Buettner investigated the habits of 263 centenarians around the world to see how they’ve done it. There are sensible prescriptions in here for all of us at whatever age we are.

Read Buettner’s article to learn about the “non-negotiable” rules for living that he discovered in 263 centenarians he talked to. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/24/i-talked-to-263-of-the-worlds-oldest-living-peoplehere-are-their-non-negotiables-for-a-long-happy-life.html

Good advice for any time of life in my view.

Working on heading in this direction myself.