The Roadmap to 100: The Breakthrough Science of Living a Long and Healthy Life

by Walter M. Bortz II, Randall Stickrod

With a baby boomer turning sixty every ten seconds, we are rapidly becoming an aging society. But cutting edge research on the connection between age and disease shows us that many of the preconceptions we had about how to grow old need a second look. This groundbreaking book is full of take-away prescriptive advice which the nearly seventy-five million boomers in this nation will value. Top gerontologist and Stanford medical school professor Dr. Walter Bortz and co-author Randall Stickrod draw on new science and a thirty-year longitudinal study of centenarians to show

• Genetics plays a smaller role in aging than previously thought

• Senility, dementia, and other diseases of the elderly, are largely preventable and not an inevitable consequence of aging

• Engagement, through sexual relationships, social interaction, and professional activity, is a key factor in long, healthy lives

• Physical fitness can recover at least 30 years of aging

Filled with in-depth insight and practical advice, The Roadmap to 100 gives you the power to control your own destiny and live well beyond 100.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2010

About the author

Walter M. Bortz II, M.D. (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; B.S., Williams College), is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Recognized as one of America’s most distinguished scientific experts on aging and longevity. Dr. Bortz's research has focused on the importance of physical exercise in the promotion of robust aging. Dr. Bortz has published over 130 medical articles and authored numerous books. Dr. Bortz is past co-chairman of the American Medical Association’s Task Force on Aging, former President of The American Geriatric Society and is currently Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, as well as a Senior Advisor to Healthy Silicon Valley, a community collaborative effort which addresses the soaring incidence of obesity and diabetes.

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My spin instructor recommended this book, i usually shy away from any book with titles that may suggest a "Breakthrough" in anything! This however is not one of those snake-oil sales-jobs. Dr Bortz, in a short book, encapsulates in a succinct and clear manner the misconceptions about aging particularly as it relates to exercise. He covers all aspects of aging in the context of all the misconceptions we have been led to believe about the process, mental, physical, sexual etc etc., Some of what he was written (while everything he promulgates is based on medical/scientific studies) may be know in one form or another by most of us but to see it all together in one book is most helpful. The "take ownership" idea of aging that we can control and there are a lot of them, provides us with a conscious road map to meeting the inevitable physical and mental aging process and the inevitably challenge it brings. Aging is unstoppable BUT with diligent attention we can manage the aging process. Movement, Fitness, Posture, Diet, Engagement,etc is a daily regime that must become second nature to us all as we age. Is it hard work? yes but it is a learned process and who of us given the opportunity to extender our lives, not just as a number but in a productive, balanced and healthy manner would not be willing to at least try to follow what Dr. Bortz is recommending in this book? Its never to early to read a medical book such as this.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author presses you to run run run, because the author runs. None of the centenarians that he is so eager to study appear to have a jogging habit. Bad, misguided advice. The running studies he cites compare to "non-running subjects", which presumably includes people who don't exercise at all.

Half the book is about running, the other half discusses other subjects. It's hard to believe the other arguments after the running debacle. Healthy at 100 and The Longevity Project are both better-written and better-researched.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm 50-50 on this book.

There are things I liked, like his emphasis on movement (running, weight training, etc.), nutritious food intake (knowing supplements are mostly just a scam), and that going to the doctor to get a band-aid (medication and more medication) is far from living a GOOD long life.

And then there are my dislikes. His agreement with Darwin's theory, the book is actually a boring read, I personally don't think marathoners are healthy individuals (don't confuse that with runners), and there really wasn't any 'breakthrough' science about his live long 'theory'... (move and eat well.... who would have thought!).

Besides - life (i.e: how long you live) isn't in our hands, get over it. But living healthy in whatever time you have is what people should be aiming for.

[Dana Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

My nearly 87 year old mother gave me this book and waxed poetic about it. I appreciate that it is scientifically based and seems very accurate - it was just old news to me. All this information is readily available from NPR to TIME magazine, to Dr. Oz, etc. So there was nothing new for me, but I appreciate the fact that she is keeping up on these things and is planning to make it to 100! 3 thoughts: I think he should have included the importance of sleep - this is huge for good health. I really enjoyed the chapter on food and nutrition. I think he focused on running as the be all, end all exercise and it is just not possible for a lot of people to run.

[Yakking Yogini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic advice that we all learned in our highschool health class, nicely revisited to remind us what we ought to be doing to maintain our health as we enter the 30's and 40's and even 50's.

[Abcdarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the newest research on aging & how to do it well. For that matter, excellent for any age on how to get & stay healthy, physically, mentally, emotionally. Inspiring!