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Rethinking Aging: Healthspan Over Lifespan with Jennifer Garrison of Buck Institute
Planning Alternatives April 28, 2025

We’re joined by Jennifer Garrison, Assistant Professor at Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Co-Founder and Director of the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality. Jennifer shares her insights on aging, healthspan, and the critical differences between male and female reproductive aging. She discusses how understanding biological aging can help improve long-term health and quality of life.
Key Takeaways:
- (02:10) How Jennifer’s career led her to the study of aging.
- (03:49) The brain is the last frontier in biology.
- (07:41) The hypothalamus is one of the hotspots for age-related inflammation.
- (10:34) The difference between lifespan and healthspan.
- (13:09) The pillars of effective healthspan planning.
- (16:33) How reproductive aging differs between men and women.
- (18:40) Why ovarian aging is key to women’s long-term health.
- (21:24) Proactively addressing shifts in health can lead to better aging outcomes.
“Having really rich social connections and interactions with other people is a profoundly important part of aging in a healthy way.”
- Jennifer Garrison
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Jennifer Garrison, Assistant Professor at Buck Institute for Research on Aging
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjennifergarrison
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buck-institute-for-research-on-aging
Connect with Nathan Mersereau:
Phone: 248-645-1520
Email: nathan.mersereau@planningalt.com
Twitter: @NathanMersereau
LinkedIn: Nathan Mersereau
Address: 255 S Old Woodward, Suite 310
Birmingham, MI 48009