5 signs youre aging well and the red flags to watch for in your 40s and 50s

Getting old never looked so good.While tech entrepreneurs and biohackers race to rewrite the rules of longevity, there are everyday telltale signs you’re aging well without a health tracker or blood tests.Rather than simply avoiding disease, getting older well involves a more holistic view of physical, mental and emotional well-being, according to Dr.Tina Sadarangani, PhD, a board-certified adult and geriatric nurse practitioner.“Aging well in your 40s and 50s doesn’t just mean looking younger,” Sadarangani told The Post.

“It also means feeling and functioning at your best.”And on the flip side, there are warning signs that things may be heading south once you approach the mid-century mark.“The 40’s and 50s represent a critical window when many age-related changes first become apparent or accelerate,” Emmanuel Osei-Boamah, a board-certified geriatrician and physician with Mercy Family Care in Baltimore, told The Post.Maintaining your strength and endurance makes a big difference as you get older.“Someone who can climb stairs, carry groceries, get up from the floor, and stay active is more likely to remain independent as they age,” Sadarangani said.Osei-Boamah agrees, adding that aging well “is characterized by the preservation of functional independence.”He also added that walking speed, balance, handgrip strength and how fast you can stand up are also good indicators of good aging.Conversely, becoming weaker is a sign that one may not be aging as well.Signs of weakened strength can include reduced grip strength, difficulty with tasks requiring balance or coordination and new joint stiffness or pain, signs of osteoarthritis.Research has determined loneliness to be a public health threat among the likes of obesity and smoking — and the health risks are well-documented, especially for older adults.“People who maintain close relationships, participate in their communities and have a sense of purpose tend to experience better physical and...