There’s a whole industry built on convincing you that staying healthy after 60 is complicated — and expensive. Supplements. Red-light masks. Cold plunges. $200 “longevity” blood panels. Trackers for every heartbeat.
So I was glad to see some actual experts weigh in. On Sept. 1, U.S. News released its 2026 Healthy Aging Survey, asking 63 doctors, researchers, and dietitians what really moves the needle on aging well.
Their verdict? The stuff that works best is almost all free. The pricey biohacks barely registered.
I’m 71, and I’ve been living the cheap version for years. Let me walk you through what actually made their list.
1. Keep moving
Physical activity tied for the single most important factor, named by 89% of the experts. Not marathons — just regular movement.
It’s the closest thing we’ve got to a wonder drug. It guards your heart, your brain, your balance, and your independence all at once. I ride my bike most days, and I’d give up almost anything before I gave that up.
2. Eat real food, not pills
Tied with movement at 89% was a nutrient-dense diet — real, whole food. Notice what didn’t top the list: the supplement aisle.
You don’t need a cabinet full of capsules. You need meals built around vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, and fish. Boring? Maybe. But it beats anything sold in a bottle with a longevity label on it.
3. Protect your sleep
Coming in third was high-quality, restorative sleep. Not a gadget that scores your sleep — actual sleep.
This is where I’ll defend my afternoon nap to anyone who’ll listen. Your brain does its housekeeping while you rest. Shortchange it for years and you feel it — in your mood, your memory, and your waistline.
Quick thought — most financial “gurus” got rich selling advice, not following it. I’d rather show you what actually works, because I’ve lived it. Sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter for money advice from someone who takes his own. 10 seconds, no spam.
4. Stay connected — the one people underrate
Here’s the finding that surprised me. Fifty-nine percent of the experts named social isolation the most underappreciated accelerator of aging.
Loneliness isn’t just sad; it wears on the body. The experts note it disrupts sleep, ratchets up stress, and feeds problems like heart disease and dementia. A standing coffee date may do more for you than anything you can buy in a bottle.
Here’s an idea … Combine exercise with connection. Join a bike, exercise or other movement club.
5. Skip the shiny stuff
So where did all the biohacks land? Near the bottom. The experts ranked supplements, trendy gadgets, and AI tools well below the plain old basics.
Their own framing is worth sitting with: Anti-aging is largely a marketing idea. The industry needs aging to look like a problem you can buy your way out of. These experts are telling you the opposite — the best tools are free, and you already own them.
The bottom line
None of this is exciting. There’s no secret, no subscription, no miracle molecule. Just move, eat real food, sleep, and stay close to the people you like.
That’s the part the longevity industry hopes you’ll overlook, because there’s no money in it — for them. There’s plenty in it for you.
I’m 71 and still riding my bike, still napping, still arguing with friends over dinner. Turns out that’s most of the program. Go live it.
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