Houston, We May Not Have a Problem

As time passed and I got older, that dream didn’t necessarily disappear but could be better described as receding into the background. Other things became more important, and I didn’t even notice this happening. But walking through the Space Center last spring, I was struck by how excited I was to be there, and I briefly felt like what it was to be 10 again and fulfill that old dream.

I realize this is the second time I’ve talked about NASA. But for a good reason, as our speaker at last year’s November event was Dr. David Williams, a medical doctor, health expert, and former astronaut. Dr. Dave lived up to all the expectations my 10-year-old self would have had when meeting a real-life astronaut.

Dr. Dave inspired us with tales of his life and experiences in space. He also provided practical tips on health and aging. Researchers have discovered that the effects of being in space are strikingly similar to aging. This has drawn NASA’s attention to studying the effects of aging as well as the potential of reversible aging. When astronauts return to Earth, their bodies begin adapting again to the conditions on the ground. This has enhanced our understanding not only of how to help people recover from the effects of long periods of bed rest, such as when recovering from an illness, but also of how to recover some of the vitality that can be lost when we age. That loss is often the result of a lack of activity.

Dr. Dave further explained that when he was first studying medicine, the prevailing understanding of aging was that over a typical lifespan, an individual would have a period of healthy years early on, followed late in life by years with age-related diseases that ultimately affected their quality of life. However, that framework has radically changed, as there is now an understanding that people can maintain their health for longer than once believed. This can be achieved by doing relatively simple things that can optimize their “healthspan”. At a very basic level, one of those key factors is staying active and mobile.

At Nexus, we frequently talk about the “long-term” in our investment philosophy and our approach to planning. This is why the theme of Living to 100 has become a frequent topic of conversation at the firm. Usually, this translates into first making sure our clients have the financial resources they need for a very long time. But inevitably, that discussion should expand to include enjoying that time as well. While there is no promise of a fountain of youth, we do know that there can be many more active, healthy years than was once believed. From time to time we may even remember what it was like to be 10 again.