title: Successful aging: Advancing the science of physical independence in older adults.
abstract: The concept of 'successful aging' has long intrigued the scientific community. Despite this long-standing interest, a consensus definition has proven to be a difficult task, due to the inherent challenge involved in defining such a complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon. The lack of a clear set of defining characteristics for the construct of successful aging has made comparison of findings across studies difficult and has limited advances in aging research. A consensus on markers of successful aging is furthest developed is the domain of physical functioning. For example, walking speed appears to be an excellent surrogate marker of overall health and predicts the maintenance of physical independence, a cornerstone of successful aging. The purpose of the present article is to provide an overview and discussion of specific health conditions, behavioral factors, and biological mechanisms that mark declining mobility and physical function and promising interventions to counter these effects. With life expectancy continuing to increase in the United States and developed countries throughout the world, there is an increasing public health focus on the maintenance of physical independence among all older adults.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: santon@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida, Cognitive Aging & Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: ajwoods@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Neurology, 100 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: tetsuo.ashizawa@neurology.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Tetso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ashizawa
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida, Department of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: diana.barb@medicine.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barb
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: tbuford@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Buford
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: cartercs@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Christy S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: davidclark@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Cognitive Aging & Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: roncohen@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: dcorbett@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Duane B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida, Cognitive Aging & Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: cryeni@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Yenisel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cruz-Almeida
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Cognitive Aging & Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: vonetta@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Vonetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Psychology, 945 Center Drive, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: natalie.ebner@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Surgery, P.O. Box 100286, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: Philip.efron@surgery.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, 1329 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: RFillingim@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Roger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fillingim
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Cognitive Aging & Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida, Department of Neuroscience, P.O. Box 100244, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: foster1@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: dgunderm@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gundermann
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: amjoseph@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; University of Florida, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: ckarabetian@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karabetian
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: cleeuwen@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leeuwenburgh
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: tmanini@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: marsiske@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marsiske
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: r.mankowski@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mankowski
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: hmutchie@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mutchie
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: mperri@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Computer & Information Science & Engineering, P.O. Box 116120, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: ranka@cise.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranka
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Biomedical Engineering, P.O. Box 116131, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: parisa.rashidi@bme.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: bsandesara@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Bhanuprasad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandesara
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, P.O. Box 100267, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: scarpace@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Scarpace
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: ksibille@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberly T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Sibille
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: lmsolberg@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Laurence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: someya@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Someya
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: upholdc@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uphold
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Animal Sciences, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: steffiw@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wohlgemuth
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Biostatistics, P.O. Box 117450, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: samwu@biostat.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Samuel Shangwu
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: mpahor@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahor
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human
keywords: Age; Healthspan; Longevity; Mobility; Obesity; Sarcopenia