Living Longer, Living Better | An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Longevity & Brain Health
What does it truly mean to live longer and live well? As scientific discovery and medical innovation continue to extend life expectancy, societies around the world are entering an era defined by longevity, along with the responsibility to ensure that these added years are marked by cognitive health, dignity, and purpose. The growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and related cognitive disorders presents one of the most complex interdisciplinary challenges of our time. It is a challenge that touches neuroscience, medicine, public health, social work, public policy, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
This Ecosystem Event and the accompanying virtual panel bring together the Florida Atlantic University College of Social Work & Criminal Justice, the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and LSE Generate in a collaborative dialogue that bridges research, clinical insight, and global innovation. Together, these institutions are convening scholars, practitioners, and community leaders to explore how we can think differently about aging in a world where longer life is becoming the norm.
Dr. Henriette van Praag, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, will contribute to the conversation by highlighting cutting-edge neuroscience and translational research, illuminating what we are learning about how lifestyle factors such as exercise can enhance brain health and cognitive resilience through biological processes that engage both body and brain. Dr. Robert Colton, M.D., a distinguished physician, entrepreneur, and community leader, will bring a clinical and systems perspective, reflecting on how healthcare innovation and community partnerships can respond to the evolving needs of aging populations. Dr. Ebow Tawiah Nketsiah, Director of the Healthy Aging Academy within the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, will connect science and practice through a global lens, emphasizing the social determinants of healthy aging and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing equity. Dr. Kamilah Khatib, founder of AiDAM and a participant in the Long Life Venture Builder, in addition to being part of the broader LSE Generate ecosystem, will bring an entrepreneurial and translational perspective, sharing how emerging ventures are applying research and technology to address real-world challenges in aging, and what it takes to build solutions that are both impactful and scalable.
This dialogue is intentionally designed for students, faculty, and community stakeholders who recognize that cognitive health is not solely a medical concern. It is a societal question that calls for integrated solutions. Students will gain insight into how diverse disciplines intersect in addressing one of the defining issues of their generation. Faculty will encounter opportunities for cross-college collaboration and translational research partnerships. Community leaders and external stakeholders will engage with evidence-based insights that inform policy, prevention strategies, and innovative care models.
By engaging partners at LSE Generate, this panel extends the conversation beyond regional boundaries and situates longevity within a global framework of social innovation and entrepreneurship. It affirms that the future of healthy aging will depend on scientific breakthroughs and a holistic commitment to ethical leadership, community engagement, and systems-level thinking.
As we look toward a future where longer life is increasingly common, the essential question remains clear. How do we ensure that added years are characterized by cognitive vitality, equity, and meaningful participation in community life? This panel invites all participants to reflect on that question and to consider how interdisciplinary collaboration can shape a healthier and more fulfilling future for aging populations.