Q: As a scientist, how do you think about aging in a culture preoccupied with anti-aging?
A: I’d love to see us reframe the conversation. Getting older is a privilege – not everyone gets to experience it. The goal shouldn’t be to fight aging, but to age well: to maintain physical function and independence so that we can truly enjoy the years we’re fortunate enough to have.
That said, I have nothing against people doing what makes them feel good. Cosmetic surgery, skincare routines – those are personal choices, and there’s no judgment from me. But I think the more meaningful pursuit is understanding what we can do through movement, nutrition and lifestyle to protect our muscles, bones and metabolic function. The science is clear that physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Q: What are some practical steps we can all take to be healthier?
A: The foundation is building healthy lifestyle habits and maintaining them. That means finding a physical activity you genuinely enjoy and doing it consistently. It means making good food choices most of the time while still enjoying the things you love. For me, there is no reason to skip king cake on Mardi Gras. It’s about balance, not deprivation.
As we get older and our jobs become more sedentary, we lose the incidental mechanical stress on our bones and muscles that helps keep them strong. Without deliberate effort to counteract that, we see muscle loss, bone loss, increased inflammation and worsening metabolic health. The research is clear that physical activity and healthy eating reduce the risk of dementia — there’s meaningful crosstalk between systemic inflammation and brain health that we’re still unpacking.
One thing I find compelling, though it’s outside my direct area of expertise, is the role of social connection. There’s a growing body of research showing that maintaining strong social ties is independently important for cognitive function into later life. So, it’s not just about what you eat and how you move, it’s also about staying connected to people.
And on the alcohol front, we’re seeing a troubling trend of increasing alcohol use among older adults. Given that alcohol and aging already have compounding adverse effects on muscle, metabolism and liver health, that’s a population we really need to be having more conversations about responsible use.
Q: Why did you choose to build your research career at Texas Tech?
A: I was looking for an R1 institution in Texas, and I was only going to accept a position if it felt like the right fit. When I read the job description here at Texas Tech, I thought, “That’s me.”
When I interviewed, I found exactly what I was hoping for: a collegial faculty and genuine support from leadership who want to see their people succeed. My department chair, Dr. Lumpkin, is a fierce advocate for her faculty. That kind of support from administration, and the sense that the institution is invested in newer faculty finding their footing, and the potential for building strong and lasting collaborations, was evident from the start, and it’s been evident every day since. That's why I’ve stayed and continued building my research program here.
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