Episode Details

  • Guest: Dr. Linda Fried
  • Title: Dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

QUOTES

“Frailty is a clinical syndrome that requires diagnosis and warrants both prevention and treatment.” (Dr. Fried)

“It’s important to teach kids the habit of being physically active because once you learn that as a child, it’s with you for life.” (Dr. Fried)

“We’ve created the long lives part, but we have not created the ‘with health’ part for most people.” (Dr. Fried)

“Older people want to make a difference, want to leave a legacy of goodness, but there are not roles at scale for that.” (Dr. Fried)

“Public health delivers 70% of a population’s health, medical care 20%. You can’t have health unless you have both sides of that health coin.” (Dr. Fried)

“Loneliness has been described as analogous to hunger — your body telling you that you need meaningful social connection.” (Dr. Fried)

“One of the strongest risk factors for heart disease, lung disease and dementia is air pollution — the fourth leading cause of death in the world.” (Dr. Fried)

“We block our opportunity to collectively thrive through the narrative that old people are only dependent and sick.” (Dr. Fried)

“The challenge is not that we don’t know what to do — it’s that we haven’t built the systems to deliver it to every community.” (Dr. Fried)

“If we invest in preventing chronic diseases at every age and stage of life, the return on investment is immense.” (Dr. Fried)

“Each generation needs the other generation in their life.” (Dr. Fried)

NOTES

Dr. Linda Fried is a globally recognized public health leader, geriatrician and Dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is a pioneer in the science of healthy aging and frailty, with decades of groundbreaking research and advocacy work.

The Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University is one of the world’s leading public health institutions. Under Dr. Fried’s leadership, the school has emphasized healthy longevity, public health innovation, and the importance of building equitable health systems for all ages.

Dr. Fried chaired the Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity, a major initiative from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. She also developed Experience Corps, a program that empowers older adults to help children succeed in public schools, while promoting health and purpose in later life. Her work continues to shape how we design systems, communities and policies for a longer, healthier life course.

Frailty is a diagnosable medical syndrome that can be prevented or reversed, especially through physical activity and social engagement.

A meaningful definition of frailty helped unlock better care strategies, interventions and clinical awareness.

Public health delivers the majority of population-level health outcomes—and must be redesigned to meet the realities of longer lives.

Intergenerational connection benefits both older and younger people and helps address rising loneliness across age groups.

Aging in place requires supportive infrastructure: mobility services, home modifications, in-home clinical visits and strong internet access.

A third stage of life—marked by contribution, purpose and health—is possible, but requires roles that value older adults’ skills and wisdom.

The myth that investing in older adults comes at the expense of younger people is harmful and false; collective thriving is achievable.

Longevity should be seen as an opportunity for all of society to benefit—not as a burden.