Robert Roy Britt
@robertroybritt.bsky.social
Editor of the Writer’s Guide and Age Wise (newsletters). Former media exec and past editor-in-chief of Live Science and Space.com. Author of Make Sleep Your Superpower.
Science finds that regularly tucking into a good novel—or reading anything that’s not required—is good for your overall well-being. agewise.substack.com/p/why-you-sh...
Why You Should Find Time to Read for Pleasure Today
It’s not just a joy. Reading can lower stress and reduce dementia risk, too
agewise.substack.com
September 24, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Science finds that regularly tucking into a good novel—or reading anything that’s not required—is good for your overall well-being. agewise.substack.com/p/why-you-sh...
With culture having turned so mean-spirited in recent years, Dolly Parton was a refreshing, singular individual. She was kind and could joke about complex issues and not offend anyone. And she had a great attitude about aging: Just keep pursuing your purpose, and whatever happens, happens.
Dolly Parton’s Advice on Aging
Wisdom from someone who lived fully
agewise.substack.com
August 27, 2026 at 4:50 PM
With culture having turned so mean-spirited in recent years, Dolly Parton was a refreshing, singular individual. She was kind and could joke about complex issues and not offend anyone. And she had a great attitude about aging: Just keep pursuing your purpose, and whatever happens, happens.
The quest for immortality has become an addiction for a handful of anti-aging scientists, technologists who’ve poured billions of dollars into the research, and social media influencers who tout their longevity routines and hawk snake-oil products. medium.com/@robertroybr...
The Unhealthy Obsession with Living Forever Now Has a Name
‘Longevity-fixation syndrome’ describes people so fanatical about extending their lives they forget how to live
medium.com
August 13, 2026 at 7:46 PM
The quest for immortality has become an addiction for a handful of anti-aging scientists, technologists who’ve poured billions of dollars into the research, and social media influencers who tout their longevity routines and hawk snake-oil products. medium.com/@robertroybr...
I’ve been sleeping in a tent the past 15 months. You might imagine some of the challenges. Well, I wrote about it so you don't have to. But I hope you find some inspiration from my experience, which I'm getting really, really tired of. agewise.substack.com/p/discoverin...
Discovering My Untapped Resilience at 64
15 months living outdoors has cultivated a greater appreciation for the little things in life
agewise.substack.com
August 4, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I’ve been sleeping in a tent the past 15 months. You might imagine some of the challenges. Well, I wrote about it so you don't have to. But I hope you find some inspiration from my experience, which I'm getting really, really tired of. agewise.substack.com/p/discoverin...
The rise in awareness of mental health conditions, a positive thing, is a double-edges sword, several experts say, as awareness + AI queries + social media influencers fuel inaccurate self-diagnoses. medium.com/@robertroybr...
Are We Too Obsessed with Mental Health?
Fixation fueled by social media and AI queries can generate excess sensitivity and inaccurate self-diagnoses, mental health experts say
medium.com
July 29, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The rise in awareness of mental health conditions, a positive thing, is a double-edges sword, several experts say, as awareness + AI queries + social media influencers fuel inaccurate self-diagnoses. medium.com/@robertroybr...
The best way to up your odds of a long and healthy life is to focus not on longevity and lifepsan influencer hocus-pocus, but on well-grounded lifestyle science that promotes healthspan. agewise.substack.com/p/focus-on-h... #health #aging #longevity
Focus on Healthspan, Not Lifespan
Aim for quality years, through better health and capability now, and longevity becomes more likely
agewise.substack.com
July 24, 2026 at 2:22 PM
The best way to up your odds of a long and healthy life is to focus not on longevity and lifepsan influencer hocus-pocus, but on well-grounded lifestyle science that promotes healthspan. agewise.substack.com/p/focus-on-h... #health #aging #longevity
The US is the undisputed leader of the "morbidity gap," the difference in years between how long people live and how long they are healthy. The data argue for greater focus on living well instead of worrying about living longer.
medium.com/@robertroybr...
#aging #longevity #health
medium.com/@robertroybr...
#aging #longevity #health
People Live Longer But Less Healthy as ‘Morbidity Gap’ Grows
Poor health isn’t confined just to “older people,” new research finds
medium.com
July 23, 2026 at 1:35 PM
The US is the undisputed leader of the "morbidity gap," the difference in years between how long people live and how long they are healthy. The data argue for greater focus on living well instead of worrying about living longer.
medium.com/@robertroybr...
#aging #longevity #health
medium.com/@robertroybr...
#aging #longevity #health
Many of the nonfiction writers I’ve edited over the years try to be too many things. They want to write about this, that and the other, and they never quite settle into a topic area consistently enough to become really good at it. Makes it hard to build credibility and attract followers.
How to Find Your Writing Groove
PLUS: Announcing the Writer's Guide Chat Room
writersguide.substack.com
July 14, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Many of the nonfiction writers I’ve edited over the years try to be too many things. They want to write about this, that and the other, and they never quite settle into a topic area consistently enough to become really good at it. Makes it hard to build credibility and attract followers.
As I get older, I find obits can be cautionary tales or cause for celebration, depending on the age of the departed and the circumstances of their demise.
Aging Lessons from Sam Neill and Lindsey Graham (and Mitch McConnell, Too)
Obits can teach us a lot about how to live
medium.com
July 13, 2026 at 4:37 PM
As I get older, I find obits can be cautionary tales or cause for celebration, depending on the age of the departed and the circumstances of their demise.
Among writers, you got your AI writers, and those of us who love writing.
July 10, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Among writers, you got your AI writers, and those of us who love writing.
I’ve just launched a Chat Room for all Writer’s Guide subscribers. I’ll be prompting discussions, doing Q&As, and otherwise mentoring and coaching nonfiction writers with more one-on-one interaction (rather than just sending posts). Join us!
substack.com/chat/1877241
#writing #writers
substack.com/chat/1877241
#writing #writers
The Writer's Guide chat
Join now in the Substack app
substack.com
July 10, 2026 at 7:05 PM
I’ve just launched a Chat Room for all Writer’s Guide subscribers. I’ll be prompting discussions, doing Q&As, and otherwise mentoring and coaching nonfiction writers with more one-on-one interaction (rather than just sending posts). Join us!
substack.com/chat/1877241
#writing #writers
substack.com/chat/1877241
#writing #writers
“If you are 40, healthy, and sedentary, it is likely that you already have something going on inside your cells that will likely come back to haunt you in 10 or 15 years,” says University of Colorado researcher Iñigo San Millan, PhD.
Full story (for people of any age!) in the Age Wise newsletter:
Full story (for people of any age!) in the Age Wise newsletter:
One Avoidable Reason Health Problems Sneak Up on Older Adults
You might feel fine, but if you’re sedentary, deleterious cellular juju is building up
agewise.substack.com
July 10, 2026 at 2:02 PM
“If you are 40, healthy, and sedentary, it is likely that you already have something going on inside your cells that will likely come back to haunt you in 10 or 15 years,” says University of Colorado researcher Iñigo San Millan, PhD.
Full story (for people of any age!) in the Age Wise newsletter:
Full story (for people of any age!) in the Age Wise newsletter:
If you’re beyond your 30s and not challenging your muscles, they are slowly wasting away. But it doesn’t have to be so. Strength training (weights, resistance bands or body-weight exercises like push-ups) is vital for healthy aging, to preserve mobility, capability and overall well-being.
Sweet Spot Found for Longevity Benefits of Strength Training
A certain amount can help you live longer. More won't likely extend your life, research suggests.
agewise.substack.com
July 9, 2026 at 2:09 PM
If you’re beyond your 30s and not challenging your muscles, they are slowly wasting away. But it doesn’t have to be so. Strength training (weights, resistance bands or body-weight exercises like push-ups) is vital for healthy aging, to preserve mobility, capability and overall well-being.
Hey nonfiction writers: I’m relaunching The Writer’s Guide after a much-needed hiatus. I’ve got some really helpful features and functionality planned. To get the ball rolling, a back-to-basics guide: writersguide.substack.com/p/punctuatio... #writing #writers
Punctuation Rules & How to Break Them
PLUS: Announcing The Writer's Guide relaunch!
writersguide.substack.com
July 8, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Hey nonfiction writers: I’m relaunching The Writer’s Guide after a much-needed hiatus. I’ve got some really helpful features and functionality planned. To get the ball rolling, a back-to-basics guide: writersguide.substack.com/p/punctuatio... #writing #writers
Dementia is devastating, but it’s also widely misunderstood. The disease is not as common as most people think, and there’s a LOT one can do years in advance to greatly reduce the risk of getting it.
agewise.substack.com/p/3-surprisi... #aging #brain #dementia
agewise.substack.com/p/3-surprisi... #aging #brain #dementia
3 Surprising Truths About Dementia
If you think it's an inevitable part of aging, here's the good news
agewise.substack.com
July 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Dementia is devastating, but it’s also widely misunderstood. The disease is not as common as most people think, and there’s a LOT one can do years in advance to greatly reduce the risk of getting it.
agewise.substack.com/p/3-surprisi... #aging #brain #dementia
agewise.substack.com/p/3-surprisi... #aging #brain #dementia
Former US soccer star Mia Hamm, now 54, still works out. She uses strength training, but not heavy weights anymore. Brilliant strategy for healthy aging — we need aerobic AND resistance work. Wait… Mia Hamm is 54?!
www.businessinsider.com/mia-hamm-lon... #aging #soccer #health
www.businessinsider.com/mia-hamm-lon... #aging #soccer #health
Soccer legend Mia Hamm has a 3-step longevity routine to stay strong and agile in her 50s
Mia Hamm said she ditched heavy weights and explosive exercise to prioritize smart movements that help with heart health and longevity.
www.businessinsider.com
July 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Former US soccer star Mia Hamm, now 54, still works out. She uses strength training, but not heavy weights anymore. Brilliant strategy for healthy aging — we need aerobic AND resistance work. Wait… Mia Hamm is 54?!
www.businessinsider.com/mia-hamm-lon... #aging #soccer #health
www.businessinsider.com/mia-hamm-lon... #aging #soccer #health
New research measured the brain's biological age among people who speak one language vs. people who speak two or more. The key finding: "... multilingual experience matters as a gradient: it is not simply about being bilingual or not, but about the depth and duration of language experience.”
agewise.substack.com
July 7, 2026 at 1:54 PM
New research measured the brain's biological age among people who speak one language vs. people who speak two or more. The key finding: "... multilingual experience matters as a gradient: it is not simply about being bilingual or not, but about the depth and duration of language experience.”
Bryan Johnson thinks he can live forever. He spends ~$2 million a year making himself a biohacking experiment of one. His announcement that he has autoimmune gastritis serves as cautionary tale for anyone who dreams of immortality. agewise.substack.com/p/biohacker-... #aging #longevity #health
Biohacker Aiming to Live Forever Gets an Autoimmune Disease
A cautionary tale for anyone who dreams of immortality
agewise.substack.com
July 6, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Bryan Johnson thinks he can live forever. He spends ~$2 million a year making himself a biohacking experiment of one. His announcement that he has autoimmune gastritis serves as cautionary tale for anyone who dreams of immortality. agewise.substack.com/p/biohacker-... #aging #longevity #health
We’ve all helped create polypharmacy, whereby people take way too many medications, and often the wrong meds, leading to serious physical and mental health outcomes that shouldn’t happen. Doctors know it. But only you can stop it. agewise.substack.com/p/polypharma... #aging #medicine #health
The Little-Known Reason Why You Might Be Taking Too Many Drugs
From middle-age onward, millions of adults fall into a “prescribing cascade” of way too many meds. Doctors know it. But only you can stop it.
agewise.substack.com
July 3, 2026 at 1:24 PM
We’ve all helped create polypharmacy, whereby people take way too many medications, and often the wrong meds, leading to serious physical and mental health outcomes that shouldn’t happen. Doctors know it. But only you can stop it. agewise.substack.com/p/polypharma... #aging #medicine #health
As we age, we get better at dealing with regrets, or we simply have fewer of them. That’s the hope, anyway, and there’s some science to support the idea. This story explains how to better deal.
medium.com/crows-feet/h...
medium.com/crows-feet/h...
Here’s One Upside of Aging: Your Regrets Lose Their Sting
New science says regrets become less negative with age. Here’s how to tame and transform them through a quick 3-step process.
medium.com
July 2, 2026 at 1:47 PM
As we age, we get better at dealing with regrets, or we simply have fewer of them. That’s the hope, anyway, and there’s some science to support the idea. This story explains how to better deal.
medium.com/crows-feet/h...
medium.com/crows-feet/h...
I wrote about why I took four months off writing to search for purpose and meaning as I dealt with frustrations and insecurities related to #aging in the era of #ai. I hope the story inspires anyone who’s out of a job, or worried about their career these days. agewise.substack.com/p/an-old-guy...
An Old Guy's Search for Purpose and Meaning in the AI Era
And why I just spent four months NOT doing the thing I love most
agewise.substack.com
June 30, 2026 at 8:46 PM
I wrote about why I took four months off writing to search for purpose and meaning as I dealt with frustrations and insecurities related to #aging in the era of #ai. I hope the story inspires anyone who’s out of a job, or worried about their career these days. agewise.substack.com/p/an-old-guy...
Before you take any new prescription meds, you’ll want to see what sometimes happens, despite a prescribing physician’s best intentions. agewise.substack.com/p/grave-risk... #medicine #aging
Grave Risk Revealed in Sedatives Prescribed After Acute Care
Another reason why you should ask a lot of questions before agreeing to take any medications your doctor might prescribe
agewise.substack.com
June 29, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Before you take any new prescription meds, you’ll want to see what sometimes happens, despite a prescribing physician’s best intentions. agewise.substack.com/p/grave-risk... #medicine #aging
I know all about this, and it sucks: Thanks largely to drops in federal subsidies, “About 3 million fewer people in the United States had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year.” apnews.com/article/affo...
Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise
New federal figures show that about 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year.
apnews.com
June 28, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I know all about this, and it sucks: Thanks largely to drops in federal subsidies, “About 3 million fewer people in the United States had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year.” apnews.com/article/affo...
Years ago, I tried fish oil supplements, because I don’t eat a lot of fish and I’d heard these capsules offered a super healthy alternative. I was mistaken, as was so much of the advice then (and now). New research spurred me to take a deep dive on how we all got this so wrong.
Fish Oil Supplements Fail to Protect Against Heart Disease, Dementia and Depression
There’s something fishy about the bold claims. And oh, those side effects!
agewise.substack.com
June 26, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Years ago, I tried fish oil supplements, because I don’t eat a lot of fish and I’d heard these capsules offered a super healthy alternative. I was mistaken, as was so much of the advice then (and now). New research spurred me to take a deep dive on how we all got this so wrong.
Mick Jagger's guide to #longevity, at 82: "if you want to have fitness and longevity, you can't do loads of drugs and drink all the time.” www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/the-...
The Mick Jagger guide to longevity
It’s a no to saunas and cold plunges, and a yes to laying off the drugs after 40. Ahead of the release of the 33rd Rolling Stones album, Foreign Tongues, GQ spoke to the legendary frontman about stayi...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
June 25, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Mick Jagger's guide to #longevity, at 82: "if you want to have fitness and longevity, you can't do loads of drugs and drink all the time.” www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/the-...