On a sunny spring day in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, the annual Senior Day brought together politicians, organizations, researchers, and the public to celebrate and explore aging. SNAC-K (The Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen) was represented by members of our research team and data collection staff.

Visitors to our booth had the opportunity to test their grip strength and sense of smell — two simple but important indicators of health in later life. These hands-on activities sparked engaging conversations about aging and well-being.

SNAC-K researcher Anna-Karin Welmer gave a well-attended presentation in the lecture tent, where she shared insights from 25 years of research within SNAC-K. Her talk focused on the current state of older adults’ health and strategies to promote healthy aging. Some takeaways from the talk included:

• Multiple chronic conditions are common among older adults, but severe disabilities are less frequent.
• Many people enjoy good health well into their 80s.
• The incidence of dementia among people aged 75+ has dropped by 30% over the past 25 years.
• Lifelong risk and protective factors shape health outcomes in later life.

Examples of these factors include:

• A Mediterranean diet can slow physical decline.
• A strong social network and regular leisure activities help protect cognitive function.
• Low muscle strength has been linked to higher risk of COVID-19, especially among the oldest adults.
• Air pollution increases the risk of dementia.

We are grateful to all who stopped by to learn more about our work — and we look forward to continuing the conversation about aging, research, and health in years to come.