Cathy Lysack, acting dean of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and deputy director for the Institute of Gerontology, encourages people to be bold as they enter old age.  

It’s never too late to take up a new hobby or sport, Lysack says. The social relationships formed from these activities are critical to living well, especially for women. 

“Because women typically outlive their spouses, those relationships can help prevent depression, in addition to keeping people active,” says Lysack. 

Although only 51, Lysack walks the walk. Last year, she joined Windsor’s Border City Brawlers roller derby team and still enjoys playing squash, running, downhill skiing and long-distance cycling.

Lysack’s academic credentials and active lifestyle led to her being featured in a new documentary, The Embrace of Aging: The Female Perspective of Growing Old, which will air this fall on Detroit Public Television.

“Older adults should be confident. They have a treasure trove of knowledge and experience,” Lysack says. “Embrace living. I think that makes someone age well.”