Successful aging isn’t what you think it is.

We’ve all been fed a lie: that aging successfully is reserved for the rich, the healthy, or the lucky.

But my research says otherwise.

A smiling woman with short curly hair and glasses sitting at a table with a stack of books in front of her. She is wearing an orange shirt, gold jewelry, and a wristwatch, with a large green plant and windows in the background.

I’m Dr. Rachel Pruchno, a gerontological thought leader, researcher, and author of the upcoming book Becoming Zestie: 9 Pathways to Enriching Later Life. I’ve spent over 40 years studying what it really means to age successfully. And what I’ve found? It has nothing to do with bank accounts or wrinkle creams.

Aging successfully is not dependent on health and it is not a personality trait. It’s a way of living that anyone can learn.

An elderly woman in a red sleeveless top and jeans walking on a suburban street, smiling and tossing a yellow ball in the air.

Real Science. Real Results.

Over the course of 15 years, I followed a random sample of nearly 6,000 adults in New Jersey in a longitudinal project called ORANJ BOWL: Ongoing Research on Aging in New Jersey: Bettering Opportunities for Wellness in Life. Every time we interviewed them, we asked them to rate their aging experience on a scale from zero to ten. Only 300 people consistently gave it a perfect ten. They weren’t the richest. They weren’t the healthiest. Every one of them had at least one chronic illness.

What they shared were nine simple, learnable behaviors.

I started calling these people “Zesties.” The name stuck.

For too long, we’ve let Silicon Valley billionaires, out-of-touch celebrities, and snake oil peddling wellness influencers define what aging successfully means. It’s time for science to reclaim the mic.

I created Becoming Zestie to make this research accessible. To show that what determines how successfully you age isn’t money, genes, or willpower. It’s the way you think about things, what you do, and how you connect with others.

This is more than a book. It’s a rally cry.

Ready to join the movement?

A woman with short dark hair, wearing a purple dress, is smelling pink flowers on a bush in a garden during sunlight.

Curious, candid, and totally Zestie.

I use Instagram to bring these conversations to life, from myth-busting posts to behind-the-scenes moments, and spicy takes on what aging actually looks like.

Follow along for daily reminders that aging doesn’t mean shrinking. It means becoming more you.

Looking for press, media coverage, or expert commentary?

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I’m a national voice on aging with decades of experience. I’ve been interviewed by major outlets, and I love working with journalists, podcasters, and producers who want to challenge tired narratives and share something fresh.

Stay in the loop.

An occasional letter from Rachel will show up in your inbox with her latest research, upcoming events, and Zestie insights.