Table 1.

Highlights of Each Life's Essential 8 Component Pertaining to the Care of Older Adults

Eat better	•Emphasis should be on dietary quality and adequate protein-energy intake to avoid malnutrition. •Mediterranean diet and DASH diet have important beneficial impact on CVD and its risk factors. •There is no convincing evidence for the use of supplements.
Be more active	•Physical activity has multisystem antiaging effects. •Goal is to avoid inactivity. Any activity counts. •Multicomponent tailored exercise regimen focusing on aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercise provides the best outcomes.
Get more sleep	•Poor sleep quality accelerates aging. •Older adults should get 7-9 hours of sleep. •Lifestyle and behavioral intervention along with cognitive behavioral therapy are mainstay of treatment. •Pharmacologic options are avoided because of adverse risk benefit ratio.
Quit tobacco	•Benefits seen at all ages including advanced age. •Screen and counsel for smoking cessation at each visit. •Nicotine alone or in combination with bupropion, bupropion, and varenicline remain effective for smoking cessation at older ages.
Manage weight	•Weight-loss therapy that minimizes muscle and bone loss is recommended for older adults •A combination of an energy-deficit diet rich in protein with increased physical activity and behavioral therapy is the cornerstone of weight loss program.
Control cholesterol	•Older adults benefit from lipid lowering therapy for primary and secondary prevention of CVD irrespective of age.
Manage blood sugar	•Avoid intensive glycemic control in older adults due to risk of adverse effects such as hypoglycemia. •Exercise and pharmacotherapy with metformin and SGLT-2 inhibitors have important glycemic and antiaging properties.
Manage blood pressure	•Goal blood pressure <130/80 •Start low, go slow, and get there •Avoid orthostatic hypotension

CVD = cardiovascular disease; DASH = Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; SGLT-2 = sodium-glucose cotransporter-2.