Written by Isabella Davis We are living longer than ever. Today, the average US citizen lives to 79. But as the years roll on, cognitive decline can creep in—one sixth of adults over 65 and one third over 85 will get Alzheimer’s disease.  We have heard a lot of tips for maintaining health in old age, like eat well, exercise, and get a good night’s sleep. At Salk, we want to know the mechanisms behind those beneficial habits. Gerald joyce These statistics are why the increase in lifespan is accompanied by a new attention to healthspan—our ability to not just live longer, but also to maintain health in those extended years. The question is: How? How can we extend our healthspan, especially in the brain to avoid aging-related cognitive decline? The San Diego Women’s Soccer League may have some answers. “I fell in love with the sport. I fell in love with the camaraderie. And here we are 40-some years later,” says Nancy Petit, an 81-year-old league player. “We can laugh on the soccer field, and we can get serious on the soccer field.”  But never too serious. Petit laughs as she shares that the players have so much fun…