Prof. Dr. Sven Voelpel in Interview: How We Stay Young While Growing Older
Decide for Yourself How Old You Are – A Conversation with a Leading Aging Researcher
Prof. Dr. Sven Voelpel (born in 1973) is a Professor of Business Administration at Jacobs University Bremen and founding president of the WISE Demographic Network. His main research areas include:
Demographic change
Diversity
Leadership
He advises institutions such as Allianz, Daimler, Deutsche Bahn, and the Federal Employment Agency – and is considered one of Germany’s leading aging researchers.
The Book “Decide for Yourself How Old You Are” – A New Perspective on Aging
In his latest book, Voelpel shares what scientific research reveals about staying young – and how we can actively influence whether we are old or simply getting older.
Demographic Change – Fewer Workers, Longer Lives
Germany is aging:
Life expectancy is rising
Birth rates are falling
Voelpel illustrates: Between 2004 and 2040, the number of working-age people in Germany will shrink from 44.5 to 30 million. That presents major challenges for society and the economy.
Age Stereotypes Impact Our Performance – Negatively or Positively
In many minds, age still equals:
“Deficit”
But studies show:
Older people exposed to negative age stereotypes produce 50% fewer creative ideas
Positive age priming can double idea output
This is known as the priming effect – and it influences all areas of life.
Old or Just Older? Self-Image and Attitude Matter
Many people believe older adults are:
Less flexible
Often sick
Mentally slower
Voelpel disagrees:
Those who feel young tend to be more active, live on average seven years longer, and benefit from the self-fulfilling prophecy – a phenomenon similar to the placebo effect in aging research.
Age Is Not Just a Number – The Four Dimensions of Aging
Voelpel identifies four types of age:
Chronological age
Biological age
Perceived age
Social age
These dimensions can differ greatly – as visitors to the “Ey Alter” exhibition in Bremen can experience for themselves.
How to Stay Young – Top Research-Based Tips
What you can do:
Keep body and mind active
Stay curious
Eat healthily
Maintain social connections
Keep learning – for life
Self-efficacy – belief in your own abilities – can boost performance by up to 40%.
Retirement or Reinvention? Movement Keeps the Brain Young
Studies show:
People who remain physically or professionally active after retirement maintain their cognitive performance longer.
Blood flow to the brain remains stronger, and mental fitness higher, compared to those who withdraw completely from active life.
Conclusion: Aging Is Something We Can Shape – and It Begins in the Mind
Whether we stay young depends less on our birth year and more on our mindset, lifestyle, and social environment.
Prof. Dr. Sven Voelpel demonstrates:
Age is not a limitation, but a chance to embrace new ways of living – if we’re willing to take that step.
