What drives the ageing process? What can science tell us about the stages of life? And how can we use the latest research to live healthily into old age? 

Ageing is accepted as an inevitable fact of the human condition, but the forces behind it are rich and fascinating. Begin to understand those and we can unlock the secrets to ageing better – as this 18th New Scientist Essential guide reveals. Topics include: 

1 The causes of ageing 

2 Ageing in the body and mind 

3 Middle age 

4 Slowing down the clock 

5 The future of ageing