This is a podcast from the archives of the BBC Ruth Lectures.

This lecture in the series The End of Age, given by Tom Kirkwood, was originally broadcast in 2001.

Good evening. Tonight we're looking at the way we live as we grow older. We have many preconceptions about old age, a time of life when

we're supposed to be wiser but more frail. The truth is, of course, that maintaining agility

of both mind and body can be a challenge, but are older people guilty of giving in too early,

of closing down too soon? And do we encourage them to do so?

Tonight, in this fourth wreath lecture, we've come to the Midlands to a purpose-built retirement

village called Berry Hill. Here in the audience are some of the residents of the village,

and they're not so frail. I've seen them pumping iron out in the gym.

We also have here with us in the village hall experts in the care of older people and scientists

whose work is examining the processes of getting older. And later on we'll be inviting all of

them, all of you, to put your views on the choices that we all have to make if we want to

prolong and enhance the physical and mental strengths of our grandparents, our parents,

and indeed, of course, of ourselves. Tonight, our lecture is called Making Choices. Please

would you welcome, ladies and gentlemen, the BBC's Reith Lecturer for 2001,

a man who's making the study of aging his life's work, Professor Tom Kirkwood.

Good evening.

The freedom to make and continue making choices

is perhaps the greatest single index of well-being.

Choice matters in aging for two very powerful reasons.

First, although many fruits of the scientific revolution lie in the future, scientific understanding of the aging process tells us already

that there is a great deal we can do now by making the right choices.

...