New book’s “flicker stage” idea says aging can reverse — but public evidence for the book is limited
Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley introduce a new perspective on aging in their book, “Your Aging Advantage,” challenging traditional views with a seven-stage framework highlighted by a “flicker stage” that separates chronological age from a subjective, functional “feels-like age.”
Key takeaways
- Seven-stage framework: Kaplan and Riley describe seven stages of aging and emphasize a transient “flicker stage” when people briefly feel and function younger.
- “Feels-like age” focus: The authors urge thinking in terms of functional or subjective age rather than only chronological age.
- Reversibility claim: The flicker shifts are described as reversible through positive actions and identification of personal “flicker triggers.”
- Verification lacking: Independent searches did not find verifiable public records for the book or authors as of this report; related science exists but does not confirm the seven-stage model.
Claims in Your Aging Advantage
Kaplan and Riley frame aging as a moving target rather than a steady slope. They say many people live with a “feels-like age” that differs from their birth-certificate age, likening it to how humidity makes weather feel hotter.
The book proposes seven stages of aging and names one of them the flicker stage: short-lived periods during which a person feels and acts younger, followed by returns to a previous state. The authors present these shifts as reversible with targeted interventions.
Marcus Riley: “Through positive interventions, we have the ability to flicker back to the stage of age we want to be in.”
Riley urges readers to identify personal “flicker triggers” — actions and circumstances such as renewed social connection or exercise that can reset a person’s pace.
Stuart Kaplan: He recommends shifting the focus from “aging in place” (where you live) to “aging on pace” (what people want to do at different stages), arguing the fixation on age 65 is social, not biological.
Verification status: book and authors not found in public records
Reporters searched library catalogs, Google Books and major bibliographic resources but did not find verifiable entries for Your Aging Advantage or authors Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley as identified in the book description. Because the work and framework are not currently verifiable in public sources, readers should treat the seven-stage claims and the flicker-stage descriptions as authors’ assertions until independent publication data or peer-reviewed research becomes available.
What independent science and public health sources say
The broad idea that age is more than a number has support in public-health and scientific literature. Researchers and agencies distinguish chronological age (years lived) from biological or functional age (how well body and mind work). Lifestyle factors — physical activity, diet, sleep and social connection — influence function and long-term health.
Relevant public resources include:
- National Institute on Aging
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Healthy Aging
- World Health Organization — World Report on Ageing and Health
- PubMed (biomedical literature)
How the “feels-like age” idea fits known evidence
Health experts use terms like subjective age or functional age to describe how old people feel or how well they function. Research links a younger subjective age with better mental health, higher activity levels, and sometimes better physical outcomes — supporting the practical parts of Kaplan and Riley’s message that lifestyle and mindset matter.
However, scientific studies rely on controlled research and repeated verification. A single book or anecdotal stories do not replace research that tests a new aging framework across many people and contexts. Readers should separate practical suggestions (exercise, social connection, sleep, chronic-condition management) from broader scientific claims that require further study.
Implications for Utah
Economic impact: Utah’s growing, active older population and strong labor market mean the flicker-stage idea — if adopted — could influence labor supply, retirement timing and state revenues. Employers offering flexible schedules or phased retirement could retain experienced workers.
Political consequences: Kaplan’s critique of the age-65 benchmark aligns with a preference for personal choice and market solutions. Utah officials could respond with policies that expand options, such as incentives for phased retirement, tax breaks for employers who hire or retain older workers, or state programs supporting lifelong work and volunteering.
Social effects: The flicker-stage claim that social connection can help people feel younger resonates with Utah’s family-centered, faith-oriented communities. Local organizations and faith groups could use this framing to promote activities that support health and engagement.
Cultural relevance: Messages emphasizing personal responsibility for health, continued work opportunities and the role of social networks align with local values and may encourage programs that keep older adults active and contributing.
Practical applications for Utah residents
- Employers: Offer phased retirement, flexible hours and job retraining to retain skilled older workers.
- Health systems: Expand community exercise programs, fall-prevention clinics and promote social prescribing (linking patients to community activities).
- Individuals: Focus on proven steps — regular physical activity, social connection, good sleep and chronic-condition management — that help functional age.
- Local leaders: Invest in age-friendly infrastructure and multiuse community spaces that support social interaction and physical activity.
Sources and further reading
Verified public-health and research resources cited in this article:
- National Institute on Aging
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Healthy Aging
- World Health Organization — World Report on Ageing and Health
- PubMed (biomedical literature)
Reporting note
This article reflects the authors’ descriptions of the flicker stage and the seven-stage framework as presented by Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley. Independent searches did not locate verifiable publication records for Your Aging Advantage or confirm the authors’ framework in peer-reviewed research as of this report. The public-health sources above provide verified information on how lifestyle and social factors affect functional age. Journalists and readers seeking to evaluate the seven-stage model further should look for the book in established catalogs, check publisher listings, or request materials from the authors or their representatives.
