New book’s “flicker stage” challenges fixed view of aging — and offers steps to feel younger
The “flicker stage,” from Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley’s Your Aging Advantage, reframes aging as a dynamic process where short-lived shifts in vitality let people consciously move toward a younger feels-like age through lifestyle, mindset and social changes.
- Flicker stage: short, repeatable shifts in “feels-like age” that can move people toward greater vitality.
- Flicker triggers: physical, psychological, social and environmental actions that reset functional pace.
- Aging on pace: focus on lived age and personal goals rather than a fixed chronological benchmark.
- Practical not clinical: the model emphasizes behavior, mindset and social factors rather than new lab findings.
What the “flicker stage” means
Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley introduce the flicker stage as one of seven stages in their book Your Aging Advantage. It describes brief periods when a person’s functional or “feels-like age” moves toward a younger state instead of following only a steady march toward older years. The authors say physical, psychological, social or environmental triggers can cause these shifts and that people can learn to recreate them deliberately. Source: Fox News interview.
How “flicker triggers” work
The book outlines flicker triggers — specific actions or life changes that reset a person’s pace of aging. Examples include starting an exercise routine, reconnecting with friends or family, changing daily routines, taking on meaningful work or finding a new hobby. These triggers affect physical energy, mood and social engagement, which the authors link to how old someone feels and functions.
Riley categorizes triggers into four types: physical, psychological, social and environmental. He recommends people identify their personal triggers and use them deliberately to return to a younger-feeling stage after stress, illness or life changes. Source: Fox News interview.
Feels-like age vs. chronological age
Kaplan and Riley stress the difference between chronological age — the number on a birth certificate — and feels-like age, the way people actually function and experience life. They argue that focusing on lived age enables setting goals about the pace and purpose of later life rather than treating age 65 as an automatic marker of decline.
This distinction affects decisions about work, retirement, caregiving and community life. The authors promote the idea of “aging on pace”: choosing how fast or slow to move through life stages based on priorities, health and desire to remain active in paid work or volunteer roles. Source: Fox News interview.
The reversing aging concept — what the book claims
Kaplan and Riley frame the flicker stage as part of a broader reversing aging concept in which some aspects of functional aging can shift backward temporarily. They do not claim to stop biological aging; instead, they emphasize practical steps that alter function and vitality.
Their approach combines behavior, mindset and social factors and relies on examples and client stories rather than new laboratory research. Shifts are usually temporary but repeatable: setbacks can move someone to an older-feeling stage, and the right triggers can help them flicker back. Source: Fox News interview.
What the authors recommend for getting younger-feeling
- Identify personal flicker triggers across physical, psychological, social and environmental domains.
- Use positive interventions deliberately (for example, a fitness plan, reconnecting with a community group, or adopting new daily routines).
- Reframe goals around aging on pace to decide whether to continue working, pursue new interests or step back when appropriate.
“Those shifts aren’t permanent,” Riley said. “Through positive interventions, we have the ability to flicker back to the stage of age we want to be in.” Kaplan likened feels-like age to weather: the thermometer might read 85, but humidity can make it feel like 95.
Source: Fox News interview.
Evidence and limits — what the science says
The flicker stage is a new framing from the authors. While behavior and social engagement are known to influence health, aging experts typically rely on peer-reviewed studies and clinical trials to support claims about reversing biological markers. Kaplan and Riley’s model synthesizes established ideas — such as the benefits of exercise and social ties — into a seven-stage framework that is practical but not an established scientific category.
The notion that functional age can change with behavior is plausible and backed by research linking physical activity, mental health and social connection to better outcomes. Still, readers should view the book’s recommendations as a practical guide rather than proven medical treatment. Source: Fox News interview.
What this means for families, employers and communities
For families and local leaders, the flicker-stage idea moves attention away from fixed retirement expectations toward actionable steps that help people feel more capable and engaged. Employers may adopt flexible roles, phased retirement or part-time options so older workers can “age on pace” while contributing experience and skills.
Community groups, churches and Extension programs can promote social reconnection and local fitness opportunities as flicker triggers. Health providers might combine physical rehab, social prescribing and lifestyle coaching, using accessible language — feels-like age, flicker triggers, aging on pace — to design locally tailored programs. Source: Fox News interview.
Implications for the United States
Economic impact: Viewing aging as flexible could keep older workers in adapted roles, helping local businesses retain experienced staff and easing workforce shortages in rural areas.
Political consequences: Challenging age 65 as a symbolic retirement marker has policy implications for Social Security, retirement planning and workforce development. The book’s emphasis on personal responsibility and local solutions may appeal to politically moderate conservative audiences.
Social effects: Promoting flicker triggers like renewed social connection, volunteerism or faith-based activities could reduce isolation and improve quality of life. Rural settings may need tailored approaches such as mobile health visits, local exercise classes or neighbor networks.
Cultural relevance: The focus on agency and self-reliance aligns with conservative and rural values—helping people choose how to continue farming, running small businesses or mentoring youth while “aging on pace.”
Practical applications: Local governments and organizations can pilot low-cost programs tied to flicker triggers: community exercise groups, intergenerational mentoring, flexible workplace schedules and clinic screening for feels-like age linked to social resources. These can produce short-term gains in mobility, mood and participation.
Where to learn more
To read the authors’ full framing and practical tips, see Your Aging Advantage by Stuart Kaplan and Marcus Riley and their interviews, including a discussion on Fox News. Source: Fox News interview.
