The MIT AgeLab is a multidisciplinary research lab that works with business, government, and NGOs to improve the quality of life of older people and those who care for them. The MIT AgeLab applies consumer-centered systems thinking to understand the challenges and opportunities of longevity and emerging generational lifestyles to catalyze innovation across business markets.
The MIT AgeLab was created in 1999 to invent new ideas and creatively translate technologies into practical solutions that improve people’s health and enable them to “do things” throughout their lifespans. We believe that innovations in how products are designed, how services are delivered, and how policies are implemented are of critical importance to our quality of life tomorrow.
AgeLab research areas
Caregiving and well-being
Advancing healthy aging requires new approaches to health awareness, technology, and behavior change that extend wellness beyond traditional healthcare settings. We also examine services, products, and knowledge that empower older adults and caregivers to make healthier decisions as they age.
Home logistics and services
As technology transforms everyday life, the home is becoming an increasingly important platform for services that enhance well-being, safety, and independence. We explore how home design, technology-enabled services, and housing decisions can support older adults, their families, and care providers in facilitating aging in place.
Retirement and longevity planning
Longer lifespans are transforming retirement from a destination into a broader process of planning for a fulfilling and financially secure life. We examine how financial preparation, community engagement, work, lifelong learning, advice, and trust can help people and families navigate longevity across generations.
Transportation and livable communities
Mobility is fundamental to independence, safety, and meaningful engagement throughout life, especially as people age. We explore transportation choices, health and medication impacts, emerging technologies, vehicle design, and mobility alternatives that can create safer, more accessible, and livable communities for people of all ages.
