ORANJ BOWL stands for Ongoing Research on Aging in New Jersey: Bettering Opportunities for Wellness in Life. This study began in 2006 when Dr. Rachel Pruchno launched a bold new research project out of Rowan University. She and her team randomly selected ~6,000 people ages 50–74 from communities across New Jersey. Unlike most aging studies, ORANJ BOWL didn’t just measure blood pressure or medication use, it looked at how people were living. What they thought, how they coped, how they connected, and how they felt. Every few years, Rachel followed up. Again and again, she asked them: “How would you rate your aging experience?” The answers and the stories they told changed everything Dr.Pruchno had been taught about successful aging.
ORANJ BOWL
Methodology
ORANJ BOWL wasn’t a quick poll. It was a 15-year longitudinal project with a randomly sampled diverse group of people. It included White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic participants, from all walks of life. At every wave, people were asked about their physical and mental health, family relationships, income, work, religion, sense of control, and more. With each round of interviews, Rachel mapped how their experiences changed over time. The result? An unprecedented look at what actually shapes aging in America.
Findings
Only 300 people consistently said they were aging successfully. But they weren’t who Dr. Pruchno expected. They weren’t the youngest or richest or healthiest. Every one of them had at least one chronic illness. They included all races and ethnicities. Many were divorced or widowed. Some had lost children. But still, they were aging successfully. Energized. Whole. When Rachel talked with 50 of these people in depth, she found they shared 9 behaviors. These weren’t tied to personality or privilege. They were behaviors. Things you could learn. Practice. Choose. These 9 behaviors became the foundation of Becoming Zestie, and the key to aging successfully, no matter where you start.
Data Legacy
ORANJ BOWL produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has been cited in scientific journals, books, and public health policy nationwide. ORANJ BOWL helped reframe how we understand aging, not as a series of physical losses, but as a lived experience shaped by mindset, behavior, and connection. Its real-world impact is still unfolding.
Impact Statement
ORANJ BOWL revealed something groundbreaking. Aging successfully isn’t about your genes, your zip code, or your net worth. It’s about how you respond to life’s curveballs. How you stay curious. How you stay connected. And that changes everything because you can learn to age successfully. Becoming Zestie brings these findings out of the ivory tower and into your living room.
How ORANJ BOWL Unfolded.
2006-2008
ORANJ BOWL launches at Rowan University with 5,688 randomly selected participants ages 50–74 across New Jersey.
2011-2021
Six additional waves of data collection take place, tracking everything from mental and physical health, mobility, social relationships, and more. ORANJ BOWL yielded new information about the effects of Hurricane Sandy and the Great Recession on older people.
2023
Final analyses identify 300 people who consistently rated their aging experience 10/10. Interviews with 50 of these people identified 9 behaviors that people aging successfully share. Becoming Zestie identifies these behaviors and shows how each can be embraced.
Today
ORANJ BOWL continues to shape aging policy, research, and public awareness.