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February 18, 2008
The Secret to Long Life
What would we do without science?
Living past 90, and living well, may be more than a matter of good genes and good luck. Five behaviors in elderly men are associated not only with living into extreme old age, a new study has found, but also with good health and independent functioning.This is actually pretty good news for me. I don't smoke, am not overweight, and have just started exercising on a regular basis. As for the blood pressure and diabetes...uh...no comment.The behaviors are abstaining from smoking, weight management, blood pressure control, regular exercise and avoiding diabetes. The study reports that all are significantly correlated with healthy survival after 90.
While it is hardly astonishing that choices like not smoking are associated with longer life, it is significant that these behaviors in the early elderly years — all of them modifiable — so strongly predict survival into extreme old age.
The article is interesting, but the study didn't seem to take genetics into account. I don't believe genetics entirely determines future health, but it's got to play some role. After all, my blood pressure isn't due to my addiction to slight preference for salty foods. (H/t: Hot Air)
Posted by slublog at February 18, 2008 09:31 PM
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