We all want to live forever, but how do we do it?
Australians are living longer than ever with the average life expectancy now at 79.9 for males and 84.3 for females born today. It is clear that with better health, living conditions and activity, you will live longer, which is great news! Life goes on well past what is considered your youth and a recent program on 60 Minutes in America was all about active 90 year-olds – you could hardly tell they have been alive for nearly a century – who show no signs of slowing down.
The 90+ Study, carried out by a group of researchers at Stanford University, aimed to find the secret to living a long and enjoyable life. They observed a group of people who lived at a California retirement home called Leisure World in the 80s (now called Laguna Woods). The results were fascinating and gave an insight into life at 90 and beyond and how to get there.
The 1,600+ men and women in The 90+ Study were checked from head to toe every 6 months to see changes or improvements in their reflexes, balance and walking, as well as how fast they can stand up and sit down. Most importantly, the researchers wanted to see how their minds were working. The participants were tested in their ability to memorise a series of words and most did well. Some couldn’t do the test because they were so busy being active! It’s refreshing to see that older “oldies” have more of a social life than those at say, 40 or 50.
One participant, Ruthy Stahl, attributes her longevity to walking 5km a day; the neurologist leading the study, Dr Claudia Kawas, says exercise is crucial to living longer. Genes may play a role, but they aren’t everything (one of the participants in the 60 Minutes documentary lost her parents at a young age). “As little as 15 minutes a day on average [makes] a difference. 45 [is]…best”. And it doesn’t even need to be intense exercise: just pottering around in the garden or going for a walk to the shops was enough. Also, not surprisingly, smokers died earlier than non-smokers. Interestingly, Dr Kawas found that those who didn’t take Vitamin A, B, C or E were no better off than those who did.
Non-physical activities such as reading, socialising and playing board games are all sure-fire ways to keep the brain ticking and the heart going. Another of the participants, Jane Whistler (age 99), said she doesn’t worry about her health too much, which really is fantastic to hear that it can be possible to live long and not suffer for many years from illness. She also didn’t take a lot of vitamins or watch her weight, instead choosing dessert and a wine over counting calories. Yes – moderate consumption of alcohol (1-2 per day) was astonishingly linked to a longer life in the study…all the better reason to have that wine with dinner! Also, it’s best to stay at the same weight or gain more as becoming too thin can put you at higher risk of illness.
Finally, a lovely couple of 92 and 94, Helen and Henry have been dating for 3 years and say that being affectionate and having a great sex life is what keeps them young!
It’s clear that living to 90 and beyond involves being healthy and wise, but there is also a joyous sense of happiness in the people highlighted in the program. They live life like there’s no tomorrow and embrace every moment. That might just be the real secret.
What do you think is the secret to living past 90? Do you know many people over 90? What do they do to keep vital? Share your stories below!