Live Longer Habits

Aging is a natural part of life, but so is our interest in it and the desire to live longer. The dream of staying young and living longer has inspired many stories and scientific studies. 

Over time, our ways of pursuing a longer life have changed and developed. Nowadays, science is leading the way in understanding how genetics, lifestyle, and medicine can help us discover the secret to a longer and healthier life. 

People are living longer than ever. In the UK, the average life expectancy has increased from around 46 years in 1900 to 82 years today, and it’s projected to rise to 91 years by 2100. 

Improvements in medicine and living standards have played a big part in this, but other countries like Greece (83 years), Italy (84 years), and Japan (85 years) show what can be possible, compared to a global average of 73 years. Still, this is a long way from the oldest recorded person, Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years (1875–1997). 

At the same time, we have seen a rise in chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While recent research shows that people are enjoying more years of ‘healthy life expectancy’ (HALE), which means living in good health, the gap between overall life expectancy and years spent in good health is worrying. 

Too many years of poor health often come later in life. Martin Luther King Jr once said, “The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.” This shows us that while we aim for longer lives, we shouldn’t forget about the quality of those years.

It’s essential to focus on good health and wellbeing by reducing the risk of serious illnesses. Recently, there’s been a resurgence of interest in longevity, with books, articles, and documentaries exploring our fascination with living longer. 

One of the most notable studies is the AKEA study in Sardinia, which looked into regions around the world known for having many centenarians (people over 100) and supercentenarians (people over 110), called ‘Blue Zones’. The Netflix documentary ‘Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones’ highlights individuals and communities that maintain impressive physical and mental health well into old age. 

The series explores common factors across these regions, such as regular physical activity, a sense of purpose in life, strong social ties, stress management, and a diet rich in natural foods, which together may contribute to a sort of 'elixir of youth' for good health and longevity. 

Recognising these factors is one thing, but putting them into practice is another challenge. Achieving longevity involves a complicated mix of influences, including our environment, genetics, and diet. Knowing what to do isn’t always enough; making real changes can be tough. 

It's important to understand that many people living in the Blue Zones are in settings that support a healthy lifestyle, with access to healthy foods, opportunities for movement, and strong community connections. Interestingly, if we take a closer look at the diets common in these Blue Zones, we find patterns that could be key to not only improving our health but also enhancing the way we age.

How to Live to 100 with Blue Zones explorer Dan Buettner | A Bit of Optimism Podcast with Simon Sinek

source: cam.ac.uk