Predicting a long life

 Leisurely sitting around a dinner table with friends the other evening, the discussion of what it takes to live a long, healthy life casually emerged. It was a natural topic given we were celebrating one of the guest’s upcoming 80th birthday.  Genes aside—something beyond anyone’s control—what factors could we bring into play which might affect our lifespan? As everyone present was at least a septuagenarian, we all had a vested interest in hearing each other’s strategies.

A body in motion stays in motion

Linda Gist, the birthday girl, felt it was critical “to keep moving.”  She recounted how much Covid 19 restrictions had affected her ability to stay physically active. Until the onset of the pandemic, she had relied heavily on aqua aerobics classes several times a week at her local YMCA. However, that was brought to a screeching halt in March 2019. Linda’s remaining choice of physical activity was walking. She lamented how much her stamina and speed had diminished over the past sixteen months due to a truncated exercise routine.

The group was reminded of an old saying that “a body in motion stays in motion.” In fact, some researchers use gait speed to measure overall health in older adults.  There are studies that attest that adults who walk faster tend to live longer than their slower-walking counterparts. Linda was aware of this and is now actively working to rebuild her fitness level to what it was pre-pandemic.

The Fountain of Youth

Our dinner co-host, Lila Gault, felt that having a positive attitude was critical to living a long, healthy life. In fact, many aging experts agree that attitude is everything and not just for people who are in their advanced years. Maintaining a positive mindset helps everyone work through the ups and downs of life. Frequently referred to as the “Fountain of Youth,” having a positive attitude can affect your work, your health, and your personal relationships.

According to Psychology Today, having a positive attitude in life, in addition to a healthy self-perception, may even help slow down the aging process. The combination is believed to help protect against stress as well as reduce cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

101 long, happy years of living

I was recently reminded of a perfect example of how much a positive outlook on life can affect an individual’s longevity. The mother of a close friend—let’s call her mother Thelma—passed away two weeks after her 101st birthday.  Her daughter remembers her mother as never complaining and always being appreciative of everything her family and caregivers did for her. Thelma was the type of individual people wanted to help and be around because of her positive spirit. She loved her life and her children with infectious enthusiasm.

My friend was convinced the genesis of all this glass-half-full mindset was the strong love her mother shared with her father, Thelma’s first husband.  When he passed away years later her mother remarried. Unfortunately, Thelma chose a difficult new partner.  Instead of lamenting her situation, she disappeared into books when things got challenging. Eventually she took destiny in her own hands and divorced her second husband at age 89.   

Avoid social isolation and loneliness

Returning to the topic of how you can improve the quality of your life as you age, our other co-host, Bill Arp, offered a profound suggestion: Avoid social isolation. This, plus loneliness, is often associated with poorer health and greater mortality risk among older people. This struck a particularly personal cord as I, like many older people who are somewhat shy, struggle with this issue. If given a choice, I would opt to stay home and nest rather than go out. Reading a good book, cooking a new, ethnic recipe, or watching a classic movie is my idea of having a good time. The ease and comfort of domestic routine can be intoxicating. However, being socially engaged outside where you live, as Bill recommended, is essential for our overall physical and emotional health. There is no replacement for human interaction as the experts tell us.

Engage in meaningful activity

My longtime Midwestern pals, Diane and Larry McComber, have found yet another way to ward off the negative invasion of old age:  Participate in meaningful activities.  Everyone needs a purpose in life for getting up in the morning. Aging experts say that older Americans are better off when they find personal fulfillment such as engaging in a favorite hobby, working with a meaningful charity, or volunteering. 

Diane and Larry recently signed up to work as ushers at their local cultural center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While they admittedly have fussed over having to wear black pants and shoes, a tuxedo shirt and dorky purple bow tie, they are delighted to have a chance to interact with others in their community. The secondary pay out of their volunteer job is being able to enjoy concerts, films, and lectures free of charge.

Keep your mind sharp

Another technique to help slow down the aging process is to keep your mind active. Learning a second language, painting, doing crossword puzzles or board games are just a few examples of ways to exercise those brain muscles and ward off early sign of Alzheimer’s, depression, and other illnesses.

Reduce your stress level

Working on ways to reduce your level of stress is also critical to avoiding the cascading impact of aging. There are various activities which are effective well such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. Even prayer works for some. Whatever you elect to use to manage stress is helpful especially, as experts are quick to point out, stress can damage both mind and body.

A revealing TED Talk

What Bill had said about avoiding isolation kept popping up in my mind. That advice mirrored what I had heard earlier on a TED Talk sent by the McComber’s.  The topic was “Predictors of a long life.” In it, developmental psychologist Susan Pinker addressed the secrets to reaching a ripe old age. In her talk, Pinker recounted the results of an expansive longevity study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University. The study’s participants were asked about various aspects of their lifestyles. This included, among a whole battery of questions, their exercise habits; whether they smoked or drank; did they eat a healthy diet; did they visit their doctors regularly? After gathering all the details, the project took a seven-year hiatus. Then the researchers reconnected with the survey participants. The results from their follow-up to determine which factors were most important to achieving a long life astonished everyone.  

Lean into family, friends, and community

You might expect that lifestyle choices, such as watching your weight or stopping excessive drinking or smoking, might play a major role in predicting how long you live. In fact, the two strongest predictors had to do with an individual’s social life and level of satisfaction with their relationships.

The second most important factor was maintaining close connections with family and friends. This referred to people you could turn to in times of crisis and extreme stress. Just realizing there was someone to help you mitigate the challenges of life had an enormous impact on an individual’s longevity. 

The #1 predictor of a long life

The big surprise, however, was the #1 predictor. It turns out that the quality of our relationships—not just with close family and friends—but rather with our larger community had the most powerful influence.  For example, do you engage your doorman in conversation? Do you speak to the person who makes your coffee in the morning, or pumps your gas, or checks you out at your local supermarket?

As researchers discovered, it is the winning combination of being satisfied with causal and close relationships which helps the elderly to flourish. Ever since viewing Pinker’s TED Talk (here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3gnk39G) I’ve started having animated conversations with my doorman, the neighborhood school crossing guards and even garbagemen. As I chat away, I remind myself that this is an easy and enjoyable way to stay mentally and psychologically young.  Give it a try for yourself and watch how it lifts your spirit. You can’t underestimate the power of a shared smile either.

The secret for a long, happy life

While I may not be able to control any unexpected turn of bad health, I can make sure my social interactions are frequent, meaningful, and as engaging as possible. I can also follow Thelma’s roadmap for a long, happy life. She was all about maintaining a positive mindset and capitalizing on the value of friendship, love, and community. And who knows?  Maybe I’ll make it to 101 like Thelma! Clearly, we can all benefit from following her example for a long and fulfilling life.

Photo:

While many women “of a certain age” are reluctant to admit how old they are, others embrace their long lives. Former broadcaster and media expert, Linda Gist, who is photographed in this week’s post enjoying her special 80th birthday dessert, belongs to the latter group. She recently told me she believes “we should celebrate our age. After all, it is an accomplishment.”