Can You Guess if You Will Live to 100?

[Jaleh Neshat]

Several factors can predict your likelihood of being a centenarian. This seems impossible, but there are actually people who are genetically predisposed to long life. To see if some of these key factors apply to you, see how many of the following are true for you.

Did you have close relatives who lived past 90?

The New England Centenarian Study conducted at the Boston University School of Medicine finds that half of centenarians have a parent who lived past the age of 90. This seems to be a longevity gene factor.

Do you have a strong social support system?

Loneliness, according to numerous studies, has negative health consequences and maintaining social connectedness supports longevity. If you are active in your social community, perhaps as a volunteer, or maintain family, friends, or coworker relationships, you might be among those who tend to live longer. Good in home care or home health care can make a big difference as well.

Do you worry a lot?

Moderate worriers who tend to take fewer risks have a 50% decreased risk of death compared to chronic worriers in any given year. It is time to stop worrying and enjoy life!

Do you walk fast or walk a lot?

As walking speed increased by 0.1 meters per second, risk of death decreased by 12% in a test of 35,000 individuals ages 65 and older. This was conducted by researches at the University of Pittsburgh. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a correlation between walking distance and morbidity. Adults 70 to 79 who were able to walk a quarter mile or more were less likely to suffer disability and illness and more likely to live for another six years. This is a great reason to get out there and keep walking!

Are you female?

Women seem to have a longevity advantage, though male centenarians do tend to be healthier than their female counterparts.

Did you have a child after age 35?

The New England Centenarian Study found that women who naturally conceive and bear children after age 40 are four times likelier to live to 100 than women who do not. Now, don’t rush out and try to have a child at 40 just to prove this right!

Are you a healthy weight?

There are numerous opinions on what is a healthy weight of course, but a 2011 study found that adults still living at age 95 to 112 were much less likely to be obese.

Do you have long telomeres?

You might not know about this one. Telomeres are caps that protect the ends of our chromosomes. Evidence suggests that the longer your telomeres, the slower you’re aging. Some studies suggest that avoiding smoking and chronic stress, and maintaining a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help preserve telomere length. Sounds like this is a place where good home health care can help as well. (Just don’t try to measure them yourself!)

Are you upbeat and positive?

Longitudinal studies conducted at the Stanford Center on Longevity suggest that those who live longer tend to experience more positive emotions than negative ones.

Whether all of these factors are true for you or not, this is just all the more reason to try to relax and be happy, and connect more with others.

This article was based on research cited by Home Care Assistance.

 

Jaleh Neshat, Home Care Assistance, Raleigh, NC, where the focus is on The Balanced Care Method™ for in home care in North Carolina. Read more how-to information on home health care on the website.

[Pepper P Oldziey]

HI Jaleh What a fun thing to envision. There's no way I will make it to 100 though, but my Mom did live to 92 even with all her various health issues over the years. And I sure never heard of telomeres before. :)