How to Age Well
Headstrong - Wed, 18 Apr 2007
A healthy social relationship may be as important as genetics in predicting life expectancy.
Despite researchers' predictions that genetics, life experience and cholesterol levels would have the greatest impact on life expectancy, healthy social relationships have been proven to come out on top. Maintaining close relationships with family and loved ones and participating in social groups or clubs can have the largest impact on not only your quality of life, but your life expectancy as well.
Worrying about your cholesterol count and stress levels may only cause you more stress. You may be better off building up your social relationships, keeping yourself slim and trim, and giving up smoking.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest and most comprehensive study into aging ever carried out. Begun in the 1930s, the scientists studied more than 800 men and women, from adolescence to old age,looking for lifestyle choices that lead to long and healthy lives.
| “Some of the key factors to aging well are giving up smoking, good coping strategies, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, building and maintaining strong social relationships, including marriage, and lifelong learning” |
Some of the results were not expected by the researchers. George Vaillant, MD is the director of the Harvard study, and senior physician at Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston. He expected the critical factors would be the longevity of the parents of the participants, childhood quality, and cholesterol levels, but this wasn’t the case. The study also found that stressful events weren’t necessarily predictors of future well-being, as some people with a lot of stress aged well. But Vaillant says that how you deal with stress does matter.
Some of the key factors to aging well are giving up smoking,good coping strategies, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly,building and maintaining strong social relationships, including marriage, and lifelong learning.