"In previous studies of our centenarians, we’ve identified gene variants that exert particular physiology effects, such as causing significantly elevated levels of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol," said Dr. Barzilai, who is also professor of medicine and of genetics at Einstein. "This study suggests that centenarians may possess additional longevity genes that help to buffer them against the harmful effects of an unhealthy lifestyle."
The research did find, however, that overweight centenarians tended to have lower rates of obesity than the control group. Although male and female centenarians were just as likely to be overweight as their counterparts in the general population, the centenarians were significantly less likely to become obese: only 4.5 percent of male centenarians were obese vs. 12.1 percent of controls; and for women, 9.6 percent of centenarians were obese versus 16.2 percent of controls. Both of these differences are statistically significant.
While longevity genes may protect centenarians from bad habits, healthy lifestyle choices remain critical for the vast majority of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there were nearly 425,000 people aged 95 and older living in the U.S. in 2010 − a fraction (.01) of the 40 million U.S. adults 65 and over.
"Although this study demonstrates that centenarians can be obese, smoke and avoid exercise, those lifestyle habits are not good choices for most of us who do not have a family history of longevity," said Dr. Barzilai. "We should watch our weight, avoid smoking and be sure to exercise, since these activities have been shown to have great health benefits for the general population, including a longer lifespan."
Researchers also asked study participants why they believed they had lived so long. Most did not attribute their advanced age to lifestyle factors. One-third reported a history of family longevity, while 20 percent believed that physical activity also played a role in their lifespan. Other factors included positive attitude (19 percent), busy or active life (12 percent), less smoking and drinking (15 percent), good luck (8 percent), and religion or spirituality (6 percent).
The paper is titled "Lifestyle Factors of People with Exceptional Longevity". Other Einstein authors were Yingheng Liu, Ph.D., Orit Ben-David, Saritha Reddy, M.B.B.S., Gil Atzmon, Ph.D., and Jill Crandall, M.D. Swapnil N. Rajpathak, M.B.B.S., Dr.PH., now at Merck Pharmaceuticals, was the study’s lead author. The research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health.
Pages: 1 · 2
More Articles
- Grab That Museum Pass! Could Arts Engagement Have Protective Associations With Survival?
- Take Note, All Women of the Elastic Generation, Here and Abroad: Lifestyles and Attitudes of British Women Aged Between 53 and 72 About Fashion and Tech
- Puzzling: Jumbled Words, Anagrams, Crosswords, Cryptograms, Acrostics, I Love Them All
- For Some States, a Focus on Older Workers: Laws With Little Protection from Hiring Discrimination
- Supersurvivors and A Level of Contentment: The Fordham Centenarian Study
- Genetic Switch Involved in Depression: A promising target for potential therapies
- The Perilous Paradox: Women, Retirement, and the Extra-Long Life
- NIH Reports, Gene Linked to Optimism and Self-Esteem
- Who Are More Emotionally Balanced and Better Able to Solve Highly Emotional Problems?