4 Surprising Facts about Longevity

Want to know the secret to longevity? Psychology matters at least as much as biology. Have you ever noticed that in spite of the media blitz urging you to eat veggies and pump weights, some of the most health-conscious people you know seem to keel over at an early age, while others who eat junk and live fast keep on kicking up until their 90s?

Certainly, the National Institute on Aging recommends eating a healthy diet and getting adequate exercise. But it’s also important to consider the results of these four surprising studies on longevity:

1. Attitudes about aging May Be As important As diet And exercise in extending your life.

A study out of Yale University in 2002 followed 650 people, and found that those who had a positive outlook about their own aging outlived those with negative views by 7.5 years, on average, regardless of pre-existing health problems, lifestyle factors, socioeconomic status, or gender. More research is needed, but the study found that attitude was a key factor in predicting longevity, after controlling for age.  And according to the National Institute on Aging, optimism is associated with a longer lifespan in women and better emotional health in older men, as shown in two NIH-funded studies.

2. Having a network of good friends May increase lifespan significantly; family doesn’t.

The Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging looked at 1,500 people aged 70 or older, and found that those with an extensive circle of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22 percent. Having family around did not increase lifespan. More research is needed, but these preliminary findings suggest that having a broad network of good friends may help you live longer.

3. Continued schooling May prolong life.

A 1999 study from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center indicated that ongoing education may slow the pace of biological aging and promote longevity. In the study of 3,101 participants, upward educational mobility was found to be associated with a slower pace of aging and lower risk of death. Another study—an extensive review of education-mortality literature—published in Demography found that each year of education tends to reduce mortality risk, and that the pacing of this reduction is steeper following a high school diploma. In other words, every year of schooling after high school may contribute to your overall longevity!

4. Finding meaning after loss is high on the longevity list.

I heard years ago that the most significant factor in life extension—even more important than diet or exercise—is the ability to find meaning after losing loved ones. This becomes increasingly important with each passing year as we age, because inevitably, our friends and dear ones will start dying.

I’m not advising you to start gorging on chips and cupcakes—diet and exercise certainly do matter in life extension. But if you want to have a long, healthy, happy life—wheatgrass and aerobics alone won’t do it. You need to cultivate friends, keep on learning, engage in activities that truly interest you, and find the gold in the process of getting older—and there is much to celebrate in the aging process. If you feel that you’re stuck–that you just can’t adjust your attitude or find the magic anymore or get yourself moving—consider getting some life coaching.

Hiyaguha Cohen holds an MFA in Writing and a Ph.D. in Human Development and Professional Coaching. Her book-length publications include Boldly Live as You’ve Never Lived Before: Life Lessons from Star Trek (William Morrow/Avon Books, 1995), and The No-Pain Resume Workbook (Business One Irwin, 1992), and she has been a contributing editor to health books such as ShrinkYourself: Break Free from Emotional Eating Forever (by Dr. Roger Gould) and Rodale Press publications. She also worked on early drafts of The Zone Diet with Barry Sears. In addition to her work as a writer, Dr. Cohen maintains a life-coaching practice utilizing energy-meridian healing modalities such as TAT to help clients release unproductive patterns and past traumas, and also works with people on weight-control issues. She has completed nine marathons and lives in Kauai.  http://thelifechangecoach.com/