I never smoked, I never drank, I never cussed, I never lied and I never chased cowboys! Irene Cole, 106
Worldwide, life expectancy is higher than ever before. In fact, a United Nations report shows that 20% of the population will be aged 65 years and older by 2050 — a figure which is likely to continue rising.
But although the odds are increasingly in our favor, we continue to turn to centenarians for advice. Based on analyzing 100 interviews with people aged 100 or above, here are their secrets for a long, happy and healthy life.
TOP 10 THINGS CENTENARIANS SAY HELPED THEM LIVE TO 100
| 1 | Ignore traditional dietary advice | 29% | |
| 2 | Eat a healthy diet | 25% | |
| 3 | Stay active | 22% | |
| 4 | Keep a positive attitude | 18% | |
| 5 | Drink alcohol regularly | 16% | |
| 6 | Abstain from alcohol/smoking | 12% | |
| 7 | Maintain meaningful relationships | 10% | |
| 8 | Get a good night’s sleep | 9% | |
| 9 | Be nice to others | 9% | |
| 10 | Have faith | 9% |
Our genetic makeup and lifestyle habits influence longevity, but the impact each element plays is a hotly-debated topic. The current ratio suggests that genetic risk factors control 25% and lifestyle risk factors control 75%, but this ratio fluctuates in line with new research on factors reported to reduce risks to morbidity and mortality. Regardless of the precise weighting of this ratio, it’s clear that a long life boils down to far more than simply smart genes and dumb luck.
David J. Demko, PhD
Clinical Gerontologist