Most of you surely won’t dream of living forever, but every one of us would like to live long enough to e able to watch his grandchildren grow, or even meet his great grandkids.
Being able to add more candles to the birthday cake every year would be amazing, so we are here to tell you that it is actually possible in a certain( delicious) way.
Scientists struggle to find out the secret to living longer throughout the ages, and a 2003 study named The 90+ Study, tried the same, by studying the oldest-old which is becoming the fastest growing age group in the world.
Researchers used the data from a 1981 study, named The Leisure World Cohort Study (LWCS) when 14,000 participants were mailed surveys that they had to fill out.
The team of experts was trying to answer several questions, to determine the factors linked to longer life, and the modifiable risk factors for dementia and mortality, and to examine the epidemiology of dementia, the rates of cognitive and functional decline, and the clinical pathological correlations in the oldest-old.
Participants did neurological and neurophysiological tests twice annually, and information about their medical history, diet, activities, medications, and lifestyle habits were carefully collected by the researchers.
Among the other findings, researchers found that those who drank alcohol in moderate amounts lived longer than the others.
According to them:
“ Using data from our 1981 survey, people who consumed one to two glasses of alcohol (beer, wine or hard liquor) per day had 9-15 percent lower likelihood of dying compared to those who abstain from all alcohol. Participants who exercised 15 to 45 minutes a day in 1981, cut the same risk of mortality by 15-35 percent.”
Yet, note that the key is moderation.
Jim Becker, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, neurology, and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the associate director of the University of Pittsburg Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center stress the importance of moderation as well:
“The data are generally consistent with the idea that moderate intake of certain kinds of alcohol, and in particular red wines, are associated with certain positive health outcomes. But that doesn’t mean that if you suddenly decide at the age of 70 to start drinking now that that’s necessarily the solution. ”
Dr. Steven Lamm, MD, clinical professor of medicine and medical director of the Tisch Center for Men’s Health at NYU Langone Health, adds:
“Alcohol is known to injure every organ in your body. It’s a poison. However, there is a paradox and that is that a very mild or moderate amount in some of these population studies — which are notoriously unreliable in my opinion — do seem to suggest that it reduces the risk for heart disease.”
The Mayo Clinic recommends one drink to people older than 65, and two drinks to men younger than this age, a standard drink is 12 fluid ounces of beer, 1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits, and 5 fluid ounces of wine.
Studies have shown that the moderate consumption of alcohol lowers the risk of diabetes, ischemic stroke, and death due to heart disease.
Therefore, feel free to enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your lunch or dinner, but never go overboard. The excessive consumption of alcohol leads to severe health issues and a heightened risk of death from all causes.
However, the findings of a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that regular exercise can inhibit the negative effects of hazardous drinking. Moderate aerobic activity “appeared to wipe off completely” the risk of cancer and all-cause mortality deaths due to alcohol.
So, we strongly advise you to have a glass or two of your favorite wine during the day, but make sure you also go for a run or walk first.
Herman Smith-Johannsen apparently knew all this, when he said:
“The secret to a long life is to stay busy, get plenty of exercises and don’t drink too much. Then again, don’t drink too little.”
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Don Patrick is an amateur writer and sports enthusiast. He loves reading books, listening to the Huberman Lab Podcast, and spending time with his family and friends. Don is also a personal trainer and youth hockey coach.
