People who follow a healthy lifestyle—such as eating a Mediterranean diet and moderately exercising most days—can add up to six years to their life expectancy and will spend fewer years suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The impact of a healthy lifestyle on our longevity and cognitive decline has been underscored by the Chicago Health and Aging Project, which has been tracking the lives of 2,449 men and women aged 65 years and older.
The researchers identified five healthy lifestyle choices—taking up mental challenges in later life, moderate exercise for around 20 minutes a day, light drinking, following a Mediterranean diet and not smoking—and the way they influenced the longevity and cognitive abilities of the participants.
Women who followed four of the five healthy choices could expect to live another 24 years after they reached the age of 65—three years more than a woman who followed just one or fewer of the options—and would experience Alzheimer’s or dementia for just over two years, half that of someone following a less healthy life. Men who followed four or more of the lifestyle choices could expect to live up to six years longer than those who followed one or none of them. Again, the years they would suffer from Alzheimer’s was half that of those with unhealthier lifestyles and would amount to just over a year of their lives.
(Source: BMJ, 2022; 377: e068390)
What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community
Great news! Discounts are available based on your cart total. Check the details below:
