Old & New

A Truism?

Over three hundred years ago Daniel Defoe, famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, implied that the good die young, and the bad die later. This thought has become a truism. I remember in grade-school a teacher making this point when discussing saints. When my friend, Marcia, died at just 18 years old I wondered if she would be the only good person in my life as all the remaining family and friends are living on, including myself. Over the years I forgot about this thought but it came back to me while attending Marcia’s mother’s 100th birthday celebration. During this joyous event I have come to the realization that this truism is suspect. Marcia is a good person who died young and her mother is an extraordinary good person who lives on. So what is true?

The Truth

Here is a fascinating article on longevity research that shines a light on why some live longer than others — good or bad.

An Article From BMI Healthcare

“1. They have the right genes

Studies have found that a long lifespan may be linked to genetics, making it a lottery for us all. One study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine looked into 500 individuals who had lived to 95 or older and identified common genotypes, rather than lifestyle variables, that caused them to outlive others.

They included APOC3, which correlates to reduced risk of heart attacks, and IGF-r, which affects how the body regulates insulin-like growth factor 1, a protein linked to proper growth development.

CETP was also identified as a genotype that contributes to longer life, as it is tied to increased levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol.1

2. Their mother is younger

There is other research that points towards younger mothers. It suggests that people whose mother gave birth to them at age 25 or younger generally lived longer than those with an older mother.

The exact reasons why are uncertain, but evidence does suggest that the healthier eggs of younger mothers is a contributing factor.

3. They have strong friendships

Also linked to longevity is the strength of an individual’s social life and how lonely they feel. A Brigham Young University study concluded that loneliness and social isolation are just as threating to longevity as obesity.

This is especially true among younger generations, despite the connected world we now live in where social networks allow us to contact others over long distances.

The connection between mental health and physical wellbeing is now widely known. Depression has been linked to a 67% increase in the risk of death from heart disease and a 50% increase in the risk of death from cancer.

It’s a clear sign that if we all want to live longer, we need to look after our mental state as well as our physical health.

4. They drink lots of tea

Our food and drink habits have a big impact on our health, and tea gets a lot of good press when it comes to health benefits. This is backed up by an interesting project called Blue Zones, which began life as a study from National Geographic. It explores the lifestyles of communities that have the highest concentration of centenarians.

Factors such as strong social ties, close families and ample exercise were shared by the communities under the spotlight, but one other stand-out factor was tea consumption.

Green tea is considered one of the best types as it is high in the anti-oxidant catechin which is closely associated with good cardiovascular health and a reduced risk of cancer.

5. They’re physically stronger

Muscle strength has also been aligned with living longer. A study of more than a million Swedish teenage boys concluded that “low muscular strength in adolescents is an emerging risk factor for major causes of death in young adulthood, such as suicide and cardiovascular diseasesâ€.

Those who scored above average during initial muscular strength tests were at a 20-35% lower risk of early death from any cause, including cardiovascular disease. They were also less likely to suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression.”

Further Observation

On top of good genes and healthy life style I believe the strong social network is the key! Attending my father’s recent 97th birthday and Lois’ 100th celebration, it is evident that a strong social network of loving family and friends is essential for longevity. This is the belief of science writer Marta Zaraska writing in Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100. Zaraska believes in optimizing family wellness. While reviewing studies, Zaraska began to notice that, again and again, research points to our relationships as a central factor in health. If we want to live longer, healthier lives, we need to prioritize staying connected, kind, and involved in our community. On the occasion of Lois’ 100th, she received a city proclamation for her outstanding contribution to the community where she was born and has lived her entire 100 years. So, the moral of the story is the “good die young”, or they may live on and on!

“Cento di questi giorniâ€

A customary Italian birthday saying, “may you live 100 years.”