Growing old in health - satisfaction is the hallmark of the very old

Some regions of Japan have a particularly high number of centenarians. In Greenland and other parts of the world, too, there are people who reach a proverbial biblical age. What distinguishes these people, what sets them apart from other senior citizens? Canadian researchers investigated this fascinating question and examined several hundred healthy and fit very old women and men, not only from Japan.

Happy people live longer

First of all, the researchers confirmed what has been known for a long time. If you want to grow old healthily, you should avoid smoking or at least give it up at a young age. According to the results of this study, moderate consumption of alcohol in the form of a glass of wine or beer is no contradiction to the desire for healthy ageing. After all, there have always been indications from various studies that alcohol in small quantities is probably not detrimental to health. In addition, the study found evidence that family genes probably also contribute to the attainment of old age. Among the particularly old study participants, there were often those whose parents had also reached an above-average age. This suggests a genetic component in the ageing process. But not only genes are decisive. The entire lifestyle, including nutrition as well as mental and sporting activities, also play a significant role. According to the study authors, special mention must be made of the observation that the healthy elderly are highly satisfied with their lives and suffer significantly less from depressive moods than the control group used for comparison. This could also be due to the fact that the healthy old people had four or more children more often and remained childless less often than the people in the control group.

Conclusion: A positive basic attitude towards life, which manifests itself in balance and contentment, can be an essential key to healthy ageing.