Everyone wants to live a long, healthy, active life. Yes, genes have something to do with your health, but many people believe that it’s not just your genes, but what you do with them that counts! We have much to learn from centenarians—people who live to 100 and beyond.
Right here in the Boston area, the New England Centenarian Study has been studying centenarians since 1995. Led by Thomas T. Perls, MD, PhD, at Boston University Medical Center, the Study has identified several common lifestyle choices practiced by most centenarians. We share these with you here, along with the study finding that, instead of the aging myth “the older you get the sicker you get,” it is much more the case of “the older you get, the healthier you’ve been.”
It’s never too late to embark on a lifestyle that will help you age with vigor and health. Why not make this your New Year’s resolution? Here is how centenarians do it:
- Healthy centenarians stay connected with others of all age groups and involved in their communities. One study found that older people who volunteered to hold and rock premature babies in an intensive care unit experienced less pain, depression, and better moods. The babies thrived too!
- They keep physically active with regular, daily exercise. One woman in the study, 101 years old, had a habit of reading while riding a stationary bicycle. Other centenarians bake and cook for family gatherings, go to the office, practice tai chi, walk every day, and play golf. Tai chi is a great way to improve balance.
- They continue to use their brains throughout their lives. Learning new skills all through life contributes to healthy brain function. Pick up or renew a language; play word games and do crossword puzzles; learn to play a musical instrument; sing in a choir.
- They have learned how to handle stress and the many losses that happen on the way to 100. Stress reduction programs, including yoga and meditation, help people become more resilient.
- They use humor to cope with difficult times. Humor is important for emotional and physical heath. “Laughter Yoga” groups are springing up all over the country, with several in Massachusetts. Laughter yoga was made popular as a routine developed by Indian physician Madan Kataria, who writes about the practice in his book Laugh For No Reason. Laughter, especially in a group, improves circulation, stimulates muscles, increases oxygen flow in the body and improves mood. As Thomas Perls says, “He who laughs, lasts.”
- They find meaning in some kind of spiritual practice and seem to take a lively interest and joy in everything around them.