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Want to Live to a Healthy 85?
Dr. Don Parkerson, Jr.
One of the largest and longest
research studies on aging found one more reason to stay trim and active: It
could greatly increase your chances of living to at least age 85.
The Study
This research
involved 5,820 Japanese-American men from
The researchers
began the study because people aged 85 and older are the fastest-growing age
group in most industrialized countries and are among the largest consumers of
health care resources. Therefore,
figuring out how to help people remain healthy as they age is a major research
priority.
The Results
Of the original 5,820
men who began the study, 655 men - 11% - reached a milestone the researchers
dubbed "exceptional survival."
That was reaching age 85 without any mental or physical impairment,
including cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, Parkinson's disease, or
diabetes.
Out of those 655
men who reached age 85 in exceptional health, the researchers were able to
consistently deduce 9 risk factors that these men avoided during their 40’s,
50’s, and 60’s.
The 9 mid-life
risk factors were:
1.
Being overweight
2.
High
blood sugar levels – leads to diabetes
3.
High
triglyceride levels – can cause heart disease
4.
High
blood pressure
5.
Low
grip strength
6.
Smoking
7.
Drinking
three or more alcoholic drinks per day
8.
Not
graduating from high school
9.
Being
unmarried
The study also
found that men who had none of those nine risk factors during mid-life had a
nearly 70% chance of living to age 85 and a 55% chance of reaching the 85
milestone in exceptional health. By
contrast, those with 6 or more risk factors during their mid-life had only a
22% chance of living to age 85 and a less than 10% chance of exceptional
survival.
Why Does This Really
Matter?
There appears to be a lot we can do about modifying our lifestyle risk and
increasing the odds for aging with better health. And while you may have always known those 9
risk factors, this study is the first to demonstrate that you may actually
enhance both the length and quality of your lifespan via your lifestyle
choices.
In other words,
this study clarifies 2 points:
1.
Many
people can live to 85 and be completely healthy when they get there.
2.
Whether
you achieve #1 depends greatly on the lifestyle choices you make during your
middle-aged years.
For further information on this topic, you may contact
Dr. Parkerson at 770.952.5353, by email at Parkerson@humberparkerson.com,
or visit our clinic on the web at www.HumberParkerson.com.
The Highest Level is the monthly e-mail newsletter of
the
© Humber Parkerson Clinic 2006
December 2006 issue of The Highest Level
