In a study that's half the age of its oldest subjects, Swedish researchers have followed the health of 855 men born in 1913 and have come to conclusions about how to live a long, healthy life.
"The unique design has enabled us to identify the factors that influence survival after the age of 50," says Lars Wilhelmsen, involved in the study for the past 50 years. "Our recommendation for people who aspire to centenarianism is to refrain from smoking, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and confine themselves to four cups of coffee a day."
The subjects -- ten of whom lived to see the age of 100 -- were surveyed at the ages of 54, 60, 65, 75, 80 and 100.
Of the entire participant group, 232 of them, or 27 percent, lived to see the age of 80 and 13 percent or 111 of them lived to see 90.
Just 1.1 percent lived to see their 100th birthday.
Of deaths that occurred after participants had reached the age of 80, cardiovascular disease was to blame in 42 percent of the cases, 20 percent were caused by infectious diseases, eight percent by stroke, eight percent by cancer, six percent to pneumonia and 16 percent to unnamed causes.
Of the octogenarians, 23 percent were diagnosed with various forms of dementia.
Their mothers' children
Maternal age is important to longevity, according to the study, which also cites socioeconomic status, indicated by home ownership at age 50, and being able to cycle vigorously at the age of 54 as important contributors.
"Our findings that there is a correlation with maternal but not paternal longevity are fully consistent with previous studies," says Dr. Wilhelmsen. "Given that the same associations have been demonstrated in Hawaii, the genetic factor appears to be a strong one."
Overall, genes are weaker than the other factors, however, indicating that lifestyle choices are important for longevity.
Hardly weary
Two centenarians dropped out of the study due to dementia and another for unnamed reasons.
Of the other seven, the study reveals that none of them smoked, two lived at home and five were in in geriatric facilities, and all of them wore hearing aids.
Although they all used walkers at this point, they all demonstrated good temporal and spatial cognition.
Most wore glasses but were able to read and watch TV and all were trim and demonstrated good posture.
The study was published in the Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal.
Looking life in the eyes at 100
In a study that's half the age of its oldest subjects, Swedish researchers have followed the health of 855 men born in 1913 and have come to conclusions about how to live a long, healthy life.
"The unique design has enabled us to identify the factors that influence survival after the age of 50," says Lars Wilhelmsen, involved in the study for the past 50 years. "Our recommendation for people who aspire to centenarianism is to refrain from smoking, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and confine themselves to four cups of coffee a day."
The subjects -- ten of whom lived to see the age of 100 -- were surveyed at the ages of 54, 60, 65, 75, 80 and 100.
Of the entire participant group, 232 of them, or 27 percent, lived to see the age of 80 and 13 percent or 111 of them lived to see 90.
Just 1.1 percent lived to see their 100th birthday.
Of deaths that occurred after participants had reached the age of 80, cardiovascular disease was to blame in 42 percent of the cases, 20 percent were caused by infectious diseases, eight percent by stroke, eight percent by cancer, six percent to pneumonia and 16 percent to unnamed causes.
Of the octogenarians, 23 percent were diagnosed with various forms of dementia.
Their mothers' children
Maternal age is important to longevity, according to the study, which also cites socioeconomic status, indicated by home ownership at age 50, and being able to cycle vigorously at the age of 54 as important contributors.
"Our findings that there is a correlation with maternal but not paternal longevity are fully consistent with previous studies," says Dr. Wilhelmsen. "Given that the same associations have been demonstrated in Hawaii, the genetic factor appears to be a strong one."
Overall, genes are weaker than the other factors, however, indicating that lifestyle choices are important for longevity.
Hardly weary
Two centenarians dropped out of the study due to dementia and another for unnamed reasons.
Of the other seven, the study reveals that none of them smoked, two lived at home and five were in in geriatric facilities, and all of them wore hearing aids.
Although they all used walkers at this point, they all demonstrated good temporal and spatial cognition.
Most wore glasses but were able to read and watch TV and all were trim and demonstrated good posture.
The study was published in the Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal.
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