Posted on 05/05/2008 9:14:22 PM PDT by blam
The Secret To Long Life May Not Be In The Genes
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) — A research on the bone health of one of the oldest persons in the world, who recently died at the age of 114, reveals that there were no genetic modifications which could have contributed to this longevity. The research team, directed by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona professor Adolfo Díez Pérez, pointed out a healthy lifestyle, a Mediterranean diet, a temperate climate and regular physical activity as the reasons for his excellent health.
The research team studied the bone mass and analysed the genetics of a man with enviable health who at the time of the study was 113 years old. The research was carried out with four other members of his family: a 101-year-old brother, two daughters aged 81 and 77, and a nephew aged 85, all of them born and still living in a small town of the island of Menorca. The research findings were recently published in the Journal of Gerontology and reported that the man's bones were in excellent conditions: his bone mass was normal, there were no anomalous curvatures and he had never sustained a fracture.
With regard to the genetical analyses, researchers were unsuccessful in finding any mutations in the KLOTHO gene, which is generally related to a good level of mineral density and therefore healthy bones. Neither did they find any mutations in the LRP5 gene, which is associated with longevity. None of the members of the family who participated in the study presented any mutations in this gene.
The results of the research do not rule out the possibility that other genetic mutations could positively influence longevity. However, researchers do point out the fact that the excellent health of this family, and of the 113-year-old man in particular, is probably due to a Mediterranean diet, the temperate climate of the island, a lack of stress and regular physical activity. The article underlines the fact that until the age of 102, the man cycled every day and looked after the family orchard.
This research was directed by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona professor Adolfo Díez Pérez, researcher at the Municipal Institute of Medical Research (IMIM) and doctor at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, with the participation of IMIM researchers Leonardo Mellibovsky, Pau Lluch and Xavier Nogués, and researchers from the Department of Genetics at the University of Barcelona Mariona Bustamante, Susana Balcells and Daniel Grinberg.
Adapted from materials provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.
I’ve read that lots of olive oil in the diet, plus walking every day is a recipe for a long healthy life. 7th day adventists live long lives too, and they eschew meat, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Gotta be better for health and long life than cigarettes, beer, potato chips, sugar stuff, white bread and the tv. Doesn’t really take a lot of smarts to figure that out.
With the 7th Day Adventist lifestyle- you don’t actually live any longer- it just feels like you do...
LOL!!
I drink a small glass of red wine in the evening, use olive oil, eat a handful of plain roasted almonds everyday, and avoid mercury-laden fish. Maybe it’ll work.
I’m on the chocolate-and-coffee plan.
I was going to leave a two word response but see you already covered it. Olive oil. ; )
When my late wife asked our 90 year old neighbor what the secret to her longevity was, we got a shocking answer, “I tried never to do anything to help other people, and only did things for myself” was her answer. Needless to say, it was something of a shock to hear her say that her long life was due to her selfishness.
Funny, 8 years later, she is still alive, but my wife has been dead for 4 years, and died at 39.
Maybe she is on to something.
Wrong metric. It’s not the length of a person’s life, but the quality of the life they lead.
Sshh - don’t tell anybody, but I do THAT alone in my closet!
But I think your neighbor is wrong. I think a certain self-interest is a good thing like having healthy boundaries. But there is much to be gained from helping others and IMO that gratification is good for the mind and in turn the health of the body. I'm afraid no one can see or foresee all of the tremendous number of variables that come to play in our lives though.
lift weights
Thing is I know too many people who didn’t live well and live a long life.
The best example is my friend’s grandfather who drank and smoked every day from age 20 on. Lived to be 107 and was able bodied to the day he died.
My plan is to live forever. So far, so good...
Live forever, or die trying.
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