According to testimonials from centenarians, having a purpose in life, being positive and staying connected to others can help you live longer and healthier lives.
- Centenarians have explained that their longevity comes from their mindset and good mental health habits.
- Studies have found that longevity is associated with having purpose and meaning in one’s life.
- Maintaining a positive attitude helps improve brain function in older adults.
Genes play an important role in the chances of reaching or exceeding 100 years of age in good health, however other factors must also be taken into account.
Centenarians: what do they have in common?
THE Dailymail surveyed centenarians who have in common having a purpose in life, a sense of community, a positive attitude and a sharp mind, which they believe ensures their longevity. Indeed, specialists who study centenarians have understood that engaging in leisure activities, carrying out daily tasks, taking care of one’s family and friends has a significant beneficial effect on a person’s chances of living up to 90 or 100 years old.
In the article, some centenarians said staying positive and living in the present keeps them young at heart, while others said they took up hobbies later in life. As Ms. Apfel became a model at 97 after a career as an interior designer and businesswoman: “My first big job in fashion was when I was 84, so for me, as cliché as it sounds, age is just a number. This is why I will never stop working. My philosophy is to live in the moment – yesterday is gone, we don’t even know if there will be tomorrow, so we might as well enjoy today.”
Norma Barzman, a 102-year-old screenwriter from California, said that cultivating her interests and expanding her circle of acquaintances is her fountain of youth: “I see other older people who aren’t very active and aren’t interested in much, while I love discovering things. I’ve met people my age who work, who write, who paint, and who have much happier lives… Keep doing things!”
Live longer having found meaning in your life
Dr Gladys McGarey, 102, said she stays young because she has a purpose in her life. It is indeed proven: people who believe that their life has meaning have lower levels of cortisol, a chemical hormone that helps regulate our body’s response to stress. It is produced in the adrenal glands – located right next to the kidneys – and is released throughout the body. In addition to being known as “L’stress hormone“, cortisol is responsible for regulating blood pressure and the immune system, it also affects our energy levels.
Moreover, a 2016 meta-analysis spanning 10 separate studies, involving a total of more than 136,000 people, showed that having a purpose in life can reduce the risk of death from all causes by 17%.
The centenarian said that in finding her “Why“, we find it easier to find our community and to surround ourselves well, another key factor for living a long and healthy life. Keeping the mind sharp is also an important element for living to an old age. Bernard Kalb, a former journalist from Maryland who died in January 2023 at the age of 100, always followed the news: “I read the newspapers every morning, highlight what is most urgent and try to stick it in my mind” he explained.
Finally, maintain a positive attitude improves brain function and helps prevent the cognitive decline that occurs in many older people or people with dementia, including complications are often fatal.
