What is the secret to a robust and long life?
Think food, drink, genetics and lifestyle.
With food and drink, it’s all about moderation. In a study of 1,600 people older than 90, researchers found people who drank moderate amounts of alcohol or caffeinated drinks lived longer than those who abstained.
With both, the amount consumed made a difference, said Dr. Claudia Kawas, co-principal investigator of the 90+Study, one of the largest studies in the world of people who have lived past 90. The sweet spot for caffeine is between 200-400 milligrams a day, or about two cups of coffee.
For alcohol, Kawas and her team at the University of California Irvine found that consuming about two glasses daily reduced risk of premature death by nearly 20 percent. However, Kawas gives a disclaimer: “Keep in mind I began studying people when they’re 90. People who drank a lot of alcohol at younger ages may not even make it to their 90s.”
Estelle Plous of Boca Raton certainly finds Kawas’ findings to be true. At 94, she drinks caffeinated tea every morning — but never more than two cups, she says. For a few decades, the former stock broker said she also had a shot of Crown Royal each day. Now, she tries to eat at least two healthy meals a day and participate in activities in her assisted living community. “I don’t feel my age. I just want to keep going and doing,” she said.
As far as food goes, Kawas said a well-balanced diet with a lot of variety and an emphasis on fruits and vegetables contributes to longevity — although she explains that there is not any specific, single dietary factor that is ultimately protective when it comes to brain health, or aging.
“We have spent many years looking into aging, mostly to understand how to age well,” Kawas said.
Weight
Weight, however, does play a role in longevity. People who are overweight later in life tend to live longer than people who are normal weight or underweight, the research found. Indeed, being underweight later in life is associated with a 50 percent less chance of living past 90, according to the study. “It’s not good to be overweight when you are younger, but as you get older, it is,” Kawas said.
Patricia Will, Founder & CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, which has 29 communities in the United States and is about to open one in Fort Lauderdale, said from working closely with seniors, she can explain those findings.
“A lot has to do with muscle, not fat,” Will said. “People tend to lose muscle mass when they age and as they do they have a harder time moving around and are less resilient if they have a fall. People who are overweight, not from sheer fat but muscle mass, tend to live longer.”