By Natalie L. Policani

1. Social Connections

Like your mother told you, “Get out there and socialize!” Turns out, researchers are finding that social connections, contact with your children and volunteering are among key factors to living longer. So, call up that old friend you have been meaning to go to coffee with. Join that group. Have lunch with your family member. In fact, Stanford social engagement research scholar, Steven Crane, MS, says that, “Our relationships form a lattice of support that constitutes the largest single factor in the overall well-being of most people. We need to prioritize showing up for one another because when we don’t, loneliness and isolation become chronic.” (Smith, 2023) According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social isolation is a growing public health issue, that should be taken as seriously as smoking, obesity or a sedentary lifestyle.  The epidemic of loneliness caused the WHO to dedicate a taskforce to address loneliness in 2019 and to create a new commission on social connection in 2023. For the next three years, WHO will address the pressing public health threat of a global epidemic of loneliness. (Christensen, 2023)

• Every day Movement

Although they used to tell us to do 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, new findings show that more is better. Just 2-4x more movement than you are currently doing can lead to a 26-31% increase in longevity.  It doesn’t necessarily mean staying at the gym twice as long. Instead, people in the blue zones (areas of the world where they live the longest) incorporate daily movement into their lives by gardening, walking, dancing or other natural movement.

In fact, this 100 year old dance teacher shares her longevity tips, including, “You keep going. That’s what keeps me alive. The minute you stop moving, that’s the end.” Georgia Deane was born on June 8, 1919 and founder of The Deane School of Dance in Mendon, Massachusetts. She credits constant movement as the key to her longevity. She survived breast cancer, outlived three husbands, and opened up her own dance studio at age 57 because she thought retirement was boring.

• Eating Healthy

We all know we are supposed to trade in those chips for some carrot sticks.  And a healthy diet stands strong as a factor to predict longevity. But a number of documentaries these days are promoting a plant-based diet, such as Living to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. In it, Dan Buettner, author and researcher, finds that many of the blue zones, areas of the world where people live the longest, eat plant-based diets. There is even a diet called the Blue Zones diet, a plant-based diet that emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, and includes staples such as fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts/seeds and olive oil. Other blue diet principles included limiting red meat and dairy products, and eating in community. (Wong, 2023)

References

Banio, A. (2020, January 26) The Influence of Latin Dance Classes on the Improvement of Life Quality in Elderly People in Europe. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2155

Catanese, L. (2024, June 25) Longevity: lifestyle strategies for living a healthy, long life. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/longevity-lifestyle-strategies-for-living-a-healthy-long-life

Christensen, J. (2023, November 15) Who makes loneliness a global health priority with new commission on social connection. CNN Health. https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/health/who-loneliness-social-connection/index.html

Hampton, T. (2023, February 9) Longevity analysis identifies 8 key social factors. The Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/02/how-long-will-you-live-8-social-factors-are-key/

Jeter, C. (Director). (2023). Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones [Film]. MakeMake Entertainment.

Pawlowski, A. (2019, September 27) 100-year-old dance teacher shares longevity tips: Exercise, olive oil, optimism. Today.

Schaeffer, K. (2023, December 8) Striking findings from 2023. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/08/striking-findings-from-2023/

Wong, C. (2023, August 16) The Blue Zone Diet: How To Eat Like the World’s Longest-Living People. VeryWell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/blue-zone-diet-foods-4159314