How to live a longer fuller life

Scientific glare is focused on understanding the parameters that confer longevity upon us

Since the beginning of times, human species has fixated fanatically on the idea of immortality. This desire of living forever has had us scouring the earth in search of the ‘Fountain of Youth’ within the bowels of the fabled Shangri-La to seek this elusive secret in super genes. Sadly, immortality exists only in lore and comics. So the scientific glare has now been focused on understanding the parameters that confer longevity upon us, mainly for future generations as life spans continue to shrink despite the galloping advances in science and technology.



There is an overabundance of research that hunts for answers to the aging riddle, to slow down erosion of DNA and sustain molecular machinery long enough to hold chronic illnesses such as cancer, dementia and Alzheimer, probability of which increases proportionally with age. Surprisingly, these studies do not focus on highly urbanised cities or the countries bursting at seams with rapid development; rather, they observe populations in such areas as Ogliastra in Sardinia, Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica and the island of Ikaria in Greece, cities that are tucked away in far-fetched corners, safe from the snares of forceful change.

Dubbed the Blue Zone, these areas are known for producing sheer numbers of long lived individuals that pass the century mark. Additionally, scientists zeroed in on the animal kingdom, hoping to unravel the secrets of longevity from studying the genome of bowhead whales which according to Inuit legend can live up to two human life spans, or the odd defying life span of Brandt’s bat that can live up to 40 years despite weighing roughly as much as a sugar cube.
Combining this data obtained with interviewing centenarians opens up a world of different possibilities that could prolong life. Here is the gist of these findings;

Genetics: Genes have a major stake in dictating longevity both in human and animals. Essentially, studies involving long lived animals such as naked mole rats and the bowhead whales showed mutations of certain genes (PCNA, ERCC1) allows their DNA to repair itself following damage due to aging and prevents build-up of harmful cell mutations that are otherwise likely to cause cancer. Thus, the secret sauce to whale’s longevity is its ability to mop up cellular stress rendered by aging, something which human species lack. However, even in humans, heredity does have some role to play in conferring longevity as studies find parental life span greater than 80 years significantly increases an individual’s chance of surpassing 100 year milestone.



Environment: Granted that some individuals may have an added benefit if their parents or sibling are centenarians, environmental conditions of the individual also have a massive bearing on the span of life. This explains why spouses of centenarians also live to ripe old ages despite possessing different genomic makeup. Environmental attributes take into consideration both physical and emotional facets. For instance, other than heredity of course, people growing up in a tender and loving household, with socio economic stability, in settings closer to nature (farmhouse, valleys) have been noted to survive to advanced age. However, a schism appears when impact of infectious burden on longevity is considered as children in rural areas with minimum health benefits and high infectious exposure are seen to fare poorly as opposed to those with access to quality health care. Some other environmental determinants include having step parents, occupational status and conditions of dwelling.

Diet and exercise: Being anorexic and getting a gym membership won’t get you far in life but eating healthy foods and engaging in a healthy lifestyle will definitely see you to your 100th birthday! For one, healthy food choices, which include lots of vegetables, fruits, and essential oils, prevent build-up of toxic free radicals that increase the proclivity of abhorrent cell growth which leads to cancers and tumours in the body. To top it off, we lack tumour suppressing mechanisms, those that are present in bowhead whales and naked mole rats, allowing them to live to extended periods without fracturing their cellular mechanism. Additional testimony emerges from the simplistic and close to nature lifestyle of centenarians in blue zones, who have better access to fresh produce and engage in a very hands-on lifestyles, unsoiled by technological boom, making them outliers in the mortality paradigm. In fact, a 2011 research found for every hour 25-year-olds and above spent in front of the TV, 22 minutes of overall life expectancy were lost.



Mental health: Psychological factors such as work-life balance, stress, educational qualification, family relations, optimism and positivity, all have a huge bearing of life expectancy. Indeed, one study found those who spent three months at a meditation retreat had 30% more activity of telomerase enzyme that controls ageing. Forging strong social ties also impact life expectancy as it gives sense of belonging, purpose, and love that in turn lowers down stress. Qualities such as prudence, persistence, ambition and being organised can lull your steady march to death!