Rock-Stars-of-Aging-by-Marc-Middleton

Rock Stars of Aging
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Chapter FIVE
Why Should I Care About Centenarians?
“All the studies show that only about 25 percent of the length of life
we enjoy is related to genes. In other words, 75 percent of it is up to
us or the environment we live in.” -- Dr. Robert Butler
To write this book, this prescription for a long and fulfilling life, we
ignored most of the experts and looked to the centenarians
themselves, to their words and especially to their examples. There
are three major reasons you should care a great deal about
centenarians and how they live their lives.
1: Centenarians Didn’t Win the Genetic Lottery
Living to 100 is more of a lifestyle choice than a genetic blessing. The
National Institute on Aging says that longevity is 70 percent
determined by lifestyle and only 30 percent by genes. Other studies
are even more pro-lifestyle, with many now saying 10 percent of
longevity is dependent on your genes and up to 90 percent on your
lifestyle.
2: Centenarians Make Life Worth Living
According to multiple studies of centenarians, more than 90 percent
were physically and mentally healthy well into their 90s. Many
centenarians are still living at home, driving, golfing, traveling,
dancing, painting, telling jokes, watching videos on the Internet and
listening to music on an iPod.
Most centenarians don’t suffer the chronic illnesses that are typically
associated with age -- such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular
trouble or diabetes -- until shortly before dying. Gerontologists call
Rock Stars of Aging
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