Adhering to a Healthy Lifestyle Boosts Chances of Becoming a Centenarian, Study Finds

A study recently published in JAMA Network Open has found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle could significantly enhance the likelihood of living to 100 years, especially for those aged 80 and above. This finding is crucial, given the rising number of centenarians and the global challenge of fostering healthy aging amid an expanding senior population.

The research, conducted using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey—one of the largest prospective cohorts targeting people aged 80 years or older—analyzed 5,222 participants, including 1,454 centenarians. Researchers evaluated lifestyle factors like smoking, exercise, and dietary diversity, constructing a scoring system (HLS-100) to predict healthier outcomes.

Key results indicated that those with the highest scores, suggesting more robust health practices, had a significantly better chance of reaching 100 compared to those with lower scores. Notably, factors such as alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI) were not conclusively linked to longevity, suggesting that lifestyle assessments might need tailoring depending on the age group.

The study emphasizes the role that people's lifestyle choices can play in their health outcomes, even at an advanced age. It proposes that strategic plans to enhance lifestyle behaviors among older adults are imperative for promoting longevity and healthy aging.

For a more detailed understanding of the study, "Healthy Lifestyle and the Likelihood of Becoming a Centenarian," please refer to the full text at JAMA Network Open. The study can be accessed at doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17931.

This summary was built with the help of Buoy Health.