Longevity
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Many people would like to live longer and happier.  While some studies look at specific diseases, others look at living longer.  Unfortunately, many of the relevant studies are scattered on other pages on this website.  In 2003, American longevity again increased to 77.6 years for the average newborn.  The world's top countries are: Japan had the longest life expectancy at 81.9 years, followed by Switzerland, 80.6, Australia, 80.4, and Iceland, 80.1 by 2002 figures.

Genetics, diet, and exercise are the most important factors.  Avoidance of tobacco and obesity are important.  One alcoholic drink per day, perhaps preferable red wine, is beneficial as well.  Melatonin is the most promising supplement.  Exercise, weight control, and many other factors probably each plan a small role.  See my Recommendations for Healthy Living.

7th Day Adventist Live Longest: California Adventists life expectancy at age 30 for European-American males is 7.28 years longer and females 4.42 years longer than the national average. Arch Intern Med 2001 Jul 9;161(13):1645-52.  Adventists are ovo-lacto vegetarians who don't smoke or drink. 

ACE Inhibitor Slow Decline: In a study of 641 women, average age 79, without CHF found that ACE inhibitor, which block enzymes that cause blood vessels to constrict, preserve muscle functioning and speed with which women are able to walk. Compuserve 3/14/02 Reuters London. Women’s Health and Aging study at Wake Forest Univ.

Alcohol 1 Drink/Week Ideal for Physician Mortality: In a 5.5 year follow-up of the 89,000 physicians health study with over 3,000 deaths, researchers found alcohol risk ratio for death .74, .77, .79, and .82 for one drink/week, 2-4/wk, 5-6/wk, and 1/day. At two/day, there was no benefit. No harm or benefit to specific cancers although those at 2/day had 28% increase in cancer which was non-significant while having CVD RR .76. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000 Jan;35(1):96-105; Review article = Biomed Pharmacother 1999 Oct;53(9):417-23

Alcohol 2-8 Drinks/Week Lowest Mortality in Germany: In a study of 2084 adults ages 45-64, during eight years of follow-up, total mortality was 41% lower (RR 0.59) for drinkers vs. non-drinkers. Lowest male CHD deaths occurred with 4-8 drinks/week (RR 0.46) and for females for up to 5 drinks per week RR 0.46.

Alcohol 1-7 Drinks/Week Lowest Mortality: 40,000 Hawaiians on a 20-year follow-up cohort study found a 20% decreased mortality with 1-7 drinks/week with no decrease in mortality over 7 drinks/week. Protective benefit was strongest in white males vs. females or Asians. Maskarinec, Epidem 11/98;9:654

Alcohol 1 Drink/Day Protective: In a study of 490,000 adults ages 30-104 with 9 years follow-up with 46,000 deaths, researchers found drinking at least 1 drink/day resulted in a 30% decrease in death with lowest rate around 1 drink/day. Thun, ACS, NEJM 12/11/97;337:1705

Alcohol 1-2 Drinks/Day Lowest French Mortality: In a 10-15 year follow-up study of 34,014 adults, overall mortality for 22-32 grams of alcohol per day (1-2 drinks) decreased by 30% (RR 0.70), for 33-54 g/d (2+-4 drinks) 24% (RR 0.76), for over 128 g/d increased 37% (RR 1.37). 77% drank wine. Authors misrepresent their own findings by suggesting lowest was 2-5 drinks/d. Renaud, Epid ’98;9:184. Many other studies have found serious harmful effects on longevity at these doses, i.e. over 2 drinks per day and no benefit over 1 drink per day.

Alcohol Negative Effect on Health to Age 45: A Swedish Carolinska study on 49,000 conscripts with a 25 year follow-up showed an increased mortality of 14% with alcohol consumption (205 deaths!). This was especially significant if over 1 drink/day was consumed. BMJ 1999;319:821-822

Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Co-Q-10 No Help to Mice: In a controlled study, caloric restriction increased longevity 13% when started at middle age but the above two supplements had no impact. The impact of alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 and caloric restriction on life span and gene expression patterns in mice. Lee CK, Pugh TD, et al. University of Wisconsin. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004 Apr 15;36(8):1043-57

Altruism is Good: Altruistic (other-regarding) emotions and behaviors are associated with greater well-being, health, and longevity. Post SG. Case Western. Int J Behav Med. 2005;12(2):66-77.

Aspirin Meta-Analysis of Primary Prevention: Non-Significant Trend Toward Decreased Mortality: Six randomized trials have evaluated the benefits of aspirin for the primary prevention: the British Doctors' Trial, the Physicians' Health Study, the Thrombosis Prevention Trial, the Hypertension Optimal Treatment study, the Primary Prevention Project, and the Women's Health Study. The combined sample consists of 47,293 subjects on aspirin and 45,580 not. Meta-analysis suggested superiority of aspirin for total CHD, nonfatal MI, and total CV events (p < or =0.001 in each case), with a nonsignificant trend (0.07 < p <0.34) for decreased risk of stroke, CV mortality, and all-cause mortality. Meta-analysis of data from the six primary prevention trials of cardiovascular events using aspirin. Bartolucci AA, et al. University of Alabama at Birmingham. . Am J Cardiol 2006 Sep 15;98(6):746-50. 

Beans and Lentils Predict Longevity: The "Food Habits in Later Life "(FHILL) study of 785 elderly over age 69 in Japan, Sweden, Greece and Australia with 7 years follow-up found that adjusted to age, gender and smoking, the legume food group showed 7-8% reduction in mortality hazard ratio for every 20g increase in daily intake with and without controlling for ethnicity (RR 0.92 and RR 0.93). Other food groups were not found to be consistently significant in predicting survival. Legumes: the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities. Darmadi-Blackberry I, Wahlqvist ML, et al. National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(2):217-20. 

Body Temperature Low, Low Insulin, DHEAS Biomarkers for Longevity: Key biomarkers - temperature, insulin and DHEAS levels - are associated with diet restricted rats and also humans living longer in the ongoing Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Science 297:811, 2002. Body temperature is lower in caloric restriction.

Body Mass Index: The ideal BMI for longevity is between 20 and 24. See Weight section for the many studies. 

Caloric Restriction: The best way to help lab animals live longer is to underfeed them by about 25%.  Whether it would work in humans is unknown, since the hunger drive is too strong except in deprived conditions.  In such situations, the quality of the diet is seriously lacking. For more, see Caloric Restriction.

Children: Having More Linked to Longer Life: In a study of 2,015 Lancaster, PA, Amish who had children, were born between 1749 and 1912, and survived until at least age 50 years, life span of fathers increased in linear fashion with increasing number of children (0.23 years per additional child; p =.01), while life span of mothers increased linearly up to 14 children (0.32 years per additional child; p =.004) but decreased with each additional child beyond 14 (p =.0004). Among women, but not men, a later age at last birth was associated with longer life span (p =.001). Adjusting for age at last birth obliterated the correlation between maternal life span and number of children, except among mothers with ultrahigh (>14 children) parity. Does having children extend life span? A genealogical study of parity and longevity in the amish. McArdle PF, et al. University of Maryland. J Gerentol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2006 Feb;61(2):190-5.

Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation increases life-span of rats fed on a diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Coenzyme Q supplementation protects from age-related DNA double-strand breaks and increased lifespan in rats fed on a PUFA-rich diet. Exp. Gerontol. 2004;39:189-194.

Dementia Absent in 48% of Adults Age 110: A French study has revealed that 35% of the women and 58% of the men are free from any suspicion of dementia according to Pfeiffer's screening test. Presse Med 2003 Mar 1;32(8):360-4

Dolichol Marker of Longevity in Rats:  In a study of food restriction, retarded dolichol accumulation in the liver co-varied with the effects of food restriction on longevity. In conclusion, these data show that the quantity of dolichol in the hepatic tissue might be used as a marker of the biological age of the animal. Biogerontology. 2003; 4(6): 341- 

Echinacea Helped Mice: Enhancement of natural killer cells and increased survival of aging mice fed daily Echinacea root extract from youth. Mice were fed echinacea from 7 weeks to 13 months with 74% survival on echinacea supplemented vs. 46% without. Brousseau M, et al. McGill Univ. Biogerontology. 2005;6(3):157-63.

Genetics Important for Longevity After Age 60: Approximately 20-30% of the variance in human lifespan is accounted for by genetics. In a study of Danish, Finnish and Swedish twins born between 1870 and 1910 comprising 20,502 individuals followed until 2003-2004, the mean lifespan for male monozygotic (MZ) twins increases 0.39 years for every year his co-twin survives past age 60 years. This rate is significantly greater than the rate of 0.21 for dizygotic (DZ) males. Genetic influences on lifespan are minimal prior to age 60 but increase thereafter. Genetic influence on human lifespan and longevity. Hjelmborg JV, et al. University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark, . Hum Genetics 2006 Feb 4;:1-10.

Genetics: Combination of Three Common Inherited Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms Promotes Longevity in Finnish and Japanese subjects. Niemi AK, Moilanen JS, et al. Oulu, Finland. Eur J Hum Genet. 2005 Feb;13(2):166-70

Genetics: Thrombosis Gene Variant Associated with Longer Life:  In a population-based cardiovascular health study (CHS), a study of the thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) -438 G/A in 2224 men and women > or = 65 years old found that during 10 years of follow-up, men with the TAFI -438 A/A genotype had decreased mortality due to all causes, and lived, on average, 0.9 more years of life, or 1.1 more years of healthy life, than men with the -438 G allele. The effects of TAFI -438 G/A in women were smaller and not statistically significant. Modulators of fibrinolytic activity may have a generalized influence on aging. Common promoter polymorphisms of inflammation and thrombosis genes and longevity in older adults: the cardiovascular health study. Reiner AP, et al. University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98101, USA. Atherosclerosis. 2005 Jul;181(1):175-83

HDL Cholesterol May Help: The concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has been found to be a powerful negative predictor of premature coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. It is protective in the elderly and their offspring. HDLs mediate several functions that provide an insight into their potential anti-atherogenic mechanisms. Several lifestyle and pharmacological interventions have the capacity to raise the level of HDL-C. HDL: a recipe for longevity. Barter P.  Australia. Atheroscler Suppl. 2004 May;5(2):25-31

Heart Rate Recovery Predicts Death Better Than Severe CAD: Michael S. Lauer, Cleveland Clinic. HRR is not a reflection of underlying CAD and thus it is an independent marker for mortality risk. 3,000 consecutive patients exercise testing for suspected CAD. Coronary angiogram was performed within 90 days of exercise testing. Abnormal HRR was defined as a drop in heart rate of 12 beats or less in the first minute after exercise was completed. For patients who underwent stress echocardiography, a threshold of 18 beats or less was used. Nearly 30% of patients had abnormal HRR, yet only 14% had severe CAD on angiography. 11% died in 6 year foloow-up.. On multivariate analysis, an abnormal HRR and severe CAD were associated with a 60% and a 40% increase, respectively, in the risk of death. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003;42:831-841 ‘03

Height: Shorter Spanish Men Lived Longer: Severe dietary restriction delays the physical development of rodents and leads to adult animals of reduced body size but significantly increased life expectancy. We tried to find a similar relationship in human populations using demographical and statistical methods. We show for the total Spanish male population that the mean adult body height reliably reflects the regional living and nutritional conditions. This relation does not only hold for todays socioeconomic data but can also be reproduced using data on family income in the mid 19th century. We calculated the mean height of young men liable to the military service around 1860 and determined their longevity retrospectively using posterior census data. This was done separately for all the Spanish provinces. The linear regression between both parameters manifests a statistically highly significant relationship: the smaller the mean height at age 18 in a province, the higher the chance for people living there to reach high chronological ages. Migrational movements, selection, mortality due to epidemics or unreliability of the population censuses can be largely ruled out as explications for the described correlation. Furthermore, we determined the secular growth trend in Spain for the last 130 years. From 1860 to 1920 the mean height increased by 2.7 cm, from 1920 to 1987 by another 9.8 cm. Since 1950 the trend is above 2 cm per decade country-wide. Decelerated growth and longevity in men. Holzenberger M, Martin-Crespo RM, et al. Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1991 Jul-Aug;13(1):89-101

Humor: No Evidence for Longevity Benefit: Review found little link between humor and health and none for longevity. Psychol Bull 2001 Jul;127(4):504-19

Hypoglycemia (Below 70) and Diabetic and Borderline Diabetic all Higher Mortality: In a study of 14,670 CAD patients ages 45-74, divided into six groups: (1) hypoglycaemic (up to 69 mg/dl); (2) low normal (70-79 mg/dl); (3) euglycaemic (80-109 mg/dl); (4) impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (110-125 mg/dl); (5) borderline diabetics (126-139 mg/dl); (6) diabetics (>/=140 mg/dl). Patients comprised 131 with hypoglycaemia (0.9%), 731 with low normal glucose (5%), 9308 euglycemic (63.4%), 1577 with IFG (10.7%), 617 borderline diabetics (4.2%) and 2306 diabetics (15.7%). Over a mean 8-year follow-up, crude all-cause mortality was higher in both diabetic (31.8%) and hypoglycaemic groups (25.2%) as compared with euglycemics (14.9%; P<0.0001); CAD mortality was higher in diabetic and borderline groups (17.8 and 13.3%, respectively, versus 7.9% in euglycemics; P<0.0001). The highest prevalence of cancer mortality was documented in the hypoglycemic group (6.1 versus 2.9% in euglycaemics; P<0.02). After adjustment for variables, a significantly higher mortality rate was seen in hypoglycemics when compared with euglycaemics (P<0.0001). Hypoglycemia was identified as a predictor of increased all-cause and cancer mortality with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.84 and 2.26 respectively, but not of increased CAD mortality, with HR 1.30. Is hypoglycaemia a marker for increased long-term mortality risk in patients with coronary artery disease? An 8-year follow-up. Fisman EZ, Motro M, et al.  Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

IGF-1 May be Protective: In a study of 205 healthy adults ages 18-93, older males with IGF-1 levels similar to young ones did not show the age-dependent decrease in serum testosterone and lean body mass, nor the increase in fat body mass. Other hormone-metabolic and nutritional parameters do not reveal any change compared with the results of all individuals. In females, the results do not allow to assume any IGF-1 influence. The behavior of the linear regression in the second half of adult life of males, which becomes flat because old men having low IGF-1 blood levels die earlier, is consistent with these results. This effect, which is supported by predictive analysis, is not observed in females, i.e. the IGF-1 level declines in the second half of the women's adult life are only a little flatter than in the first half. Madrid. Ageing and longevity are related to growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 secretion. Ruiz-Torres A, Soares de Melo Kirzner M. Gerontology 2002 Nov-Dec;48(6):401-7

Income: High is Protective: In a prospective national of 3617 adults with 7.5 year follow-up, the high education benefit was almost entirely reflected by strong tie to high income. The benefit was still strong after control for smoking, alcohol, weight, and sedentary lifestyle. The risk of dying in lowest income after controlling for all above factors RR 2.77 and in middle income RR 2.14. Lantz, JAMA 7/98;279:1703

Insulin Levels Low: In Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, a lower insulin levels was one of characteristics of men who lived longer. Science 297:811, 2002. May be lower with caloric restriction.

IQ score Strongly Linked with Greater Longevity: 2800 Aberdeen, Scotland 11-year-olds in 1932 followed with 80% success to age 76. Doing 15 points more poorly on test had only RR of 0.79 of being alive at age 76. Those doing 30 points more poorly had only RR of .63. P<0.0001. BMJ 2001;322:819 ( 7 April ). Overcrowding was only very weakly related and correcting for it had minimal effect. Effect was strongest for women since men with higher IQs were more likely to have died in WWII. lower IQ and linguistic ability in children and young adults is associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in late life.

IQ No Impact After Age 65 in Scottish Study: In the above described Scottish study, for deaths occurring up to age 65, there was a 36% increased risk per standard deviation decrease (15 points) in childhood IQ which was reduced to 29% after adjusting for social class and deprivation category. There was no statistically significant relationship between childhood IQ and deaths occurring after the age of 65. Childhood IQ and all-cause mortality before and after age 65: prospective observational study linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the Midspan studies. Hart CL, et al. University of Glasgow, UK. Br J Health Psychol. 2005 May;10(Pt 2):153-65.

Italian Men: 15 Factors Found: In 40-year fololow-up of 1712 men enrolled in the Italian Rural Areas of the Seven Countries Study of Cardiovascular Diseases studying 48 potential risk factors measured at age 40-59, the overall death rate was 83.7%. The main causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, followed by cancer. 15 risk factors were strongly and significantly related to all-cause mortality. They were age, father and mother history of premature mortality, cigarette smoking, job-related physical activity (protective), body mass index (BMI) (in an inverse J-shaped fashion), mid-arm circumference (protective), mean blood pressure, forced respiratory volume in 3/4 seconds (protective), serum cholesterol, corneal arcus, xanthelasma, presence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes at entry examination. Determinants of longevity and all-cause mortality among middle-aged men. Role of 48 personal characteristics in a 40-year follow-up of Italian Rural Areas in the Seven Countries Study. Menotti A, et al. Roma, Italy. . Aging Clin Exp Res 2006 Oct;18(5):394-406.

Japanese American Men: 42% Reach 85: In the prospective cohort Honolulu Heart Program/Honolulu Asia Aging Study of 5820 Japanese American men ages 45-68 and free of morbidity and functional impairments were followed for up to 40 years. Exceptional survival was defined as survival to a specified age (75, 80, 85, or 90 years) without incidence of 6 major chronic diseases and without physical and cognitive impairment. 2451 participants (42%) survived to age 85 years and 655 participants (11%) met the criteria for exceptional survival to age 85 years. High grip strength and avoidance of overweight, hyperglycemia, hypertension, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption were associated with both overall and exceptional survival. In addition, high education and avoidance of hypertriglyceridemia were associated with exceptional survival, and lack of a marital partner was associated with mortality before age 85 years. Risk factor models based on cumulative risk factors (survival risk score) suggest that the probability of survival to oldest age is as high as 69% with no risk factors and as low as 22% with 6 or more risk factors. The probability of exceptional survival to age 85 years was 55% with no risk factors but decreased to 9% with 6 or more risk factors. Midlife risk factors and healthy survival in men. Willcox BJ, et al. Pacific Health Research Institute, Honolulu. . JAMA 2006 Nov 15;296(19):2343-50.

Kibbutz Said to Help Positive Aging: Contribution of social arrangements to the attainment of successful aging--the experience of the Israeli Kibbutz. Leviatan U. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 1999 Jul;54(4):P205-13  

Lead Associated with 25% Increased Mortality for Highest Third of U.S: Blood lead levels were measured in a nationally representative sample of 13,946 adults in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and followed up for up to 12 years. The mean blood lead level was 2.58 microg/dL. After multivariate adjustment, the hazard ratios for comparisons of participants in the highest tertile of blood lead (>3.62 microg/dL]) with those in the lowest tertile (<1.94 microg/dL]) were 1.25 (P across tertiles=0.002) for all-cause mortality and 1.55 (P=0.003) for cardiovascular mortality. Blood lead level was significantly associated with both myocardial infarction and stroke mortality. There was no association between blood lead and cancer mortality. Blood Lead Below 0.48 {micro}mol/L (10 {micro}g/dL) and Mortality Among US Adults. Menke A, et al. Tulane University. Circ 2006 Sep 18.

Lipoprotein Variant Associated with Longevity: A unique variant found in a group of Jews with exceptional longevity was found. The variation causes both LDL and HDL particles to be unusually large and thus less likely to be deposited in arteries. They have lower rates of HBP and cardiovascular disease. Unique lipoprotein phenotype and genotype associated with exceptional longevity. Barzilai N, Atzmon G, et al. JAMA. 2003 Oct 15;290(15):2030-40.

Medical Students Live Longer: In a long-term follow-up study, the eventual mortality rate of medical students was lowest even though they had the second highest rates of smoking while at the university in 1948-68 cohort studied. The risk of death was 42% higher among former arts students and 30% higher among law students. Divinity students had the lowest blood pressure of any group at university and were least likely to consume alcohol, but their risk of dying was still 10% higher than the med students. 8/03 J Royal Society of Medicine

Melatonin: Caloric Restriction Increases Melatonin; Melatonin Increases Mouse Lifespan: Food deprivation doubles melatonin in GI tract. It is a very potent scavenger of free radicals that has increased lifespan of mice in several studies. Bubenik, U Guelph, Science News 7/6/02. The pineal gland is smaller in obesity.

Melatonin: Increases Mouse, Fruit Fly Lifespan: The pineal gland is smaller in obesity. In mice, long-term administration of melatonin was followed by an increase in their life span in 12 experiments and had no effect in 8 experiments. When melatonin was added to food throughout the life span, it increased the longevity of fruit flies. Anisimov. Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Nov-Dec;31(6):589-603 

Menopause: Later is Better: In a study of 12,134 postmenopausal women followed for 17 years, there were 2607 deaths, of which 963 were due to cardiovascular diseases and 812 due to cancer. Ischemic heart disease risk decreased with a later menopause (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.98 per year), but the risk of fatal uterine or ovarian cancer increased (1.07 per year). A later menopause was associated with longer overall survival; HR for total mortality was 0.98 per year. Life expectancy in women with menopause after age 55 was 2.0 years longer than those with menopause before age 40. Age-adjusted mortality is reduced 2% with each increasing year of age at menopause. In particular, ischemic heart disease mortality is 2% lower. Although the risk of death from uterine or ovarian cancer is increased by 5%, the net effect of a later menopause is an increased lifespan. Age at menopause, cause-specific mortality and total life expectancy. Ossewaarde ME, et al. University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. Epidemiology. 2005 Jul;16(4):556-62.

Methionine Deficient Diet Increases Lifespan in Mice: A diet deficient in the amino acid methionine has previously been shown to extend lifespan in several stocks of inbred rats. This study showed that a methionine-deficient (Meth-R) diet also increases maximal lifespan in (BALB/cJ x C57BL/6 J)F1 mice. Methionine-deficient diet extends mouse lifespan, slows immune and lens aging, alters glucose, T4, IGF-I and insulin levels, and increases hepatocyte MIF levels and stress resistance. Miller RA, et al. University of Michigan. Aging Cell. 2005 Jun;4(3):119-25.

Microalbuminuria Major Risk Factor: Solfrid Romundstad, Norwegian Univ., association between microalbuminuria using the albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) and all-cause mortality in 2000 randomly selected healthy men and women without known diabetes mellitus and treated hypertension. The risk of all-cause mortality, adjusted for such variables as age and smoking history, was 7-fold higher among men and 6.3-fold higher among women with an ACR of 22 micrograms/milligram or greater compared with those having an ACR less than 22 micrograms/milligram, the authors report. The risk was much higher among individuals aged 20 to 64 years (11-fold higher) than among individuals aged 65 years and older (1.8-fold).

Mitochondrial Free-Radical Damage Important in Aging: Aging is characterized by decrements in maximum function and accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations. Oxygen radicals are considered responsible for part of these aging changes. Comparative studies of animals with different aging rates have shown that the rate of mitochondrial oxygen radical generation is directly related to the steady-state level of oxidative damage to mitochondrial  DNA and is inversely correlated with maximum longevity in higher vertebrates. The degree of unsaturation of tissue fatty acids also correlates inversely with maximum longevity. These are the two known traits connecting oxidative stress with aging. Furthermore, caloric restriction, which decreases the rate of aging, proportionately decreases mitochondrial oxygen radical generation, especially at complex I. Free radicals and aging. Barja G. Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. Trends Neurosci. 2004 Oct;27(10):595-600 

Mitochondrial DNA Linked to Longevity: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) coding region polymorphisms, as well as the 150T polymorphism in the noncoding region, have been associated with longevity. Researchers analyzed a sample of 321 very old subjects and 489 middle-aged controls from Finland and Japan . 150T was more frequent among the very old than among the controls in both the Finnish and Japanese subjects. The association was not similar in all haplogroups, and a stratified analysis revealed that two additional common polymorphisms, 489C and 10398G, modified the association between 150T and longevity. These findings suggest that longevity is partly determined by epistatic interactions involving these three mtDNA loci. A combination of three common inherited mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms promotes longevity in Finnish and Japanese subjects. Niemi AK , Moilanen JS, et al. University of Oulu , Finland   European Journal of Human Genetics, 13 October 2004

Orgasm: Increased Frequency Associated with Longevity: 918 Welsh men ages 45-59 were followed for 10 year. Those in the 100 orgasms/year high frequency group had a mortality risk of just RR 0.62 or 38% better than average. The group with lowest frequency had a 90% increased risk of death or an OR of 1.9 after risk factor adjustment. Having few orgasms was especially associated with coronary heart disease but also with other causes of death. Author speculates on a protective effect. Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study. Earlier studies found similar findings with women's enjoyment of intercourse inversely associated with death. Priests died slightly sooner with an overall mortality ratio of 103, but 118 for heart disease and 147 for cirrhosis. Nuns live longer with less smoking. Swedish study found early cessation of intercourse associated with higher risk of death in men in 5 year follow-up study. Davey Smith G, Frankel S, Yarnell J. BMJ 1997 Dec 20-27;315(7123):1641-4

Parents: Long-Lived Parents Reduce Offspring Mortality 25%: In a 9.6-year prospective study of 51,485 Japanese men and women ages 40-79, the risk of mortality from stroke, cardiovascular disease, and all causes was 20-30% lower in men and women with fathers who died at age > or = 80 years, compared with those with fathers whose age at death was <60 years. A similar reduction was found when the age at death of mothers was > or = 85 years compared with <65 years. Furthermore, the risk reduction was more evident amongst persons with both parents being long-lived parents. Parental longevity and mortality amongst Japanese men and women: the JACC Study. Ikeda A, et al. University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. J Intern Med 2006 Mar;259(3):285-95.

Parental Age: Young Mothers More Common: In a study of 991 centenarians, first-born were 1.7 times more linked to lives to be 100. Those with mothers under 25 were twice as likely to survive to 100. N. Gavrilova, et al. Univ Chicago, Geront Soc of American meeting. New Sci 11/25/06.

Parental Age At Birth Not Related: French study of 320 centenarians vs. controls. No difference is found between the parental age of parents of centenarians and of controls. Exp Gerontol 2003 Apr;38(4):361-365. Have centenarians had younger parents than the others? Robine JM, Cournil A, Henon N, Allard M.

Parental, Especially Father’s Age Affects Men: Men (n=2135) whose father had died before the age of 70, 8.4 per 1000 observation years died from coronary disease during follow-up. Coronary mortality decreased continuously with increasing age in the father and in those whose father had achieved an age of 90 or more 3.2 per 1000 years died. No affect on cancer mortality. Achieved age of mother more weakly related to longevity (p=.03). J Intern Med 2002 Mar;251(3):258-67

Positive Attitude Marker for Long Life at Age 63: 660 persons who were part of the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement. The subjects were between 50 and 94 years of age, with an average age of 63. The subjects were asked questions that revealed their outlook on aging such as "Things keep getting worse as I get older," "As you get older you are less useful," "I am as happy now as I was when I was younger," and "I have as much pep as I did last year." Levy and her colleagues then followed the fate of the 660 subjects over the next 23 years. Those with positive attitudes lived 7.5 years longer. Becca Levy, Yale, J Pers & Social Psychol 8/02

Protein and Fat Increased Breast Cancer; Fiber and Carbohydrates Decreased: In a study of total dietary fiber (TDF) and fat, and the age-adjusted mortality from breast cancer (MBC) in Japanese females during the period from 1948 to 2000, the time lag was estimated for a 0-35-year delay in mortality. The partial correlation analysis indicated that the individual intakes of total fat (r=0.688), animal protein (r=0.657), carbohydrate (r=-0.886), and plant protein (r=-0.770) were significantly (p<0.01) correlated with breast cancer mortality. Each of these coefficients of correlation changed and reached a maximum value with increasing time lag. The estimated time lag values for the influence of fat, animal protein and TDF were 20-32 years, 19-31 years and 9-35 years, respectively. It is deduced from the results that the increased MBC in Japanese women is related to the long-term effect from the intake of a high-fat, high-animal protein and low-fiber diet typical in the western world. Time-lag estimate between dietary intake and breast cancer mortality in Japan. Harashima E, et al. Jissen Women's University, Tokyo Japan. . Asian Pac J Clin Nutr 2007 Mar;16(1):193-198.

Radiation at Low Levels Increases Longevity: British radiologists have 27% less cancer and 30% lower deaths from other causes than other male physicians. A study of 28,000 nuclear shipyard workers with highest radiation exposure showed 24% lower cancer and death rates compared to 32,000 other shipyard workers. Cameron, U Wisc, Brit J Radiology 7/02.

Resveratrol Increased Lifespan in Small Fish: Using the short-lived seasonal fish Nothobranchius furzeri with a maximum recorded lifespan of 13 weeks in captivity, resveratrol added to the food starting in early adulthood caused a dose-dependent increase of median and maximum lifespan. It reduces the expression of neurofibrillary degeneration in the brain. Resveratrol prolongs lifespan and retards the onset of age-related markers in a short-lived vertebrate. Valenzano DR, et al. Pisa, Italy. Curr Biol 2006 Feb 7;16(3):296-300. For more, see Grapes and Wine.

Selenium Level Linked to Increased Longevity via Reduced Cancer: In the 9-year follow-up EVA study of 1389 adults ages 60-70, 101 study participants died. Baseline plasma selenium was higher in individuals who were alive at the end of follow-up [1.10 micromol/L] than in those who died during the follow-up [1.01 micromol/L; P <10(-4)]. Mortality rates were 56% higher in individuals with low selenium [relative risk (RR) = 1.56]. After controlling for various potential confounding factors, mortality rates were 54% higher in individuals with low selenium [RR = 1.54]. Cancer-related mortality was most significant [adjusted RR = 1.79]. Selenium and Mortality in the Elderly: Results from the EVA Study. Akbaraly NT, et al. Universite Montpellier I, France. Clin Chem. 2005 Aug 25

Shorter Humans and Animals Live Longer: Findings based on millions of deaths suggest that shorter, smaller bodies have lower death rates and fewer diet-related chronic diseases, especially past middle age. Shorter people also appear to have longer average lifespans. The authors suggest that the differences in longevity between the sexes is due to their height differences because men average about 8.0% taller than women and have a 7.9% lower life expectancy at birth. Animal experiments also show that smaller animals within the same species generally live longer. Life Sci 2003 Mar 7;72(16):1781-802 Is height related to longevity? Samaras TT, Elrick H, Storms LH.

South African Rural Blacks More Centarians: Countries that survive on lower food intakes are shown to have much less heart disease, such as South Africa, where rural Native-Africans have traditionally outlived European-Africans and also have a higher percentage of centenarians. J Natl Med Assoc 2002 Feb;94(2):88-99

Social Class: Disadvantaged Lower Class for Heart Disease Mortality Corrected in Part: In a Danish study of 6,000 healthy adults ages 53-74 followed for 6 years, those with Social Classes IV-V vs. Classes I-III had the increased heart disease risk factor of RR 1.44 (44% higher) lowered by correcting for age, BP, smoking, lipids, physical activity to RR 1.38 and lowered to RR 1.12 (12%) by correcting for low plasma selenium, exposure solder fumes, low leisure time physical activity in middle age, and abstinence or low consumption wine or spirits. Int J Epid ’97;26:516

Working: Early Retirement Not Associated with Longevity: In a study of more than 3,500 employees working for Shell Oil in Texas, workers who retired were followed for up to 26 years. The death rate was almost twice as high in the first ten years after retirement at 55 compared with those who continued to work. Even taking into account early retirement due to health, those who retired lived no longer than people who worked longer. Shan Tsai, et al. Brit Med J 01/21/05. 

Working: Those Working at Age 70 Live Longer: In a longitudinal study of 788 adults age 70 followed for 7 years, work at age 70 correlated with better perceived health and greater independence. Independent of pre-existing economic difficulties, education, illnesses, functional dependence and self-assessed health, workers at age 70 after seven years were in better health (OR 2.12), had more ADL independence and increased survival rates (OR 2.13). Working late: the impact of work after 70 on longevity, health and function. Hammerman-Rozenberg R, et al. Hadassah-Hebrew University. . 
Aging Clin Exp Res 2005 Dec;17(6):508-13.

Exercise

Fitness Best Indicator: 10 year follow-up study of 6,200 men at Palo Alto VA/Stanford found peak exercise ability on treadmill best predictor vs. smoking, HBP, heart disease, DM. Compuserve 3/10/2002

Exercise & Moderate Alcohol Increase Longevity in Elderly Chinese: 2032 70 yo and older followed 3 yr. Gerontology 2002 Jul-Aug;48(4):234-40

Tachycardia Early Indicator CHD: J Hypertens Suppl 1998 Jan;16(1):S9-15, Julius, U Mich. High heart rate precedes development of HBP and highly correlated with HBP. Good measure of heart work and heart stress. Predicts CHD and non-cardiovasc mortality. Good predictor of longevity. Strong risk factor sudden death and arrhythmia. Animals with high heart rate more plaque in coronaries. High heart rate a marker of high sympathetic tone and assoc with high insulin, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, high hematocrit and excess weight.

Low BP, Heart Rate, High Vital Capacity Good: Fewer cigarettes smoked per day, lower systolic blood pressure, and higher forced vital capacity were associated with longevity in both sexes. Lower heart rate in men and parental survival to 75 years of age in women were additionally associated with survival to 75 years of age. Framingham f/u of 50yos. U Mass. Arch Intern Med 1996 Mar 11;156(5):505-9, Goldberg

Heart Rate, Basal Metabolism Key: Universal scaling relations for basal metabolism, heart rate, and life-span are presented in a physically transparent form with no adjustable parameters. Their accuracy is a few percent for animals ranging from invertebrates to mammals. They suggest that natural death is related to irreparable molecular damage to specific cells or molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1994 Dec 20;91, Israel


Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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