Amanda
Macmillan writes in her article titled, “People Who Live to 100 Have
These Traits in Common”, about tips for longevity based off of those who
have lived long lives. In a study done detailing 29 elders, aged 90 to
101, living in Italy’s Cilento region, an analysis of their mental and
physical health was conducted. This particular region of Italy is known
for having many residents over the age of 90. During the study, the
elders filled out a questionnaire and had interviews detailing
migration, traumatic events, and their beliefs. If they had younger
family members, then these members were asked about their relative’s
personality traits. Oftentimes, the younger relatives described their
loved ones as controlling, domineering, and stubborn. The researchers
found that these elders displayed resilience and ability to change
during circumstances. The research done in this study showed that the
elders were able to balance their contradictory traits. “In order to
flourish, they have to be able to accept and recover from the things
they can’t change, but also fight for the things they can” according to
Dr. Dilip Jeste, the senior author of this study. Other traits that the
elders had in common were positivity, strong work ethic, close bonds
with others, religion, and the countryside. Many of the elders in the
study were still active and working in their homes and land, which gave
them a purpose to their lives.
When
comparing the relatives to the elders, those aged 51 to 75, the older
adults had unsurprisingly worse physical health than the younger
counterparts, but they had better mental well-being, self-confidence,
and decision-making. The study concluded that even with physical health
declining, mental health could still remain high. Other studies on
population include the Blue Zones which include elders that live longer
than most from Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica, and California. This
study included looking at genes, diet, and physical health. Certain
attributes such as resilience, social support and confidence can assist
in longevity and potentially affect overall health. To find out more
ways to keep you and your family healthy, please visit our website at www.oxborochiro.com.
