Maintaining healthy habits into the 70s can increase life span by up to six years years, according to a just published study.
Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and the University of Stockholm measured survival rates among male and female adults 75 or older based on a number of factors, including lifestyle habits, leisure activities and social networks.
Half of the participants lived past 90, the researchers said.
The longest survivors, the study found, were well-educated women who had good health habits, an active social network, and more leisure activities than non-survivors. They lived an average of 5.4 years longer than did those who did not have a good quality of life.
Even among the group who were 85 years or older, healthy habits, leisure activities and a good social networks meant a lifespan of four years more than those in the same age group who didn’t have healthy habits.
Other key findings;
*Smokers died one year earlier than nonsmokers.
*Former smokers had a survival rate similar to those of nonsmokers.
The researchers’ conclusion: “Encouraging favourable lifestyle behaviours even at advanced ages may enhance life expectancy.”
The study was published in the online medical journal bmj.com.
