1. Cultivate stable, long-term relationships now. For most, this includes a steady marriage, but other relationships with family, friends, and partners can fit in this category as well. The point is to find people with whom you can grow, whom you can count on, no matter what comes your way. SOURCE: THE ATLANTIC
“Studies reveal close social relationships have an [effect on health] comparable to or greater than that of smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical inactivity.” – National Institutes of Health
2. Hone your coping mechanisms now. As you age, you will have periods of both joy and stress. It’s important to build your resilience and find healthy ways to cope with challenges. This ability will help you make the most of the good times and keep your perspective when times are tough. SOURCE: HELPGUIDE
“Developing coping skills is one of the best ways for seniors to improve their mental health and become more resilient.” – Blue Moon Senior Counseling
3. Keep learning. Research shows that acquiring additional skills can be a terrific way to keep an aging brain in shape. Not only can older adults learn multiple new skills, but doing so may improve their cognitive functioning considerably. SOURCE: SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
Lifelong learning for seniors is a key component of intellectual wellness, one of the dimensions of wellness essential for overall well-being.” – The Heritage at Brentwood
4. Move it or lose it. Research shows that many of the changes attributed to aging are actually caused in large part by disuse. This confirms the wisdom of Dr. William Buchan, the 18th-century Scottish physician who wrote, “Of all the causes which conspire to render the life of a man short and miserable, none have greater influence than the want of proper exercise.” SOURCE: HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
“Regular activity can positively impact our physical health as well as our emotional wellbeing. Key benefits of exercise for older adults include: prevents bone loss, relieves arthritis pain, helps prevent chronic disease, boosts immunity, improves mood.” – National Council on Aging
5. Don’t smoke—or if you already smoke, quit now. Tobacco smoke is toxic and damages your cells, leading to premature aging. Using tobacco is also the most common risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma, a type of oral cancer. Oral cancer can develop from all forms of tobacco: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco. SOURCE: VERYWELLMIND
“Smokers biologically age faster than nonsmokers regardless of cholesterol and fasting glucose levels. Female and male smokers aged twice and one and a half times faster than gender-matched nonsmokers.” – European Respiratory Journal
6. Watch your drinking. Alcohol can affect the way some vital organs work and make them age faster. Heavy drinking over a long time can shrink brain cells and lead to alcohol-related brain damage including dementia. Symptoms include lack of judgment, organization, or emotional control, trouble staying focused, and anger issues. SOURCE: WEBMD
“As you get older, alcohol’s effects can catch up with you. Decades of heavy drinking may take a toll on the liver and brain and leave telltale signs on the skin.” – U.S. News & World Report
7. Maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity-related conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer are some of the leading causes of preventable premature death. SOURCE: AARP
“Significant excess weight and obesity increase the risk of death, disability, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure … People who closely follow the MIND diet [combining the DASH and Mediterranean diets] have better overall cognition compared to those with other eating styles.” – National Institute on Aging
BONUS TIP – we saved the best for last!
A new study suggests that frequent sex can also keep you from aging. Researchers found that women who had sex at least once a week had significantly longer telomeres, protein caps at the end of DNA strands that protect chromosomes from deteriorating, than those who didn’t.
“Obviously more research is needed here,” this source says, so why not take that cue and do some research personally? SOURCE: INSIDER
“Having sex at least twice a week can make your Real Age 1.6 years younger than if you had sex only once a week.” – Michael Roizen, MD, WebMD
