How To Live To 100 Years

In today society, 50 is no longer considered old. In fact, 50 is the new 30, as many now 30 year olds are realizing their own youth. A few generations ago, the life expectancy was dismally young, and many people of generation X lost grandparents who were only a little older than their parents are now. Baby boomers are not feeling old, and are wondering what is the secret to longevity?

The greatest secret to longevity has everything to do with what we put into our bodies and what we expect out of our bodies. When we eat a healthy clean diet, refrain from unhealthy habits like drugs, alcohol, smoking, and even too much doctor prescribed and over the counter medication, our bodies operate on a higher level of functioning. Moderate daily exercise like walks and gardening can also boost our longevity by a few years.

Good health is about balance. The secret to longevity is about achieving that balance on a daily basis while learning to live more freely within ourselves. Faith, regardless of what denomination, has proven to help people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. Simply having faith in the universe can prolong life by increasing our daily level of joy. Depression, even mild depression that makes us tired or feel down for short periods of time, does actually inhibit our ability to feel at our healthiest and can inhibit daily practices that increase our health and increase our longevity.

Genetics may or may not play a role in the secret to longevity. In some cases, an individual who had two parents die of a heart attack but took excellent care of their body (like not drinking, smoking, playing around with recreational enhancements, or eating high cholesterol foods) might be able to make up for whatever their genetics may have given them. In other cases, doing all the right things may not outweigh the genetic roles our DNA has determined for us. This does not imply that a person whose parents died of cancer will automatically get cancer no matter what they do. Rather, by controlling the factors we can control, we might be able to tip the balance in our favor.

Mental workouts are just much part of the secret to longevity as physical workouts. For those who spend retirement in front of the mind numbing television, chances are good they will begin to experience mental challenges much earlier than someone who experiences life to the fullest, visits with neighbors and friends to have intellectual discussions, and pulls out the crossword puzzle instead of the TV Guide for mental stimulation.

Want to Live an Extra 10 Years?

New Research Into Alzheimer’s Genetics

The cruel disease known as Alzheimer’s affects 26 million people worldwide. Can it be a matter of Alzheimer’s genetics? That’s what Dr. Richard Lipton wonders.

Dr. Lipton, of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, just released a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association detailing how certain genes promote brain health and protect against Alzheimer’s disease. He commented, “most work on the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease has focused on factors that increase the danger. We reversed this approach and focused on a genetic factor that protects against age-related illnesses.”(1) 

CEPT – The Longevity Gene

The CEPT gene, which stands for Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein, was discovered in 2003. The first research showed that it improved cholesterol levels by increasing HDL – the “good” cholesterol. This lowered the risk of heart disease, so Dr. Lipton thought it might also have a positive effect on brain function in older adults.

 To test his theory of Alzheimer’s genetics, Lipton and his team looked at data from the Einstein Aging Study, which has been following elderly Bronx residents for 25 years. At the beginning of Lipton’s research, 523 participants were all 70 or older and had healthy brain function. They were followed for four years and tested annually for memory decline and early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

The amazing results were reported by Dr. Lipton, who said, “those participants who carried two copies of the favorable CETP (gene) had a 70% reduction in their risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, compared with those who carried no copies of this gene.”(2)

This is extremely important research since Alzheimer’s disease has become the 6th leading cause of death – recently overtaking diabetes. One in eight adults over age 65 battles Alzheimer’s and that grows to one in two over the age of 85.(3)

We might joke that we’re showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s whenever we misplace our keys – a joke made partly out of fear – because the real disease is no laughing matter.

What exactly are the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease? 

Being Aware of the Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

First of all, memory loss that is disruptive to daily life is not part of typical aging. Everyone is forgetful or makes a bad decision once in awhile, but take note if it is becoming a pattern.
You may miss a monthly payment if you become distracted or busy, but if you can’t manage your budget at all, there’s a problem.
Sometimes you’ll have a word on the tip of your tongue and you can’t quite think of it – until much later when it suddenly pops into your head. That’s normal – and a lot different from being unable to follow or carry on a conversation.

These are all significant early signs of Alzheimer’s you should be aware of.(4) 

Actual Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease will fluctuate a lot and overlap as the stages progress, but the overall progress of Alzheimer’s is pretty predictable.

Stage one is the mildest and lasts from two to four years. The sufferer may become upset and frustrated when they have difficulty communicating. They don’t understand things the way they used to and seem to be confused and unorganized.

Stage two is moderate and is the longest, lasting from two to ten years. This is when the memory loss is setting in. The person with Alzheimer’s will forget recent events and confuse the past with the present. They have trouble recognizing familiar people and sometimes forget where they are. They become depressed and withdrawn, which is reflected in their dress, grooming and eating patterns.

Stage three is severe and typically lasts for one to three years. Now is the time of the most devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The patient will sleep a lot and needs constant care. They are in a weakened physical state which leaves them vulnerable to other illnesses. Memory is almost non-existent.(5) 

Yes, Alzheimer’s is indeed a cruel disease that robs a person of his or her once healthy dignity. The new frontier of Alzheimer’s genetics offers hope for preventing and treating this debilitating disease.

Based on Dr. Lipton’s research, drug companies are working to develop CEPT inhibitors, which would mimic the action of the genes reported on in his studies. And with the number of Alzheimer’s patients expected to increase to over 100 million by 2050, the push is on to find effective prevention and treatment methods.(6)

I’ll be keeping a close eye on the current research coming out of the field of Alzheimer’s genetics so that I can share developments with you.

As always, consult your personal physician before making any changes to your diet, exercise or supplement regimen.

Want to Live an Extra 10 Years?