A new vision on longevity
The cardiologist at the helm of the European Institute of Health and Welfare, in his recent book ‘Guide to Living 120 Years’, does a provocative question: Is it possible to live more than a hundred years with health?
The importance of healthy habits
According to the author, about 75% of our longevity depends on the adoption of healthy customs. Daily habits not only influence our well -being, but also act on epigenetics, which is the way our genes express themselves. The remaining 25% are related to the inherited genetics, which determines our predisposition to certain conditions.
Modifying genetics to improve health
The author emphasizes the need to activate beneficial genes and inhibit those that may be harmful. Scientific research has focused on this aspect to increase life expectancy, a purpose that has already shown significant results in the past.
A remarkable progress
For example, at the beginning of the 20th century, the average life expectancy was only 33 years old. Today, this figure has increased up to 86 years for women and 82 for men. With technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, the possibilities of improvement are endless.
The blue areas and their secrets
The ‘blue areas’ are regions of the world with a high concentration of centenaries. What unifies them is not so much their geographical location as the habits they practice, such as stress management, a clear life purpose, a balanced nutrition and constant physical activity.
The community as a key factor
The feeling of community emerges as a fundamental element for longevity. Feeling part of a group helps to adopt healthy habits more naturally and less forced, facilitating personal change and improvement.
Prepared for the Long Life?
With about 700,000 centenaries worldwide, the question we ask ourselves is: Are we ready to guarantee a quality life for these people? In Spain, the advantages of the health system, the Social Security and the quality of local products give us hopes.
Social challenges
However, the problem of loneliness rises as a great challenge. It affects not only the older ones, but also to young adults, who are often isolated. The solution could be the introduction of robots offered by company.
Reflecting on longevity
Longevity is a gift, but not everyone wants to live up to 120 years. There are those who prefer a shorter but full life. The debate over where the limit of human life is located is still open, with examples such as Jeanne Calment, the woman who lived up to 122 years old.
A new perspective on aging
The author proposes to avoid terms that can be derogatory as ‘old age’. Talking about ‘Longworks’ contributes to eliminating age -associated discrimination. Society has begun to acknowledge that age should not be an obstacle to fully lived.
Longevity as Spiritual Needs
In short, long life is not only a physical matter, but also spiritual. Reaching a hundred can be an opportunity for a new beginning, where material priorities give way to experiences and inner growth.
