LONGEVITY
What causes us to live longer? What cues can we look at to indicate our longevity? Can we really do anything about it or is it just our genetics?
There is a lot of information out and especially lately when it comes to longevity. Some of it is great and some is not, but certainly there is a lot of promises being made in the marketplace.
My goal today is to shed some light on what the research shows and not to just regurgitate some longevity strategies that don’t have any real research studies to back it up.
Here are some markers that I felt were interesting in the research that has shown to predict mortality and areas to work on to extend longevity.
- Active Days- Being active throughout the day was proven much more of a success marker than people that were sedentary all day and then went to exercise. Although exercise was helpful, it wasn’t as good as activity throughout the day.
- Thoracic Kyphosis- This means an increase curve or humping of the mid-back. This poor posture pattern has been linked to organ dysfunction, decreased oxygen flow due to more limiting chest breathing, and balance vulnerability leading to falls/fractures/pneumonia.
- Balance- Seems so simple, but as we age our vestibular system, nerve system, muscle tone, etc all are not what they used to be. When you add that to increased mid-back curves and forward head tilt, it really sets the stage for balance changes that indicate shorter mortality.
- Mobility- Not a big surprise, but people with higher levels of mobility had better longevity. Mobility exercises & treatment extends life.
- Gait Speed- The high-risk threshold varies with individuals, but we must consider declining speed and gait stances, etc. It is apparent that gait evaluation and improvement can be a key in longevity.
These were my brief takeaways from the latest research review.
What you don’t find is much research on true longevity markers like the use of:
peptides, nutritional supplement, red light therapy, cryotherapy, cold plunges, etc. We all agree there are many health potential benefits of these therapies which in turn can improve ones health for longevity, but when it comes to documented longevity markers, studies are not there.
So, yes use of these therapies that are used in ‘longevity centers’ have been benefits for longevity, but the research shows that you must do it while also improving the markers discussed above- not living a sedentary lifestyle, correcting and maintaining upright and strong posture, maximize balance abilities, proper mobility, and optimum gait and gait speed that have been proven markers.
